RITES OBSERVED AT THE TAM TONG MIEU SANCTUARY ACCORDING TO THE LUNAR CALENDAR
Each day, four periods of worship are held at 6:00 a.m. (Mao hour), 11:00 a.m. (Ngo hour), 6:00 p.m. (Dau hour), and 11:00 p.m. (Ty hour), performed by lay officiants (tu chuc) or disciples.
Believers who live at the temple or nearby, coming to perform meritorious service during the day, may conveniently attend these four daily worship periods.
The additional rites observed during the Mao, Ngo, and Dau periods include:
- Rites for requesting entry into a short-term or long-term meditation retreat.
- Rites of gratitude upon completing a retreat or meditation course.
- Rites of kneeling repentance upon entering a seasonal meditation retreat.
- Rites of reciting the Repentance text before entering a meditation retreat.
- Rites commemorating the Immortals, Saints, and Spirits.
- Rites of prayer for the recovery of the sick.
- Rites of striking the bell for the underworld and prayers for the salvation of the deceased.
- Rites of repentance for marital discord (Sam Hon Cau).
- Rites of prayer following the birth of a child.
On the evenings of the 14th and 30th of each lunar month (the 29th in short months), a ceremony is held to pray for the peace and blessing of all people, which male and female disciples from the city are invited to attend.
In addition, the annual feast days, holy birthdays, and Three Origins observances are held according to the following schedule:
- Feast of the Jade Emperor and rite of dispelling misfortune — evening of the 8th of the 1st month.
- Full Moon of the Upper Origin (Thuong Nguon): the Heavenly Officer’s Bestowal of Blessings — evening of the 14th and midday of the 15th of the 1st month.
- Feast of Thai Thuong Lao Quan — evening of the 14th of the 2nd month.
- Feast of Sakyamuni Buddha — evening of the 14th of the 4th month.
- Commemoration of Van Hanh Thien Su — afternoon of the 15th of the 5th month.
- Feast of Hong Quan Lao To — evening of the 6th of the 7th month.
- Full Moon of the Middle Origin (Trung Nguon): the Earthly Officer’s Pardon of Sins — evening of the 14th and midday of the 15th of the 7th month.
- Feast of Dieu Tri Kim Mau — evening of the 17th of the 7th month.
- Commemoration of Ha Tien Co — afternoon of the 8th of the 8th month.
- Commemoration of Saint Tran Hung Dao — afternoon of the 20th of the 8th month.
- Feast of Confucius — evening of the 26th of the 8th month.
- Full Moon of the Lower Origin (Ha Nguon): the Water Officer’s Deliverance from Calamity — evening of the 14th and midday of the 15th of the 10th month.
- Memorial rite for Venerable Minh Thien, the founding forebears, and departed Minh Ly disciples — midday of the 15th of the 11th month.
- Feast of Amitabha Buddha and commemoration of Bac Nha Thien Su — evening of the 16th of the 11th month.
- Founding Anniversary of Minh Ly Dao — evening of the 26th of the 11th month.
- Ascension Rite of the Kitchen God (Tu Mang Tao Quan) and farewell to the spirits — evening of the 23rd of the 12th month.
- Rite of welcoming the ancestors (in the rear hall) — afternoon of the 29th or 30th of the 12th month.
- Rite of welcoming the Kitchen God and greeting the returning spirits — afternoon of the 29th or 30th of the 12th month (Dau hour).
- New Year’s Eve rite, worship of Heaven, and prayer for peace — evening of the 29th or 30th of the 12th month.
There are also special, non-recurring rites held upon the decision of the Holy Church or upon a family’s request, such as:
- Initiation rites (nhap mon) or monastic entry rites (nhap tu).
- Requiem rites for the newly deceased, and the seven-day memorial rite.
- Requiem rites at the 100th day, the first anniversary, and the second anniversary of death, and others.