Reflections on the 107th Buddhist Retreat

Among the hustle and bustle of life, the presence of people with shared interests who come to the pagoda, the presence of the esteemed Buddhists in this retreat is like a Bodhi family, guiding each other on the path to liberation and building a Pure Land in this world.

 

We have accumulated karmic debt from many lifetimes, as high as a mountain, due to the three poisons of greed, hatred, and delusion. Our legs are weary, our minds burdened by illusions; without the connection to Buddhism, suffering would only pile upon suffering, sins upon sins, and endless cycles of reincarnation in the six realms. How fortunate we are! This pagoda is a solid spiritual home. Thank you, Hoang Phap Pagoda, for providing us with the opportunity to practice and study, helping us realize that in this world, parents build estates to pass on to their children, but in the Dharma, as the Buddha taught, "Be heirs of my Dharma, not heirs of material possessions." The Buddha himself abandoned his golden palace, his highest position, and his wealth to wear only the tattered robes of the Buddha.

 

We respectfully express our deepest gratitude to Shakyamuni Buddha – the founder of Buddhism – for introducing us to the Western Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. To reach that realm, we must maintain faith, vows, and conduct, possessing sufficient virtuous roots, merit, and karmic connections. In other words, we must study the Dharma, practice the Dharma, and seek the core of the tree, not just pick the branches and leaves. Deeply believing in the Buddha's teachings, deeply believing in karma and its consequences, and honoring the true Dharma, let us persevere, be diligent, and persistently repent at all times and in all places.

 

The 107th Buddhist retreat included a special day- the Great Celebration of the Birthday of Amitabha Buddha (November 17th, Lunar Calendar) – the Supreme Compassionate Father whom every Buddhist devotee respectfully contemplates. We are immensely grateful to our Master, the Abbot, and all the Venerable Monks who have made silent and noble sacrifices, always upholding and promoting morality, virtue, and the aspiration to propagate Buddhism, as the name of the pagoda, "Hoang Phap," suggests. They have created all the means for practice and learning to educate sentient beings to escape ignorance and the cycle of birth and death, always showing compassion and serving others, helping us to remember Him and wholeheartedly recite the sacred name "Namo Amitabha Buddha."

 

In every retreat, we have the opportunity to listen to Dharma teachers and enlightened masters impart the true teachings, bringing the Dharma into life to dispel false views, practice the Buddha's teachings in the scriptures, diligently cultivate the Noble Eightfold Path, and refine our morality, concentration, and wisdom to overcome obstacles and achieve liberation, continuing our practice in the Western Pure Land. That realm is free from aging, sickness, death, suffering, and attains perfect happiness. If there is a Pure Land in the human world, there must be a Pure Land in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

 

The Lantern Festival commemorating Amitabha Buddha was truly solemn and serene, filled with a multitude of emotions and a joyful energy that blended seamlessly with the beautiful scenery. Thousands of lanterns, held by Buddhist devotees, were both simple and sacred. The magical light of the lanterns in the night was filled with warmth, overflowing with happiness and immortal wisdom, radiating boundless light everywhere, spreading to all directions and transforming into the most wonderful things in this world, forever remaining an infinite source of light for humanity.

 

How fortunate! How blessed! How moving! Hand in hand, the flickering candles lit by our Master transmit the light of Buddhist teachings, of compassion, wisdom, and truth. From here, through our own efforts and the power of Amitabha Buddha, we will surely reach our destination.

 

We – those who love and are deeply attached to the pagoda – will never forget November 17th, 2015 (Year of the Snake), a ceremony that concluded but whose echoes will forever remain in the hearts of each of us Buddhists. We respectfully pray for the blessings of the Triple Gem to protect our Abbot, the Head Monk, and all the Venerable Monks, granting them good health and enabling them to fulfill their mission of "carrying out the Buddha's mission and performing the Buddha's deeds." We wish all the enlightened masters and lecturers abundant mental and intellectual strength with the aspiration of "propagating the Dharma and benefiting sentient beings," so that we may live in the true Dharma and escape ignorance and the cycle of birth and death.

 

We can never forget the support of our generous benefactors, the dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers from various departments and organizations, and the "Accidental Connections" and "Good Deeds" groups... truly invaluable! We are deeply grateful to everyone. We wish everyone mastery of their own destiny and continued success and blessings on the path to enlightenment and liberation.

Namo Amitabha Buddha.

Hoang Phap, December 26th, 2025

 

Best regards, 

Buddhist Lien Thao!

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