Commemoration of the Buddha’s renunciation at Ba Vang Pagoda

On February 26, 2023, Ba Vang Pagoda held a commemoration for the Buddhas renunciation. The commemoration was dedicated to prince Siddhartha. Upon witnessing the suffering in this world: aging, sickness and death, he became determined to forsake his personal happiness and find a way to happiness for all sentient beings. Thanks to that day, he later became the Buddha, the Supreme Enlightened One, and taught others the way out of suffering.

Tens of thousands of people came to celebrate the event. During the commemoration, two monks of Ba Vang Pagoda and a Buddhist under training to enter monkhood came forward and shared their stories with the audience. From their sharing, people got to understand not only the challenges that the Buddhas disciples have to face to follow in his footsteps but also the noble reason behind their decision.

Below are some of the images taken from the event.

Do Duc Minh Hieu, a lay Buddhist at Ba Vang Pagoda is under training to become a monk. In the commemoration, he was invited to come on stage and share his story with the audience, the reason why he wishes to become a monk, and how his parents feel about his decision. At first, he was met with objections from his parents. However, they had a change of heart after seeing how determined their son was and learning about the monks at Ba Vang Pagoda. They are now also devout lay Buddhists and fully support Minh Hieus decision.

The monks of Ba Vang Pagoda shared the story of how they became monks. After realizing the nobility of monkhood, they decided to follow in the Buddhas footsteps. Though their family members were strongly opposed to their decision at first, their determination eventually made them relent and support them.

Bhikkhu Thich Truc Thai Minh shared his remark on the challenges faced by monks. A monks life cannot be without challenges, but it is those challenges that strengthen the will of a Buddhas disciple.

Bhikkhu Thich Truc Thai Minh and the monks of Ba Vang Pagoda were given flowers by a family of Buddhists. The son of the family (in the middle) is under training to become a monk at Ba Vang Pagoda. Many young people like him are also training to enter monastic life at this place.

Bhikkhu Thich Truc Thai Minh, abbot of Ba Vang Pagoda, received flowers from the junior Buddhists of Rahula club on the anniversary of the Buddhas Great Renunciation. Monks who genuinely cultivate are the inheritors of the Buddhas will to help all sentient beings. It is through them that today, we can feel the favor of the Buddha.

The campus of Ba Vang Pagoda was filled with spectators during the commemoration of Prince Siddarthas Great Renunciation.

More than 2,600 years have passed, but what he did for sentient beings is still fondly remembered with a deep gratitude by his disciples.