Monday, 04/20/2026
One - Day Retreat
Update: 22/06/2015
After breakfast, Buddhists concentrated on the lecture halls to listen Dharma talk by Senior Ven. Thich Chan Tinh – the abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda. Over one hour, he told stories of King Pasenadi and his 16 great dreams. Then, he explained those dreams.
King Pasenadi has the same age as the Buddha. He was on the throne at the age of 26 and governed the great kingdom of Kosala. He has a wife who is Queen Mallika. She trusts Triratna refuges. She guided the King to Dharma. When the King meets Buddha at the first time, he asked about supreme (perfect enlightenment). Buddha explained and told about four things which the King shouldn’t defy: A young prince, a young snake, a young monk and a little flame. After this meeting, the King took refuge and became Buddha’s disciple.
One time, the King met Buddha and displayed his sadness about decease of his grandmother. Buddha consoled and talked about impermanent – natured of human and living beings.
Another time, the King came and asked Buddha about methods leading to happiness for this life and next life. Buddha answered: That is Appamado Dharma (No Slackness). Angutara Nikaya IV sutra mentions the King’s visit to Buddha after his victory. He bowed low and kissed Buddha’s feet, proclaimed his name and presented the reason why he expressed respect to Buddha.
One day, King had sixteen strange dreams. He was worried and asked Brahmans about those dreams. All believed that those dreams are bad omen. The king must set up an altar with offering animals.
When things were under preparation, Queen Mallika requested the king to meet Buddha to ask about 16 dreams. The following are 16 dreams:
1. There are 4 black bulls. They run into the yard in aggressiveness. People flocked to watch them but they make noise for a moment and leave.
2. A cluster of tree bush rises from the ground. When it was few inches, it had flowers and fruits.
3. A female bull suckles of a young bull that was just born during the day.
4. People open a rope fastening strong bulls. Then they tied a rope to young bulls and use them to pull the cart.
5. A horse has 2 mouths and eats both at the same time.
6. Take an old gold bowl of hundreds of thousand gold coins for a dog to urinate.
7. There is person knitting a rope. As much he has knitted as a bitch wolf below his feet swallows.
8. There was a big water jug at the palace gate. People from everywhere constantly took water to pour in the jug until it is overflowing. Meanwhile, the jugs around are empty but nobody keeps a keen eye on it.
9. There was a deep lake. Water in the mid-lake is very muddy but water is clear in the lakeside.
10. Boiling rice in the cooker but it is not mixed completely. So a part is puply soft rice, a part is undercooked rice and a part is well-cooked rice.
11. People exchanged fresh butter for white sandalwood.
12. Gourd lianas are hollow but they sink into the water.
13. A large rock is as big as house but it floats on water.
14. Small frogs hunt giant snakes to eat.
15. A crow escorted by a retinue of valuable birds.
16. Chamois hunt tigers and teared them.
Buddha elatedly explained every dream and solve the king’s worries.
During the story, the Senior Ven. want to advise that everyone shouldn’t believe in dreams because they aren’t real. It’s waste money for explanation of that dream from fortune – teller. Sometime baseless foretelling cause we worry. We are puzzled about nightmare. Because we are anxious for the ruin of life, standing, property. Fortune-teller base on this and take advantage of psychology cause we are more puzzled. Killing animals for sacrifice that relieves bad luck is unreasonable and is contrary to causal principle. Therefore Buddhist should be judicious to this matter.
After Dharma talk, everyone started the course as usual.
Following are recored images:
Translated into English by To Le Van.