Early spring go to temple

Spring has come, people's hearts are filled with joy to welcome a new year. Wishing for peace and happiness - lighting incense on the ancestral altar, many people go to the temple with good thoughts and good intentions, having a moment to calm their hearts to nourish their optimistic spirit to continue the journey to the future.

A corner of Phu Lien Pagoda ( Thai Nguyen City).

The space of the temples wafts the scent of incense. Even though there are many people coming to worship, the scenery is always peaceful, but it seems to have a magical power that makes everyone excited, happy and peaceful.

Although the scenery of pagodas in early spring has not been completely restored, I know that nearly 200 places of worship in Thai Nguyen province have welcomed thousands of people, tourists and Buddhists from all over to worship and pray for good things. It is worth mentioning that in the early spring of At Ty 2025, pagodas such as Phu Lien Pagoda, Hang Pagoda, Ong Pagoda (Thai Nguyen City) have restricted people, tourists, monks, nuns and Buddhists from burning incense and votive paper money.

In particular, Phu Lien Pagoda has many signs right next to the entrance of the temple: "The temple has lit incense coils, please do not burn incense, burn incense in the temple to ensure safety". As for Ong Pagoda, right next to the entrance, there is a sign reminding: "Please do not wear shorts or revealing shirts when entering the temple".

Signs reminding people not to light or burn incense are placed at the doors of houses of worship.

When visiting a temple, one must be careful with one's speech and dress appropriately. This has been a reminder for a long time, so few people who go to the temple commit this offense. As for going to the temple without burning incense but still showing respect to Buddha, that is a new cultural feature in a civilized society. This is not "borrowing other people's incense to gain our own blessings", but the temple has respectfully offered incense, candles, and offerings to Buddha.

So even though people do not directly light the lamps and incense, they are happy and excited, feeling the solemnity and reverently worshipping with a sincere heart. Many people who go to the temple are a bit surprised, but immediately realize that lighting and burning too much incense also damages the economy and affects mental health, so they follow the temple's regulations of not lighting and burning incense on their own.

Not lighting or burning incense everywhere also makes the atmosphere in the temple more peaceful. Because in the past, everyone lit and burned incense, so as soon as the incense was placed in the incense bowl, a temple servant took it away to burn. Moreover, there are many incense bowls in the temples, people jostle each other with the thought of directly offering a stick of incense to the compassionate Buddha, leading to lighting and burning too much incense, making the smoke thick, making eyes sting to the point of tears, making the air more stuffy and always posing the risk of fire and explosion.

Peaceful Ong Pagoda (Thai Nguyen City).

This spring, when going to the pagoda, the burning of paper money is no longer popular. The paper money cremation house at Phu Lien Pagoda is closed and not in use; the paper money cremation house at Ong Pagoda is rarely used. Not because of saving money, but because people going to the pagoda are propagandized, have higher awareness, understand more deeply about beliefs and practice the Dharma. That is the way to visit the pagoda in the civilized era. That is why the temple bell still rings with the melody of a thousand years ago; the temple gong still releases into the spring sky the steady sound like the ticking of a clock counting the time.

The sound of bells, the slow sound of wooden fish, and the scent of incense bring the wishes of many people to the unknown. But that is the holy faith of many people on earth. "One chant penetrates three thousand", praying for the country to be peaceful and enter the era of national development. This is one of the fundamental reasons why many people, when happy or sad, often seek out the temple to pray for peace. That sincere prayer comes from the depths of the heart of a good person.

Especially in recent years, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in Thai Nguyen province has carried out many charitable activities, often happily helping the elderly, children and people in especially difficult circumstances. Along with that, the Sangha has directed places of worship to accompany local authorities in doing a good job of propaganda and mobilizing people to participate in the movements: "All people unite to build a cultural life" and the movement "Building new rural areas and civilized urban areas". Because they are close to everyday life, pagodas have become closer to the people, and people from all over the world have happily donated money and labor to join the pagoda in creating a place to cultivate their minds and virtues with the thought of "realizing" the 48 great vows of Amitabha Buddha, hoping to create good karma for themselves and everyone.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202502/dau-xuan-di-le-chua-247071f/