Sunday, 04/19/2026
One-Day Buddha Recitation Retreat in Cambodia
Update: 11/04/2017
After having breakfast, buddhists gathered round the lecture hall for listening to sermon from Junior Venerable Thich Tam Truc, abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda in Cambodia; after more than an hour, The Junior Venerable has spoken to masses the topic: "Four Types of People in Life".
It was written in the Anguttara Sutra that, one day when the Blessed One was staying at Jetavana monastery, King Prasenajit came to prostrate the venerable teacher and he said that: the World Honoured One, after death would Brahmins be reborn back to offspring of Brahmin or to be reborn to Ksatriya caste, Vesa, Sudra? In order to answer this matter, the Buddha has pointed to four classes of people in life: First, people who live in darkness go in the dark; Second, people who live in darkness are bound for the light; Third, people who live in the light go in the dark; Fourth, people who live in the light are bound for the light.
Four ranks of people can be explained as follows:
First: People who live in darkness go in the dark.
There are people who were born in family of low birth, destitution, emaciated bodies but living in their lower life, also being ordered by ignoble person. That is called birth in the dark. In this dark place, they do the wrong things again, speaking the evil words, evil thoughts. For these reasons, after death they will be born into the evil land and being slid into a sink of iniquity, falling into hell; it is similar people who from darkness go in the dark.
Second: People who live in darkness are bound for the light.
Those who were born in lower family until they are commanded to do the mean things. So it is called birth in the dark. Those who live in this darkness but their bodies always do the right things, often speak the good words, good thoughts. For these reasons, after death they will be reborn in the good way, being born in heaven. Those are people who live in darkness binding for the light.
Third: People who live in the light go in the dark.
There are people who were born in rich families in present life, having the righteous figures, intelligence and wisdom...That is called birth from the light. But from this light place, they always do the wrong things, speak evil words, evil thoughts, For these reasons, after death they will be born in the evil way, falling into hell. People who live in the light go in the dark as are the same.
Fourth: People who live in the light are bound for the light.
Those who were born in rich families, happiness,.....to the serious figures. This is called birth from the light. From this light place, they always do the right things, speak good words, good thoughts. For these reasons, after death they will be reborn in the good way, being born in heaven. These are people who live in the light binding for the light.
From the Blessed One's teachings, the Junior Vvenerable would like buddhists to be aware that life of each person will be happy and holy or not. It does not depend on his praying and pleading, or rely on any influential deities but it depends on the practice of each person, and everyone has to know to cultivate for transforming the evil deeds into good deeds. It is not by birth that a person becomes noble or ignoble, but because of karma or action having thought arised that causes him to be noble or inferior.
His sermon was induced by many witty stories that are very close and practical, so attracting the attention of masses created a cheerful and friendly atmosphere, and it seems that the feeling of sadness and worry from everybody has gradually disappeared.
After a sermon, the masses come to the retreat as usual.
Here are some recorded images:
Translated into English by Ms. Giac Ngoc