Opening the 97th Seven - Day Retreat

In the morning, Most Thich Chan Tinh, Master of Hoang Phap Pagoda came to the 1st floor of Dharma wheel Building to give instruction to four-group disciples.

In this special time, monks, nuns and Buddhists from all over the country practiced and recited the Buddha's name together. Some of the practitioners are attending for the first time, so, they don't understand well about the retreat. On this occasion, the Most talked about the process of forming and developing the seven-day retreat at Hoang Phap pagoda in particular and Vietnam in general. From the retreat until the producing of other programs such as: Summer Retreat, Marvelous Site of Buddhism, Light of Dharma, Sun Flower, etc, all have a strong influence at home and abroad to aim at all individuals and classes know the Buddhadharma, bringing the light of truth to illuminate their own lives. Through this, the Master reminded the mass: Living is dedication, dedication is living forever; until leaving this world, we will contribute something for life.

Then, all Monks, Nuns and Buddhists respectfully welcomed Venerable Monks to the lecture hall to witness.

Present on the stage were Most Thich Tinh Nghiem, abbot of Van Hanh Pagoda, Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa; Most Thich Hoang Tri, Abbot of Van Duc Pagoda, Thu Duc City; Most Thich Nguyen Hanh, Abbot of Tan Chanh Pagoda, Dien Khanh, Khanh Hoa; Most Thich Nguyen Minh, Abbot of Sac Tu Kim Son Pagoda, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa and Junior Thich Tam Truong, Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, Hoc Mon, HCMC, Head of the Organizers of the Retreat.

First, Most Thich Tinh Nghiem has some words of advice to the mass. The Buddha Recitation Assembly is a place where four-group disciples together are respectful, joyfully reciting the Buddha's name with one heart towards the Buddha, towards the Pure land of Amitabha Buddha. He instructed them how to recite Buddha's name until the Buddha's name is always in our mind. This practice requires constant maintenance and over a long period of time it becomes a habit.

After that, Junior Thich Tam Truong popularized the retreat program with the purpose and rules to help the mass understand and rely on the practice to cultivate better.

At the lecture halls in the afternoon, monks and nuns together reviewed the four demeanor and how to practice and recite the Buddha's name; Buddhists are guided by the monks in the Organization about the necessary rules of Buddhists when attending the retreat, such as clasping hands, greeting, bowing, practicing the ritual of offering meals in the lunch.