Thursday, 04/16/2026
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Behind the sacred candles
Update: 13/05/2014
Accompanying the Hoang Phap Pagoda monks to return to Hoa Lu\r\nancient capital on summer days, and being amid the natural, strong and moving\r\natmosphere adorned with gigantic and Buddhist solemn scenery, my heart was\r\nsuddenly filled with plenty of emotions. I had the feeling of wallowing in the\r\nlove of Buddhism, of experiencing the meaning of selflessness, of contemplating\r\nthe respectful countenance of Buddha through His simple and plain image and\r\nthat of whole-hearted service of the monks.
\r\n\r\nHaving meals are at the foot of a tree, sleeping right at\r\nthe foot of a bodhi-tree, making friends with the stars and wind, regardless of\r\nthe sun or rain or being bitten by mosquitoes, etc. Those ones with brown\r\nclothes still deliberately show themselves in the open air with their\r\nhalf-smile on their lips, with their shoulders full of vitality and full of\r\nenthusiasm for everything.
\r\n\r\nAll of a sudden, I felt myself to be so tiny and too\r\nselfish. My heart was extremely cramped. However, I did not realize such a\r\nsituation. Instead, I was totally adsorbed in my insular prejudices, trying to\r\nlook for selfish ways and deeply abused in craziness.
\r\n\r\nI suddenly remembered the teaching from my teacher,\r\n“Happiness does not mean tasty bread and nice clothes. Likewise, happiness does\r\nnot include in the things that satisfy us materially or spiritually as many\r\npeople ever think of. There is another kind of happiness which is so simple and\r\nplain but it is so simple, warm and so respectful. It is the kind of happiness\r\nentitled “Knowing how to sacrifice†. . .
\r\n\r\nIf you were present at the last sacred night at bai Dinh,\r\nyou might be so surprised, so full of admiration and so glad because you were\r\nable to listen attentively to the shout of counting the bell sound, wallow in\r\nthe sparkling light of each of the candles. Nevertheless, you would feel much\r\nmore wonderful when you were among those who walked slowly behind those\r\ncandles.
\r\n\r\nPassing by the sanctuary of ‘three-generation Buddha’, you\r\nmay come across the real beloved but strenuous images of the monks and the\r\nBuddhist followers who were preparing a courtyard for the ceremony with\r\ndetails, cautiousness, respectfulness and solemnity.
\r\n\r\nNot only taking care of lighting peace candles, Hoang Phap\r\nmonks and Buddhists also prepared many scores of thousands Budha’s teachings\r\nVCD for giving out to Buddhists and everywhere visitors at the exhibition Hall\r\nfor Hoang Phap Pagoda’s cultural products. I was in a voice choked with emotion\r\nbecause in front of my eyes were the living embodiment of alms-giving of the\r\nBuddha, the conduct helping by the monks, and the joyfulness of Buddhist mass\r\nwhen they receive these products.
\r\n\r\nI was also extremely honored and grateful when I was able to\r\ntake part in the preaching session given by Senior Ven. Thich Chan Tinh at the\r\nSakyamuni sanctuary. He - the respectful monk always teaches us\r\nwith simple and plain words, easy to understand and practice. He seemed to\r\ncarry me on a boat back to ancient India, where we were following the steps of\r\nSakyamuni and at the same time were contemplating His conduct and understood\r\nmore what was being impacted by the Venerable. Alas! I was filled with an\r\nindescribable happiness!
\r\n\r\nBack home after many days with real experience, I seemed to\r\nput on myself a Dharma joyful costume full of endless mercy from the Buddha,\r\nwashed up in the stream of Dharma milk, and integrated in the accord consonance\r\nof the Dharma.
\r\n\r\nLet me engrave in my heart the images of the simple people\r\nin brown costumes forever. Let me obey the will of the World Honored One. Let\r\nme show our gratefulness to the respectful Head monk of Hoang Phap Pagoda.
\r\n\r\nBelow are some of the recorded pictures:
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Translated into English by layman Hoang Huan.