The Penitent Ceremony on Sep 04, 2017

On Sep 04, 2017 (Jul 14, lunar calendar), thousands of devout Buddhists from Ho Chi Minh City and other regions came to Hoang Phap Pagoda to attend the regular penitent ceremony.

This time, Venerable Thich Tam Dao, Deputy Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, delivered the Dharma talk with the topic “Ulambana Day".

Annually, it is rainy season from April – June (lunar calendar), the breeding season of many creatures. Hence, Buddha advised his disciples staying in their locations and practicing instead of making alms tour, to avoid stepping on buds, young plants or insects. It is the origin of Summer Retreat. Besides, summer retreat also bears another important meaning: the harmonization in one communication/place of Sangha, helping clergy people promote their practice and mind. Summer Retreat is time for renunciants staying in a place to cultivate morals, precepts and Threefold Training, (sikkhā) on the way to sage-state achievement.

After three months, clergy people celebrate Pravaranà day (fulfilment day) on the last day of summer retreat. On this day, bhikkhu asks another virtuous mate pointing out mistakes that he may see, hear or suspect from the bhikkhu for the sake of promotion of clergy people. Thanks to this support, the bhikkhu could acknowledge and repent all the errors to purify himself. To be qualified in pointing out other’s mistake, virtuous renunciant should have five qualities as prescribed in Vinaya Piṭaka:

1. Right time

2. Honest, without deception/misrepresentation

3. For the benefit of others, no harmful intention

4. For the sake of compassion, no malice

5. Using kind words, no rude word

“Ullambana” means “To liberate up-side-down”; i.e. to liberate our parents, forefather and other sentient beings; who suffer in the wretched realms; out of captivity/samsara, thanks to praying merit(power) of venerable sangha in ten directions.

Ulambana is the practical opportunity for Buddhists thinking of and performing filial piety to parents. For the sake of bread and butter, we may be too busy to take care of our parents. Therefore, Ulambana is an opportunity for us to look back and fulfill our duty so that we won’t regret for not performing filial piety to parents earlier when they were alive.

After the Dharma talk, the mass could understand the process of summer retreat, the meaning of Ulambana and Pravaranà day.

After the lecturing, it was the course of Buddha's name recitation.

Following are recorded photographs:

BBT Website