Repentant Ceremony on Dec. 14th, Year of Mouse

On Jan. 26th, 2021 (lunar Dec. 14th, Year of Mouse), the good men and believing women in and out of Ho Chi Minh City returned to Hoang Phap Pagoda to attend the periodic penance rite.

Before beginning the rite, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Cung had a dharma talk named Body and mind.

People are constantly hoping for things that ensure a safe and happy life when suddenly faced with uncertainties and risks. However, whether we have any calculation, we still cannot escape the laws of birth, old age, sickness, death and unexpected things that often occur, making people suffer in body and mind? By the lecture, Junior Ven. explained more clearly the pain in body and mental defilements have dominated our life. He analyzed the cause of sick body, affliction of mind is due to six sense bases (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind) in contact with the six ceilings (shape, sound, flavor, taste, feeling, dharma) that leads to suffering and depravity. Second, the lecturer talks about the patient who can suffer due to illness, but their mind is calm and relaxed between contacts with life. In fact, when we often observe body and mind (actions, words, thoughts) in all big and tiny actions, most of the time we will avoid negativity and suffering.

When we understand our body and mind, we see the body and mind are falsified, created by conditions but diligently try our best to practice the Buddha's teachings to achieve peace and liberation for this life and the next.

After that, the mass listened to the song Sand dust in life. 

After the talk, the mass entered the penitential ceremony as usual.

Some images recorded: