The Venerable affirmed that the spirit of Vu Lan – the full moon of the seventh lunar month – must be associated with thrift, simplicity, and the true spirit of Buddhism. “Many people mistakenly think that buying a lot of votive paper and lavish feasts is filial piety. But in fact, that is a manifestation of unfilial piety. Filial piety is taking care of parents while they are still alive, maintaining respect and simple love, not external forms,” the Venerable shared.
Citing the history of Buddhism, the Venerable said that the spirit of thrift and minimalist living was demonstrated right from the Buddha - who left the palace to enter an ascetic life, finding the path to liberation. In Vietnam, that tradition was continued and promoted by the Patriarchs such as the Buddhist Emperor Tran Nhan Tong - after leaving the throne to practice Buddhism in Yen Tu, founded the Truc Lam Zen sect, setting a shining example of a life of poverty, connecting religion with life.
From the current reality, Venerable Thich Thanh Quyet expressed concern about the situation of death anniversary rituals that are still too formal, with many places burning votive paper everywhere. This behavior not only wastes resources and affects the environment, but also goes against Buddhist teachings. “Burning votive paper is a custom originating from the ancient Chinese custom of sacrificial burial. Today's distortion only makes people stray from the core value of filial piety,” the Venerable emphasized.
Sharing the same view, Venerable Thich Thanh Dat, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Academy, said that saving and fighting waste is not only a social responsibility, but also a core content of Buddhist teachings. This is also a means of spreading a humane, simple and sustainable lifestyle in the community.
After the workshop, the Venerables and the Executive Board of the Academy hoped that each monk and nun after graduation would become a “spreader” of this spirit in the locality. Through preaching, participating in Dharma activities, and connecting with the masses, they would help Buddhists understand that filial piety cannot be separated from the spirit of thrift, simple living, and harmony – core values towards a sustainable society, imbued with the cultural identity of Vietnamese Buddhism.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/vu-lan-bao-hieu-tranh-pho-truong-hinh-thuc-giu-tam-thanh-kinh-post809395.html
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