LANTERN NIGHT EVENT: “FORGING BONDS OF FILIAL PIETY”

As it is known, among the thousands of sutras and countless teachings of the sages, filial piety has always been held in the highest regard (“Amid a thousand sutras and ten thousand volumes, filial devotion comes first”). In that spirit, Diệu Tướng Am believes that for a child to cherish the moral values passed down by their ancestors and lineage, to practice filial devotion, and to be grateful for and repay the debt of being born and raised, is an achievement in life beyond compare. And in the warm early days of the 7th lunar month—the month that opens the Vu Lan season of filial devotion—the Lantern Night themed “Forging Bonds of Filial Piety” was held at the Diệu Tướng Am Culture & Art Space showroom, 382 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa (formerly District 3), Ho Chi Minh City.

The program opened by guiding the assembly into a sacred atmosphere through the candle-lighting ceremony of filial devotion. Each candle, in its own color, symbolized the different circumstances of one’s parents. As they were lit together, the candles became a symbol of filial devotion, awakening gratitude and forging a sacred connection with one’s parents.

The main ritual of the Lantern Night was the recitation of the Vu Lan Sutra, led and chanted by Venerable Thích Thiên Phước, Abbot of Định Quang Pagoda, Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai. The Vu Lan Sutra recitation was not only the highlight of the program but also a “seed of filial devotion” planted in the heart of every Buddhist, allowing this devotion to continue to blossom in daily life and work.

Through his gentle and profound teaching, the Venerable shared that filial devotion is the fundamental path of the Buddha, and that repaying one’s parents is not merely a duty of this lifetime, but a journey of gratitude spanning countless lifetimes. For in the end, all beings share the same origin.

Through organizing this Lantern Night, Diệu Tướng Am wishes to convey to all Buddhists and honored guests: an awakening of filial devotion through the resonant sutra verses that recall the boundless kindness of parents across countless lifetimes. Practicing filial piety in modern life goes beyond mere remembrance—the collective recitation of the Vu Lan Sutra, led by Venerable Thiên Phước, also encourages every Buddhist to turn filial devotion into action: to cherish one’s parents while they are still present, and to dedicate merit to the nine generations of ancestors. As everyone chanted together, the energy of filial devotion and compassion resonated and spread, bringing a sense of peace and sacredness to each participant.

At the close of the program, through a mindful and sacred walking meditation, the assembly together offered prayers for the peace and well-being of their living parents, for the salvation of the nine generations of ancestors, and for auspicious connections with all beings. This was not merely an ending, but an invitation—one that opens the seed of filial devotion, letting the flow of compassion, gratitude, and reverence spread to all.

SACRED MOMENTS FROM THE LANTERN NIGHT: “FORGING BONDS OF FILIAL PIETY”