Sending the Kitchen Gods back to heaven: A perspective based on the teachings of the Buddha

(Mytour) In Vietnamese folklore, the story of the Kitchen Gods is often centered around two men and one woman. However, from the perspective of a monk, the ritual of worshiping the Kitchen Gods carries profound and practical significance.

Every year, on the 23rd of the last lunar month, Vietnamese people eagerly await the ritual of sending the Kitchen Gods to heaven, signaling that the Lunar New Year is near. The origin of this custom is the story of two men and one woman who serve as the Kitchen Gods.

The Vietnamese believe that the Kitchen Gods stay in the household every day to record the good deeds and mistakes of the family members, which they then report to heaven on the 23rd of the last lunar month. But how does this tradition align with the Buddha's teachings?

Venerable Thich Tri Chon, Vice Chairman of the Central Cultural Department of the Vietnamese Buddhist Church, Head of the Buddhist Culture Department of Ho Chi Minh City, and Abbot of Khanh An Monastery (District 12, Ho Chi Minh City), stated that the Buddha did not emphasize the existence of any particular deity, but instead taught humans to live with gratitude and appreciation.

Even the smallest blade of grass provides us with oxygen to breathe, and a passing cloud can become the water we use... In this way, everything around us, whether directly or indirectly, deserves our gratitude. A person who lives with gratitude is a happy person.

According to Venerable Thich Tri Chon, the Vietnamese belief holds that the Kitchen Gods reside in our homes year-round, observing every right and wrong, good and bad, of each family member. This concept is a symbolic representation from folklore.

"In reality, the daily family meal reflects all aspects of life: joy or sorrow, happiness or hardship, virtue or vice. Everything that happens within our home is visible. The true measure of all things is the light of truth, which guides us to discern right from wrong, good from bad. This is the essence of the matter, not the notion of a Kitchen God ascending to heaven to report to the celestial realm," the Venerable stated.

Ở góc nhìn thiết thực, sâu xa hơn, viện chủ tu viện Khánh An cho hay, nói đến ông Táo là nói đến lửa, mà nói đến lửa sẽ nhắc chúng ta nhớ về ánh sáng.

Ban ngày, chúng ta có mặt trời soi sáng để bước chân đi. Tối có ánh trăng vằng vặc, những đêm không có ánh trăng thì phải có ngọn đèn để soi đi. Ngay cả người không thấy đường, người mù, ông bà xưa còn nhắc phải cầm cái đèn; mình không thấy nhưng để người khác thấy mà né mình.

Secondly, the meaning of fire lies in warmth. In the past, our ancestors in the mountains and villages, during the cold mornings or evenings, would light a fire in the stove or a brazier to warm the entire house. When the fire died down, the remaining embers would be placed under the bed to keep the elderly warm.

The third meaning of fire is its role in sustaining life, as every home has a fire to cook rice and soup.

The fourth meaning of fire is its connection to family unity. In the past, even though each family member had their own tasks during the day, they would gather around the kitchen fire or sit together under candlelight to share a meal in the evening. This tradition represents family bonding and togetherness.

A simple family meal can still convey the happiness of each individual. "When a family member is absent from the meal, the table feels incomplete, and the love feels lacking. Today, that scene is no longer common because people must travel far and wide to make a living. Sometimes, even if they stay near their hometowns, work demands cause everyone to eat alone in haste. Some even eat while texting on their phones or watching TV, becoming absorbed in the illusions of technology, which distance us from the warmth of true connection," said Venerable Thich Tri Chon.