7th Day of Summer Retreat: Mom’s Untold Stories

Kid is bred with milk of love from mom in the warm protection of parents. Mom brought kids to sweet sleeps with her beautiful songs and fairy tales. Nevertheless, Mom, why didn’t you tell kid the most wonderful and sacred stories?

In the morning of 7th day of the Retreat, youths listen to the Dharma talk with the topic “Mom’s untold stories" from Venerable Thich Tam Dao, deputy Abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda.

Via his sharing about parents’ efforts from the time of pregnancy, breeding and raising children to adulthood, young participants can understand parents’ hardship and immeasurable love.

Perhaps each of us has ever brought grieve to parents. Sometime, due to the indifference, indulgence or stressful life that kids ignore parents’ merits. Until one day, when looking back, we can no longer see the image of our worn mother waiting during nights for her debauched kid. Kids can play around and do many crazy things but it is extremely hard for them to say “I love you” to their loving parents.

The air of lecturing halls gets calm and quiet with silent cries and tears from young audience thinking back of their mistakes, foolishness and thoughtless activities in the past.

Hope that youths can transform such feelings and touching moment into loving energy and strong will to behave properly as the gift to parents on the occasion of coming Ulambana.

In the last night of the retreat, Hoang Phap Pagoda holds the mature ceremony, a special program marking the beginning of adulthood, for young participants.

This ceremony is more likely the motivation from retreat organizer to the youths. This is an important turning point of youth’s life and also the opportunity for kids reflecting upon parents’ large merits and expressing deep gratitude to them. In other words, when getting mature, youths should think, talk and act with caution, consideration and responsibility to themselves, family and society.

The program continues with the award ceremony to the winners of Dhammapada contest. The ceremony ended in the joy of all.

List of award winners:

First prize: Ho Anh Tien & Dang Viet Thinh (Hy Xa Team)

Second prize: Le Thi Ngoc & Dang Thi Thuy Duyen (Nhan Nhuc Team)

Third prize: Ngo Tu Mai & Le Bao Yen (Chia Se Team)

Fourth prize: Le My Thuong & Tran Thi Truc Ngan (Thau Hieu Team), Nguyen Tran Khanh Vy & Vo Thi Minh Thu (Do luong Team), Tran Man Quynh and Tran Thi Lan Anh (Lang Nghe Team)

Consolation prize: Tran Thi Bich Thuy & Dang Thi Hong Hue (Bao Dung Team), Tran Chi Tai & Nguyen Duc Huynh Long (Tu Bi Team)

Following are the recorded photographs:

Dhamma talk "Mom’s untold stories"

BBT Website