One-Day Retreat at Hoa Phuc Pagoda – Hanoi

In a short time, he made Buddhists understand the true meaning of the practice through the story of a pagan on 25-year practicing the supernormal power to use magic to fly across the river but he used his ridiculous mind when he saw a Zen master who had practiced for 30 years without knowing how to use magic and had to stand in line to buy tickets to the river. After hearing the Zen master answer his question, the pagan came to realize that he was very ignorant. I took 25 years to fly over this river and only half a day to pass the other shore.

From the short story, the Venerable shared with Buddhists that we should focus on supernatural power. We practice enlightenment, not for magics. In the disciple of the Blessed One - he also did not allow his disciples to use or abuse the supernatural powers, but only to encourage his disciples and followers to practice the disciplines to transform suffering, trouble in the mind to have peace, liberation.

But now many Buddhists prefer mysterious things, secretly and say that the Buddhist recitation did not give fullness of the virtues, but must join the ashram and go to memorize recitation in three sessions for blessings toward the whole family ancestors. It is thought that doing this is for their and ancestors’ to the Pure Land. Taking the ashram opportunity is thought to to pray for the ancestors’ Pure Land, but doing this alone does not complete them.

If Buddhists say and think so, they do not understand and do not have right views. We must understand that memorizing recitation in three sessions for blessings toward ancestors is based on the sutra to chant Amitabha and recite the Buddha for dedication to ancestors. In the Ksitigarbha Sutra, Buddha made it very clear that if we know how to cultivate, to create good deeds for the deceased, the reciters attain six parts, the dead gets one portion. If they sincerely, dignifiedly and purely recite the Buddha's name and praying for the merits of this meritorious deeds for all of them, the spiritual, the family, and the dead. We just need to initiate the mind so we have full spirit of self-gain and benefit of the Bodhisattva. Buddhists must remember that the more open the mind is, the greater the blessing grows. And if they go to the Dharma, but their mind is broken, lost, compared and impure, there will be no virtue.

We learn that Buddhists must understand the Buddha's teachings. In Amitabha sutra, Buddha said recitation with purity, without anger is the merit of ours. From these merits, we transform our own karmic strength and turn our lives on to our loved ones, who benefit from life.

Therefore, our recitation in three sessions for blessings toward the whole family ancestors depends on our blessing growth. We have to look back to going to Dharma Assembly. Buddhists ‘nemesus recitation mind is peaceful light enough to have the merit, and then from that, they will transfer that merit to his relatives and then they, themselves, receive it.

In Buddhism, the 10 dharma worlds revolve around one mind. Both the Buddha and belong to ourselves. So we need to have a deep insight into our own mind to have complete merit. Never think that this sutra has no benefit, this sect has no enlightenment. "Namo Amitabha Buddha" does not get much merit by reciting "Amitabha Buddha". Benefit or liberation is in each of us. No matter how much we go, how many mandalas to practice, how mach namine without mindfulness, it is better to recite a few in mindfulness.

His Dharma talk has helped Buddhists understand more about the Buddha's teachings. Since then, they try to transform for themselves and for others.

Continuing the program of "One Day of Peace", the participants were planned to chant “Ksitigarbha Sutra” and “Dharma Ask and Answer” by Venerable Thich Tam Giai - Hoa Phuc Pagoda’s Sangha and Bao Tram, their leading tutor.

The following is the image of the retreat: