The last days of the lunar year were unforgettable for us monks and all the Buddhist members of Dong Hung Temple in Virginia Beach. The main reason was that we are to celebrate the last traditional Tet at this location in Pungo.

The upcoming move to our new location made preparation for the event much more hectic. In addition, everyone worried because the unrelenting weather continued to harass us with snow flurries and winter storms the last couple of weeks.Eventually New Year arrived. We thought that few people would show up at the temple because of bad weather report, icy road condition, and muddy parking spaces (due to so much snow and rain lately); but nevertheless, almost everybody came despite the afternoon snow. Such a lovely and warm occasion after all!

The traditions of Dong Hung Tet called for a large hot pot of delectable rice soup, warm and yummy homemade soybean milk, and lots of vegetarian food and Tet sweet goodies for sale – the products of long preparation and cooking hours of the “fund raising crew” and the “kitchen staff”. Other than that, special thanks needed to be awarded to Hien and Tung, the two gentlemen who braced against the nasty weather to direct all cars into good and dry parking spaces... for, just a little longer staying outdoors, they would probably turned into snowmen!
After a traditional ritual to upstart the ceremonial gongs and bells, with the brief dharma sharing for Tet from the monks, we placed a long-distance call to offer New Year wishes to the Master (who is recuperating from illness in Vietnam). The best for the night came in the form of “li xi” (red envelope with money and treats) and “good luck” tangerines distributed by the monks for a special token of fortune for the whole new lunar year. Then came the traditional Tet rice soup (a hot, delicious, thick porridge made of rice and mushrooms that was a special Tet must-have tradition for many generations) which everyone seemed to enjoy tremendously especially in this cold weather.

The First day of Tet happened to be on a Sunday, even though we all stayed up late the previous night, everyone was ready to prepare food for the community Tet event that would take place later on in the day. More soybean milk has to be cooked, more food spooned onto containers,  more sandwiches freshly prepared... As soon as the midday chanting finished, loads of food items for sale were packed, carried in boxes to cars and trucks, transported to the Phillipine Cultural Center – where the Vietnamese community celebrated Tet this year . More than 30 types of vegetarian food items were prepared for the event... long hours of cutting, cleaning, cooking, packing, and selling rewarded the crew with joyful customers enjoying the food, and smiling children drooling over sweet goodies... It was 11 o’clock when it was finally over... we were all exhausted, tired, drained to the max!!!

Then came the big moving day on the Second day of Tet. Everybody lent a hand, the hard work soon finished, we were beat but the heaviest jobs were all taken care of, and things put in appropriate places in the new temple.
The Third day of Tet, we were able to conduct a short official “dedication” ceremony for the Buddhas, spiritual ancestors, and all our beloved deceased members at the new location. And even though everybody immediately went back to work after Tet or busy with daily routine, the members gathered on the Fifth day of Tet for our very first mantra chanting of 21-times reciting “chu Dai Bi” (Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara’s Great compassion mantra).
This is to commemorate the beginning a new year, a new location, a fresh new start for our small temple.

However, we would hope that with the persistent effort, and the continued support of every members, we would be able to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in our path.
Once more, we wanted to extend our deepest gratitude and most sincere appreciation to all members, friends, and benefactors who have supported us in many ways throughout these past few challenging years and hoped that we will continue to receive your golden assisting heart in future temple projects.
And lastly, we would like to wish all of you and your loved ones a very prosperous new year full of peace and happiness. And a sincere hope for Dong Hung temple to soon accomplish its endeavor to bring benefits to all sentient beings.
Year of the Tiger “Canh Dan” 2010.
Thich Chuc Do

Translate to English by Thanh Thuy