Penitent Course on Feb 25, 2017 (Jan 29, lunar calendar)

In the afternoon of Feb 25, 2017 (Jan 29 lunar calendar), Buddhists from HCMC and other regions gathered at Hoang Phap pagoda to attend the regular penitent course.

After reciting Buddha’s name for his witness and blessing, the mass listened to the Dharma talk from Reverend Thich Tam Dien, monk of Hoang Phap pagoda, with the topic: "Practicing, is it difficult or easy?"

Beginning the talk with practical stories that he experienced during his time working for the consulting office of Hoang Phap pagoda listening to all the ups and downs situations, the Reverend showed us the value of practicing so that we can have the right view about that. Difficult or easy, it depends on the practitioners and their efforts.

The Reverend shared the mass about the meaning of “cultivation”. In order to have the eternal bliss that Buddha teaches us, the promotion in the spiritual life, to achieve the ultimate enlightenment and liberation, it is necessary for us to cultivate our mind. He shared about the briefing of Buddhism Dharma via the advice of O Sao (crow nest) Zen master:”Avoid the evil, promote the good deeds, keep your mind pure, that’s Buddhas’ teachings”.

To do so, Buddhists should acknowledge the Four Noble Truths, Cause and Effect Rule, impermanence, selflessness, and quartet immeasurable in mind as the fundamentals of Buddhism and perform them properly during their practicing.

At the end of the Dharma talk, the Reverend reiterated the topic “Practicing, is it difficult or easy?” combining with his personal experiences on the field as: let it be, be happy, be diligent, performing the quartet Loving Kindness-Compassion-Bliss-Equanimity all the time as the answer for the topic. Easy or difficult, it depends. If perform things properly, it will be very easy for us to practice, otherwise, there would be many obstacles on the Path to the Enlightenment.

After the talk, the course continued with penitent rites and the affirmation to observe the Five Precepts as usual.

Following are the recorded photographs:

BBT Website