Fifth day of Summer Retreat 2023

The morning of July 13th, 2023 is the fifth day of the retreat. All students gathered at the lecture halls to listen to teachings named What to do when a person is betrayed, cheated? preached by Nun Thich Nu chuc Hieu, Abbot of Bo De monastery in California, U.S

None of us are avoided at once in life from being betrayed, or deceived by someone we trust, love, or someone we’ve already known; because of intimacy, we put all our trust and lack consideration in communication. Therefore, when we are betrayed, deceived, we feel miserable, and lose faith in life.

How to avoid being cheated? We need a way to look at the person's behavior, personality and habits to put our trust without wrongness. She showed methods to transform the disappointment and suffering of being deceived by someone: practice compassion; keep a good attitude so that someone can see that there are still good people in life; No matter how difficult the situation, try to stay honest, not deceive people, as well as contemplation of cause and effect because everything has its cause and effect.

When we are betrayed, what should we do? The nun taught the method of reflection: think of ourselves being another person; think of others as ourselves; think of others being other ones; think of ourselves as ourself. Instead of suffering and disappointment when being pushed into a deadlock situation by life, let's take it as an opportunity to rise up, take another step forward in our practice, and transform our hearts to succeed. As Buddhists, when we are betrayed or deceived by someone, we need to have a transformational method to make our life peaceful, namely: letting go, forgiving, learning to love, and be grateful. In fact, we need to cultivate our own merit and virtue in order to have happiness and joy both in this life and in future.

In the afternoon, all students participated in a writing contest on the topic "Blooming the flower of the mind".

The refuge taking ceremony has a very important meaning, marking the time when a person officially becomes a Buddhist. Then, that one has entered the Buddhist house and has a good spiritual path for his life.

This ritual for nearly 1,000 students took place in the presence of monks at the temple. From countless kalpas drifting in the cycle of birth and death, no one avoids making mistakes, and doing evil things by ignorance obscured. Therefore, each of us needs to recognize our mistakes and vow not to repeat them. By the way, the Most has created conditions for precepts’ receivers to repent of three pure karmas before becoming a Buddhist disciple. On behalf of the monks present, Most Thich Chan Tinh transmitted Three Refuges and Five Precepts to the disciples. Next, the Master gave instructions and encouraged new Buddhists on the path of practice.

The Most Master has very clearly analyzed the benefits of people taking refuge in the Three Jewels and keeping five precepts taught by the Buddha.

Thanks to being born and raised by our parents, we are present in life. As a child, if we do not know the name of father, mother; do not know the age, hometown, occupation, place of residence, the life of the parents is a mistake; that could be said to be an unfilial son. Likewise, as a disciple of the Buddha, if we do not know the Buddha's name, the Buddha's parents, where He was born, why did He become a monk; … can also say that we are an unfilial son of the Buddha. By the way, the Most encouraged receivers of the precepts to read books about the life of the Buddha such as: Old Path White Clouds, Summary of Buddha Shakyamuni...

Each of us has two origins, blood and spirituality. For Vietnamese people, Buddhism has a spiritual root from ancient times. Belief conversion is an individual's freedom; When we convert, we must aim for nobility. Realizing another religion is more perfect after researching, we can convert, should not convert because of the threat of force, or run after fame and profit, love but betray its own spiritual roots. Buddhists must have righteous faith. No god or saint blesses or causes harm to anyone, but the blessing is caused by each person's cause and effect, sowing the cause and picking the fruit by himself. Buddhist learners need to believe deeply in cause and effect, spend time going to pagodas to study Dharma, practice vegetarianism, keep precepts, and practice the Buddha's teachings in order to have peace and happiness in life, not fall into three evil realms, and be reborn a peaceful landscape in the future.

The full personality of a devout Buddhist is as above, and contributes to building a better society.

Pictures recorded: