On the afternoon of 19/8, over 2,000 Buddhists, venerable monks, nuns, and the Drukpa Lineage delegation gathered at the Mandala Tay Thien Great Stupa in Dai Dinh commune. They lit candles of gratitude and performed the Four Great Gratitudes ritual, commemorating those to whom they owed thanks and vowing to transmit positive values to the world.

His Eminence Regent Kyabje Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, along with venerable monks and nuns, presided over the solemn rituals.

Each lit candle symbolized gratitude to the Three Jewels of Buddhism and the masters who illuminated the Dharma path. It also honored parents, grandparents, and ancestors – those who bestowed life and love. Furthermore, it expressed thanks to the homeland, the nation, its predecessors, and those who sacrificed for peace.

The merits from the Four Great Gratitudes ritual were dedicated to parents, teachers, the homeland, the nation, predecessors, and all sentient beings. Thousands of candles, arranged in lotus pedestals, created a solemn and meaningful display. In Buddhist tradition, the lotus flower represents purity, enlightenment, and a clear mind.

Nguyen Bao Tram, 11, and Phung Khanh Van, 12, expressed the profound meaning of participating in the Four Great Gratitudes ritual alongside thousands of other Buddhists. They shared that the ritual helped them understand gratitude, remember those who have shown them love and support, and appreciate their current blessings.

The afternoon also included a Three Jewels Refuge Ceremony for over 100 Buddhists. With the Vajra Master and the Lineage Sangha present, Buddhists from various provinces and cities gathered at Mandala Tay Thien to formally commit to the spiritual path as disciples of the Buddha.

Tran Phuong Thao, 26, and Tran Ha Phuong, 20, two sisters devoted to Buddhism for over 10 years, described their participation in the ceremony as a significant and meaningful milestone. Following the Three Jewels Refuge Ceremony, both received Dharma names, marking a new step in their spiritual journey.

Earlier in the morning, thousands of Buddhists participated in a liberation ritual. This practice cultivates compassion and reverence for life, as granting freedom to one living being plants a good seed of liberation within one's own heart.

Regent Kyabje Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche also performed the Bell Invocation ritual, another solemn ceremony of the Dharma Assembly. The Great Bell resonated with prayers for national prosperity, peace for both the living and the deceased, the eternal endurance of the Dharma, global peace, and the well-being of all sentient beings.

A lion and drum offering performance, featuring drum and dragon dances steeped in traditional Vietnamese culture, added a solemn yet vibrant atmosphere to the Dharma Assembly.

The Bang