One Day Retreat for Student

After registering and receiving pass cards, students gathered in front of the main hall to attend the rite of flower lantern offering to the Sangha, expressing gratitude to the monks, being silent teachers, who have dedicated their lives to vows of nurturing seeds of wisdom and benefiting to all sentient beings.

At 20:00 pm, the mass welcomed the Sangha entering the platform to witness the ceremony.

After declaring the reason and the introduction of participants, Giac Ngo pagoda's Buddhism Singing Group had a musical performance to offer Buddhist music to the Sangha, honoring the noble vows of monks.

On behalf of the students, they offered wishes and tea of gratitude to the Monks.

Next, Junior Thich Tam Truong, Abbot of the pagoda, had dharma words to all participants.

The monk praises the young’s gratitude and repayment when they know how to refuse outside fun to return to the temple to study, leading their mind to the temple with silent teachers. We are present in this life and are full from material to spiritual thanks to many graces. In society, no existence can form and presence without the community combination and connection: thanks to the grace of our parents for giving birth and nurturing us, we have a human body; the teachers who give us knowledge and career; the Sangha and the Dharma has spreaded enlightenment us in life. In addition to those graces, we received many great graces as our country, all living beings ...

After His enlightenment gained, Shakyamuni Buddha used His verbal teachings and body to conduct others about gratitude and repayment. In the same way, from the virtues and teachings of the pagoda's Most Master, we should take it to follow, live devotedly towards the benefit of others: giving alms, protecting Three Jewels, being filial to parents - grandparents, try to study, not self-destroy ourselves, keep five precepts the Buddha taught to be worthy of what we have received, become good children, good students, true disciples of Buddha.

The program will be followed by a candle transfering ritual. The light of the candle symbolizes wisdom, compassion, and filial piety spread from the Buddha altar to the Abbot, the Monks, and to the young. The magical shimmering light seemed to connect the loving hearts of the attendees.

On behalf of the disciples, Novice Tam Luong offered his gratitude to the Most Master.

At the end of the rite, all students arrange lanterns to make offerings.

The ritual ended in the joy of the mass.

Over 2700 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 Nov. 05th, 2023.

By the guidance of monks, a meditation sitting session started with cool weather at 5: 00 a.m, all students received positive energy for a new day full of happiness.

 At 8:00 am, the mass started the chanting Eight-thing Sutra, Kindness Sutra and meditative sitting.

After that, Nun Dr. Thich Nu Huong Nhu, Member of Dharma Propagation Board of VBS of HCMC, Lecturer at HCMC Vietnam Buddhist University, Abbot of Thien Quang Pagoda in Binh Duong province, lectured on the topic named The way returns home being still very far to all students.

On the upcoming gratitude day to those who sow knowledge seeds, the nun reminds the young about gratitude and repayment. Those who study Buddhism must have a firm belief in the Dharma; this body is made up of four elements, and will return to four elements. When the good and evil causes gathered in the 8th consciousness full of all conditions, a new live is formed, and then carry all those good and evil seeds; so, let's actively plant good causes from today, try to spend time taking care of our garden of mind every day to make it more lushing, and eliminating weeds (bad causes).

Spiritual life is very important, when having faith in the Dharma, we have the seeds of merit. To have a happy life, each person needs to have the right view, right thought, right concentration, right mindfulness, and keep five basic precepts of lay Buddhists.

Young people in modern society are easily drawn into fun and indulgent lives, leading to suffering and loss. Participants should remember, family is always a place to return, where there is the warm embrace of parents who love us endlessly and care for us. No one can avoid mistakes in life, if we know how to return home, our family will still be a safe haven. Don't wait until falling, the road to home will be very far. Practice breathing and rely on Buddha's words to calm the impurities in your mind; open your heart to love, sow good things, good results will surely come.

The students had an interaction with guest Tun Pham in the inspirational 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩 program in the afternoon.

Tun Pham shared in the program, learning Buddhism is an important factor that helps him transform himself, change his life, succeed and have a positive outlook in all situations. By very sweet and sincere confessions about himself and his family, Tun showed a broad knowledge of Buddhism, is a devout Buddhist, deeply believes in cause and effect. This is the factor that creates the achievements he is having. From the good things gained by the application of Buddhism, Tun wishes to spread positive energy to the young, live according to Buddha's teachings, transform the thinking, lead a life of truth, goodness, and beauty. After that, Tun interacted and answered questions from all attendees about life issues, and transforming their body and mind.

The day of practice ended with the joy of the young. Before leaving, the organizers gave each of them a Dharma gift, books named Good examples in East and West, volume 7, Lessons of Buddhists compiled by Most Thich Chan Tinh.

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