Vietnamese American Buddhist Association of Austin, TX

Phap Nhan Temple - A nonprofit Organization

136 The Ranch Road, Del Valle, TX 78617
Tel: 512-366-2686
Website: phapnhantemple.com/ phapnhan.net
Email: phapnhantemple@gmail.com

Thanksgiving Retreat
In the world despite everything is small or big, direct or indirect, when we were
born, have grown up, and achieved in life, we have to express and repay our
gratitude and gratefulness to all. In the season of Thanksgiving Ceremony in 2016,
Php Nhn Temple will hold the Thanksgiving Ceremony for you near and far. We
know that Thanksgiving Ceremony is an appropriate opportunity for us to turn
back to reunite and visit families. The different meanings of the word
"Thanksgiving" are the gratitude and gratefulness. The gratitude in Buddhism has
a couple of specific kinds: 1/ The gratitude to parents for their giving birth and
nurture that have given us this physical body. 2/ The gratitude to the Three Jewels
(Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha): The Buddha, a King of peace, an Awakened or
Enlightened One; The Dharma, which has been well proclaimed by himself, is
very practical in the present, includes full kinds of substance of loving-kindness,
compassion, peace, and insight for life; the Sangha are the community of
awakening, peace, joy, and authentic happiness for the many right in the present
life. 3/ The gratitude to teachers for their educating and training us to become the
talented and virtuous people for families, schools, and society. 4/ a. The gratitude
to national heroes for their responsibility to found the country and defend the
country from ancient time until now; b. The gratitude to the nations where we
were born, have grown up, cultivated, learnt, worked, etc. 5/ The gratitude to
monastics and lay people for their duties to learn the Dharma, understand,
propagate, protect the Dharma, and shine up the light of the Dharma in the present
and in the future right in the world.
The schedule for Thanksgiving Retreat will take place on Saturday Evening,
November 26, 2016.
05.00 pm:
Welcome you all to the Php Nhn Temple
06.00 pm
Having Mindfulness diner
07.00 pm:
Walking meditation
07.30 pm:
Chanting for praying
08.30 pm:
Dharma discussion

09.30 pm:
10.00 pm:
05.00 am:
05.30 am:
06.00 am
06.30 am:
07.30 am:
08.00 am:
09.00 am:
Chinese
10.00 am:
11.30 am:
12.00 am:
01.00 pm:
02.00 pm:
03.00pm:
04.00 pm:

Sitting meditation
Lights out.
On Sunday, November 27, 2016
Getting up
Doing morning exercises
Meditation practice
Chanting for praying
Having mindfulness breakfast
Doing personal activities
Learning Buddhist Terminology in Vietnamese, English, and
Dharma talk about the meanings of Thanksgiving Ceremony
Singing Dharma songs
Making offerings to the Sangha and having mindfulness lunch
Taking a rest
Relaxation meditation and tea meditation
Performing the Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Triple
Gem and transmitting the five Ethical Trainings1
The close of activities.

You are cordially invited to spend your appropriate time coming to the Temple to
attend the Thanksgiving Ceremony. May you all be well, healthy, and happy in
the Dharma.
The Abbot of Phap Nhan Temple
Dharma Teacher Thch Trng S

Please write your full name, DOB, and an ID picture, and then send them soon to the Phap Nhan Temple so that Dharma Master
will fill them in the Certificate of Ordination for you.