Opening “83rd Dharma Seven-day Cultivation Retreat”

On Aug 21st, 2016 (July 19th Monkey Year), 83rd Dharma Seven-day Cultivation Retreat officially took place. More than 1800 Buddhists from many provinces around the countries gathered at Hoang Phap Monastery and attended the retreat.

In the morning, good man and believing women were instructed fundamental demeanors: walking, standing, laying, sitting, worshiping the Buddha, saluting someone, rituals of offering the worship, etc. at the preaching halls. Then, Buddhists were arranged fixed places to eat, sleep, and listen to the lecture.

 

In the afternoon, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the Abbot of Hoang Phap Monastery, shared rules and regulations with attendees. The Senior Venerable also answered some Buddhists’ questions about method of reciting Buddha’s name.

 

The question was that: “Does the Southern sect fof Zen follow method of reciting Buddha’s name? If so, what are differences and similarities in practicing between the Southern sect and the Northern one?”. He clearly answered the question to the assembly.

 

In Angutara-Nikaya 1 sutra, section 1, it was written that: “Bhiksu, there is a method to achieve contemplation of mind to peace, wisdom, enlightenment and far from boredom, greed, death. What is it? It is method of reciting Buddha’s name, reciting Dharma, reciting Samgha, reciting precepts, reciting Dana, reciting the devas, reciting when breathing in, reciting when breathing out, reciting death, reciting body, reciting peace, etc.” Therefore, method of reciting Buddha’s name had been existed when Buddha was in the world.

 

In Southern sect’s tradition, it was said that sutra of Mahayana would existed after Buddha was in Nirvana. For that reason, they did not hope that Amitabha Buddha would welcome and escort, and did not believe the existence of the Pure Land. Primitive method of reciting Buddha’s name reflected Buddha’s good marks, virtues, blessings to reach the contemplation. To Northern sect, according to Amitabha’s sutra, practitioners practicing method of reciting Buddha’s name resolved to have a birth in the Pure Land.

 

However, the similarity was to achieve contemplation of mind on the basic of precepts, concentration, and wisdom in both Southern sect and Northern one. When reciting Buddha’s name in contemplation, worry, confusion or disbelief would be no longer come as reciting Buddha’s name was thinking toward good things. The main goal of retreat is to escape greed and death, and achieve peace, wisdom, nirvana. Reciting Buddha’s name is for becoming a Buddha, so whether Amitabha or the Pure Land exists, it is not important at all. Nothing has an influence in retreating since the goal of reciting Buddha’s name is to obtain precepts, concentration, wisdom, peace and happiness in this life.

 

After that, Senior Venerable stated the rules and retreat timetable to the assembly, some necessary conditions for success of the retreat. Ending the sermon, good men and believing women officially entered the 83rd Dharma seven-day cultivation retreat.

 

 Below are some images recorded: