One Day Retreat for Student

On the evening of Sep. 02nd, 2023 before the practice day, thousands of young people eagerly returned to the pagoda waiting for the One-Day Retreat for students to be held tomorrow morning.

After registering and receiving pass cards on Saturday night, students gathered together in front of the main hall to come to the program "Lighting candles in gratitude to parents" during the Ullambana season.

At 19:30 pm, the mass welcomed the Sangha entering the platform to witness the ceremony.

After declaring the reason and the introduction of participants, Junior Thich Tam Truong lit candles from Buddha’s altar, and then transferred them to all monks and young Buddhists. That action is to transfer boundless wisdom and compassion, shining in the mind of each attendee, arousing their love and gratitude towards parents. Thousands of hearts seemed to beat together in a solemn and pure atmosphere. Then, the young people calm down and feel the generosity and gratitude to their parents in the monk's teachings.  The overflowing emotions of tears shed for regret for many mistakes, mixed with spiritual happiness when thinking about the deep gratitude to parents. After that, all participants knelt down to pay homage to the ten graces of their father and ten graces of their mother with all sincerity. By the way, Junior Thich Tam Truong had a few dharma words, reminding young people about filial piety.

At the end of the ceremony, the monks and young people took turns releasing loving candles into the water, as if sending all the feelings of children to their parents.

Over 5700 students from colleges and universities inside and outside Ho Chi Minh City returned to Hoang Phap Pagoda to attend One Day Retreat for Students on Sep. 03rd, 2023.

By the guidance of monks, a meditation sitting session started with cool weather in the morning to receive positive energy for a new day full of happiness.

After the breakfast, the Ullambana great ceremony for the young took place in the pure and solemn atmosphere.

At 8:00 am, the mass welcomed the Sangha entering the lecture hall of Dharma wheel Building to celebrate the great ceremony.

After declaring the reason, introduction of participants, the young in the student groups dignifiedly offered fresh flowers to the Buddha in ten directions and the Sangha at present to express gratitude and pray for peace, good health, and happiness for parents during the Ullambana season.

Next, Buddhists listened to the Meaning of Pinning Roses. Following the program is the ritual of setting roses. The young in the flower pinning team dignifiedly put a yellow rose on the monk’s yellow robe, symbolizing the noble deliverance and gratitude of the monk to his parents. After that, young attendees received roses and put them on their chests in boundless happiness when remembering their parents. Continuing the program, the mass listened to the reading "My thoughts" in the rising emotions of young participants during the Ullambana season.

On behalf of the Organizers, Junior Thich Tam Truong, Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda had some words to young listeners.

He reviewed the filial piety of Buddha Shakyamuni when he was still alive, and the Buddha's teachings in  Merit repayments for Parents. Indeed, we should be grateful and repay by nursing, respecting, and loving. We should encourage parents to learn Buddha dharma, take refuge in Three Jewels, do good deeds, avoid evils, so that parents can be happy now and in future lives. We have all the good fortune to go to the temple, listen to the Buddha's teachings, and obey His teachings. So, each person needs to take specific actions in paying filial piety to their parents and grandparents.

At the ceremony, all students listened to a dharma talk preached by Bhikkhu Giac Minh Luat is currently studying at Nhu Lai Thien Tu, San Diego, California, USA, PhD student at University of Thailand and the United States, Head of Nhan Sinh Club.

During the Dharma talk, the monk reminds young people:

Filial piety is the highest good and nothing is equal;

Unfilial piety is the highest evil and nothing is equal.

(Sutra of Forbearance)

The parents' merit of birth and nursing up to all of us is enormous; not only in this life, but each of us also has to be grateful to our parents for previous countless lives. In the Heart-Earth-Contemplation Sutra, the Buddha taught that the parents’ merit is extremely great. Therefore, being able to take care of our parents is the ultimate luck. Parents have given us form, life, everything material in life to boundless love. All the hardships of parents are just because of making sure their children have enough materials in life. Therefore, the young need to be aware and use that as a motivation to rise up and overcome all difficulties in living. Don't forget about the happiness in the family because of the fun outside. Let ‘s be filial children, be the pride of parents while they are still present in world; when our parents are gone far away in the future, we don't have to regret it later.

Contributing to the program's success were the lyric songs by singers: Bao An, Gia Khiem ...

All participants chanted the Ullambana sutra in the afternoon.

Participating in the great ceremony, the monks gave each Buddhist a gift of a Dharma book named Sadàprarudita Bodhisattva composed by Most Master Thich Chan Tinh.

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