One day Retreat for Vien Giac Ashram

On Dec 18, 2016 (Nov 20, lunar calendar), more than 1000 Buddhist devotees of Vien Giac ashram from Vung Tau, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, led by monk Thich Thien My, came to Hoang Phap Pagoda to attend the One-Day Retreat “ Sound Body Sound Mind” that was especially designed for them.

After the opening, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, had a Dharma talk. In which, he explained the purpose of the floral candle light ceremony as well as the meaning of light sharing.

Light sharing means the give-and-take of Buddha’s teaching, guiding people the right way of life. Buddhism offers us wisdom and the Path to Enlightenment. Therefore, as Buddhists, we should regularly learn the Dharma and Buddhism scriptures, then reflect and apply those into our daily life to benefit ourselves and others in the present as well as future.

A right Buddhist devotee should take refuge in Triratna and live aligned with five precepts that are the moral fundamentals. Additionally, we need to take responsibility for the family, society and our belief. In daily life, we should practice following the guideline of Eight-Fold Path to accumulate merit and wisdom for the Enlightenment.

After the Dharma talk from the Abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda, Dr. Do Hoang Giao, Head of the Nurse and Health Department of HCM City, had a talk regarding elderly pathological problems. During nearly an hour, the lecturer shared about the causes, symptoms and clinical signs of those, as well as how to prevent certain diseases such as diabetes, stroke, hypertension... This is an important topic for the mass because a sound body will facilitate a sound mind in practice.

In the afternoon, the participants learned about “Etiquette for Buddhists” in lecturing halls. Tiny details as pressing palms together, bowing, kowtow... take sensitive role helping the practitioners doing things in mindfulness with courtesy. After that, the Retreat continued with the walking recitation session.

In the evening, the participants gathered in the front yard to celebrate the Amitabha Day with floral candle light ceremony. In solemn and divine atmosphere, the mass shared candle light with the wish for a peaceful world to all the easeful sentient beings. The retreat ended in the joys of all.

Following are the recorded photographs: