The Special Causal Condition of a Spanish Young Man.

One who goes to pagoda with many different reasons in spite of any causes will certainly gain the best specific result. The young man Miguel Lopez Freitas is a Spanish who came to Hoang Phap pagoda in the opportunity in a very special way and he has found a peaceful place where it purifies his body and mind after the days of working and studying in Spanish.

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On the visit trip in Vietnam, Miguel made unexpectedly\r\nacquaintance with two Vietnamese friends in HCMC. It was known that the foreign\r\nfriend’s journey would pass the Cu Chi district, which they mentioned and\r\ninstructed him to visit Hoang Phap pagoda. When coming here, Miguel felt\r\ninterested in the purity, solemn air of retreat, then, a wonderful chance to\r\nhim since there was a monk who could contact and guide him for sightseeing the\r\naround. He expressed his thought hoping to stay some days here for discovery.\r\nWith the acceptance of the pagoda, this Spanish man decided to stop his way at\r\nhere in a week to practice meditation and study dharma teachings.

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Being a person without believing in any religions, he\r\nbelieves a thing that when doing a good deed we will attain an achievement and\r\non the contrary, when causing a suffering to others, we will receive miseries\r\nsooner or later. Due to being a Western person, his viewpoint of life is very\r\npositive and suitable for the Buddhism’s ethics, which probably is a former\r\nfate from his pass. He began studying the Buddhism on the Internet, books and\r\nnewspapers for two years. Realizing that the Buddha’s teachings which were\r\ncorresponding to his thought and lifestyle, he was extremely interested. Since\r\nthen, he had started to apply the Buddha teachings on his living and practiced\r\nmeditation as well.

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As residing at Hoang Phap pagoda, Miguel felt joyful with\r\nthis scenery. After the ceremony days being crowded and noisy, pagoda returned\r\nthe quiet and peaceful space. In the cool air and verdant trees, Miguel felt\r\nmore comfort and calmer than the time he stayed in his country. Because of\r\ndifferent language, this foreign young could not understand the meaning of\r\nsutras on the chanting courses at pagoda. However, the sound and tune being\r\nharmony of the wooden bell and copper bell that helped Miguel feel really\r\npeaceful. The images of Sanghas who were laboring and working made good impression\r\nin his mind. This place seems to have no of hurry and hastiness that everybody\r\nalways has done gently and tranquilly which he could not find in his homeland.

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Thank for help of monks, Miguel understood the meaning of rituals\r\nof offering food before having for lunch at pagoda. He felt enjoyable as he\r\ncould know everybody offering to the Buddha before having meals to show\r\ngratitude to farmers’ labor. Besides, when having the meal, all Buddhists still\r\nremember the poor in life and vow for them getting enough food and clothes.\r\nMiguel was glad in front of the new-good things that he could understand.

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As living in his country, Miguel had tried to donate many\r\ngood deeds hoping to bring the happiness to others, but his efforts gained\r\nachievements very little. His mind was not happy before the life way of Western\r\nwhere most of people only think of themselves and ignore the social community.\r\nTo Vietnam, Miguel perceived that the pagoda is the environment friendly where\r\nall were aware of creating the good common living. He often met fond smiles and\r\ndear glances of people around. Miguel thought that his trip to Vietnam on this\r\ntime was attained the invaluable lessons.

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Below are some taken photos:

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