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The Thirteenth Mindfulness Training: Generosity
Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, we are committed to cultivating generosity in our way of thinking, speaking, and acting. We will practice loving kindness by working for the happiness of people, animals, plants, and minerals, and sharing our time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. We are determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. We will respect the property of others, but will try to prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.
Ong Dia (Mr. Land), also known as Tho Cong, is one of the two gods along with Than Tai (Mr. Lucky) that people always worship in their homes because they want to bring their families a lot of prosperity and good luck.
From ancient times until now, people often say to each other "The land has a spirit, the river has a river spirit" a simple proverb affirming that each place has its own governing spirit.
Ong Dia is considered the god who governs the land where people live, protecting the peaceful life of the family. People believe that Ong Dia has the power to control the destiny of the homeowner, affecting wealth, luck, health, etc.
The land holds the memories of the past. All our past ancestors and all the living beings of the past have lived on the land. Mr. Land has been a witness to each and every one of them. This is why he he Buddha touched the Earth so the Mr. Land could give witness to all of the Buddhas past lives. Mr. Land holds in memory all of our collective and individual past karma. Whenever we feel lost or disconnected from our ancestors, or past, other living beings, our our karma we can touch the earth and connect with Mr. Land. No matter where we are or what we are going through Mr. Land is always available and there for us. Like the Earth openly receiving the rain, no matter the storm or shower.
Making offerings to Ong Dia shows respect and gratitude to the spirits who have protected and cared for the family. The image of Ong Dia is often associated with a big belly, a gentle smile, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. Making offerings to Ong Dia will help the family have more wealth, luck, and a prosperous and prosperous life.
In every family, there is a Tho Cong spirit who looks after the house and land. The worship of Tho Cong in every family has originated from ancient times because people believe that only with land can they do agriculture, create food and have a peaceful life.
But above all, to keep the land, there must be a spirit to help guard the land and so from then on, farmers began to make offerings to Tho Cong.
In today's society, depending on the influence of culture, Ong Dia can appear in many different shapes and descriptions, but the most common is still the image of a god with a big belly, a gentle face, a happy smile, and sometimes Mr. Lucky also appears as an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a long dress and a crow's beak hat. In Buddhism, Ong Dia is also highly respected and many Buddhists also diligently make offerings to Mr. Land.
Although they often appear together on family altars or in images, Mr. Lucky and Mr. Land have different abilities but are also related to each other because there is a saying "Tho nang sinh bach ngoc, Dia kha xuat hoang kim" meaning "The land often produces good jade, Gold is also born from the land" meaning that Mr. Lucky and Mr. Land are closely related to life and influence the family's fortune.
The difference between Mr. Land and Mr. Lucky is also very easy to recognize. Mr. Lucky is the spirit who helps look after and bring a lot of money, economic luck to the family. He often appears as an old man with a white beard, holding a gold bar and a gentle smile.
Mr. Land often appears as an old man with a big belly, holding a palm-leaf fan, he will help people guard the land, fields and houses. The imagery of Mr. Land is gentle, kind, always protecting and safeguarding the peaceful and safe life of people.
Preparing the altar of Ông Thổ Địa Công.
For thousands of years, in Vietnamese culture, the altar of Ông Địa has always held an important position in the spiritual life of every family. This place is considered a sacred place, showing respect and praying for peace, prosperity, and a peaceful life from the spirit of the land.
It is important to realize the basis on which offerings are made: by making illusory offerings through illusory practice you gather illusory accumulations. You cause illusory geywa (that which leads to good karma). From that the illusory result which is the perfection of wisdom arises. There are many kinds of illusory visualized offerings. They are used to pacify obstacles. There are obstacles that keep the Dharma from awakening in this lifetime. Obstacles can be a hurricane itself, or all of the thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that arise as stress and panic during a hurricane, or even binge watching the Weather Channel. Obstacles can be from our daily life too such as poverty, distraction, compulsion to go play with our devices, to watch strange YouTube, or never ending podcasts. All sorts of obstacles do arise.
It’s important to make the offering as gracefully as you are capable. You coordinate body, speech, and mind. You pay attention in the moment. This practice accumulates geywa. It creates geywa. You create geywa and it changes the world. It begins with taking refuge and arising Bodhichitta, as should any practice that you do. Wishing that as a result of the geywa created all beings attain perfect awakening.
What are the offerings to Ông Địa?
Offerings for Ông Địa can use vegetarian or non-vegetarian offerings, depending on the beliefs and conditions of each family. You should choose fruits that bring fortune and luck such as bananas (fortune), apples (peace), oranges (honeysuckle), grapefruit (fortune), watermelon (prosperity)... The number of offerings can vary depending on the conditions of each family. The most important thing is the sincerity and the desire to be blessed by Ông Thổ Địa.
Preparing vegetarian offerings shows purity, simplicity, suitable for families who follow Buddhism or are vegetarian. Vegetarian offerings often include: Fresh flowers, fruits, candy, water, tea, incense, candles.
Prayer to Ong Dia
Pray and make offerings to Ong Dia on the 15th and 1st of the lunar month.
You can use the traditional prayer below or you can also add specific prayers for yourself and your family to the worshiping prayer. For example: “Pray for a smooth and favorable work”, “Pray for good health, to eliminate illness”, “Pray for the family to always be happy and peaceful.”
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
With deep respect, we humbly bow before Ong Dia, Mister Earth, the benevolent Spirit of the Land.
