Flowery lantern celebration for Bodhisattva Siddhartha’s enlightenment.

Under the instruction from Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda - Viet Nam as well as the invitation from Junior Venerable Thich Tam Truc, the abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda - Cambodia, the monks and Buddhists of the native Hoang Phap pagoda came to the branching Hoang Phap pagoda at hamlet 1, Svay Rolum commune, Takhama district, Kandal province, Cambodia in order to help celebrate the colored lanterns night for Bodhisattva Siddhartha’s enlightenment.

It was the second time that the Junior Venerable abbot organized the colored lantern-lit night at the monastery, although the pagoda was in the process of construction, which the material supply and personnel are limitted, but with the vow of a Tathagata messenger who wants to bring His Teachings to all social strata, he wasn't worried about difficulty in organizing the solemn and meaningful lanterns festival night; and on the purpose of "praying to be Buddha; saving to the sentient beings in samsara".

In this spirit, the festival night occured in the evening of January 17th, 2016 (Lunar December 08th, Goat year) under the witness of Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the abbot of the Hoang Phap pagoda - VietNam and resident monks in Cambodia.

 

The festival night took place during 3 hours. Opening the ceremony, it was the rites of calling the prayers to seek the sound of bell initiated prayers by Junior Venerable Thich Tam Tuong. Next was the incence rituals of  Buddha recitation and proclamation of reason; and then the rites of transmission of the Lamp was the most important part of festival night started by Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh. The Senior Venerable had proved and received the light of wisdom from the Buddha platform, then he transmited the light to the Junior Venerable abbot together with the respectable Cambodian monks; This light gradually spread over the whole congregation. All lights were burned which created a sparkling and marvellous atmosphere. This transmission and reception was as the inheritance of the Tathagata's eldest son for the good of Buddhist-truth and living beings so that to enlarge the Dharma, form which the transmission was even more lofty significance to express the spirit of six points of reverent harmony in two schools of Hinayana and Mahayana; Though They are not in the same countries, all are together towards the common goal of enlightenment and propagation.

 

Moreover, this transmission also meant to transmit the belief and truth. Lighting a lamp, on hand, means to light a good thought in our mind, when the clear sighted and wholesome mind was lit as similar as disappearing ignorance mind. Each lamp, on the hand, is the light of love and compassion to cross out the misery about coloured skins and race in order to construct the prosperous and durable Dharma. Each lamp is also a blessing for peaceful world, the happy and tranquil sentient beings; and wishing love and humanism. 

 

Ending the festival night was the Senior Venerable’s dharma instruction. By means of Bodhisattva Siddhartha ‘a enlightenment, he gently advised the whole Bodhimandala about the way to verify the truth or attainment. It is very difficult to attain the enlightenment if we do not have diligence in practice and the abnormal endurance. We are unable to overcome five desires and six objects in order to be reassured on the way seeking the Truth.

 

Attending in the festival were some singers such as Nam Cuong, Vu Bao, Hoang Ai My, Hanh Nguyen and the Cambodian dancing group performed.

 

In the afternoon of the same day, on the purpose to sow condition to Vietnamese people who lived in Cambodia, he came to organize the Triratna taking refuge for more than 100 believing people.

 

After the ceremony, the organizers offered more than 300 charitable gifts to the local residents who were in difficult situation.