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Ground-Breaking Prayer for Pond/Garden

Before digging a pond, leveling a garden, or making a basin on the family's land

Meaning

Digging a pond or remodeling a garden is also an act of disturbing the land and requires asking permission from the Earth Deity. Especially when digging a pond near the house, one must take care, as it may affect the dragon vein of the land.

Offering preparation

Incense, candles, fruit, betel and areca, rice, salt, votive paper. Set right at the location to be dug.

Content

Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times) We respectfully bow to Thổ Địa, Thổ Công, and the venerable Long Mạch Deity. The faithful: .......................................... Residing at: .......................................... Today is the .......... day of the .......... month, year .......... The faithful holds garden land at: .......................................... We now wish to remodel and dig a pond/garden on this plot. We sincerely report and ask permission of the venerable deities. We respectfully ask for blessings: That the work proceed smoothly without accident. That the pond and garden flourish and bring benefit. That the family enjoy peace and a prosperous livelihood. We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts; we respectfully present them. Namo Amitābha Buddha! (3 times)

Source: Source: Phong tục thờ cúng của người Việt (Hà Nội Publishing House, 2012), p. 200; Văn khấn cổ truyền Việt Nam (Culture and Information Publishing House, 2015), p. 157.