One-day Retreat at Dong Da Pagoda, Thanh Hoa province

The truthplot of Dong Da Pagoda organized One-day Retreat on Aug 28th, 2016 (July 26th Monkey Year) at Yen Khoai Village, Nga Yen Commune, Nga Son Town, Thanh Hoa Province.

In the retreat, Senior Thich Tam Hung delivered a sutra about “Offering Alms”.

 

In Ekottarikagama, section 3, chapter Eight troubles (published by VNCPHVN, 1998, p.p 137), Buddha taught:

“At that time, Lokajyestha (World’s most Venerable) told Bhisku:

If good men and believing women use their properties to offer, they will have eight blisses. What are they? First, offering on occasion, not in false time. Second, offering in pure mind, not unclean plot. Third, giving from our own hands, not from anyone else’s. Fourth, be willing to offer, not being proud. Fifth, be free to offer, do not hope for being repaid. Sixth, offering for nirvana (cessation of the process of becoming), do not hope for being born in the Heaven. Seventh, offering in the good field, not in unused land. Eighth, the bliss of offering is for the living beings, not for selves.

Bhisku! Therefore, good men and believing women using their wealth to offer will have eight blisses.”

After that, Lokajyestha told the version:

 

Wise men offer on occasion

Not having greed.

When doing good things,

Giving blisses to everyone.

Offering is peerless

Being praised by Buddha

Would have blisses at the present

Would have blisses of the Heaven after death.

 

So Bhisku! When you want to have those blisses, you should do these eight things. The blisses are so innumerable, which is sweet dew (the nectar of immortality), and gradually reach nirvana. For that reason, Bhisku should learn these things.

Then, Bhisku learned Buddha’s lesson and merrily followed it.”

By means of simple words and stories, the Venerable helped the assembly understand what offering was, why we should offer, what blisses were in normally physical life generally and in Buddhists’ life memtally. At the end of the lecture, he gave recommendation to Buddhists that we should lead a life with the mind of “offering” of Buddhism in order to have a happy life at the present and in the future. After the lecture, the assembly entered One-day retreat session.

In this retreat, organizers gave to all Buddhists VCDs: “Nothing stings like truth” delivered by Senior Venerable.

 Here are some images recorded