Tiếng ViệtMaha Mangala is not only a serene space to return to, but also a place that nurtures inner growth. Hoài Vi’s story — a member who has been devotedly connected for nearly ten years — stands as a living testament to that journey.
A Journey That Began on a Rain-Soaked Morning
In December 2016, on a rain-soaked morning washed in white, Hoài Vi — then a final-year student majoring in Travel Management — stepped for the first time into a space entirely unfamiliar to her. Buddhist paintings adorned the walls everywhere. The stillness in the air was so profound that it could make one hesitate at the threshold.
Hoai Vi could not have imagined that the place she was standing in would become an important part of her life nearly a decade later. What seemed like a brief internship quietly opened the door to a journey of growth that would last almost ten years.
At that time, Maha Mangala was still a small Dharma space, welcoming monastic communities, Buddhist practitioners, staying guests, and a few families who felt a meaningful connection to the place. The team was modest in number, and the F&B department consisted of Vi alone. She cooked, served, and learned everything from the very beginning.
Growing Within a Slow and Mindful Rhythm of Life
Within the slow and disciplined rhythm of life at Maha Mangala, Hoài Vi was carefully guided through even the smallest tasks. There were nights when she and Madame arranged flowers together until midnight. Those simple moments were neither loud nor glamorous, yet they etched themselves deeply into her memory.
Time passed quietly. A year and a half went by, then many more years followed. “I don’t know what kept me here,” Vi once wondered. Gradually, the answer became clear: it was the people. They were the ones who gently held her back from leaving — a collective free from rivalry and resentment, working together in a spirit of support and peace.
At Maha Mangala, Vi did more than simply work — she lived within a harmony between her profession and her personal life. The values nurtured there each day quietly transformed her perspective, helping her face negativity with greater ease and gradually move beyond her ego to rest in the happiness of the present moment.
Nearly a Decade of Growth Through Many Roles
Over nearly ten years with Maha Mangala, Hoài Vi has taken on many different roles — from F&B and Front Office to Human Resources. Each position marked a new stage of learning. She learned to prepare tea, to practice bell meditation, and eventually to play the gong.
Among all these roles, playing the gong is what she loves most. Before each strike, Vi takes a few quiet seconds to center herself. She understands that the sound that emerges is the truest reflection of the striker’s mind. Only when the mind is at peace can the gong resonate in a full and gentle tone.
Welcoming guests and bidding them farewell with the sound of the gong — for Vi, this is far more than a simple ritual of greeting and departure. It is the moment when she truly touches her own inner peace, allowing that quiet energy to gently radiate to everyone around her.
Maha Mangala – More Than Just a Workplace
Over time, the way of life at Maha Mangala gradually became a natural part of Hoài Vi’s daily living. The principles nurtured there — not harming oneself or others, offering support, and practicing protection — became her compass for everyday stability and peace. They guided her not only in her work, but also in how she lived and faced life itself.
Nearly ten years have passed, and the people at Maha Mangala have become Vi’s second family. It is a family built upon a foundation of peace and mutual support — a place where each individual finds a steady anchor for their own soul.
For Hoài Vi, Maha Mangala is not merely a workplace. It is a land that has quietly nurtured her growth from deep within, guiding her to rediscover herself in each present moment.
Maha Mangala – a place where kindred souls meet, quietly return to themselves, and gently hold life in their hands. 🌿