Picking up "mistakes" in temple and pagoda ceremonies at the beginning of Spring

In fact, most people are becoming more responsible and civilized in this spiritual activity. However, in some places there are still many "flaws" in both the organization and awareness of the people.

There are still some "grains of sand"

Quiet and peaceful space at the statue garden at Bang Pagoda (Hoang Mai district).

The Saint Ca Temple (Hong Quang Commune, Ung Hoa District) on the Day River is one of the sacred places where many people from near and far come to pray for peace. On the afternoon of the first day of the Lunar New Year, a crowd of people crowded the entrance to the temple, with offerings piled high with money, votive paper, etc. After the ceremony, many people burned votive papers, money, and votive paper and conveniently threw the flowers into the river even though there was a trash can next to them. On the way to the temple, there were still scenes of disabled people begging for money. Meanwhile, Ham Long Pagoda next to the Saint Ca Temple still had the phenomenon of people withdrawing cards at the beginning of the year.

Late afternoon on the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year, the Ba La Khe communal house - pagoda - stele relic site (Ha Dong district) had few visitors but the fire in the incense burner was still burning fiercely. Although the temple advised visitors to maintain public hygiene, and to throw unused items into the trash when the ceremony was over, many people did not do so... Not far away, many kiosks in the area for writing incense still openly displayed signs offering horoscopes and palm reading...

Similarly, Tay Ho Temple (Tay Ho District) was crowded with people in the first days of the year. From the entrance, although there were many trash cans, many people and tourists still threw trash in the wrong place. Most of the tree roots became places to throw trash; on the contrary, many trash cans had lids but people threw trash right on the lids... It is worth mentioning that, although Tay Ho Temple had a notice board advising people and tourists not to burn incense in the temple, many people still burned incense, causing smoke. In particular, due to the large number of visitors placing offerings, the temple had to arrange a team to collect and classify offerings. A series of large baskets of fresh flowers, candles, incense coils, money, and votive paper were continuously transported to the garbage dump. A person in the sorting team said that from 5am to 10pm, there were about 20 people continuously doing the work of collecting and classifying offerings. Of these, many fresh flowers and votive paper money were discarded, which was extremely wasteful.

A common point in most places of worship is the scattering of coins all over the altars in communal houses, temples, and pagodas. Although there is a donation box in front of every altar, few people put the money in there, but instead find ways to put it on flower vases, scatter it on the altar surface..., forcing the place of worship to arrange for people to collect and pick up coins to put in the donation box...

Spreading civilization

In order to ensure that tourists can feel secure when visiting Tay Ho Palace, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang An Ward (Tay Ho District) Nguyen Danh Thu said that the units have arranged an interdisciplinary team including district police and ward police with 8 officers on duty at Tay Ho Palace to propagate, remind people and control theft and pickpocketing. Inside the palace, a system is also installed.

Surveillance cameras to control petty theft... With good security and order, from New Year's Eve until now, Tay Ho Palace has not recorded any cases of pickpocketing or robbery of residents or tourists.

Meanwhile, Bang Pagoda (Hoang Liet Ward, Hoang Mai District) also offers a peaceful space with blooming flowers. Most people who come to the pagoda do not burn incense, money, votive paper, pick flowers, break branches, or step on the grass... Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue in Dai Thanh apartment building (Thanh Tri District) said that for many years, people who come to the pagoda do not burn incense or burn votive paper. Many people are conscious of preserving the landscape and protecting the environment. "I and many others have been taught by the pagoda not to burn money or votive paper. Instead, people who come to the pagoda with sincerity, "drops of oil" offer the Three Jewels, the pagoda will use that money to help those in difficult circumstances. This is a good deed, everyone is encouraged to do good deeds, so everyone is happy," Ms. Hue shared.

Meanwhile, right at the gate of Phuc Khe Pagoda - also known as Ngoi Pagoda (Ha Dong District), the pagoda used loudspeakers to ask people not to place offerings of incense, candles, money, or gold; everyone should enter to worship Buddha with a peaceful mind. Venerable Thich Dam Xuyen, Deputy Abbot of Phuc Khe Pagoda, said that the pagoda does not perform card reading or fortune telling, but only focuses on chanting Buddha's name, releasing animals, helping the poor and patients in many hospitals... On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the pagoda also donated 400 gifts to patients at Tan Trieu K Hospital.

Regarding the burning of money and votive paper, monk Thich Dam Xuyen affirmed that Buddhism does not teach the burning of votive paper... This is a huge waste and pollutes the environment. The temple has spent a lot of time creating a habit of not burning incense indiscriminately, not burning money and gold as is currently the case. It is enough for people to come to the temple with a sincere heart; the temple hopes that Buddhists use money to do good deeds, which will benefit the poor and society, rather than buying gold and votive paper to burn indiscriminately.

We believe that, with the change in awareness, the beauty in the activities of worshiping at temples, communal houses, pagodas, and shrines at the beginning of the year will be increasingly multiplied to gradually eliminate the unnecessary "sand grains" as present...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/nhat-san-trong-le-den-chua-dau-xuan-692453.html