A Warm and Sacred Lunar New Year: Lessons on Affection and Joy

The Lunar New Year is not merely a time for family reunion; it is also a reminder of affection and joy. Let us learn to live like spring, bringing love to everyone around us. Have you ever wondered why, as the year draws to a close, people eagerly prepare and wait for the day when everyone wishes to return home? In a warm and profound dharma talk, Venerable Thich Chan Quang opened a unique perspective on the Lunar New Year. He revealed that this festival is not just a celebration, but a message from heaven and earth about affection, hope, and how to become the "Lord of Spring" in our own lives.

### The Moment of Transition: A Sacred Pause Between Years

Venerable Thich Chan Quang began by reflecting on the moment of transition between the old year and the new. This is not a time to cling to the past or rush into the future, but rather a silent space filled with hope. He taught that the moment of transition is the most sacred threshold, lying between the two years. It is a vast, meaningful emptiness that contains only the hope for a bright tomorrow. In that very instant, we touch the freshness of nature, learning to practice letting go of worries and looking forward with clarity.

### Heaven and Earth Announce Spring: Joy and Hope

He illustrated that in nature, spring represents rebirth after the cold winter. Snow melts, green shoots rise, flower buds open, and the sun glows pink. These changes are not merely shifts in weather, but messages from heaven and earth to humanity. Such natural signs bring us joy and hope, signaling good development in the times ahead. Therefore, humans feel eager and excited to welcome the New Year. This is a natural commandment that leads every culture to have a day to celebrate the arrival of new life.

### The New Year Is a Day of Affection

The teacher emphasized that Vietnamese people possess a special cultural trait. When we experience joy or hope, we connect these feelings with deep affection, whereas other nations often associate them with games and pleasures. The New Year is a day of affection, warmth, and sacredness granted to us by heaven and earth. We have learned this lesson from the vastness of nature itself. He shared a story about a Buddhist practitioner who planned to travel to Hong Kong during the holiday. The teacher gently criticized this choice, saying it meant losing one’s roots. The New Year is an occasion to return home, reunite, and reflect on our origins, not to leave them behind. Without understanding this meaning, we waste a wonderful opportunity to nurture family bonds and traditional values.

### Giving Only Joy to One Another

The teacher shared that the New Year carries a joyful commandment: we must not cry, complain, or blame others. Instead, we should offer beautiful wishes, exchange cards, gifts, and lucky money to bring happiness. He spoke more deeply, stating that the New Year is a day to give each other only joy, never sorrow. This is a wise instruction and a lifelong lesson. Thus, if anyone chooses throughout their entire life to bring joy to others, they become the true Lord of Spring. This figure is not a mythical character, but ourselves when we live fully with compassion, cherishing every glance, smile, and action of those around us.

### Be the Lord of Spring in Your Own Life

The teacher encouraged his audience, asking if anyone wished to be the Lord of Spring. Becoming such a person is not difficult; it simply requires bringing love into every moment. He suggested meaningful ways to celebrate: gathering to sing, play music, share stories of moral teachings, review family genealogies, and remember ancestors. We can visit cemeteries to express gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives. We can organize talks on spiritual practice, sharing valuable experiences with younger generations. Most importantly, he reminded us to maintain an open heart. As we pass through life, we should send a little love to everyone we meet, leaving no one behind. If our eyes see any person, we must send them respect and love, never ignoring them. This is how we become the Lord of Spring, bringing renewal to the souls of others so that people know how to love one another, regardless of who we are.

### Conclusion: Spring Lies Within Our Mind

Each of us should ask: What will we bring to one another this New Year? The holiday is most complete when we dedicate ourselves to affection, give away joy, and live each day as an eternal spring. Let us train our hearts to love, our eyes to show respect, and our words to offer warmth. Then, we will not need to wait for the New Year to find happiness. We will realize that we are spring itself.