Sunday, 12/08/2024
News
Organizing a Retreat for Vietnamese Buddhists in Korea.
Update: 16/10/2015
In response to the invitation of Buddhists from Vietnam Cultural Bridge Center in South Korea as well as the permission of the Senior Venerable Thich Chan Tinh, the Abbot of Hoang Pagoda Monastery, from Oct 3rd to Oct 1st, 2015 (from Aug 21st to Aug 29th Goat Year), Junior Venerable Thich Tam Dao, the vice-abbot along with the monks of Hoang Phap monastery went to Korea so as to organize a retreat term and guide Buddhists to practice.
Buddhist community in Korea was formed by many human resources. There have been several kinds of cultivation programs organized for the Buddhist community living and working all over many regions from North Korea to South Korea so far. It means that despite being far from hometown, mental retreat and spirit to spiritual and traditional values of Vietnamese people have always been maintained and developed by Buddhists here day by day.
On Nov 4th, 2015 (Aug 22nd Goat Year), One-day Retreat was solemnly held at Bhaisajya temple in Incheon city.
Representing the entire congregation, a Buddhist Luu Thi My Ha (Religious name: Tue Tam) offered respectful words formally inviting the Venerable in order to deliver Buddha’s teaching.
From the sermon, Venerable Thich Tam Dao shared the life of Buddha, pointing out to Buddhists valuable lessons from experience of the Great Patriarch, and consequently, Great Assembly should contemplate benefits of Refuge in Three Jewels in real life. In addition, applying the stories of Buddha having been recorded in scriptures, the Venerable talked about the law of Cause and Effect in real life. It is always equal to everyone, so we should have right perception not to fall into the old-fashioned rituals or superstitions, etc. On the contrary, if people follow the law, the cultivation path will be flourished and gain more and more satisfactory results.
After that, Buddhists together had warmful lunch at the abstinence hall.
In the afternoon of this day, schedule of meditative walking practice took place under the guidance of the Venerable.
On Nov 10th, 2015 (Aug 29th, Goat Year), the next One-day retreat was held at Dongmyong temple, Hanam, Seoul capital.
The Venerable delivered a lecture to Buddhists with the topic: "Seeking for Happiness."
Indeed, happiness is always something that everyone desires because life contains so much suffering. On this lecture, the whole assembly seemed to realize true happiness existing right in real life, so we do not need to look for somewhere else further. We hold rapture when we fully have six senses, we have a happy family, we know the Dharma, going to pagoda and practicing Buddha’s teachings, etc. As can be seen, happiness and suffering only have a narrow distance of the perception thread. If we have an insightful perception, happiness is always in hand. In case we are immersed in ignorance, the suffering could be unwelcome to knock on the door of our happiness house. Therefore, cultivation will help us to always maintain a happy smile in this life.
Then, great assemblies enter the Sukhavativyuha sutra.
After the retreat, the Venerable presented the attending Buddhists of two Bodhi-mandala two gifts of Dharma treasure including a book Dharmic saved my life,the other one Life has still been happy.
On this occasion, in response to the invitation of Buddhists in Seoul capital and Ansan, the monks visited and had a Dharma talk at Buddhists’ homes.
Here is the image recorded:
One-day retreat at Medicine temple, Incheon
One-day retreat at Dongmyong temple, Seoul
Visiting Buddhist’ homes
Translated Into English by Nguyen Hoang Thoai.