Friday, 04/17/2026
Repentance ceremony on March 30th, Year of the Snake
Update: 28/04/2025
Before the rite, monks of the pagoda, Junior Thich Tam Huynh gave a dharma talk named “What is the purpose of practicing?”
The presence of Buddha Shakyamuni is not only a belief but also clearly demonstrated by the stone pillars erected by King Ashoka and other relics that still exist today and have been confirmed by archaeology. As a fully enlightened being, He appeared in the world to show the path of deliverance for all beings. Nowadays, many people who come to the temple do not understand Buddhism, only stopping at chanting sutras and worshiping Buddha according to long-standing beliefs. That is because they do not understand the purpose and meaning of practicing. So, what is the purpose of practicing? The Buddha compared the world to a big house being burned by fire of birth, aging, sickness, death, greed, anger, and ignorance. Living beings are immersed in life, enduring endless suffering with no way out due to ignorance, so practicing is to understand suffering, its cause, the end of suffering, and the path to ending suffering, which is the Noble Eightfold Path. Realizing this, wise people develop the Bodhi mind, become enlightened, and embark on the path to escape Three realms, end afflictions, and end the cycle of birth and death. To attain deliverance, practitioners can choose to practice according to the Sravaka, Pratyekabuddha or Bodhisattva depending on their capacity and aspirations. Regardless of the practice, practitioners need to follow the Buddha's teachings and diligently practice in daily life. With correct understanding and firm faith in the Three Jewels - Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, followers can be steadfast on the cultivation, not being shaken by wrong views and the influence of outsiders. Practicing is to return to oneself, transform suffering, and attain true peace and liberation.
After the Dharma talk, the mass entered the penitential ritual as usual.
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