Preaching dharma at Dong Cao pagoda and Can Mon pagoda in the ninth day of propagation trip in the Northern

On the morning of Feb. 04th, 2023 Most Ven Thich Chan Tinh had a Dharma lecture at Dong Cao pagoda (belonging to Hoang Phap pagoda’s sect) in Nga Yen, Nga Son, Thanh Hoa province.

Before listening to the dharma talk preached by the Most Ven, Junior Thich Tam Hung and Buddhists prostrated, and then offered their longevity greetings to the Most Master.

The Most Ven was very pleased with the development of its landscape after nearly 04 years returning to the ashram. He praised the spirit of service of monks and Buddhists at the temple. With practical means, Hoang Phap Pagoda and its branches have led young people to the temple to help them access the Dharma, respect the Three Jewels, and keep five precepts. In the future, they will be good parents, model grandparents and good citizens, contributing to the benefit of the community and society.

When taking refuge becoming a Buddhist, one turns to refuge in the Buddha - Dharma - Sangha. Everyone needs to understand the meaning of Three Jewels: Buddha is Shakyamuni Buddha. The Most Ven gave a lecture on the the Buddha’s life history; Dharma is Buddha teachings to help us to be good, noble, and become a good, perfect, and enlightened human being; Sangha is one who leaves home to step on the ethic path, dedicates his life to Buddhadharma, and vows to become a Buddha to help sentient beings.

Buddhists vow to take five precepts when taking refuge in Three Jewels of without killing, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying, and drinking. By practicing these rules, one will become a good person with a happy life, family and society will benefit because each individual is a cell of society.

Buddhists should regularly go to the temple to listen to dharma to enlighten their wisdom and practice the righteous Dharma. As a disciple of Buddhism, we should not be superstitious, believe in the words of evil ones to avoid being cheated.

After the Dharma session, the Most Ven and the monks continued their propagation journey.

Next, Most Thich Chan Tinh had a Dharma lecture at Can Mon Pagoda (belonging to Hoang Phap's family sect) in Quynh Phuong, Hoang Mai, Nghe An province in the afternoon.

Before the Dharma hearing, Venerable Thich Tam Hieu and the Buddhists in the ashram solemnly bowed and wished the Venerable Master a long life.

In a story of the Samyutta Nikaya, the Master talked about the rare difficulty from a dead person of being reborn as a human.

In order to gain a human body, the Buddha taught practitioners to observe five precepts: not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying, and not drinking. On the contrary, those who create unwholesome karma will fall into the suffering of hells, hungry ghosts, and animals.

There are four types of people in the Samyutta Nikaya: from darkness to darkness; from darkness towards light; from light towards darkness; from light to light, the Most reminded the mass to look at themselves and choose their own practice towards peace and enlightenment. Buddhists should regularly go to the temple to listen to the Dharma, understand the truth that life is impermanent, suffering, and not-self... from which each person transforms his own body and mind, reduces greed, anger, and delusion to avoid falling into the three evil realms.

Thanks to teachings, the mass realized the truth, taking it as their own wisdom on the path to study towards enlightenment and happiness.

After the Dharma talk at Can Mon Pagoda, the Master and monks continued the propagation trip. Arriving at Trang An pagoda, Tan Ngoc hamlet, Mai Hung ward, Hoang Mai town, Nghe An province, the Master gave a short dharma talk to the mass.

Before the preaching dharma, Junior Thich Tam Du and Buddhists in the ashram solemnly bowed and offered their New Year wishes to the Most Ven. The Master also extended his greetings to the temple’s monks and Buddhists.

By the Zen Master’ story and the great poet of the Tang Dynasty, the Most Ven shared to the listeners the meaning of the verse in the Dhammapada:

Every evil never doing,

and in wholesomeness increasing

and one's heart well-purifying:

this is the Buddhas' Teaching.

When heard the verse seems very simple but to practice is a process of effort, diligence and not easy for all of us. Therefore, the Most Master taught, Buddhist learners do not have to look for distant things, but trying to practice the Buddha's teachings in daily life is a precious thing.

Some photos recorded: