76th Dharma Light Program

On Aug. 20th, 2023 (July 05th, Year of the Cat) devout Buddhists from inside and outside HCMC came to Hoang Phap to join the One-day practice. This opportunity, the Organizers continued the 76th 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 Dat Ma Khe Dinh, Vice Director Board (DB) of Binh Duong province‘s Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Head DB of Ham Tan District ‘s VBS, Abbot of Truc Lam Chanh Thien monastery came to the ashram to answer Buddhists' questions.

Following are the questions in the program:

Question 1:

I have taken five precepts in Three refuge, but I can only comply with three rules, but the 1st and 5th precepts I can not. Please teach me, is that correct with the spirit of taking the precepts and keeping the precepts? or if I vow to keep all five precepts, do I have to take these rules again?

Question 2:

I have been a vegetarian for five years now. However, because I still have a job selling salty foods (noodles with water) for a living; So, can I be clean and practice purity? Or should I be a vegetarian, I have to give up altogether selling salty foods?

Question 3:

Dear Venerable, some Buddhists do not agree with allowing students to return to the temple to perform with lively music, because they think that will lose the solemnity and purity of the temple scene, and is not in accordance with the spirit of the Buddha's teaching. What is the venerable opinion on this matter?

Question 4:

Dear Venerable, there is an actual state that occurs both at home and abroad. There are some followers who first make a vow to donate land, or donate a temple to a monk or a temple community, but then take it back. As giving land, that one will get land back, or as giving a temple, those will take the temple back for its own benefit when that place has developed. So, what kind of blessings, and cause-effect will happen to this person who donated the land or the temple? Please kindly answer questions!

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

The practice day ended in the joy of the mass.

Some images recorded: