Seventh day of Summer Retreat 2023

The morning of July 15th, 2023 is the Seventh day of the retreat. All students gathered at the lecture halls to listen to teachings preached by Senior Thich Minh Thanh, member of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Central Propagation Board, Head of VBS’s Propagation Board in Can Tho, Abbot of Buu Lien Pagoda (Cay Bang) with the topic named Who forgot the autumn moon?

No language can express the gratitude to parents, or the seasons in the year can be compared parents’ love to two rainy and sunny seasons. However, autumn is always chosen as a symbol, because this is the season of lonely leaves falling like the heart of a father and mother with unfilial children. Parents quietly sacrificed their lives for their children, but what did they get in return? Or that gratitude is rebellious, heartless! When the children grow up, the parents get older, their health decreases, the time to live with their children gets shorter and shorter. The Most hoped young people to cherish the happiness of having a father and mother to love more while there is that chance to improve themselves more and more. Young people are eager to have fun, so busy running after external temptations that we accidentally push our parents out of life. In order for us to be present in the world, our parents had to share blood, flesh, heart and brain, but few people understand that. Being a child if listeners do not know gratitude and repayment, it is shameful in human life. Being a Buddhist who is neither filial nor worthy to be a true disciple, cannot achieve enlightenment.

He reminds that as we grow up, our parents get older and older; they were the first worldly Buddhas in life; Let cherish every moment, say love and thanks while the parents are still besides; what we have from the body to everything material is the trade-off with sweat, tears, the sacrifice of parents' whole lives; Every morning when we wake up, let's thank life for giving us another day with parents to love.

The study program in the afternoon with the teachings named Too satisfied, was taught by Junior Thich Tam Nguyen, Abbot of Hanh Phuc Monastery, USA.

In a very witty narration, the Junior has helped the young realize many things that need to be reconciled in life from love, behavior, life concept and right awareness in spiritual life. Regardless of any field including practice, it is not good to do too fast, too slow, too much, too diligent, ... but reaching the destination is important. Physical appearance (demeanor walking, standing, lying down, sitting, speaking, gestures, etc.) can speak about a person's personality, contributing to success in life. Youth is dynamic, but they must be proactive and take control of their body, mind, and life. We should know how to harmonize and control the body and mind so that it is suitable for the moral and social lifestyle.

Cultivation is to find the cuteness in each of us (Buddha nature) to cleanse our body and mind, and restore good moral values. We need to keep and live in accordance with five basic standards according to the Buddha's teachings for Buddhists such as: not killing is respecting our life and living beings; Not stealing is respecting other people's property; Not committing adultery is respecting one's own conduct and that of others, not arbitrarily giving oneself to man means respecting parents and ancestors; To not lie is to avoid suffering for oneself and others, and to keep oral karma is to keep merit; Not using drugs is respecting our healthy body. Always be mindful according to the standard, loving-kindness goes with awareness to avoid because of compassion by abetting wrongdoings.

Practitioners of Buddhism need wisdom. To have wisdom, they must keep themselves, be ethical, and be mindful. With awareness, we will know what to do, what not to do, what to let go of, and follow the right path. A person's worth is measured by their love.

In the evening, all students in Arts and Gifted Groups turned on all the energy of youth on the last night of the retreat.

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