The Three-Jewel Refuge Ceremony and Freeing creatures in Nam Dinh

On December 18, 2020, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hue and Buddhists of Hoang Phap pagoda went to Nam Dinh to make a rite of refuge in the Three Jewels and liberate creatures.

The delegation went to Mrs. Pham Thi Ty's house in Phuong village, Nam Dinh to hold a rite in the Triratna for 35 men, female believers who are old and weak, very distant. They could not enter Hoang Phap pagoda to attend the rite and Ms Vu Thi Mui (religious name Hoa Dao) is the connector between them to the monks.

The rite of refuge in the Triratna is the recognition participants become the Buddha’s disciple in the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition. This rite means to take refuge to return to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

At that time, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hoa, the abbot of Hoa Phuc pagoda, Hanoi, represented the abbot of Hoang Phap pagoda to transmit Three refuge and Five Precepts to the good men and women here. The audience was very happy with their contributions to the ceremony.

By the way, Mrs. Pham Thi Ty's family made offerings to monks, praying for the ancestor souls of families in Phuong village who would be born in a peaceful realm.

In the afternoon of the same day, the group released creatures at Kinh Lung, Nam Dinh.

In the evening, Junior Ven. Thich Tam Hue gave a lecture on the Buddha's teachings at Phuong village pagoda with the topic of Gratitude and Repayment to parents.

The Buddha often mentioned the merit of parents, no matter how we can repay it, we cannot repay it. Taking care of our parents is thoughtful, materialistic - this is not enough. In addition to the care and respect, we should encourage our parents to take refuge in the Three Jewels to dwell in the goodness of the Dharma with wisdom to illuminate the future path.

This occasion, the monk also gave dharma gifts to everyone attending the rite, including the book, such as Lessons for the Youth, Remembering Mom on Ullambana season, Retribution for killing creatures, Ullambana sutra and other gifts.

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