The 3rd One-Day Retreat at Minh Chat Ashram in Can Tho

Junior Thich Tam Hue and devout Buddhists of Hoang Phap pagoda returned to Minh Chat retreat in Can Tho on April 30th, 2023 (March 11th, LC) to attend the 3rd One-Day Retreat.

Attending the practice were the presence of Buddhists at Minh Chat ashram, Can Tho, as well as Buddhists at Hoang Phap pagoda, HCMC.

This 3rd retreat on the occasion of April 30th, monks and Buddhists came to the ashram from the previous afternoon. At 4:00 am, the delegation visited Cai Rang floating market on CanTho river at dawn, floating on the boat, immersing in the bustling trading atmosphere....

Returning to the ashram after visiting the floating market, Buddhists listened to the Dharma talk of Senior Thich Phuoc Thanh - Head of Director Board of Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Hau Giang province in the topic "Applying Buddha teachings to daily life".

As Buddhists, we should respect the Three Jewels, comply to five basic ethics, such as no killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying, and drinking, etc; practice so that today's blessings must be greater than yesterday's, help many people to be enlightened like us, know enough in material needs and always help people or things, stay away from evil, keep a pure mind.

Over an hour of preaching, monks and Buddhists felt very peaceful, and took it as an extremely valuable knowledge on their way of learning.

Next, the monks guided Buddhists in the demeanor to clasp hands, prostrate; how to walk, recite Buddha's name, and make an offering.

After that, the mass had the time of reciting the Buddha's name, and chanted the precepts.

Then, the mass offered a meal to the Buddha, had lunch together, and walked meditation in reciting Buddha’s name.

Continuing the afternoon program with the dharma talk shared by Junior Thich Tam Dien - the monks of Hoang Phap's pagoda in the topic: "Cooling the body and mind"

In spite of living in modern life, people are still affected and influenced from the outside to the inside, making people frustrated and insecure; the weather changes abnormally, the hot sun affects health and psychology, humans also become irritable and uncomfortable. In fact, it is only a temporary external suffering that we can turn to our will by material means, only the heat from deep inside is really scary, it burns us not only in this life but also in other lives. The Buddha taught, sentient beings in three realms are like in a house of fire. Indeed, every day, every hour, we are afflicted, suffering by three fierce fires which are the fire of greed, fire of anger and fire of delusion.

He has deeply analyzed the harmful effects of these three fires and then introduced solutions for each fire to help cool the body and mind. For those who practice the Pure Land, we should observe more other ways besides reciting the Buddha's name to transform body and mind:

- With the fire of greed, it is necessary to practice contemplation of impermanence, and 32-part impureness.

- With the fire of anger, we can practice spreading loving-kindness, skillfully thinking and contemplating, etc.

- With the fire of delusion, each person needs to diligently listen to the Dharma, read and study the scriptures to open up wisdom.

Since then, each person has more practical ways which apply in daily life to get the benefit of happiness, body and mind are usually cool towards peaceful realms in future lives.

In the afternoon, the monks guide Buddhists to recite the Buddha names, and walk meditation. Then, the mass had a rite to offer food to alone souls.

Before leaving, Buddhists received some books: Retribution for killing creatures, Mouth karma, Gratitude to parents, Cultivation at home, etc, composed by Most Thich Chan Tinh.

The cultivation day ended in the joy of the mass.

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