Glistening Amitabha Buddha Ceremony in 2025

Đến cửa chùa rũ bỏ trần duyên tính xấu
Vào điện Phật giữ gìn mối đạo tâm lành.

Update: 07/01/2026

The cold air of early winter enveloped the land, but this biting cold did not faze the Buddhist disciples. For in that atmosphere, the commemoration of the birth of Amitabha Buddha shone brightly upon humanity, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and warming the cold hearts. Harmony with the great ceremony, Hoang Phap pagoda organized the candle lighting night to celebrate Amitabha Buddha’s birthday with the participation of a crowd of Buddhists everywhere on Jan. 05th, 2025 (Nov. 17th, LC).

Glistening Amitabha Buddha Ceremony in 2025

In the reverent and quiet atmosphere at 18h p.m, the mass respectfully welcomed the Sangha to witness the ceremony. Three times of Prajnà bells grumbling, the Sangha was step by step their mindfulness towards the platform.

Next, participants calmed their thoughts to listen to the chanting verses from Junior Thich Tam Hieu. This energy spreads everywhere in the gentle peace to all the attendees.

After giving the reason and guests attending the ceremony, Junior Thich Tam Nguyet announced the opening speech for the candle lighting night.

All practitioners directed their minds to the statue of Amitabha Buddha to offer candles for Him.

On the most important moments, the Organizers respectfully invited Senior Thich Phap Dang to light the candle from Buddha’s altar, the light of compassion and wisdom to be passed to Junior Thich Tam Truong, Hoang Phap pagoda’s Abbot, monks and Buddhists. The continuation of those lights carries profound meaning, a wish for the Buddha's teachings to forever flourish, and for the Dharma ocean to endure amidst the ups and downs of the times.

That light also symbolizes the lamp of the mind within each of us in this world of five defilements. Now, having grasped the method of practicing the Buddha's name as the most supreme means, each person should return to our own bright, pure, and tranquil original mind.

In those sacred moments, the mass had together towards the stage, chanting the Buddha's praises.

Next, Junior Thich Tam Truong together with the mass read the poem "Twelve prayers of reciting the Buddha name," composed by Most Thich Chan Tinh.

The great ceremony became even more serene and peaceful in the hearts of each participant by the chanting of verses in the quiet moments. The boundary between the Saha world and the Pure Land is as if there were never any separation, because "when the mind is pure, the land is pure."

Preaching dharma in the ceremony, Senior Thich Phap Dang, Abbot of Hue Vien Pagoda (Dong Nai) gave some dharma words to the mass. He reminded Pure Land Dharma practitioners to always be firmly rooted in reciting the Buddha's name and the Amitabha Sutra, which are the essence of the Pure Land school. He advised that harmonizing external influences and the basis to achieve all aspirations, so that each practitioner can always maintain a steadfast mind and find peace in this life. As Master Jing An taught: "Take the Buddha's teachings as a whip to urge, and take good teachers and good friends as a firm hand to lean on."

Therefore, those who practice Buddha recitation live peacefully in the Pure Land of the human world, sowing good karma to be reborn in the pure land of Amitabha Buddha.

Remembering Amitabha Buddha is an opportunity for Buddhists to remember His 48 noble vows and virtuous actions, further strengthening our aspirations, increasing our faith in the Three Jewels, and nurturing our belief in the miraculous value of Buddha recitation.

By relying on His vows and practicing His teachings, we can achieve complete faith, vows, and practice. With single-minded devotion to six-word Amitabha Buddha at all times of walking, standing, lying, sitting, practitioners return to take refuge in the solemn, pure, and enlightened realm of the Buddhas, returning to the bright and itself pure original mind.