One-Day Peaceful Retreat in the ending of the Cat year at Suoi Phap Pagoda

Full of Buddhists everywhere returned to Suoi Phap Pagoda (belonging to the Hoang Phap’s custom) in Tan Chau, Tay Ninh province to attend One-day Peaceful Retreat on Jan. 28th, 2024.

After gathering in the main hall, all practitioners began to practice reciting the Buddha's name and walking meditation instructed by Junior Thich Tam Huong, Abbot of Suoi phap pagoda. He preached that when the last days of the year approach, we prepare to welcome the lunar Year of the Dragon. Spring comes, we often think of wishes and hopes in the New Year for health, peace, success... Spring is a symbol of warmth and arousing strong vitality.

Thus, we should live in mindfulness and awareness to have a meaningful Tet with family, relatives and friends:

- Do not commit evil in your body, keep your body pure, and diligently do good to bring benefits to people and creatures.

- Keep your mouth pure, do not speak or discuss other people's mistakes. The ancients taught that "other people's faults are our own faults, it is the same nature that gives rise to compassion". Why do we suffer and afflict? Basically, because of looking, examining and discussing other people's mistakes, we forget to look at ourselves or are full of karma and pity. In other words, we use a mirror to look at other people's faces, forgetting that our faces are also full of stains, dust. That dust is the evil mind: greed, anger, ignorance, jealousy, envy and selfishness.

- Pure thought is to always remember and repay four gratitude to Father-Mother, Patriarch-Three Jewels, Country and sentient beings; If achieved, we will have a meaningful Spring.

After the practice in the morning closed, Buddhists came to the dining hall to have lunch.

In the afternoon, the mass chanted the Buddha name and walked meditation.

The cultivation day ended in the joy of the mass.

Some images recorded: