Saturday, 04/18/2026
Lantern Lighting Ritual to commemorate Amitabha’s Birthday at Co Am Pagoda – Nghe An
Update: 18/12/2018
At 18 p.m, during Prajna Bell and Drum ringing, the masses greeted the Monks reaching the Lantern Lighting night to commemorate Amitabha’s Birthday. In the solemn and tranquil atmosphere, the mass sat together in the bell sound of mindfulness, deeply feeling of Dharma magic in our lives. Following the program, Junior Venerable Thich Tam Thanh, the abbot of Co Am Pagoda, chief of the organizing board, gave the opening speech. In the meaning of the vows of Buddha’s ten directions, the transmission of the lamp, the program is continued by this ritual which is the most important part of the night ceremony. The candles were lit to illuminate an endless belief in Buddhism in general and the Pure Land teaching in particular. These candles are lit by Monks, then passed to the Buddhists. In the solemn and tranquil atmosphere, themarvelous candles broke the ignorance from the immemorial time and bringing the intelligent lighting into this world for a happier life.
After the ritual offerings of Lantern lighting to Three Refuges, Junior Venerable Hwaung, the abbot of Medicine Buddha Pagoda, Incheon city, South Korea, gave a speech to congratulate the ceremony. He expressed his gratitude to the Venerable Thich Chan Tinh and the Abbot of Co Am pagoda Thich Tam Thanh, had invited the delegation to attend a solemn and impressive ceremony like this one. And this is the profound memories to promote the deep relationship between the two countries Vietnam and South Korea.
After that, the Buddhists of Medicine Buddha pagoda offered their singing in the Hanbok – Korea traditional costume to the Great ceremony.
Then, on behalf of the Monks, Venerable Thich Chan Tinh had some messages to the mass. Firstly, Venerable stated the sacred meaning of Lantern Lighting Ritual, the most important one in this ceremony. Then, Venerable advised the mass to follow three tranquility sources of felicity in Amitayurdhyana Sutras to practice.
Three sources of felicity is included:
1. Showing filial piety toward parents, respecting the elderly, maintaining a compassionate heart, keeping the ten commandments.
2. Taing Triratna refuge, keeping other complete commandments, and never lowering their dignity as well as maintaining a dignified conduct.
3. Waking the mind, longing for Bodhi, deeply believing in the principle of cause and effect, reciting and encouraging others to recite Mahayana Sutra.
These are the basic concepts that every Monk in particular and the Buddhists in general following The Pure Land teachings must understand on the path of practice. However, the important thing is how people apply these things in reality to achieve peace and happiness. This is the lesson that Venerable wanted to recommend to the mass.
At the end of the speech, Venerable expressed the profound gratitude to the two Venerable and the delegation of Duoc Su Pagoda in Korea and sent the best wishes to the whole congregation.
The ceremony ended in the joy of everyone.
Here are some pictures of the retreat:
