75th Dharma Light Program

On May 21st, 2023 devout Buddhists from inside and outside HCMC came to Hoang Phap to join the One-day practice. This opportunity, the Organizers continued the 75th Dharma Light Program

After having breakfast, Buddhists gathered in the lecture halls to join the session of reciting the Buddha's name, walking and chanting precepts.

In response to the organizers’ invitation, Senior Thich Nhat Tu - Vice President of Vietnam Buddhist University in HCMC, Deputy of Central International Buddhist Department of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, Abbot of Giac Ngo Pagoda (HCMC) came to the ashram to answer Buddhists' questions.

Following are the questions in the program:

Question 1:

Dear Venerable, there are some monks and nuns who have cultivated in the temple for a long time, they have built trust with their Master, so they were assigned some important work; but for personal gain, they appropriated the Three Jewel’s property, which is not correct with the Buddhist precepts and current laws, causing distrust into Three Jewels of lay Buddhists. All of us used to put our trust in monk A, monk B before that, because we saw that he did many benefits for Buddhadharma; but until now, the incident broke down to know that the monks did wrong, breaking the precepts.  Many of my co-cultivators have left the temple, and no longer want to go to the temple because they don't know who to trust now. Hope for a venerable answer and clear this mentality to help our Buddhists!

Question 2:

Dear Venerable, now there are many lecturers giving speeches to young people, especially students. The content of their lectures often revolves around the theme of love and some current trends seem to have nothing to connect with Buddhism. However, thanks to that, many students come to the temple to study, which is very crowded. What is Venerable 's opinion on this matter?

Question 3:

 My family and I practice reciting the Buddha's name. In the Theravada practice of six recitations, there is recitation of the Buddha as the first thing. May I ask, is the Buddha's name reciting in the Pure Land sect and the Buddha recitation in the six recitations are the same or different? And what is the value of Buddha recitation?

Question 4:

I have been enlightened to the Buddha's truth for 10 years. Now I am 24 years old, I have asked my parents for permission to leave home three times and have been refused. My mother said, I am the only son in the family. If I go to the monastery, she will die. Even though I want to become an ideal monk to serve, I still hesitate, I would like to ask, when being an adult without the consent of my parents, I have left home, will I be guilty of unfilial piety?

Question 5:

I have four friends who have been going to the temple together since they were teenagers, five years ago, two of them left the Mahayana temple and followed Theravada Buddhism. Last week, when we met the two friends advised me to leave the Great Vehicle temple for the following three reasons:

1. Theravada Buddhism is the original.

2. The Theravada Bhikkhu s’ robes are exactly the same as those of the Buddha while the Mahayana’s nun-monk robes are of China.

3. The Pali sutras are original, the Sino-Vietnamese readings are influenced by China, meaning is not understood.

Although I do not agree with the thoughts of my two friends, I do not have enough understanding and reasoning on this issue, please venerable teach us!

After reciting the Buddha name in the afternoon, Buddhists practiced sitting meditation quietly.

The practice day ended in the joy of the mass. Before leaving, each person received a dharma gift, a set of the books "Pure Land in the world" and "Dharma taste" composed by Most Thich Chan Tinh.

Some images recorded: