A One-Day Buddha Recitation Retreat

On June 05th, 2016 (May 01st, lunar calendar), thousands of Buddhists from provinces and cities attended the 4th One day Buddha Recitation Retreat - 2016 at Hoang Phap Pagoda.

After breakfast, Buddhists assembled in the halls for dharma talk lectured by the Hoang Phap’s abbot, Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, head of the retreat organizer. For more than an hour, the Venerable  lectured  the public on the issues related to the Rules in the Sutra "An Analysis Of  Bhikkhus’ Precepts" recited by Sariputra

 

In fact, Precepts play a vital role in the practicing life of Bhikkhus/(Bhikkhnis), which contributes to their enlightenment achievement.

 

In the sutra "An Analysis Of Bhikkhus’ Precepts" there is a  statement: “While Venerable Sariputra was in meditation, he wondered the virtues in which Buddha’s time were long-lasting and which were not.  The term “Virtue” in his question means the monk’s purity of mind and body, without any lust.

 

Then, he raised the question to Buddha. Buddha replied: “Virtue cannot last long because that Buddha doesn’t explain sutras thoroughly or lectures only a few, Besides, dharma regulations and precepts are not introduced and enforced. It is like a single flower which can hardly withstand the wind and vice versa,  .it is like a garland of flowers strung together so it is durable and solid.

 

Upon hearing such explanations, Sariputra appealed to Buddha to  announce precepts, Dharma, and regulations ... for the Sangha. But according to Buddha, only when problems arise in the congregation then it is the right time for relevant precept issuance ... The Problems arise in cases of: crowded congregation, fast growth in quantity,  and their great need of learning dharma for their benefits .

 

Pratimoksa precept is considered the way to "liberation" from cyclic existence in which Buddhists will attain self-salvation from what precept they receive and practice. Of all the courses, precept is considered the unequalled one. Hence we can see how helpful the precept maintaining and practicing is for practitioners. It helps bring calmness in mind, thereby attaining wisdom. This is the key point that Buddhist practitioners have to  realize. 

 

The Dharma talk continued with four stories related to Buddha’s precept issuance due to problems affecting Sangha’s purity and peace: the story of  Tu De Na, the story of a monk and an ape in the jungle, the story of the monk who committed suicide, and the story of a terminally ill patient was advised not to mind his dilapidated physical body. Besides, the story of "A sermon about Precepts to Anathapindika" in the Majihima Nikàya is a lesson for the supportive recitation to dying people nowadays.

 

From those stories, The Venerable reminded the Buddhists that nowadays, we may accidentally infringe precepts without realization. Actually, some  with superficial knowledge, are like "The frog sitting in the well bottom" misbelieve that their actions are right, then deviating from Buddha’s teachings. Therefore, we, Buddhists, should both widely and deeply study  Buddhism and practice the three modes of attaining moral wisdom in order to understand things thoroughly and properly. It helps build a solid foundation in studying and practicing Buddhism in modern times and uphold the truth for the sake of living being’s benefit.

 

After the Dharma talk, the mass joined the course as usual.

 

Following are some photographs from the ceremony