Repentance ceremony on April 29th, Year of the Dragon

On June 05th, 2024 (April 29th, Year of the Dragon), good men and believing women inside and outside HCMC returned to Hoang Phap pagoda to attend a periodical penitential ritual.

Before the rite, Junior Thich Chon Khanh, Monks of Duc Phu pagoda in Nha Be, HCM had a dharma talk named “Applied Buddhism” to share with Buddhists.

The Buddha stated the dharma and precepts both have the ability to be uplifting and have immediate effectiveness. To gain immediate results, we must apply our practice to achieve benefits. Buddhists listen to the Dharma but do not apply it is just a wanderer on the endless stream of birth and death such as a precious pearl is present in his shirt without using. The Buddha is a good guide, if we don't follow it, it's not the guide's fault; Just like a doctor, if he examines a patient and prescribes medicine but the patient does not take it, it is not the doctor's fault. Practitioners must balance between studying and practicing the dharma by diligently studying, living mindfully, applying Buddha's teachings that means improving our awareness and making positive contributions to society, promoting values of Buddhism in life.

When being children, we often thought happiness was in the future; when growing up, we see happiness in the past; so we should not live in a hurry and forget to feel the happiness we have. Happiness is very simple, small things right around us, such as: enjoying a cup of coffee, having a normal meal with our family, having a peaceful sleep, etc.

To practice the Pure Land sect and vow rebirth in that realm, practitioners must build for themselves a peaceful and happy life right in the present by applying Buddha's teachings to daily life.

In his preaching, he encouraged listeners to apply the Buddha's teachings in life to see practical benefits, maintain faith in the Three Jewels, and advance on the path of cultivation.

After the Dharma talk, the mass entered the penitential ritual as usual.

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