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"Appreciating Happiness and Practicing Compassion"
The retreat at Phuong Khe Inner Monastery is coming to an end after three months. Upper Hamlet is joyful as seven brothers and sisters are officially accepted, under the patient guidance of Sister Phap Dung and the visits of Phap Huu, Phap Don, Phap Diet, Phap Lien… The meditation hall construction team, including Phap Don, Phap Diet, Phap Huu, and Phap Lien, ensures a spacious and fully equipped meditation space. The letter from Sister Khoi Nghiem, arising from a deep appreciation for the opportunity to practice and study, demonstrates that the awareness of happiness arises from recognizing and preserving the conditions for practice, not from seeking permission as a mere formality.
Happiness is a matter of perception more than objective reality; human beings have a profound capacity to adapt to both suffering and happiness, and so it is easy to forget the blessings we already have. To nourish awareness of impermanence and to cherish the present moment, we can apply a three-year commitment in the following forms:
- Monastic precepts – automatically ending unless renewed.
- Marriage – renewed after three years or concluded.
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Parent-child and sibling relationships – maintaining the conditions to continue these roles.
This practice helps everyone to always preserve happiness, to strengthen mindfulness, and to deepen the spirit of practice, rather than taking our good fortune for granted.