Sunday, 12/08/2024
Dharma Light
The 57th Dharma Light program
Update: 02/01/2017
Based on the invitation of the organizer, monk Thich\r\nPhap Dang, abbot of Hue Vien pagoda in Thong Nhat District, Dong Nai province,\r\nconducted the program. Following are the contents of the Q&A session:
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Question\r\n1:\r\n
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Recently, there are many images or video clips as\r\nthe proof of bad behaviors from monks posted on Internet or Face-book. I am not\r\nsure about the authenticity of those but they create a wave of aversive\r\nfeedback as well as criticism, bad\r\nrumor, dislike and scornful evaluation about Buddhism and sangha that may ruin\r\nthe prestige/ image and create the bad reputation of Buddhism in public. It is\r\nour great concern. Please give us your advice and guidance so that we can\r\nenhance our faith and perform proper manners in such cases.
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Question\r\n2:\r\n
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I have been a Buddhist taking refuge in Triratna for\r\nsome years. When learning about lay Buddhists’ duty of Dharma preaching, I am\r\nready to follow up the instruction. Nevertheless, when being advised about\r\ntaking refuge in Triratna, the concerned people were afraid of the infringement\r\nof the Five Precepts once taking the oath as a Buddhist. I was really stuck in\r\nsuch cases.
\r\n\r\nAnother issue is about the fifth precept for lay\r\nBuddhists forbidding alcohol and addictive items. How about producing and selling\r\nthose? Are these the infringement? How does the Cause and Effect Rule work\r\nthen? We humbly ask for your help to\r\nrelease those concerns.
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Question\r\n3:\r\n
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Normally, when getting problems or matters in daily\r\nlife, people often argue, discuss, debate or express things to get the common\r\nsense and solutions. In the mean time, Buddha teaches us that we should not\r\ninvolve in debate or argument. The Most Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh often refers\r\nto the phrase “great silence“. The ancients also said: "talking during\r\ninjustice is coward while revenge may create enemy, hence no excuse!"\r\nThus, what should we do to protect our views? Is there any conflict in these\r\nstatements? There are so many unsatisfied things in this life, what if we keep\r\nsilent in pros and cons? Can we live easefully and peacefully in the unfair\r\nsituations without any explanation? We humbly ask for your guidance.
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Before ending the Dharma Light program, the\r\nconductor offered his suggestions and then the Senior Venerable Thich Chan\r\nTinh, abbot of Hoang Phap Pagoda, head of organizers, Chief retreat, gave his\r\ncomments to clear all the concerns and queries from the audience.
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At the end of the course, the organizers donated 210\r\nportions of gifts and envelopes (each worth 300,000 VND) to oncologic patients\r\njoining the retreat. The total amount 61.650.000VND of gifts was sponsored by Charity\r\nCommittee of Hoang Phap Pagoda, La Tia To Vegan Restaurant, Buddhist group Lien\r\nOanh, Buddhist group Lan Gio Am and others.
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Other participants received the VCD "Footprint\r\nof Dharma Preaching In US" ​​and 2017 calendar with the attached retreat\r\nschedule at Hoang Phap pagoda as the Dharma gifts from the retreat organizers.
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Following are the recorded\r\nphotographs:
BBT Website