Repentant ceremony on lunar jan. 30th, Monkey year

In the evening of March 8th, 2016 (Lunar Jan. 30th, Monkey year), the honoured buddhists inside and outside Ho Chi MInh City returned to the Hoang Phap Buddhist temple to participate in monthly periodic repentant ceremony.

After reciting Buddha for blessing, the mass listened to Dharma teaching from the Junior the masses are listened toenerable Thich Tam Dai, monk of Hoang Phap pagoda, on the topic "Ability in receiving guests".

This subject seems rather strange. It looks as if nothing relates to our practice; but in reality, if we examine in detail we will see many good things related from practice to receiving guests every day.

In the reality of life, whether more of less, we have to receive guests in our life. Guests come to us in many aspects: for visiting, for business, etc.Thus, depending on each situation, we have many ways to receive guests in such a way as "Guests are satisfied in coming and pleased in leaving". Specially, Buddhists need to have skills to receive guests perfectlly in two aspects: the mundane and the supra-mundane.

For the mundane aspect, by practical stories, the Junior Ven. expounded advice to the mass about every angel of receiving guests. Knowing that receiving guests is a very normal work but it isn't simple when we consider it carefully. In order to have a good result, we must have a right mindfulness in each of gesture and action. From the way to address, to greet, or to telephone; we  have to learn and practice all these things in order to get the result in our desire.

For the supra-mundane aspect, guests here are delusive guests with false thoughts arising in our mind. It's important that how we contact with them - the guests coming without invitation. The best method to treat these special guests is to focus on practice, to tie our mind to Recitation, to always stay  in mindfulness and clear awareness. Surely enough, if guests come but we are not ready to  meet, they will leave themselves. The same with us, cultivators who practice the Pure Land method in privately speaking and the Buddha Dharma in generally speaking; when these delusive and false thoughts visitors come but we don't greet, it will goes out itself. Then, we will control ourselves, will not be assimilated; and,  naturally, the bliss and happiness will usually be around us; and the ideal cultivation will soon be achieved.

After the Dharma teaching, the mass entered for the period of Great Name repentance as usual.

These are some specific images: