Help young people realize the beauty and goodness

Living beautifully is "giving without expecting anything in return"

During the national peace and prosperity ceremony at Duc Hau Pagoda (Vinh City), we witnessed many young men and women aged only 18 and 20 performing tasks called Buddhist work very skillfully. It is known that these are Buddhists who have been practicing at Duc Hau Pagoda for many years, love the activities in the pagoda and find much meaning in accompanying the pagoda management board in Buddhist activities and volunteer activities.

The Opening Pen and Calligraphy Ceremony of the Spring was solemnly and meaningfully organized by Duc Hau Pagoda. It attracted many Buddhists and local people to participate. This is a beautiful cultural feature of the nation, expressing the desire for peace and convenience in studying and taking exams. Photo: Duc Anh

“The Tuệ Garden Family” is a Buddhist youth organization at Duc Hau Pagoda, with more than 100 young people aged 16-25 participating. Nguyen Thanh Nam - a Buddhist of the pagoda said: “I happened to meet the abbot when I went to the pagoda and was protected and sheltered by the pagoda. Since then, I feel that this is my second home. The house gives me peace, shows me that I need to love those around me to receive love from others”. Nam said, he felt like he was born a second time, because before that, he was the one who made his parents upset, and did not have a stable job. When he entered the pagoda, the monk assigned him to the organizational work committee, from there he gradually absorbed good deeds, positive ways of thinking, and he changed completely, his life also turned to a new bright path. He also married a long-time Buddhist at “Tuệ Garden”. At Duc Hau Pagoda, there are also many Buddhists who come to the pagoda for different reasons, but most commonly they want to be enlightened, to dedicate their spirituality to see that they need to live slowly, to "give" more.

Buddhists of "Tuệ Garden Family" in a ceremony to pray for national peace and prosperity. Photo: Duc Anh

Monk Thich Dinh Tue - abbot of Duc Hau pagoda said: "Gia Dinh Vuon Tue" is the name I gave with the implication that each young person living at the pagoda is a child in a big family. As a child, parents must guide their children to find the values ​​of truth - goodness - beauty to live a better and more responsible life. Therefore, each Buddhist in "Gia Dinh Vuon Tue" always upholds the spirit of responsibility for the community, responsibility from thought to action". Every month, the pagoda organizes retreats to preach Buddhist teachings to young men and women. Young people will listen to lectures on the theory of cause and effect, focusing on fairness in life, on promoting self-conquest, from which they can find the best way to think and act. "How to keep the mind pure, not regretting when looking back at the time we have passed" - Monk Thich Dinh Tue said.

Buddhists of Vien Quang Pagoda participate in voluntary blood donation. Photo: Provided by the pagoda

Teaching Buddha Quang Quyen for free at Vien Quang Pagoda, Nam Thanh Commune, Nam Dan District. Photo: Huy Thu

At Vien Quang Pagoda, every year, there are meditation courses for the public. What is very valuable is that in that quiet space, there are many young people participating. They come here not out of curiosity, but for them it is a need, a way for them to contemplate themselves. Venerable Thich Chan Quang, in a sermon at the pagoda, said: “There are not many young people who come to the pagoda who understand much about Buddhist teachings, but through their actions, through spreading the truths about the core values ​​of life when listening to the teachings, they are gradually attracted. And of course, when they come to the pagoda, it means they are oriented so that when they go out into life, they behave and act rationally and have faith in the beauty of life.”

Spread the good to the community

Buddhists of Chi Linh Pagoda in Xuan Thanh Commune - Yen Thanh presented a flood bridge to people of Luu Tan Village - Nam Can Commune - Ky Son. Photo: Provided by the pagoda.

According to the representative of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Nghe An: “Up to now, Buddhists who are young people of pagodas are active members in Buddhist activities, they are positive factors spreading good things to the community. They are also active members in local movements such as building new rural areas, building cultural life in residential areas... Therefore, with Buddhists who are young people, we will have ways to preach and attract them to activities that have a high impact in the community. From there, educate patriotism, love for the homeland, the nation... ”.

Tens of thousands of people attended the National Peace and Prosperity Prayer Ceremony at Duc Hau Pagoda. Photo: Duc Anh

In recent years, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Nghe An province and pagodas have mobilized philanthropists, monks, nuns, and Buddhists to actively support and participate in charitable activities; from 2011 to present, it has reached over 25 billion VND, contributing to bringing the image of Nghe An Buddhism to the hearts of the masses in a friendly way. Among them, Buddhists aged 16-30 are a positive factor.

Many gifts were given by Buddhists of Duc Hau Pagoda in the program "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival - Going to School with You" in 2018. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Typically, Duc Hau Pagoda has mobilized hundreds of millions of VND annually to carry out charity work for children in mountainous areas and patients with serious illnesses who are in especially difficult circumstances. Venerable Thich Ninh Lam of Duc Hau Pagoda said: “Every year we organize 5-10 charity trips to remote areas, and young people are the pioneers and liaisons, as well as active members participating in the trips. And I am very happy that every year more and more people register to participate.”

Young people at the "Tuệ garden" family at Duc Hau pagoda during a catechism class. Photo: TC

Venerable Thich Chan Quang said: “Young people often have many emotions and desires, the theory of impermanence in Buddhism can help young people transform greed, anger and ignorance. Because when they are imbued with the meaning that nothing in life is forever, they will know how to give without asking for anything in return. Moreover, young people, with their knowledge, combined with practice to free themselves from the lack of clarity in judging things and events, will have the wisdom to do things that are beneficial to themselves, know how to go the right path, thereby making useful contributions to the community. Therefore, the fact that young people take refuge and become Buddhists to participate in activities in the temple is very encouraging and commendable…”.