37th Practical Dharma Program of 101st Seven-Day Retreat.

On Dec. 23rd, 2023 Senior Thich Minh Thanh, Member of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Dharma Propagation Board in HCMC, Abbot of Linh Quy Phap An Temple located in Bao Loc, Lam Dong province, the Lecturer of HCM Buddhist Intermedia-College presented a dharma talk at Hoang Phap pagoda in the 37th Practical Dharma Program.

Buddhists need to know clearly and accurately about the Buddha is the great master we turn to for His refuge. From here, practitioners can listen very thoroughly: Why did Prince Siddhartha become Buddha; what achievements is Buddhahood? The monk explained  conscientiously "Decoding Buddha to enlightenment". 

After attaining Perfect Enlightenment, He recited the verse:

153.

Through many of Samsara's births

I hasten seeking, finding not

the builder of this house:

pain is birth again, again.

154.

O Builder of this house, you're seen!

you shall not build a house again;

all you beams have given away,

rafters of the ridge decayed,

mind to the unconditioned gone,

exhaustion of craving has reached it.

Dhammapada Sutra

The Buddha's achievement of enlightenment is the destruction of ignorance and the cessation of craving for five aggregates; people who practice Buddhism need to control their urges and desires well because that is the factor that makes sentient beings suffer for many lives over many generations; subdue and control urges, desires, cravings for forms, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. For these five aggregates, we need to:

- Practicing emotional tones of peace, comfort, and gentleness.

- Practicing to destroy ego: practitioners need to practice the gentle mind first; then destroy ego by bowing to Buddha.

- Promoting the mind with immeasurable and vast love (immeasurable compassion mind).

This is the most basic and important practice that any disciple whether a lay person or a monk must practice until the day he returns to Buddha realm.

Last, the Senior guided all attendees to direct their immeasurable compassion to ten directions, over the universe of space before ending the dharma talk.