The 3rd Triratna Refuge Ceremony – 2014

More than 2300 Buddhists from many places attended the Triratna refuge ceremony on November 30th 2014 (Lunar October 9th Horse Year). This is the last ceremony of the Horse Year.

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Once every four months, Hoang Phap pagoda organizes the\r\nrefuge ceremony for Buddhists who are within and outside the city. It is\r\nimportant and sacred, which marks a turning point in one’s spiritual life when\r\nthey became a Buddhist. The ceremony was taken place during a day. In the\r\nmorning, Junior Venerable Thich Tam Tien – the deputy organization board\r\nrepresenting all the monks explained basic concepts such as refuge taking,\r\nTriratna, repentance, etc. Then, the monks instructed such necessary solemnity\r\nof a Buddhist as holding hands, greeting, bowing the body for praying, and so\r\non.

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In the ceremony, young singer Huyen Tran – a brilliant\r\nsinger of The Voice Kid performed two songs “Hoa vang may do” and “Mot coi di\r\nve”.

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In the afternoon, Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh – chief\r\nof organization board and monks came to the lecture hall and lighting ascent\r\npraying to transmit the Triratna refuge. In the ceremony, Superior Venerable\r\nhad some pieces of Dharma to Buddhists.

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We were born as man with the six roots of sensation and know\r\nthe Dharma. Now we return to rely on Triratna refuge. This is causes and\r\nconditions of many incarnations. Unluckily, outsiders do guilty and act\r\nunconsciously. As a result, they get suffering in the present and future.

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We are drifted on ocean of sufferings and samsara. When we\r\nare born as a man, we don’t know the purpose of life but eating and sleeping.\r\nNow we know the Dharma. We should do good things regularly and keep five\r\nprecepts. Buddhists must be aware of the purpose of taking refuge. Taking\r\nrefuge isn’t meaning the Buddhist is assisted and preserved by Buddhas or\r\nescapes the hell after death. Taking refuge leads one’s life to nobleness. The\r\nword “Tinh” and “Lien” in Buddhist’s Religious name mean pureness, tranquility\r\nand integrity. After taking Triratna refuge, Buddhists should come to pagoda\r\nregularly to learn Dharma, eat vegetarian food to practice compassion. If it is\r\npossible, they should set up Buddha altar at home. The Ones who are far from\r\nHoang Phap pagoda should visit the pagoda and the monks on Tet holiday to\r\nexpress gratitude, especially ancestor’s death anniversary. In daily life, they\r\nshould do good things and avoid bad acts to get good karma for future.

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The ceremony ended in the joy of everybody. Before returning\r\nhome, they received a certificate of taking refuge and a present including a\r\nbook “Brief story of Shakyamuni Buddha”, a DVD of “ The refuge taking\r\nceremony”.

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Here are some images recorded:

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