Students’ Retreat

May 29th, 2016 (Lunar April 23rd Monkey Year), over one thousand Buddhists from universities and colleges in HCM City came to Hoang Phap monastery to attend the 2nd retreat in 2016 on “Students toward Buddhism”.

After having breakfast, they concentrated on the main auditorium to listen to the lecture of Jun. Venerable Thich Tam Tien, a monk from Hoang Phap monastery, on the theme: “When will we grow up?”

 

“To err is human”, this proverb expresses the message that no one is perfect in all aspects. Therefore, it is very difficult to define and look for ‘perfection’. Thus, is it true that we lose our hearts just because of this? The answer is “No”. It’s no use looking for perfection but to choose a happy life.

 

To obtain true happiness in their own life, young people need to know the balance of life in these aspects: personal life, family life, work and social life, and relationships. Under any circumstances should we appreciate everything we have. As we have the balance in life and appreciation what we have inherited, we will be happy immediately. The question “When will we grow up?” is for those purposes.

 

We sometimes hold the assumption that it is too soon for us to make any important decisions or to carry responsibilities. The result of which leads to our living a irresponsible, superficial life without knowing the fact that man decides his own wealth and woes. And happiness or suffering is our own choices. As a member of the young generation, we need to think that we are all adults. We should be responsible for our own life. Hence, this thought can help us to live more and more meaningful. What we do and decide will have positive impact on ourselves, our family and our community. Moreover, we should have stabilized spiritual life so as to be able to overcome every single trouble in life. To do this, the good sublimation and success will smile at you.

 

In the afternoon, they had meditation with the monks and listened to  Venerable Thich Tam Nguyen’s guidance the meditation method. After that, monks were engaged in answering questions related to the practice as well as these students’ life. The talk ended successfully after the participants' psychological questions of all fields were raised for best solutions. Particularly, the monks have given the students instructions to flexibly apply Buddha's guidance and mediation methods into changing and overcoming difficulties to have a better life.

 

Everyone was very happy after a meaningful retreat day. Before leaving, each of us received a gift from the organizers including: a book named “Right People and Right Things”, a DVD “Sun Flower No.10”, a VCD “Eight Worldly Dharmas”.

 

Below is the image recorded: