The 78th Seven-Day Retreat

The first of January, 2015 (11/11 Horse Year) is the first day of the 78th Seven-Day Retreat+ at Hoang Phap pagoda. Since this day is the last retreat of the year as well as the ceremony of Amitabha Buddha’s birth (17/11 Horse Year), the number of good men and believing women attended is quite large, more than 2600 Buddhists registered to practice.

On the morning of the first day- course, Buddhists were\r\ntaught majesty as holding hands, bowing, kowtowing. Besides, the monks in\r\norganizing board also instructed them the way of queuing in hall and practicing\r\nritual offerings. On the afternoon, the rules of retreat were learnt.

\r\n\r\n

In the talk of opening day course, besides practicing the\r\nrules, Abbot Senior Ven.Thich Chan Tinh of Hoang Phap Pagoda, the head of retreat\r\norganization also encouraged and reminded Buddhists the right way to cultivate.

\r\n\r\n

Buddhists coming to pagoda for studying need to have\r\nmultiple favorable and arising opportunities so that they should cultivate well\r\nto deserve for this, and benefited for themselves, their families and society.\r\nThe Buddhist practicing the Dharma must have wisdom to achieve peace, then\r\ncontinually practiced missionary work and Dharma protection.

\r\n\r\n

The Sukhavati cultivator had to know practicing the\r\nrepetition of Buddha’s name into life in order to get peace and happiness at\r\nthe present and in the future. Did not make Buddhism turn to extremist religion\r\nbecause of your own misunderstanding, and made knowledge people stay away from\r\nBuddhism. We must be clever to apply the Buddha’s name repetition to all\r\nclasses, all ages of society to get benefits.

\r\n\r\n

Sukhavati cultivation was to make words, actions, thoughts\r\nbecome clear, so people need to keep the commandments and practice the right\r\nmindfulness. We could achieve peace both currently and in future.

\r\n\r\n

Besides propagating, Buddhists needed to protect the Dharma.\r\nWe would not let pagans distort and undermine the Dhamma. We need to have a say\r\nbefore any scheme wanting to cause harm to Buddhism. Also, we should be alert\r\nnot to cause mistakes or identify themselves with the foreign cultures of other\r\nreligions.

\r\n\r\n

The talk of the Ven. closed the opening day of the retreat\r\nin the joy and peace of every one. Buddhists officially entered the 78th Seven-Day\r\nRetreat

\r\n\r\n

Below are some taken photos:

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n