Wednesday, 04/22/2026
One-Day Practice
Update: 17/12/2023
After the ritual, all practitioners listened to a Dharma talk “Let's go through sadness together”, preached by Junior Thich Tam Tien, Bachelor of Buddhist University in Thailand - Master of Naropa Religious Philosophy, USA - Doctoral student at Boston University, USA.
- Gaining awareness continuously when we nurture our spiritual life and beautify the values of our body, speech and mind at the time we return to the temple. We will put aside the worries, plans, afflictions and sufferings of the world. Sitting together being present for each other, we feel the love from those around us. As society progresses and the facilities become more complete, people tend to spend more time searching for external values.
Unsatisfactory things suddenly happen, it causes sadness, people feel they are not valuable enough, do not receive the attention of others, or that life is unfair. The more we seek external values, the larger the void in our hearts. We don't have time to take care of our own values, most of our time is spent looking for attention from others. Gradually we become disconnected from ourselves; there are also people who feel that this world has no place for peacefulness.
- We often lock ourselves up and isolate ourselves when we have troubles. Sometimes, the sufferings and sorrows have passed, we stir them up and heat them up. Depressed people often cannot find the purpose of their lives, they live for responsibility, or to cope; the more talented and material successful people are, the empty they feel inside, the more they try to fill it with work, money, and fame. The more they look for external things to fit in, the greater the emptiness because they chase disease symptoms, not find its root. They seek to numb their emotions by turning to stimulants and addictive substances, this is a trend that today's youth have been suffering from.
To overcome suffering and sorrow, the Buddha taught there are two ways: don't move forward, don't stop. This is the middle path, thanks to which we overcome suffering. If we step forward, we will be swept away; If we stop, we will be drowned. We acknowledge that suffering and sadness are present within us. Accept its presence to transform, do not let it take us away, nor let it drown us.
In reality, all troubles will pass, but it takes time. Each person needs to know how to look deeply into the problem with wisdom, practice, meditate, find out what the cause is behind, and follow the guidance of spiritual masters to transform. Review whether the soil of our mind has been deeply plowed to nourish and make it more fertile or not, through elaborating practice: meditating, reciting Buddha name, chanting sutra, etc. The seeds of cultivation we practice every day are precious values, believe in the path we're on, don't let outside influences discourage us. When conditions are met, the seeds of peace and happiness will flourish.
We should know that everyone has troubles in life, so choose for ourselves a way of living that is loving, forgiving, and kind; From there, spread this good energy to everyone, sadness will pass, leaving only love and happiness.
After reciting the Buddha name in the afternoon, Buddhists practiced sitting meditation quietly.
Before leaving the temple, Buddhists received a Spring 2024 Calendar, Dharma book gifts, named "With All Your Heart, Lessons for Buddhists compiled by Most Thich Chan Tinh.
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