Ha Noi: 150 Buddhists attending the Eight Precept Retreat at Hoa Phuc Pagoda.

In harmony with the atmosphere of being towards to the Buddha’s Birthday 2019 (Vesak 2019), as well as on the program of periodic cultivation of Hoa Phuc Pagoda, in April 5-7th 2019 (Lunar March 1-3rd the Pig year), Hoa Phuc Pagoda – located at Hoa Truc village, Hoa Thach commune, Quoc Oai district, Ha Noi City held solemnly The Eight-Precept Retreat lasted 3 days 2 nights for 150 Buddhists.

This retreat was popular to the Buddhists. However, on this occasion, it was special for the cultivators towards to the birthday anniversary of 118 years of the Great Master Ngo Chan Tu – the founder of the Hoang Phap Pagoda (HCMC) (March 03rd, 1901 – March 03rd, 2019). Witnessing and instructing on this retreat are Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hoa – abbot of Hoa Phuc Pagoda; Junior Ven. Thich Tam Phong; Junior Ven. Thich Tam Tuy and monks from Hoa Phuc Pagoda.

Before transmitting precepts, Buddhists attended to a time of Ksihitigarbha Sutra (upper chapter). It was praiseworthy about the spirit of Buddhists, especially those one are in high age but always enthusiastic in cultivating. Besides, Buddhists from Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Hai Duong provinces also arranged to gather at Pagoda to study.

In the solemn atmosphere, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hoa had a short dharma about getting “The eight commands”, Buddhists took a vow to study and follow the dharma precept.

On the three-day retreat, people were instructed to recite the Buddha's name, prostrate to the Buddha, meditate in walking, do blessing affairs. Beside the the Dharma talk of Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hoa, there was the Question-Answer program of Junior Ven. Thich Tam Phong; Junior Ven. Thich Tam Tuy also supported them to have some knowledge on their cultivating path.

Before abandoning rules for the Buddhists to end the retreat, monks and the Buddhists celebrated  together the Birthday anniversary of 118 years of the great Master Ngo Chan Tu. At this ceremony, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hoa had an advice to the Buddhists about the way of fulfilling duty of filial piety, how to celebrate the ceremony, to commemorate ancestor according the Buddha Dharma bringing benefits as well as blessing reward to the dead and the alive ones.

The retreat officially ended with the advice and instruction from abbot, he reminded Buddhists, the ones had just abandoning precepts to have normal life, however, they should apply these rules, self-warning to prevent the bad, do good things to accumulate blessing in each day. He also sent an invitation the Buddhists to attend to the One-day peaceful Retreat in April 14th, 2019.

Below are some taken photos:                                       Translated into English by Nguyen Thi Cam Nhung.