Repentance ceremony on Sep. 29th, year of the Dragon

On Oct. 31st, 2024 (Sep. 29th, LC), good men and believing women inside and outside HCMC returned to Hoang Phap pagoda to attend a periodical penitential rite

 Junior Thich Tam Huong, Abbot of Suoi Phap pagoda, Tay Ninh province had a dharma talk named Sowing Good Seeds for all Buddhists before the rite.

 

Truely, as a farmer has a garden, he should know how to choose good seeds and take care of them diligently to get a good harvest. Likewise, each person's mind is a garden and we have in our hand’s many types of seeds both good and bad. Which seeds to sow and how to take care of them, each person should consider so that we can reap the results of fragrant flowers and sweet fruits.

 

291. (Dhammapada)

 

"Who so for self wants happiness

by causing others pain,

entangled in anger's tangles

one 's from anger never free."

 

According to the Buddha's teachings, we cannot have peace if we bring fears or obstacles to others. Causing suffering to others is to sow the seeds of suffering in our own mind, then neither we nor others will be happy. Understanding this, Buddhists should vow on the repentance day that we will follow the virtues of Avalokiteshvara, learn of Her great compassion. Practitioners need to clear away the thorns in the mind's garden which are greed, selfishness, hatred; water the heart of joy towards everyone, want little and know enough so that the mind garden is clean and beautiful; Diligently practicing according to the Dharma, abandoning wrongdoings, cultivating good Dharma, increasing love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, etc... will bring peace and liberation from suffering for ourselves and others.

 

The monk encourages Buddhists to study hard, practice and apply the Buddha's teachings in real life to gain benefits right in this life.

 

After the Dharma talk, the mass entered the penitential ritual as usual.

  

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