Hoang Phap Pagada Founder’s Death Anniversary

Ẩm Thủy Truy Nguyên - Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometimes drunk.”. It is deep in Vietnamese’s good tradition. Particularly, this spirit is profound in everyone’s heart, especially for Buddhists. At present, granted Buddhists’ appearance of “Perfect Sangha on Gem”, all with great grace of ancestors who gave precepts and wisdom. Besides, sitting in a solemn and peaceful ashram to cultivate, we cannot forget the founders’ favour.

With gratitude and a wish repaying His favor spirit and commemorating the founders who built and enlarged ancient solemn restful view; in the morning of Nov.15th, 2016 (Lunar Oct. 16th Monkey year), at Hoang Phap’s ashram, the 28th Late Most Senior Venerable Ngo Chan Tu’s Death Ceremony – Hoang Phap pagoda founder - was organized with the attendance of thousands of monks, nuns and Buddhists everywhere throughout the country.

Before the days of ceremony, abbots from many pagodas and monasteries together with Buddhists everywhere gathered to enquire after the abbot Superior Venerable’s health and participated in this event.

At 9 am, in a prajna drumbeat’s modulation, two Buddhist lines held palm formally and respectfully to welcome the Venerables’ walking in the lecture hall to perform the ceremony.

After introduction, in the calm and tranquil atmosphere, the mass saved a silence time in memory of high-principled Religious Master; who spent all His life for Buddhism. Meanwhile, at this moment, the mass commermorated to Late Junior Thich Tam Thuan, who totally managered, deservered well to the pagoda Hoang Phap‘s development and construction as this present.

To review His life and cultivation, Senior Venerable Thich Tam Hoa, Hoa Phuc abbot (HaNoi) represented for all Buddhists and followers who gave a life history of Late Most Senior Venerable Ngo Chan Tu to the mass.

To display Buddhists’ gratitude to Master’s grace, on behalf of lay people, Buddhist Lien Mai presented her impression about The Master.

Late Most Senior Venerable Ngo Chan Tu was born in a landowner family, lived a wealthy life at that time. However, with an early Buddhism’s understanding and absorbability, He followed “Dedicating wealth to get poverty, dedicating life for religion”, made up his mind heading to truth religion and cultivated Buddhism.

Then, his Buddhist affairs were a clear proof for the spirit of cultivation, religious serving, and beings, etc, following the Ancestor Bodhi Sattavare heart. It is a noble lesson, good example for late generations learning - a bright light on the cultivation path - propagation to his disciples.

Next, it is a story about the Ancestor’s words before his death, the Senior Venerable told the mass about noble lesson, it is “The Gratitude.” In the 50th to 60th year of previous century, the initator was from Northern to Southern to construct the pagoda, he received many supports of Buddhists, donators, and the lead of Asociation of the Engineering Corps at that time. After 1975, these soliders had gone to the US. Before 1988, when the founder was going to die, He reminded to the Senior if having a chance there, find out these soliders and remind Him to them. By the way, we’ve learned a noble lesson, which expressed the Founder’s spiritual gratitude. These ones were very moving when knowing that the Founder remains remembering them due to the faded and lasting time. In this story, the Ancestor is a wonderful teacher even it is a smallest thing. All of us, as the Buddhist children, should follow this example to attain our cultivating result.

In this year ceremony, there were performances of singer Duy Minh with song “Memorizing Master’s Grace” (composer Ha Mai Tan), singer Duong Quoc Hung with “The Teacher’s Heart” song (Tam Tuong composer), Van Khanh Artist chanted a poem named “Remembering the Master’s Gratitude” (Tinh Hai composer)

At the end of the ceremony, all the monks and Buddhists burnt incense to honor Late Most Senior Venerable’s Soul; then enjoyed a meal in a very close and warm environment.

Also in this event, attendees were given a DVD of “the Master’s Leading Merit”.

Below are some recorded pictures.

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