Pháp Nhãn Temple Ven. Thích Trừng Sỹ
MEANING OF THE KATHINA MERIT ROBE OFFERING CEREMONY AND VU LAN FILIAL PIETY FESTIVAL AT PHÁP NHÃN TEMPLE
Namo The Original Master Shakyamuni Buddhaya
Respectfully to the Venerable elder Masters, Monks and Nuns,
Dear fellow Buddhist devotees,
We respectfully listen to the poem as follows:
Though we can count the grains of river sand,
we cannot measure a father’s devoted heart.
Though we can count the vast blue sky,
we cannot measure a mother’s loving mind.
Though we may grow and thrive,
Our parents’ love is complete and unwavering from start to end.
Indeed, with the tradition of gratitude and filial devotion during the Vu Lan season, this practice has deeply harmonized and endured alongside the age-old moral traditions of peoples around the world. With that sacred and noble spirit, today is Sunday, October 5, 2025, the 2569th Buddhist year, Pháp Nhãn Temple is very honored to hold this year’s Kathina Merit Robe Offering Ceremony and Vu Lan Filial Piety Festival, deeply imbued with humanistic meaning, filial devotion, and heartfelt repayment between the living and the departed.
Sincerely grateful to the Triple Gem for protecting us, allowing us to live a noble and peaceful spiritual life.
With deep gratitude to the Masters and Patriarchs who have nurtured us with bodies of wisdom, virtue, and meditation.
With deep gratitude to our parents, who gave us birth, nurtured us, and provided us with this physical body.
With deep gratitude to the donors who have generously provided the robes, food and drink, medicine, bedding, and all other daily necessities.
With deep gratitude to the national heroes who have the great merit of founding the country, building the country, defending the country, and developing the country richly and peacefully from ancient time until now.
With deep gratitude for the countries where we were born, grew up, lived, and contributed devotedly in our lives.
With those sacred and noble meanings, today Pháp Nhãn Temple solemnly organizes the Kathina Merit Robe Offering Ceremony and the Vu Lan Filial Piety Festival.
Namo Homage to the Great Filial Bodhisattva Moggallāna.
Kathina Merit Robe Offering
A monastic life, serene and bright,
Sutras’ sound echo, spreading light.
Robes offered pure, with hearts carefree,
Body and mind in peace, blessings for all to be.
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Buddha’s children sow seeds divine,
Compassion and wisdom in hearts align.
With one devoted heart we honor Buddha’s light,
Cultivating steadily, bringing the world right.
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Guarding the Triple Gem with care complete,
Practicing the Dharma, morning and evening meet.
The merit of Kathina, fragrant and fine,
Ripens in fullness, through practice and time.
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