Opening the 87th Seven-Day Retreat

This afternoon Dec 28, 2017 (Nov 11, lunar calendar), Hoang Phap Pagoda officially opens the 87th Seven-Day Retreat (from Dec 28- Jan 04, 2018) with the attendance of nearly 2000 devout Buddhists.

In the morning of the first day in lecture halls, practitioners get orientation session from organizer guiding about places for joining Dhamma talk, accommodation, dining room and necessary etiquette for participants during the retreat (as keeping silent, pressing palms together, bowing, kowtowing, praying rite before lunch and so on).

At 14:00, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, head of organizing department, delivers a talk to retreat practitioners.

To have peace, strength and development in a community, it is necessary for its members to be self-cultivated. Nevertheless, it will be a myth to expect 100% of perfection in any organization of this Saha world.

In the sangha at Buddha time, there were some violations because its members were not strong enough to overcome the desires of five senses. It is the same situation nowadays. The best ashram cannot be 100% pure. Hoang Phap sangha is no exception.

In 2007, Bhikkhuni Dieu Hoa, Abbess of Hung Nhi Son Pagoda in Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province, visited Hoang Phap Pagoda to meet with Abbot Thich Chan Tinh and offer Hung Nhi Son pagoda as a donation. At the moment, the clergy human resource of Hoang Phap sangha was not very crowd. Nevertheless, with the keen insistence from the Abbess, Abbot Thich Chan Tinh accepted her sincerity and sent Venerable Thich Tam Binh , a member of Hoang Phap Sangha, coming to serve and take care of the ashram of Hung Nhi Son pagoda.

After completion of all relevant procedures, at Abbot appointment day for Hung nhi Son pagoda, the ex-Abbess changed her mind and wanted to take back the donation. Abbot Thich Chan Tinh approved her will and bought two other pieces of land on a total area of ​​10.000m2 in Cua Duong commune, Phu Quoc island, Kien Giang province for Venerable Thich Tam Binh to keep on practicing and preaching Dhamma.

With great compassion and belief in his disciple, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh has entrusted Venerable Thich Tam Binh the full right using the land as a worship place. On Nov 02, 2017 (Sep 14, lunar calendar), when coming to Phu Phap ashram, Kien Giang province to hold Buddhism refuging rite for aspirants, Abbot Thich Chan Tinh got the information that one of two pieces he had bought to build Phu Phap pagoda was being sold.

Further information of this incident was shared during the talk. Senior Venerable Thich Chan wanted the mass having right-understanding of the issue to avoid bad rumor and perform properly in respecting and doing donations to clergy people.

Following are recorded photographs: