Ceremony of Summer Retreat 2560 Buddhist Calenda.

Based on Vinaya, every year, Buddha monks have three months to concentrate in one place, stay in peace to cultivate, called ‘detention retreat’. It means to stop travelling, stay at one place or a particular place.

 Every year, three-month summer retreat is the sacred duty of the Buddha monks. This law was created by Buddha when he was alive until now.

 â€œCalm” means inner peace, “Resident” means term residence during a certain time, which accords to the precepts of three months. Retreat means monks’ living in peace and pure place to study together, to cultivate Virtue, Concentration and Wisdom after nine months of wide propagating the Buddhist-truth and rescue all beings, help others liberate or free from delusions. This is a precious opportunity for each monk to learn, to cultivate virtue and accumulate blessing belongings to offer benefits later.

 With this spirit, May 23rd 2016  (April 17th Monkey Year) Hoang Phap  pagoda’s  Venerables officially celebrated  the summer retreat in Buddha Calendar 2560- Solar calendar 2016. Venerble Thich Chan Tinh, the Zen master of Hoang Phap Pagoda, officially offered incense in Great Hero Hall to honor Buddha and initiate the retreat.

 

Then, the Sen. Ven reminded, encouraged the monks who stay in Summer Retreat Institute Hoang Phap this year. The important thing is that each monk should be aware that this is a good time for him to look back at his practice to step up the next level on the path of enlightenment. During these three months, the monks need to put themselves in the Dharma teaching to learn, experience the Buddha's teachings, motivate body and mind, keep solemn of a monk, ect. Particularly, we need to avoid outside charms so that it cannot  affect the practice in this retreat season.

 Besides that, the Venerable noticed something that needs to be done strictly to get success in this retreat season.

 

Here are some images recorded: