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

Invitation Letter of the Great Ceremony of Vu Lan 2017

To: Dear Monastics, lay Buddhists, and everyone,
Discourse on Showing Great Gratitude to Parents states: On the Full Moon Day of yearly lunar
July, people with filial piety and deep gratitude have to repay their parents. Indeed, when the
Vu Lan Ceremonial Season comes, they spend their free time going to the Temple for cultivation
and attention to the great event.
Vu Lan (Ullambana) consists of many meanings. One is praying blessing for the living parents
arousing virtuous merit and longevity. Two is praying blessing for those who passed away were
born up to a peaceful realm. Three is praying blessing for oneself getting peaceful joy and
happiness. Four is praying blessing for the peace world, people getting peaceful pleasure.
Through learning the Dharma, understanding the Dharma, practicing the Dharma, protecting the
Dharma, spreading the Dharma, and applying the Dharma into the daily life, we can enjoy the
Dharma pleasure for ourselves and others right in the present life.
In this year, the Php Nhn Temple will hold the Great Ceremony of Vu Lan on Sunday,
August 20. On this Ceremonial Day, there will be the Ceremony of being Ordained as an
American novice youth Monk whose age is 23 under instruction and presence of the Most
Venerable Master Thch Tr Hong, the Senior Venerable Master Thch Minh Chn, Thch
Trng S, Thch Phng Nim, the Venerable Nun Thanh Thin, and Hnh Minh. Schedule for
the Ceremonial Day will take the following place:
09:00 am Welcoming you all to the Php Nhn Temple
09:30 am Meditation practice and Chanting
10:00 am Dharma talk about the meanings of Vu Lan Ceremony
11:00 am Performing the Ceremony of being Ordained as the Novice Monk
12:00 am Making offerings to the Sangha and have mindfulness lunch
01:00 pm Lunch break
02:00 pm Performing the Ceremony of Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and
explaining the meanings of how to become lay Followers1
04:00 pm Closing activities.
You are cordially invited to take advantage of your free time to go to the Temple for attending
the Great Ceremony of Vu Lan in this year happily. May the Triple Gem bless you all with
peace and happiness. May you and your loved ones be well, healthy, and happy in the Dharma.
The Abbot of the Php Nhn Temple
Dharma Teacher Thch Trng S

1
Please write your full name, DOB, and an ID picture, and then send them soon to the Phap Nhan Temple so that the Dharma
Master will fill them in the Certificate of Ordination for you.