The alms bowls of blessings - Benefiting all deities and humans
These are the 10 statues of the Buddha's major disciples, a unique and sacred site at Ba Vang Pagoda. If you wish to let go of the unwholesome deeds within yourself, sincerely rely on the righteous energy and virtuous restraint discipline of the Sage Monks to eliminate negativity and fulfill your virtuous aspirations.
On the grassy hill stand ten statues representing the ten major disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, each holding an alms bowl. During the Buddha's time, he and his Sangha carried their bowls into villages and populated areas every morning to seek alms.
Alms round is a practice taught by the Buddha to help the ordained to sustain their physical bodies. It is also a method to cultivate the virtue of patience, eliminate greed and arrogance, and strengthen their determination to practice the Dharma, etc. At the same time, this practice brings immense merits to the offerers, granting them blessings in aspects such as appearance, possession, reputation, etc.
Alms round is also one of thirteen noble Dhutanga practices highly praised by the Buddha. In Vietnam, Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong, a monarch who abdicated the throne to become a monk, continued this practice and passed it down to his disciples in the Truc Lam Zen sect, including Venerable Phap Loa, Venerable Huyen Quang, and subsequent generations of the Sangha.
Today, at Ba Vang Pagoda, the Sangha continues to uphold this tradition, practicing alms rounds and cultivating Dhutanga practices. In doing so, they carry forward the noble legacy of the Buddhas and Patriarchs, serving as fields of merits for sentient beings.
