Friday, 04/17/2026
Repentant Ceremony of Mau Tuat New Year
Update: 02/03/2018
his time, it was the Dhamma talk from Venerable Thich Tam Dao - Hoang Phap Sangha.
According to him, there are four seasons in the year based on weather and change of nature including spring, summer, autumn and winter. In which, spring is the season of young buds/blossom, fertility, joy and hope.
Nevertheless, with deep reflection, we can see that all seasons in year follow the natural rule with circle of birth, growth, change and death. In other words, impermanence appears in everything, every moment around us. Even in spring, season of birth and growth, we can also see the factors of loss:
1) Spiritual Loss: loss of our beloved ones is unavoidable in life. We, Buddhists, should understand about the rule of impermanence to be ready for every circumstance so that we can always keep balance in mind.
2) Loss of Property: assets are essential for living. Nevertheless, we should behave with right mindfulness to use them as tool to create merits instead of being attached and managed by them. People often think that this is “my house”, “my property”, .... Is it true saying “my” when we cannot keep them with us forever?After all, assets leave us in five ways as per Buddha’s teachings: robbery, fire, flood, confiscation or squandering of our beloved ones.
3) Health: Health is vital to everyone. Being healthy, we can enjoy life, have sound mind and carry out our dreams/ideals and vice versa.
4) Morality: Morality is the hedge protecting us from evils. People with good conduct can enjoy ease and bliss in life, have respects from others and good karma in future.
5) Knowledge: is awareness. With right awareness and belief in cause and effect rule, we will have right speech, right livelihood, right effort bringing us to bliss and ease in life. Vice versa, wrong view leads us to wrong speech, wrong resolve and drives us to unhappiness/evils.
Loss is surely unavoidable in life. Hence, the wise should not be attached to anything but have the right knowledge/mindfulness instead. Spring is the season of joy and happiness.We enjoy that while acknowledging the existence of impermanence to have peace in mind in circumstances. Buddhist should be mindful with right view to cope with situations peacefully, easefully and make them the opportunity for our practice to achieve the true/eternal spring in mind.
After the Dharma talk, the course kept on with penitent rite as usual.
Following are recorded photographs:
BBT Website 