Superior Venerable Thich Minh Chon visited and lectured at Hoang Phap Summer Retreat

On June 19th, 2016 (May 15th lunar calendar), Superior Venerable Thich Minh Chon visited and gave a lecture at Hoang Phap Summer Retreat.

Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, Hoang Phap’s abbot, head of this Summer Retreat, who is currently busy with Buddhism activities in Northern Vietnam, has directed the monks for proper preparation to respectfully and solemnly welcome the superior Venerable Thich  Minh Chon.

Superior Venerable Thich Minh Chon is currently a member of Executive Board, Deputy Director of Dharmadutha Division of Vietnam Buddhist Church, Deputy Chief  and Head of  Dharmadutha Division - HCMC, Deputy Head of Management Board of Summer Retreat – HCMC, Member of Emeritus Council – Hoc Mon Buddhist Church, Abbot of Buddha Jewel Pagoda District 11, Emeritus Advisor to Hoang Phap Summer Retreat.

 

On behalf of the Executive Board and Training Faculty of Vietnam Buddhist Church, he has visited the members of Vietnam Buddhist Church, Hoc Mon branch, as well as encouraged attending monks at Hoang Phap’s Summer Retreat.

During the lecture, he reminded the audience that our appearances in life is thanks to the Four Large Graces of:

 - Ancestors, grandparents, parents.

 - Humanity, compatriots and communities around us.

 - State, government and unions.

 - Triratna

 

As a Buddhist, we should always keep those graces in mind and express them via words and activities. Via words, we can preach Dharma and Buddha’s teaching to everyone. Via activities, we can perform good behaviors, live and work with ethics.

 

Lacking one of The Four Graces above, people can hardly survive and develop comprehensively. Therefore, the Four Large Graces is the foursome for us to keep in mind with gratitude to have happiness and peace in life. It is also the spirit of gratitude and repayment from Buddha’s teaching.

 Education helps liberate human from darkness of ignorance, helps people realize the right path. The main objective of education is bringing up a comprehensive knowledge. Therefore, wisdom is the ultimate aim in Buddhism education. Nevertheless, the Buddhism wisdom is completely different from secular one. Bhagavan teaches us about "Prajna Wisdom" (Maha Prajna Paramita), the great & perfect wisdom, Buddhist’s destination for enlightenment. This available wisdom is hidden by our ignorance. Hence, it is necessary to practice to end suffering and back to Buddha-nature inside. Practicing is the transformation, the change, making a U-turn from bad to good mood, from ignorance to enlightenment.

 

Following the superior Venerable guides, the mass spent a few minutes to practice Samatha meditation, letting go of happy-sad, joy- angry feelings, keeping a calm, quiet and awake mind without any disturbance. After that, he shared the benefits of this practice. This is the way to maintain lofty dignity manner in this world. A quiet, calm mind can help us avoid slaughtering and respect living beings’ lives,  avoid theft and respect for others’ right and ownership, avoid lewdness without violating others’ happiness, avoid using addictive items to keep the mind calm and equanimity. The practice time is also the moment that we can help keeping balance to the ecosystem, create good energy and true peace, stop sowing seeds of hatred and resentment.

 

During the Dharma talk, he also emphasized the importance of the trio Precept, Concentration and Wisdom. This is the most Buddhism fundamental practice method. Regardless whatever sect/method it is, this trio is the backbone of Buddhism, the way to peace, happiness, enlightenment and Nirvana.

 

  After the lecture, the public has expressed profound gratitude to the Superior Venerable with thrice of kowtows. He also sent gifts, as the encouragement to the audience monks at Hoang Phap Summer Retreat. The visit took place in a good way, representing the connective spirit with full of the joy of the whole mass.

Following are some photographs from the event: