Buddha's Birthday Ceremony at Minh Chat ashram in Can Tho
More than 100 Buddhists returned to Minh Chat Ashram to greet the monks entering the stage for starting the rite of celebrating the Birth.
The ceremony witnessed and attended with the presence of Nun Thich Nu Lien Thao - Postgraduate student at Vietnam Buddhist University, Ho Chi Minh City - Member of the Cultural Board, Dharma Propagation Board of Long An province - Abbot of Cat Tuong Pagoda, Long An; Junior Thich Tam Hue - Head of Charity Department of Hoang Phap Pagoda, Head of Minh Chat ashram; Monks at Hoang Phap Pagoda.
Government representatives include: Ms. Thai Kim Thanh - Commissioner of Red Cross Society (RCS) of Ninh Kieu district; Mr. Tong Nam Trung - Chairman of RCS of Cai Khe ward (CKW); Mr. Phung Kim Thanh - Vice Chairman of RCS of CKW; Mr. Ly Ngoc Lap - Secretary of Region 5; Mr. Cao Van Tham - Deputy Secretary of Party Cell - Head of Front Work Committee of Region 5, CKW.
To express gratitude and payment on the important day, Novice Thich Tam Hac - monks of Hoang Phap pagoda read the opening speech of the ceremony after introducing the program and participants.
Next, Nun Thich Nu Lien Thao - Postgraduate student at Vietnam Buddhist University, HCMC- Member of Cultural Board, Dharma Propagation Board of Long An province - Abbot of Cat Tuong Pagoda, Long An announced the Meaning of Buddha's Birthday.
On behalf of the monks, Junior Thich Tam Hue gave Dharma words during the ceremony.
Buddha's birthday is an opportunity for Buddhists to show respect and gratitude to the Great Master for guiding humanity. When bathing the Buddha, every Buddhist must clean himself first to be clean and pure. We should practice ten good karma, such as the body not killing, not stealing, not committing adultery; the mouth does not lie, is not flowery, does not weave, and does not use evil language; Thought is not greedy, not angry, not delusion” and loving-kindness. We must cultivate spreading loving-kindness. We need to make an effort to practice, propagate the Dharma, and try to live a beneficial life.
After that, Venerable monks and all Buddhists turned to the newborn Buddha statue to celebrate the birthday ceremony and bath the Buddha.
The ceremony also had the presence of singer Thanh Tung and singer Meo Trang.
The organizers awarded the Second Prize for Lumbini gardening to Buddhist Tinh Binh who sincerely and enthusiastically took care of Minh Chat ashram.
Then, it is a gift giving program in response to humanitarian month 2024.
On behalf of the Charity Board, Junior Thich Tam Hue gave 100 gifts to 100 households in difficult circumstances, lonely elderly people, and Agent Orange patients in area 5, Cai Khe, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho with a total value of 36,000,000 VND. Each gift includes: 10 kg of rice, 1 box of vegetarian noodles, 1 bottle of cooking oil, 1 bottle of soy sauce, 1 shirt, 1 Buddha recitation radio, 1 Buddha necklace, 1 rosary.
In addition, the delegation also presented dharma gifts to local leaders and people, including: books Karma of mouth, Cultivation at home, Gratitude to Parents' merit... compiled by Most Thich Chan Tinh.
At the end of the day, the mass organized a trip to release fish in the Hau Giang River and awarded Certificates of Merit for Lumbini gardening to 10 families in Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
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