Source: Los Angeles Times
On February 6, 1999, the Los Angeles Times published an article on a Vietnamese Buddhist monk named "C.E.", who has recently departed from the monastery he opened to the public in Long Beach, CA. About a year ago, C.E. opened the monastery up to the public for lessons on the dharma. A Vietnamese immigrant who has turned to the ascetic tradition of Mahayana Buddhism, C.E. drew the interest of many meditators and students in Southern California with his teachings on Buddhist scripture and his fluidity in speaking English, Chinese, and Vietnamese. As a result of his roles as teacher, counselor, and administrator, he struggled "to maintain his vows of sacrifice and seclusion." In December of 1998, C.E. announced to his students that he would have to leave the monastery for several years of isolation and meditation in order to unleash his ego as the "price to pay" for reaching out to the public. "Wandering the mountains, looking for my permanent impermanent dwelling among the trees and bushes. Probably this is the greatest time in my life: bye bye to all binds and ties."