One-Day Practice

Good men and believing women from the provinces and HCM city gathered at Hoang Phap pagoda to attend One-day Practice on July 07th, 2024.

After having breakfast, all Buddhists came to the lecture halls to begin reciting the Buddha name, walking meditation and chanting precepts.

After the ritual, all practitioners listened to a Dharma talk named Buddhists' attitude towards slander, preached by Nun Dr. Thich Nu Minh Hoa, Lecturer of Vietnam Buddhist University in HCMC. 

The scandal and bad reputation that comes to each person is unavoidable and has more or less been experienced. As a Buddhist disciple, we need to be mindful when thinking, speaking, and doing, step by step transforming three-karma greed, anger, and ignorance.

The nun told the story 285 "The story of the wild boar in the Glass Cave (Precursor Manisùkara) of Khuddakapatha Nikaya, Volume 10. Even when the Buddha was in this world, he still could not avoid gossip, slander, and defamation of pagans... however, with a peaceful mind, He made the mass admire Him even more. The media in the current era has had many conflicting information streams which have a great influence on Buddhism. As a Buddhist, we must have the right view when looking at problems, not be affected by false rumors that lead to loss of faith and slander of Three Jewels. We should have the responsibility to protect the Dharma and uphold the Three Jewels forever. When we encounter something that is not true, we should not be angry, or hurt because of that. However, Buddhists cannot stay silent but need to speak up with a calm, peaceful, and mindful mind. 

We also need to have a humble attitude, no complacence in the face of compliments: Buddhists need to be gentle, considering whether the criticism is right or wrong. If the person criticizing is right, we thank and try to change. If the criticism is not correct, we should contemplate our karma and practice more diligently to change karma.

The nun shared story number 7 before ending the dharma talk "Nothing Too Much, or Too Little" in the chapter on Anger in the Dhammapada sutra, the Buddha said the verse:

227

An ancient saying, Atula,

not only said today -

"They are blame who silent sit,

who often speak they two are blamed,

and blamed are they of measured speech"

there's none in the world unblamed.

228.

There never was, there'll never be

nor now is ever found

a person blamed perpetually

or one who's wholly praised.

The dharma talk ended with the joy of the mass.

After reciting the Buddha name in the afternoon, Buddhists practiced sitting meditation quietly.

Before leaving the temple, Buddhists received book gifts.

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