Giáo Hội Phật Giáo Việt Nam Thống Nhất
Hải Ngoại tại UÐL-TTL
Trường Hạ Pháp Hoa
Tổ chức tại chùa Pháp Hoa, South
Australia
10 – 20 /7/2007
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Retreat Season's felling
of some young students
1. On the 10th of
July the Sangha retreat season commenced. I was fortunate enough to
take part in this retreat for a few days. I arrived at Phap Hoa
Temple at 9 am and my first class was with a Buddhist
monk. In the class the monk told us Buddhist
stories. They were interesting and educational. There was a
message in each story the monk told us. These stories taught us how
to become better people. In the class some of the students
entertained us by telling personal stories and funny jokes were
made. After the class we had lunch. Lunch was different as we had
to pray before we ate and we had to eat in silence. Although this
was different I really enjoyed participating in the lunch ceremony,
and also because the food
was nice. After lunch we walked around the temple and chanted a Buddha's
name, this
was very peaceful and relaxing. We then went into the main hall to
chant. Even though I did not know how to recite the Dharma it was
really good
listening to the Buddhist
congregation chant. Apart from chanting and learning about our
religion a lot of free time was allocated to us. In this time I was
able to make friends. Overall my time at the retreat was fun,
interesting and memorable.
Jenny Trieu,
17
2. At the Sangha
retreat I met a new friend called John. I enjoyed dinner the most
because of the yummy food.
It was fun playing game boy in my free time. I also had a fun time
with my friends. I also enjoyed playing soccer with the monk. I
learnt about Buddha's
teachings and about Buddha.
Simon Trieu, 11
3. The winter
retreat was very fun. I liked eating the food.
When I came here I did not really want to go, but later I changed my
mind because it was so fun. The fun things were playing, eating the
yummy food,
having free time and making friends with some funny monks who were
good
at sports and good teachers. Also the nun's were really nice. I
learnt about Buddha's teachings and more about his life. I learnt
about karma and respect.
Thuan
Nguyen, 11
4. On the
10th of July 2007 many monks and nuns around Australia gathered at
Phap Hoa temple to have a winter retreat session for 10 days. My
friends and I slept at the temple from Tuesday until Sunday, some
nights were warm however some were cold. Each morning we woke up at
five and got ready for chanting which started at 5.30. We then had
breakfast which was delicious. After that we had story telling time
and then free time. I learnt a lot on the retreat. For example, I
learnt new stories about Buddha and about karma. During the retreat
I made many friends.
Peter Trieu,
13
5.
Yesterday on the 12th of July 2007 I learned about good karma, how
to love and care for people and I learnt how to share.
Fiona, 7
6. On the
10th of July 2007, I participated in the Sangha winter retreat
season at Chua Phap Hoa, Adelaide. In the past ten days I learnt
about the lifestyle of Buddhist monks and nuns. Each day I had to
wake up at five in the morning and chant for at least an hour and a
half. After that, Venerable Thich Nhu Hue would talk to us about
Dharma for half an hour. During the Sangha winter retreat season I
made new friends like Binh, Judy, Tien, Hoa and more. I also met
some friends I made in the Sangha retreat in Canberra and Perth in
the previous years. The daily activities were fun and I would
recommend people to go to future retreat seasons.
Huy Nguyen,
14
7. In the
first week of the holidays I went to the Pháp Hoa temple to join the
Sangha retreat. I arrived at the temple at 5 am with my cousin An,
Toan and my sister Jenny. We went to chant when we arrived at the
temple. I tried to keep up with the chanting, but I found it
difficult as my Vietnamese was not that good. After the chanting,
we had breakfast. Our lunch meal ritual was different from the
breakfast and dinner ritual. I have learnt lots of things about
Buddha and karma. I enjoyed my stay and visit at the temple. I
liked sleeping over at the temple, and I liked the company of the
monks and nuns because they were wise.
Danny Le, 12
8. On the
10th of July 2007, at Chua Phap Hoa in Adelaide, there was a retreat
session for monks, nuns and Buddhist students. They came from
different states like Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Victoria.
Everyday, everyone had to wake up at five to pray. Then at seven we
had breakfast. After breakfast all the children had to go to
class. Our teacher was Thay Hanh Tri. He taught us how to hit a
bell properly. Everybody had a try. Then we had to tell stories.
The first story was told by one of my classmates. It was about a
leaf looking like a bird. After about an hour and a half we had
lunch. The food was yummy. Then we had to go to class at 4
o'clock. Our teachers were Su Co Tue Dinh and Su Co Tue Nghiem. We
learnt about good karma. The things we talked about were treating
everyone nicely, sharing and helping people. Our next class we had
to learn about the Eight Noble Folds. We then played a game. There
were two teams. Each team had to answer questions and if the
question was answered correctly 10 points were allocated to that
team. It was fun, but unfortunately the other team won. At the
retreat I learnt a lot of new things and I made great friends.
My Tien, 13
9. On the
10th of July I came to temple to participate in a 10 day Sangha
retreat. I learnt a lot of new and interesting things from the
monks and nuns. Yesterday, the 12th of July I came to temple at
10:30 and went to class. The monk told us lots of interesting
stories. After that it was lunch time. During all this there was
lots of free time to talk to our friends. We also had to go to the
main hall several times to pray. At night there was a session of
Dharma teaching. It was very interesting because I learnt lots of
new things. During this 10 day retreat I made a new friend named
John. I also experienced things that I would not have experienced
at home such as eating lunch in silence, waking up at 5 in the
morning and praying before eating. During the classes that the nuns
taught us I learnt about good karma and how to achieve good karma.
Ways to achieve this included being good to parents, not lying and
sharing with friends and family. I enjoyed the 10 day retreat.
Judy Trieu,
15
10. In the
morning I wake up at 5:30 am to get ready for temple. I arrive at
6:00 am and wait for breakfast. Breakfast is at 7:00 am. The
children arrive to the hall early and sit down to wait for the monks
to arrive. When the master enters the room we all have to stand up
and bow to him. We then pray and eat. Something new I learnt was
that you have to pour tea in your bowl and then drink from it.
After breakfast we have a class at 9:30 am where we share funny
stories and the monk tells us tales with a moral at the end. We
have lunch at 11:45 am which is a bigger ceremony and more praying
is involved. We then have to go up to the shrine at 1:00 pm to
chant for an hour. At 4:00 pm we have another class with two nuns.
With the nuns we learn about life lessons, and also how to be polite
towards our parents. Dinner is at 6:00 pm and then we go to the
shrine again for half an hour. After that I go home.
Jennifer Le,
15
11. Mùa
nghỉ hè này đúng ra chúng con đi chơi hoặc làm những việc khác.
Nhưng con đã chọn đi khóa An cư này. Khóa An cư tổ chức 10 ngày
nhưng con chọn để dự an cư cho 6 ngày thôi. An cư là khi các Thầy
và các sư cô về lại một nơi để tu. Những người lớn học Phật pháp
riêng các bạn trẻ, có lớp học riêng do thầy hoặc sư cô hướng dẫn,
còn lúc tụng kinh thì tất cả tụng kinh với nhau.
Mấy ngày
nay buổi sáng, các con phải dạy rất sớm 5 giờ sáng để lên chánh điện
công phu. Ban đầu thì không quen nhưng sau khi cố gắng và chịu khó
thì dễ chịu hơn, những giờ khác các con học Phật pháp và tụng kinh
và ngồi thiền. Lúc học Phật pháp được hiểu thêm vể đức Phật và Phật
pháp. Lúc con ngồi thiền thân tâm của con có cảm giác rất là thanh
tịnh nên con thích thiền nhiều nhất.
Trung Le, 14
12. Trong
mấy ngày nghỉ học con đã được đi chùa. Con đi chùa vì có mấy bạn
con đi và vì chùa có tổ chức An Cư mười ngày. Con thích đi chùa lắm
vì mỗi lần con đi thấy vui lắm. Chương trình của con mỗi ngày đó là
5 giờ phải thức dậy, 5 giờ 30 là phải tụng kinh tới 6 giờ 30, 7 giờ
30 là phải ăn sáng, 9 giờ rưởi là học với một quý Thầy, 12 giờ là ăn
trưa, 2 giờ 30 là tụng kinh đến 4 giờ, 4 giờ là học với hai quý sư
cô, 6 giờ là ăn tối đến 7 giờ 30 tụng kinh. 8 giờ là nghe Pháp đến
9 giờ rưởi, 9 giờ 30 là con phải ngồi thiền đến 10 giờ rồi đi ngủ.
Con thích
đi chùa lắm vì còn được học về Đức Phật Thích Ca Mâu Ni. Vưà học
còn có mấy câu hỏi đố nữa. Đội con giỏi lắm và được kẹo. Con thích
đi chùa lắm và muốn đi nữa.
Hoa Nguyen,
13
15. Thứ Tư,
Năm và thứ Sáu con thức dậy sớm đi chùa để học, làm lễ và chơi một
chút. Ở chánh điện chúng con đọc bài Lăng nghiêm với mọi người.
Con học được nhiều điều như làm điều tốt và nghiệp. Nếu chúng con
làm việc tốt điều tốt sẽ đến với mình. Thầy chỉ cho con ý nghiã cái
hoa sen và chuyện cổ tích về Đức Phật. Thật là những ngày thú vị
nhất với con.
Toan Tran,
13
16. Mấy
ngày nay con đến ở chùa Pháp Hoa, vì chùa tổ chức An Cư. Bốn ngày
đã qua và con cố gắng niệm Phật và học Phật pháp. Mỗi sáng vào 5
giờ 45 con và các bạn lên chánh điện niệm công phu. Ăn xong lại có
đi niệm Phật. Những thời kinh cảm thấy an vui, thỉnh thoảng con
cũng cảm thấy mệt nhưng mà vui. Con học được cách giúp đỡ người
khác, làm những điều tốt hơn. Con cảm thấy vui vẻ và có lợi ích cho
con. Nếu như bạn bè con cũng được đến chùa được học hỏi về đạo Phật
thì mọi người sẽ an vui và xã hội sẽ tốt hơn.
Binh Phan,
15
