Ceremony of Taking Triratna Refuge at Hoa Phuc Pagoda – Hanoi City

On January 15th, 2017 (Lunar December 18th , Monkey year), Hoa Phuc Pagoda – Hoa Thach Ward, Quoc Oai District, Hanoi City organized a practice day which was attracted over a thousand good men and believing women returning to attend this ceremony.

In the morning, at the pagoda’s solemn was held a closing ceremony of activities and practice. Attending the ceremony, Senior Abbot Ven. Thick Chan Tin – Hoang Phap Abbot had some words to participants.Firstly, he did compliment Reverend Abbot, Monks and all Hoa Phuc’s Buddhists on practicing spirit and propagated the Dharma for the human’s sake. Although located in the countryside, the Bodhimadala was held so many Summer Retreats, One-day Buddha cultivation courses, The Retreat of Eight Precepts etc. attracting a lot of young educated Buddhists from the North to the South. Young people are the future of the country. Therefore, we have to care for them carefully and look for ways to educate or encourage them to pagodas for Buddha’s lectures. The ones who understand Buddhism will increase more benefits to their family and society.

At the end of the year, we often do the closing ceremony to look back the activities happing throughout the whole year. However, to Buddhists, we do not have to wait until the yearend to contemplate ourselves, but we always consider our sayings, action, and thinking. they should practice to decrease three Karmas purer. If you do it well you can come closer to awareness and release.

In the afternoon, on behalf of the venerables, Reverend Thich Tam Hoa explained definitions and meanings of basic teachings such as Taking Refuge, Three Germs, Ksama etc. After that, Buddhists were guided to practice the necessary etiquette for Buddhists such as holding their hands together, bowing, praying, ect

At 2pm, Senior Abbot Ven. Thich Chan Tinh and the Venerables came to the main hall for precept transferring. During the ceremony, he said a few words to them.

We were born to be humans in perfect six senses, understanding dharma, we are casual enough to return and rely on the three treasures. That is the blessing from many previous lives. In this world, there are poor people who follow false religion and have done bad things illegally; They will suffer great misery from this life to following lives.

Since previous incarnation, we have drifted in six rounds of rebirth. Although we have the bodies, we do not know about the purpose of life. Now we know the dharma; so we have to practice more often to create good things and keep five moral principles to attain good Karma. The Buddhists have to correctly aware of the taking refuge purpose, which does not mean to be blessed by Buddha or the Death God who will not punish after passing away. We do it to take refuge, to learn and practice what the Buddha taught.

After Taking refuge, the Buddhists should came to pagoda for more practice, at least once per month. If living far away, they should come back to the pagoda on the special occasion such as Anniversary of the Founder, Buddha’s Birthday, Ulumbana Ceremony etc. Besides, each family should set up a Buddha altar to worship at home.

Ending the day, Buddhists were offered a gift including a Sakyamuni story book, DVD on Ceremony of Taking Triratna Refuge, The Buddhist’s dignity, The messages from Senior Abbot Ven. Thich Chan Tinh, a VCD on Telling Hoang Phap Propagationin the US.

These are a few photos about the activities: