A Retreat Day In Cambodia

On July 28, 2015 (Lunar May 13th), the branch of Hoang Phap pagoda in Cambodia held a Retreat Day for people.

During the three months of Retreat Season, Buddha asks the monk to stay where they are to mind cultivation, improve the power of discipline and grow the power of concentration and wisdom. However, with the full compassion in thinking of Buddhists who live far from motherland, Senior Ven. Thich Chan Tinh guided some monks to support the place for attaining to Buddha-truth of Hoang Phap’s branch in Cambodia.

Before the time for meditating in chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name tookk place, Jun. Ven. Thich Chieu Tuc (Thich Chan Tinh’s disciple) gave a Dharma Talk to explain and instructed the Buddhists how to gain good effects from the Buddha’s teaching in both practice and theory.

Next, Jun. Ven, Thich Tam Truc_ the abbot of Hoang Phap’s branch in Cambodia also put his feeling about role as well as responsibility of a Buddhist in the Retreat Season. During the three months of retreat, the monks gathered for cultivating to improve themselves and devote for spreading Buddha’s teaching. So Buddha asks the Buddhists and the volunteer should support the four necessaries for monk (including clothing, victuals, bedding, medicine) to keep their mind on cultivating, this will brings about a big benefit.

At the end of sharing time, Ven. Thich Tam Hoa (Hoang Phap’s monk) told to Buddhists a short story in which expressed the meaning of life. Nobody gets out of death no matter who you are. We are born with the empty hands and get death with empty hands also. The only thing follows us life by life is the good and bad karmas.

 

Finishing the dharma talk, the monks led the Buddhists to walk meditating and chanting the Buddha’s name.

At the end of Retreat Day, Organization Department gave to all attending retreat Buddhists a small present involving 10kg of rice, the VCD “Don’t be attracted by curiosity” and “Firmly believe in Three Refuges.”