BIO
Venerable Chueh Fa was born and raised in Hong Kong. She helped her brother with his plastic business until her 20s during which she decided to pursue Buddhism at Fo Guang Shan, an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist organization based in Taiwan, where she decided to become a nun. Before coming to Fo Guang Shan Chung Mei Buddhist Temple in Houston in 2019, Venerable Chueh Fa has worked at the organization's branch temples in Thailand, Los Angeles, Austin, and Dallas. In the interview, Venerable Chueh Fa talks about the language and cultural challenges she faces in preaching Buddhism in the United States and how she approaches them. Specifically, she explains how Fo Guang Shan designs various kinds of activities to attract younger generations. She also provides a brief overview of the demographics of the visitors of their temples, such as their family backgrounds and what motivates them to visit. Moreover, she discusses the differences and similarities between the temple visitors in Asia and those in the US. Finally, Venerable Chueh Fa shares stories of how Chung Mei Temple navigated the COVID-19 pandemic and her opinions on anti-Asian racism.