The filial spirit of young people in Vu Lan season

(Baohatinh.vn) - Vu Lan season is not only a Buddhist ritual, but also an occasion to remind the young generation of Ha Tinh about filial piety - a core cultural value of the nation.

Even though she studies far from home, Dan Huyen always calls to ask about, send wishes and encourage her grandparents and parents.

For many young people in Ha Tinh , Vu Lan is not simply a day to go to the pagoda to pray for peace for their parents, but also an opportunity to express their feelings through small, simple but sincere actions.

Le Dan Huyen - a student at the University of Foreign Languages ​​- University of Danang shared: "This year, I cannot return home for Vu Lan because I study far away. Although I do not have the conditions to be with my parents, I still often call to ask about them, send my best wishes and encourage them. I think that filial piety is not only expressed through material gifts, but also through sincere care and sharing from the heart, even though I am far away, I still always turn to my family."

In big pagodas in Ha Tinh such as Huong Tich Pagoda (Can Loc Commune), Phuc Linh Pagoda (Ha Huy Tap Ward), Cam Son Pagoda (Thanh Sen Ward)... on the occasion of the full moon of July, the image of a large number of young people participating in the memorial service, offering incense to commemorate their ancestors... is becoming more and more familiar. Many of them wear blue shirts, participate in charity work, and assist the monks in organizing the ceremony.

Nguyen Van Dung, a member of the Ha Huy Tap ward Youth Union, said: “Going to the pagoda during Vu Lan season, I feel a very sacred atmosphere. I feel like I’m slowing down and thinking more about my parents and grandparents. I also want to show my gratitude by studying well and living a decent life… to make my parents feel at ease.”

Many young people participate in Vu Lan festival at Thanh Luong pagoda (Nghi Xuan commune).

The good news is that more and more young people are aware that filial piety is not a distant concept, appearing only in scriptures or teachings, but is present in everyday life. Filial piety can start with simple things: a call to ask about parents, making efforts to study and practice to reduce parents' worries, or sharing some of the economic burden with a suitable part-time job... In the fast-paced modern life, the generation gap sometimes becomes a barrier that makes the connection incomplete. Therefore, Vu Lan season is a meaningful occasion for young people to stop, look deeper and find ways to get closer to their parents.

However, it cannot be denied that there are still some young people who do not truly understand the value of Vu Lan season. For them, this is sometimes just a formal festival, even becoming a “trend” to post photos on social networks rather than an opportunity to express filial piety.

Venerable Thich Chuc Giac - Head of the Propagation Committee (Executive Committee of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha), Abbot of Phuc Linh Pagoda shared: “Filial piety is the root of morality, the foundation for each person to mature and live responsibly. What I hope most is not that the children come to the pagoda in large numbers, but that after Vu Lan season, they always remember their parents, maintain filial piety in every small action every day. Filial piety should not be limited to rituals, but must become a way of life.”

Rose pinning ceremony - an indispensable ritual in every Vu Lan ceremony.

In Ha Tinh, many families have the tradition of holding Vu Lan ceremonies at home, inviting relatives to gather and remember their ancestors. This is also an opportunity for children and grandchildren to gather and strengthen their relationships. Many young people, whether studying far away or working in big cities, still take the opportunity to return to their hometowns on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month to gather with their parents.

“The feeling of sitting around the dinner table on Vu Lan day, listening to grandma tell old stories, seeing my parents laughing, to me that is happiness. When I was young, I only thought that filial piety was being obedient and listening. But when I was away from home, experiencing illness and fatigue, I fully understood the love and sacrifice of my parents. Seeing the way my parents took care of my grandparents, from meals, greetings to patience in behavior, I realized that filial piety is not something lofty but lies in simple daily things. It is my parents' example that reminds me to be grateful, to care more and to study hard and practice to be independent in the future, to make my parents feel secure and proud, that is also a way to fulfill filial piety" - Phan Xuan Thanh (Thanh Sen ward) shared.

For young Phan Xuan Thanh, filial piety is not something lofty but lies in simple daily activities.

In a broader view, the filial piety of Ha Tinh youth during Vu Lan season is also closely linked to the tradition of “remembering the source of water when drinking”. In the era of integration, preserving and promoting this value is even more meaningful. Many schools and organizations have integrated filial piety education into extracurricular activities, telling stories about filial examples, arousing students’ sense of responsibility. It is the combination of family, school and social education that has created an environment that nurtures specific and sustainable acts of filial piety.

In the red color of Vu Lan roses, in the silent prayers at the Buddha's door and in every family reunion meal, the spirit of filial piety of the youth still flows silently, persistently and deeply. It is not only a cultural beauty but also a source of spiritual strength for the youth to walk more firmly on the road ahead, preserving and spreading the tradition of "remembering the source of water when drinking" of the Vietnamese people.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/tinh-than-dao-hieu-cua-gioi-tre-trong-mua-vu-lan-post294988.html