Impressed night of Amitabha Buddha's Birthday in 2021

On Dec. 20th, 2021 (Nov. 17th, LC), Hoang Phap pagoda solemnly organized the candle lighting night to celebrate Amitabha Buddha’s birthday. Currently, the Covid-19 epidemic is still very complicated; therefore, the ceremony only organized in the attendance of pagoda's members and its scale is smaller than every year.

In the reverent and quiet atmosphere at 6 pm, the mass respectfully welcomed the presence of the Sangha to witness the ceremony. Three times of Prajnà bells grumbly, the Sangha steps by steps in their righteous mind towards the platform. Next, participants calm their minds to listen to chanting from Junior Thich Tam Trieu. The peaceful energy covers and spreads everywhere in the gentle joy of all.

After giving the reason for the ceremony, all practitioners direct their minds to the statue of Amitabha Buddha to offer incense for Him.

The most important moment is the light-transferring. Senior Thich Chan Tinh, as the head of organizers, Abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda lit candles from Buddha’s altar, and then transferred to the monk and Buddhists. That action is to transfer boundless wisdom and compassion, shining in mind of each person, bringing them back to their gentle and pure nature.

Candlelight is lit to dispel the darkness of suffering and ease the sorrows of human life. The night of candle light is to pay homage to Amitabha Buddha, each person with a good mind will have together to build a beautiful and prosperous country, a peaceful world, and good humanity.

In those sacred moments, the mass gathered together towards the platform to chant the Buddha's praises. The ceremony just finished, Junior Thich Tam Truong, Deputy Organizers, had a few words of memory about the Covid-19 victims around the world. The pandemic is a wake-up call for each person to look back itself and life's problems. The mass vows together to spread peaceful energy create a good magnetic field, dispel the epidemic. After that, the whole joined hands to read verses of "The sound of Amitabha reciting".

Preaching dharma words to the ceremony, Senior Ven Thich Chan Tinh had a speech to listeners about The practice method of Pure Land practitioners is an unanimous mind to recite the Buddha's name and diligently cultivate three blessings of pure karma. These are the main conditions for sowing good causes, merit and blessings, so that they can be reborn in the Pure Land in the future. At the same time, the monk talked about the merit and blessing that mentioned in the Amitabha Sutra, that is, practice and giving (giving of material, giving of Dharma, and giving of fearlessness). From here, he shared how to overcome the Covid - 19 pandemic by nasal inhalation, exercise... Especially, it is the importance of abdominal breathing exercises, breathing regulation.

The ceremony ended with the image of a magical, shimmering candle lit area, a sacred space offering to Amitabha Buddha.

Images recorded: