Son of the Past in Zen Monk.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.

 This is one of the many rituals of Buddhism, and is an important rite that is indispensable in the summer retreat or the winter of the disciples.

MEvery religion has its own special rituals and practices, and so does Buddhism. This is a rite that is only found in the Bac Tong sect (Mahayana) and Theravada Buddhism (Theravada) does not practice rituals like this.

Because of this, Tonkin Buddhism was deeply influenced by Chinese Buddhism, but Chinese Buddhism focused on the ritual part. This is also a characteristic of their culture.

Qua Duong, also known as Thuong Duong or Pho Duong, where the Sangha comes to eat without the mind first (according to Hue Quang Buddhist Dictionary, page 5752). Too Duong, literally: Road is home, Too is passing, meaning that monks go from Tang Tang, Customer of the Road, West Road, East Road ... to Trai Duong for food, so it is called Qua Duong or Pho Duong.

According to the research of Venerable Thich Huyen Ton, he read in Van Tibetan, Zen Lam Used Thanh Quy, volume 6, according to this document that: the ritual of worshiping the Passover originated at Tu An pagoda in Luoyang , Henan province belonged to the Tang dynasty (618 - 907) China, but before that there was no word Qua Duong.

 

Offering this offering of rice encapsulates the meaning of compassion and wisdom. As two important decisive factors in our life, happiness or suffering is also from here.

In the time of Buddha's life in India as well as other countries according to Theravada Buddhism, there was no ritual offering the Passover but only following the method of "the most honest day, the lowest life". It means "eat one meal in the middle of a day, sleep under a tree at night". In the morning, he put the bowl on the city of alms, then go back to the real life and meditate under the tree.

 

Until Buddhism propagated to China, and then transmitted to Korea, Japan, Vietnam ... the To Duc created this ritual to worship the Passover as a practice. First to offer the ten directions of the Three Jewels, then the practitioner has to eat. This is a special way to express gratitude and gratitude in your meals.

Before eating, to make offerings, to commemorate and then keep mindfulness while eating. If the practitioner is diligent and careful during such a meal, merit and virtue arise and grow from here.

However, the ritual forms, according to Buddhism, they only act as means, not an end. Buddhism advocates: "The, Li must be content" (relying on reason or reason to manifest - PV). Therefore, every ritual in the meditation door has its own typical meaning.

The image of three fingers (thumb, index and little - PV) stands up and holds a very steady position, like a picture of three standing mountains. That is the symbol of the three subjects that are very important in Buddhism.

As for the hand and face seal, it is the Orange seal. Oranges are sweet. The rain is musty mist. Nectar are sweet, fresh dewdrops. Nectar is a symbol of compassion. In Buddhism wisdom and compassion go hand in hand. They are mutually inseparable.

If there is only wisdom and there is no compassion, then that is dry wisdom that does not benefit sentient beings. On the contrary, with only compassion without the wisdom attached to it, it is blind compassion.

Why must put it on the forehead? In fact, it is raised to the brow level, called a "sentenced to mi mi". Brow raised is typical of reverence. Thus, bringing up to the brow is to pay homage to offer rice to worship the Three Jewels.

Thus, the "Passover" ritual in meditation is considered a mindful rice ritual that applies to all other meals. Practitioners need to memorize the mantras to apply during meals to help them maintain mindfulness, not have fantasies, and be dreamy while eating is the main goal.

This wonderful tradition still applies vividly today in countries such as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia and western Vietnam.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.12/8/2020.