One-day retreat at Dong Cao Pagoda, Thanh Hoa

All activities in life are back to normal including religious activities when the Covid-19 pandemic is under control in Viet Nam. With the permission of the government as well as Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, on Sunday of May 17th, 2020 (April 25th, year of rat), Dong Cao Pagoda (Yen Khoai, Nga Yen, Nga Son, Thanh Hoa) organized One-day Retreat of reciting the Buddha’s name for Buddhists inside and outside the district to attend.

Beginning of the retreat, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hung instructed all participants to practice meditation and awaken in the present moment. Next, the mass chanted sutra of repentance for the Six sense-organs and reminded three Refuge, five Precepts, as well as releasing creatures into the nature.

After that, Buddhists' leader, Buddhist Tinh Hung read the rules at the pagoda to practice and joyfully singing  together in the religion activity.

At 9:30 a.m, the mass invited Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hung to the lecture hall to lecture dharma with the title "Eight characteristics of lotus that cultivators need to experience". Passing over an hour, by his brief words and own experience, Ven. Thich Tam Hung clearly stated the eight characteristics following: "Immaculateness, cleanness and clearness, patience, perfect harmony among all differences, freshness, righteousness, non-attachment, cause and effect corresponding to each other" to help the mass firmly on the path of Buddhism cultivation. The talk ended in attendees’ happiness. Next, the mass had the meal of lunch in mindfulness.

After having relaxing lunch breaks, at 13:30, the Junior Abbot instructed the participants to sit quietly to find themselves happy in the present. Next, the mass had meditative walking of reciting the Buddha's name led by Buddhist Dieu Thang.

At the end of the retreat, it’s the moment for all people sit down and share the cultivation experiences to each others. 

Some images recorded: