One-Day Retreat in September, 2014

In the cool blue-sky of the morning of Sep. 28th, 2004 (lunar Sep. 5th Horse Year) thousands of Buddhists from everywhere gathered to Hoang Phap pagoda to attend in the One-Day Retreat.

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Before the walking with Buddha reciting course,\r\nthe Senior Ven. Thich Chan Tinh of Hoang Phap Pagoda had a Dharma talk\r\nhelping them with the Buddhists’ cultivation.

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Introducing his preaching, the Senior Ven. told three\r\nstories of controversy and conflict. The first story was on dispute between the\r\nmonks when the Buddha is in life, one was a rule master, and other was shaman;\r\nthis argument had to make the Buddha left the mass into the forest to live in\r\nthat summer season (Majjhima Nikaya 3, Middle Agama sutra 2, or Dhammapada\r\nsutra, the first book)

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The second story was related to Dhammapada, chapter 1,\r\nthe 5th sutra which was about the envy and resentment between two wives,\r\none having child, and another have no child. They caused the animosity each\r\nother from this life to other life and their hates paid, borrowed continuously\r\nuntil being cleared away by the Buddha.     

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The third story was reminded from Anguttara Nikaya 4 (Middle\r\nAgama sutra, chapter 1). This one was about the Presbyter Sariputra’s attitude\r\nas there had been a monk speaking badly and slandered him.

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By three above stories, he taught the conducting, fight and\r\nagainst lessons being faced with, and how to avoid conflict and lift the\r\nblockage of revenge. It is necessary to practice the mild nature of earth, water,\r\nwind, fire when facing with adversity from others. The Buddha taught that we\r\nshould be generous, forgivable; if it is the resentment accumulates resentment.

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In case of the canon’s lessons, the Senior Venerable\r\nconcerned about the current life. Nowadays, there was a disciple having ever\r\nbeen leaving-home monk cultivating at Hoang Phap pagoda. Now he left the Sangha\r\nand accused them in bad words separating, defaming, losing the prestige of\r\nbelievers toward the pagoda. However, the Senior ignored this because\r\n“slandering harms no-one, but for bad-doings.” It was a chance to practice the\r\npatient and tolerant nature. The senior felt pitiful to him, whose\r\nignorance for illogic, aggressive words and actions, which cause guilty and he\r\nwill have to suffer bad effects in the future.

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The Senior hoped that all laypeople should look to it\r\nexactly, calmly and wisely on any matters being seen, heard about. We start the\r\nlove to this disciple who has caused the bad karmas of defaming and betraying\r\nhis Master. All Buddhists should not popularize records that abet the bad\r\nsabotaging the Buddha dharma.

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After preaching, it is the cultivation course as usual. At\r\nthe ending, each was given a DVD of “The 5th Sun Flower: The Sacred Call”

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Below are some taken pictures:

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