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Posting Essays
Relaxing on Holidays
Update: 15/11/2015
Dear my sister,
...On free Sunday, I often go to Hoang Phap pagoda by bus to vow Buddha and ask for Sutra books. Yesterday, I went there to ask for 10 disks ‘Merits of release’ for mother to give them to her relation for them to understand more about Releasing and to limit killing Karma until we can get rid of it.
I’m happy because she have an awareness of Buddhism and transmits that thinking to all members in our family to follow!!! In this trip, I also received a lot of good disks to watch at home and after finishing them, I will share them to relatives in order for us to live well in Saddharma!!!
You know, I really liked the atmostphere at Hoang Phap pagoda!!! This is a place where the youth come to figure out Buddhism and learn dogma of renovating ourselves and improve moralities (especially the children who were cared for most) Here, the monks create a joyful and dynamic atmosphere for children. They are excited in Karaoke as the first action, then they paint the statues with all kinds of sizes and after that, they fill the picture with a lot light colours of sand. With their excited motion, I think that they will love to come to pagoda to join the the fun arts (just like going out for fun)!!!
There is a clear and quiet place for parents a long with the play ground for children. Starting with the library on the left side of children’s play ground, there aremany moral books which meet the demand of reading the teachings for all ages. Nearby is the Gallery with the photo series about the Buddhist affairs and calligraphy pictures and souvernir artifacts etc. for the visitors to have a specific vision about the propagation. After all is the Audiovisual room where every one can watch movies and listen to Buddhist songs or listen to the preachs as requested on the front TV lively.
After reciting sutras and vowing the Buddha or visiting, Buddhists will watch movies on the LED TV. The scenes recreate the Buddha’s living life and the Bodhisattvas with great compassion saving people and the renowned disciples of the Buddha along with the great guardian laymen etc. from the Sutras. They are shown in turns on the vivid, dramatic and attractive movies for the audiences to watch (like in the cinema) and forget the time elapsed till the meal portionswere served for vegetarian lunch!!!
Looking for the efforts of the monks who try to create a peaceful place for the youth and the Buddhists to gather to learn Buddhist Dharma and to relax and play etc. I think of this favorable space will arise the intellection and kindness and compassion easily for the visitors, especially the children. Because ‘the Youth is the country’s potential’, It is a fortune for them in lives to be able to learn Buddhist Dharma.
On the way home, I appreciated and thought about the Sunday activities at Hoang Phap pagoda. I told my charwoman who helped me to take care of my children at home about the panoramic sight of pagoda, she was happy when hearing it. She asked me to let her accompany when she has time, although she gets car sick and she is very tired while moving by bus!!
I feel happy with her recommendation because helping a person to pagoda is to add a person close to Buddhism!!! She also told me about her friend who was so paintful about her family. After that, I decided to give her friend a Sutra book ‘Reciting repentance of the Buddha’s name for repentance ’ to chant every day. Repenting reduces bad Karmas which were sown from many lives before. When the suffering reduces, the life is happy. Realizing the mistakes, understanding that the life is valuable, we will give away from cruelty and do charity and live a useful life. Sowing the kind seeds will bring peace fruits as you wish. That is what I did and received, my sister!!!
Confiding some words to you on the first day of week on my visit to pagoda!!!
Wishing you a happy new week with full of joy and peace!!!
Your sister Huynh Thi Khanh Phung!
HCMC, Oct 26th, 2015.
Translated into English by Nguyen Khanh Hoa.