About Te Dong Vat Nga Pagoda
Te Dong Vat Nga Pagoda is the first pagoda for pets in Vietnam. It is a place for pet owners to fulfil their duty and love for their four-legged friends. The pagoda operates according to Buddhist beliefs, with the concept that a new beginning comes from a different ending, we hope to be a place for owners to permanently entrust their pet’s relics. Just as the pet’s relics will be the starting point for new lives here.
The cycle of reincarnation is recreated in the grounds of the Te Dong Vat Nga Pagoda (The Twelve Causes and Effects of the Six Paths of Reincarnation)
When a pet is reincarnated, its soul will be led down to the Underworld by two demons from the Underworld called Black and White Impermanence. The road to the Underworld is called the Yellow Springs Road, with red spider lilies planted on both sides.
After passing through the Ten Kings of Hell (10 Kings of Hell) to judge its merits and sins, the soul will prepare to be reincarnated.
The soul must cross the Nai Ha Bridge over the Vong Xuyen River, which is very slippery. At both ends of the bridge are packs of mastiffs ready to bite and tear, and under the river are demons and poisonous snakes. Any soul that falls in will be dismembered and torn to pieces.
The souls that are reincarnated must pass the Vong Huong Temple to remember their families for the last time. Then they eat a bowl of porridge at the Meng Po restaurant to forget all about their previous lives.
The soul is immersed in the thick and blood-red Tich Sa River and then passes through the wheel of reincarnation according to karma to be reincarnated. The spirit is left behind to bless the family.
The 6 realms of reincarnation include
1. Heavenly realm
2. Asura realm: half human half fairy
3. Human realm
4. Animal realm
5. Preta realm
6. Hell realm
The reincarnation cycle of sentient beings lasts for 49 days, the family should leave the memorial tablet for 49 days for Buddha to help them to be liberated. If a pet has a heavy karma and has not yet been liberated, the memorial tablet should be placed in the house of the Dead and asked by the Bodhi tree spirit for Buddha to guide them to be reborn.