We respectfully ask for your blessings upon our land, to help us develop understanding in order to live peacefully with people, animals, plants, and minerals.
May you help us develop compassion in order to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. May you protect us from the destruction of the land and natural disasters.
We present these offerings of incense, fruits, and rice as a token of our gratitude and sincerity.
We thank you for your protection and blessings, Ông Dia, Mister Earth.
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Nam mô A Di Đà Phật!
Guided Reflection on the Land & Ancestors
Interconnection Meditation
Let yourself find a comfortable seated position. Gently close your eyes if you haven’t already. Begin by taking a deep breath in… and out. Again, a deep breath in… and out. Let your body soften with each breath. Let your weight gently sink down into the ground beneath you.
Now, bring your attention to the earth below you. Feel the contact your body makes with the ground—whether you are sitting on a chair, on a cushion, or directly on the earth itself. Sense the quiet support beneath you. Solid. Present. Unshaken.
Feel the earth beneath you. The ground supports you effortlessly. It has always held you, even when you did not notice.
Let your awareness expand gently into the earth—into the forests, rivers, fields, and mountains. Reflect on how this planet is endlessly interconnected.
Trees offer their wood for homes. Plants become clothing, medicine, nourishment. Animals provide companionship, labor, and sustenance. Everything arises from this shared earth.
Notice how nothing you possess is truly separate from others. The food you eat was grown and harvested by many hands. Your home was built through the labor of many beings. Your clothing was sewn by strangers, somewhere, perhaps far away.
Let the sense of interdependence and interconnection fill your heart.
The land holds the memories of all the beings who came before you. Your ancestors walked this earth. Animals roamed. Children played. Farmers toiled. Families prayed. Mr. Land has seen them all, quietly witnessing, quietly remembering. This is why the Buddha, long ago, touched the earth so Mr. Land could bear witness to his lives and his awakening.
Now you, too, can touch the earth.
If you feel comfortable, gently place your hands on the floor or ground beneath you. If that’s not possible, simply visualize yourself doing so in your mind. As you touch the earth, silently say to yourself:
“I reconnect to the Earth. I connect with the memory of all those who came before me.”
Let yourself feel that connection—to your ancestors, to the living beings of the past, to the karma that has shaped your life. No matter where you are, or what you’re going through, Mr. Land is always here. Stable. Patient. Listening. Just like the Earth receives the rain—whether it’s a storm or a gentle drizzle—so too, the Earth receives all of you. With no judgment. No resistance.
Now, bring to mind the image of Mr. Land—his round belly, his warm, kind smile. He is the spirit of abundance. Of joy. Of laughter in simple things. He reminds us that prosperity is not just in wealth—but in family, in connection, in generosity. He smiles with warmth and contentment, embodying the spirit of the land itself: generous, grounded, and ever-giving.
You can imagine offering something to Mr. Land now. A flower. A bowl of rice. A heartfelt thank you. Whatever comes to your heart, offer it now, in silence. And allow the feeling of gratitude to gently fill your chest.
Remember, too, the spirit of Mr. Land, who protects the home, the land, the family. We honor him with respect and remembrance, for it is with land that we grow food, build homes, and live in peace.
Now, rest quietly for a few breaths, sensing all of these presences around you: Mr. Land beneath you, Mr. Land smiling at your side, Mr. Land watching over your home, and the long line of ancestors standing quietly behind you.
You are not alone. You never were and you never will be.
Offering Before a Retreat
Local land spirits, such as Mr. Land, can be very very helpful in a retreat. Therefore it is highly recommended that you make a little offering to the land spirits. You should do this at the beginning of your "after breakfast session." Just a little thing like a beverage and some nice crackers, cheese, and fruit. You can put on it whatever you think your land spirits might like. If you are in the middle of nature you might want four plates and little saucers with little tiny beverages to offer in each of the four directions. Some may only have nature in one direction, so one plate is fine in that direction. So you can place one to four depending on your environment.
How to Make the Offering
First, you need a bumpa, but if you don't have a bumpa a teapot will do. You put pure water, not distilled water but good drinking water in it with saffron if you have any. And blessed medicine if you have any. If you're using a teapot in the top of it you place a non-poisonous flower. Take off the lid and stand a non-poisonous flower in it. When it's time to use the bumpa or the teapot, you pick up the flower or your peacock feather from the top, and you sprinkle the water offering over the food offerings. Then you recite the prayers below, using a bell if you have one.
Next, you would complete the offering by taking the offerings outside to the natural place identified earlier and toss the contents of the cup and the plate up in the air towards the nature spirits. Then you would return inside with your empty cup and plate and continue with your retreat practices.
Do always and everywhere
To the supreme guide, the precious Buddha,
To the supreme protection, the precious Dharma,
To the supreme spiritual companion, the precious Sangha,
To the objects of refuge, the Three Jewels, I make offerings.
[Three Times]
To all you spirits, owners of this land and place, together with your retinue,
This offering of excellent food and drink is made.
Please perform the activity to fulfill the wishes of the yogi, master and disciple, and so that
The Teachings of Lord Buddha may flourish and spread!
May you, by the power of this offering and prayer,
In whatever place and wherever we are
Always pacify sickness poverty and conflicts
And may the Buddha’s Teachings and prosperity increase!
The Five Elemental Ladies
Similar to Mr. Land, The Five Elemental Ladies personify the five essential elements that govern the universe: air, fire, earth, space, and water.
Mantra to Mother Earth for Rain
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