Opening the 86th Seven-Day Retreat

On Sep 10, 2017 (Jul 20, lunar calendar), Hoang Phap Pagoda officially opens the 86th Seven–Day Retreat (from Sep 10 – 17, 2017) with the participation of nearly 2.000 devout Buddhists from regions in the country.

In the morning of the first day of the retreat, in the lecture halls, practitioners join the orientation course with guideline about regulations, accommodation, lecturing halls, and etiquette for Buddhists in the retreat as pressing palm together, bowing, kowtowing, praying rite before lunch, ...

At 14:00, Venerable Thich Tam Dao, Deputy Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, shares audience the Dharma talk on the theme "Meaning and Purpose of Seven-Day Retreat"

1. Meaning:

It is necessary for us to distinguish the difference between “Phat That” and “Nhap That”.

“Phat That” is a seven-day retreat in which people gather at an ashram/pagoda to practice Buddha's name recitation.

“Nhap That” is a personal retreat in which practitioner stays in a remote location (a room, a house…) to meditate/practice with optional duration.

2. Purpose:

Hoang Phap Pagoda holds seven-day retreat to facilitate practitioners an ashram to practice, to minimize secular bondage/clinging manner, to promote morals, to recite Buddha’s name and experience the ease and bliss in Buddha’s Dharma.

a. To minimize secular bondage/clinging manner:

The retreat facilitates practitioner certain conditions to minimize/cease bondage or clinging manner of mind to secular issues at least in 7 days (or more).

b. To practice

It means cultivating our body and mind. It is said in sutras that our mind is more likely the monkey mind wandering, self-indulgence, bustling in every moment. Our thoughts also run about like wild horse. In the retreat at pagoda, clergy men facilitate us the environment and conditions to practice and calm down our mind, using regulations and practicing courses/ methods.

c. To promote morals/virtue

During the retreat, we study and practice following Buddha’s example, keep the three vajras (three great powers, body-speech-mind) in awakening and mindfulness, shy away from wrong doing, erring, and suffering for ourselves and others.

d. To wholeheartedly recite Buddha’s name

It means reciting Buddha’s name with concentration. We cannot earn best benefits from recitation with monkey mind.

e. To experience bliss and ease

Fulfilling the four above mentioned items can bring us bliss and ease in mind. This is the ultimate goal of practice.

Ending the Dharma talk, devout Buddhists officially entered the 86thSeven-Day Retreat.

Following are recorded photographs:

BBT Website