Site icon MarLa Sink Druzgal

The Influence of a Vietnamese Temple

What, or where, influences you?

Sometimes it takes viewing death through the lens of another culture to see the truth of our own grief and healing.

This is yesterday’s post, but we didn’t have internet, so I’ll just have to share Manuscript Monday on a Tuesday. I want to share a couple photos related to the section I’m revising now. It feels like I’ve been on the home stretch of this book forever, but hopefully all the changes I’ve made will not only meet, but exceed the expectations of this editor and agent.

What would you have at your altar? Favorites of the deceased are among the items placed on the altar, while their favorite brand of cigarette burns next to incense.

These photos are from Ky La Village, Việt Nam, at the family temple of Le Ly Hayslip, author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. (You might recognize the book name from the movie it was made into: Heaven & Earth, produced by Oliver Stone.) We were fortunate to be escorted by the author, who accompanied us on our charity work with her Global Village Foundation.  The conversation with her at her family temple, and about the way Vietnamese people honor their ancestors, is something that influenced my own thoughts on death and healing, and I’m excited for the way this section has shaped.

Le Ly Hayslip with her brother and sister at their family temple in Ky La, Viet Nam.

I know it’s Monday (pretend I’m saying that yesterday), and that means back to the 9-5 grind for most of my friends and family, but I hope this is a productive and stress-free work week for all of us!

Love, Marla

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