One Day Retreat for Students

Over 800 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 March 09th, 2025.

One Day Retreat for Students

 

 

Over 800 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 March 09th, 2025.

 

There is a program to exchange and share the Dharma of Junior Thich Tam Truong, Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda to young attendees in the evening of March 8th, 2025.

 

March 8th is chosen as the day to respect and honor women around the world, this day in Vietnam is an occasion to remember and celebrate the first two historical female figures of the Vietnamese, Hai Ba Trung. From the example of women in the past and today, the Abbot reminds the young to always be grateful and respect their mothers, because this is the woman who sacrificed and cared for us the most, meanwhile, eliminate unfair prejudices about women, recognize and honor the great contributions of women who have granted to each family and society, demonstrating equality in the spirit of Buddhism.

 

  Starting the energy full day is a meditation course in front of the main hall under the monks’ guidance at 5 a.m of March 9th, 2025.

 

Young people gathered in the lecture hall at 7 a.m to solemnly chant the Sutra of Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone (Bhaddekaratta).

 

After that, the students listened to a dharma talk named “Happiness as being a disciple of Buddha” preached by Junior Thich Minh Thien, Abbot of Duc Thien temple in Binh Duong province at 9 a.m.

 

The monk pointed out that there is more suffering in life than joy and happiness, so, people crave happiness more intensely. Happiness has no specific limit, joy has no clear standard, it is simply the satisfaction of a desire at that time. That happiness exists but is not lasting, because it depends on the gains and losses of the situation. Buddhists are very fortunate to be taught by the Buddha - the One who holds the secret to building complete happiness.

 

Without leading us to seek happiness in money or desire, the Buddha guides us to return to ourselves, calm the turmoil of the mind to see clearly the nature of everything in life, contemplate and feel happiness in the simple things around us. Do not naturally have peace, or have no suffering, Buddhism disciples go through suffering and still keep its mind calm and peaceful. Thanks to understanding cause and effect, we do not hold grudges when encountering uncertainties; thanks to uncertainties and difficulties, we diligently do good deeds, stay away from evil; thanks to encountering good things and luck, we have more motivation to practice hard and accumulate merit. The boundless happiness of Buddhists is when they have the Triple Gem to rely on absolute faith, stay safe in the worldly storms; thanks to this, we can firmly take peaceful and happy steps on our journey in life.

 

Young learners continued their practice session with the chanting of The sutra to eliminate sorrows (Aghatavinaya) in the afternoon.

 

The practice day closed in joy for all attendees with gifts given by the Organizers.

  

Images recorded: