My artistic style flows directly from my writing. When I write, images rise naturally to illustrate my stories. The text below is the inspiration behind this piece.
 At Tu Hiếu, Sister Ðinh Nghiem stood before an altar, pointing to the column on which Thầy had written the following words: “Living beings are countless; I vow to help them all.” Then, as if suddenly realizing something, she proclaimed: “Thầy was such a rebel.” She often told stories to illustrate Thầy’s uniqueness and his willingness to break new ground.
 The many stories I heard throughout the journey helped me understand and appreciate how unconventional Thầy was in his thoughts and actions, and how faithfully he followed his inner voice. 
 While he was a progressive figure in many ways, Thầy also revived older forms of Buddhist practice and thought and adapted them to modern times and far-flung cultures. He also infused the Buddhism he brought to the West with a Vietnamese flavor. It is beautiful to consider the journey of Thầy’s life-changing practice—originating in Vietnam, spreading and evolving across the world, and eventually returning with Thầy to Vietnam.
From my book Vietnam, Where the Lotus Blooms (p.199)