Opening the Summer Retreat 2023

On the morning of July 09th, 2022 (May 22nd, LC), Hoang Phap Pagoda officially began the Summer Retreat 2023; more than 2,600 students from all over the country were present at the Pagoda, practicing on the 1st day of the retreat.

The Organizers divided the young people into 10 families, living according to other areas. Monks in charge of other families guided and arranged places to eat, sleep, live, practice and study, accompanied with instruction in basic demeanor in the temple, such as clasping hands, prostrations, salutes, and rituals of offering lunch...

In the afternoon, Junior Thich Tam Truong, Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, Head of the Organizers of the retreat, had a dharma talk Blooming the mind's flowers

All sentient beings have Buddha nature as the Buddha's teaching; Summer Retreat at the pagoda will help the young have the opportunity to return to the spiritual place, learn the Buddha's words in the Lecturers’ speeches, being a cool stream watering the mind's good seeds. From there, the flower of mind in each listener has enough conditions to bloom and radiate fragrance.

No one is perfect in life; because of lack of rightview, sometimes, we cause suffering to ourselves and others. Having enough good conditions, listening to Buddha's teachings, young practitioners should realize the truth of cause and effect, know the truth, or wrong; what causes happiness, or unhappiness? From there, we choose good seeds to sow, transform and perfect our moral character, as well as knowing how to put ourselves in the situation of others to understand and sympathize. In particular, we should know how to love our parents more; live according to the ethical standards that the Buddha taught in five basic precepts; cherish our time, our life and what we have. By his lecture, the young have gained a valuable personal awakening to firmly step into life, towards a life of truth- good-beauty.

Then, he addressed some necessary rules for young practitioners to properly implement, and help them have a benefit and meaningful retreat.

In the evening, all attendees joined in activities, practiced together, and learned a main song in the retreat.

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