Ceremony of Taking Refuge and Flower Lantern for Amitabha at Co An Pagoda, Nghe An province.

In January 14th, 2015 (Lunar November 24th, Horse Year), as being invited by Abbot Venerable, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh visited Co An Pagoda, Dien Minh village, Dien Chau district, Nghe An province, not only to do the Taking Refuge for the Buddhists, but also to witness the Flower Lantern Festival.

In the evening, the Venerable with the monks came to the\r\nlecture hall to teach Dharma and transferred the Triratna and The Five\r\nPrecepts. Although the material foundations are lacking, the pagoda are in\r\nthe construction for serving cultivators, but with the zeal and desire of Drama\r\nBuddha, Buddhists returned to attend ceremony refuge. This is a great benefit\r\nfor each practitioner on Dharma. The refuge taking as the main way back when we\r\nare in the cycle of endless reincarnation; therefore, everyone must unanimously\r\nto receive the precepts that the venerable transmit to become a true Buddhist.

In the evening, at 6:00 P.M. The Buddhists respectfully\r\ninvited the Venerable to the stage to witness the Night Flower Lantern for\r\nAmitabha Buddha. In solemn purifying atmosphere, Buddhists took strict, mindful\r\nseats in the ring and clear awareness to feel deeply the mystery of the Dharma\r\nin our life. After that, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Thanh, who is the Abbot of the\r\npagoda, announced the opening the ceremony. Within the meaning of the vows of\r\nBuddhas from ten directions, the program continued by transmitting the light,\r\nwhich is the most important part of the ceremony. The candles were lit up. The\r\nlight were shining endless faith in the Dharma generally, the Pure Land\r\nparticularly. These candles are lit up by the Venerable then transferred to the\r\nBuddhists, in solemn purifying atmosphere, mystery candles, which dispelled\r\nAvidya ignorance without beginning, bringing light to human wisdom so that\r\nhuman life would increasingly be happier.

On behalf of the Venerable, Senior Ven. Thich Chan Tinh has\r\na good message to the Buddhists. The Venerable Thich Chan Tinh appreciated the\r\nspirit of the Junior Ven. Abbot, although the construction work were in\r\ndesigning and building, the Junior Ven. organized a solemn and solemnity\r\nceremony. Then, through the Amitabha ’s forty-eight vows, Ven. reminded\r\nBuddhists when being Buddhists, they should learn from the Buddha, the spirit\r\nof immeasurable loving kindness in life, being always interested in people,\r\nleaving selfishness. When we spread our hearts, we will get happiness from\r\npeople and then the good results will be in the reach and the life will be\r\nhappy and peaceful.

At last the Venerable wished all attendants healthful body\r\nand mind at peace and diligent practice

The ceremony ended in everyone’s joy.

Following are some taken pictures: