Ba Vang Pagoda welcomed the visit of Venerable Sayadaw U Ottamasara and his disciples from the Thabarwa meditation center
On September 8, 2023, more than 100 monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists of the Thabarwa Meditation Center, led by its founder Venerable Sayadaw U Ottamasara, visited Ba Vang Pagoda. On their arrival, Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh and his disciples welcomed the delegation and guided them on a tour around Ba Vang Pagoda, introducing them to its cultural architecture and stories.
Prominently, the delegation had a chance to enter the meditation forest where the monks of Ba Vang Pagoda are practicing and had a unique experience there. Reflecting upon this special visit, Venerable Sayadaw U Ottamasara expressed: “I'm satisfied and besides, I'm surprised because Vietnam is not a Buddhist country so I don't think this kind of pagoda [where the Sangha practice in the forest] exists here. If I haven't visited here, I might not believe it.”
This trip was a great occasion to exchange Dharma friendship between Vietnamese and Burmese Buddhism.
Below are some images taken from the event.
Venerable Sayadaw U Ottamasara gave a speech upon the warm welcome of Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh and the monks of Ba Vang Pagoda.
On this trip, the Venerable prepared a Buddha statue as a gift for Ba Vang Pagoda.
Accompanying the Burmese group this time are monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists from some other countries.
Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh and the monks of Ba Vang Pagoda took the group around the pagoda.
"The world's largest on-mountain Buddhist lecture hall," adorned with 17 paintings depicting temples from many countries around the world, was one of the destinations that might leave a good impression on the group.
The hand-holding of Dharma friendship represented the harmony between monks like water and milk, as taught by the Buddha.
The group's special visit to the meditation forest where monks of Ba Vang Pagoda diligently practice Dhutanga under the guidance of Thay Thich Truc Thai Minh.
The delegation got into the mediation forest where the monks are practicing.
