One Day Retreat for Student

Before that, in the lecture hall on the evening of Mar. 27th, 2021, all participants had a meeting of collective activities and interviews with the monks. The monks answered the questions about how to overcome inferiority feeling, how to raise one’s religious belief to lead leaving-home, how to transform anger in life, the problem of killing creatures at home and practicing mindfulness in life.

In the morning, monks instructed the participants to do exercise outside the main hall along with time to meditate. After having breakfast, they swept the leaves together around the temple yard. Next, they chanted the sutra “To Be Cultivated and Not to Be Cultivated” of the Majjhima Nikaya.

In the Dharma Wheel Building, the students were  divided into 5 groups: faith, diligence, contemplation, concentration, wisdom and then they excitedly started the Gameshow program. Candidates took excellent exams and quickly demonstrated their knowledge of the Buddha life, His disciples as well as Buddhist nouns. This is an opportunity to review together what they know and learn what has not been heard to help candidates correctly understand the Dharma. Their right perception is extremely important to avoid wrong views, superstition ... as well as to apply the Buddha's teachings in daily life .

In the afternoon, they gathered in the Dharma Wheel Building to listen to the talk from Junior Ven. Thich Tam Trinh with the topic Behind The Door of Love. Love has always been an eternal topic exploited by writers and poets as inspiration. Life with many colors, love also has many levels of emotions. This emotion is an immeasurable transformation from delight, happiness to be loved to suffering, boredom, despair. At the beginning of love, one often only sees the pink color, sweet tastes that forgets the bitter taste behind that sweet. The preacher showed out the depth of the "iceberg" in love. It is impermanence always hidden in emotional relationships, the suffering when separating from the loved one, or someone who destroys themselves because of the loss of support. Consequences behind the quick love relations are hurt mentally, physically and many problems occur. From the lecture, the monk hopes listeners to re-reflect on the issue of love, from which they will learn their lessons in life. Be wise to love, then drive force and support each other towards the good, not just tears or pain.

After that, a comedy performed by  the monks at the pagoda with the topic named Help a girl, or that girl will “help" again. This is a play about a girl's love with the monk. It is a wake-up call for young people. They should be careful in being friendly, close and let keep a certain distance from the monk.

Before leaving, the participants were given dharma gifts, including the book named East and west stories (part 1) and other gifts.

Some images recorded: