The 1st Renouncement in 2017

In the book “Quy Son Canh Sach”, the Master taught us: true clergy people can promote him/herself to attain the transcendent mood. His/her mind and body should be different from the secular ones. (S)he is the one succeeding Buddha’s work to nurture and strengthen Buddha seed, frighten Mara, repay the quartet-key graces and save sentient beings from the tri-world of Samsara. On the other hand, those who fail fulfilling the above duties are more likely the opportunists in sangha, taking advantages of donations and offerings from the mass for Triratna to benefit themselves. They perform rude words and activities. Their consumption on the donation and offerings from the mass is nothing else but the waste.

With the blessings from Buddhas in ten directions in the past, present and future and the witness of the sangha and the mass, today Aug 15, 2017 (Jun 24, lunar calendar), Hoang Phap Pagoda holds the renouncement ceremony for three aspirants who vow to devote their lives as the renunciants.

After offering incense to Buddha in the main shrine, representative of the aspirants offers the appeal for the renouncement rite. Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda has approved the appeal and given them Dharma talk as the advice before the main rite. Renouncement includes leaving the secular household life, the house of affliction and the house of tri-world of samsara.

* Leaving secular household life means cutting off all the personal affection and love with family and relatives for greater compassion to all sentient beings.

* Leaving the house of affliction means cutting off the tri-poisons (greed, anger and delusion) via practicing morality, concentration and wisdom. Clergyman is different from secular ones because he abides by precepts and morality in the whole life. Once joining the Sangha, practitioner should diligently practice and promote his morality and ethics.

* To leave the house of tri-world of samsara (desire realm (kāma-loka), form realm (rūpa-loka), and formless realm (ārūpya-loka)), practitioner needs to cease all the defilements to attain the Enlightenment.

Renouncement is the work of great people with braveness, power and great compassion. This is not for everyone because many people are caught in the desire of the five senses and six pleasures that are large obstacles. Once joining Sangha, clergy people should try the best in practicing to deserve the title and duty they are wearing. Monks are Buddha’s representatives preaching Dharma to sentient beings, therefore, they should take precepts as the teacher to gain concentration and wisdom and promote on the Path to liberation, otherwise, they might become the inner saboteur ruining Sangha and Dharma.

Besides practicing for his own interest, renunciant should have the aspiration benefiting and saving all beings despite how hard and difficult it is, vow to devote the life for preaching Dharma to everyone. Buddha’s disciple should always keep in mind the quartet-key graces from parents, Triratna, community and country. Wisdom is the treasure of Buddha’s disciples who know how to choose the right way and become preeminent. It is necessary for practitioners with Bodhicitta and strong will to overcome many challenges and hardship to attain liberation.

After the renouncement rite, the Abbot explained the meaning of three verses stated during the renouncement rite to encourage novices on their Path. The ceremony ended in the joy of all.

Following are the recorded photographs:

BBT Website