Liang Emperor’s Repentance Ritual Held at Nung Chan Monastery: 20th anniversary of the service at Dharma Drum Mountain
Buddhist teachings and collective power of group practice bring peace and joy to the world. Nung Chan Monastery held the Liang Emperor’s Repentance Ritual on August 7, marking the 20th anniversary of the service at Dharma Drum Mountain. The first day of the Dharma assembly witnessed a participation of over 6,500 people and volunteers at six different altars for group practice. With one-mindedness, participants performing the ritual in unity filled the venue with a positive power of Dharma joy, aspiring to benefit the world and sentient beings through their sincere repentance and devoted cultivation of the mind.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the service held at DDM, the abbot president of DDM, Ven. Guo Dong, shared about how Master Sheng Yen started the service at DDM. The abbot also reminded participants to be grateful for the causes and conditions that had made the Dharma assembly possible.
Meanwhile, the abbot president reminded participants to be aware of the impermanence in life, and to remember that by chanting repentance rituals, cultivating the practice step by step, being grateful for both favorable and unfavorable conditions, and letting go of our attachments we can then be free of afflictions and mental distress, thereby attaining ease and peace of body and mind. He also urged people to “perform repentance sincerely at a Dharma assembly; make offerings reverently; practice letting go and taking up diligently; and be in accord with the Dharma by aspiring liberation and nurturing the Bodhi mind.” In addition, he stressed the importance of upholding the “six principles for protecting the spiritual environment,” keeping the beginner’s mind, and developing a patient and persevering attitude, in eliminating our afflictions and increasing our merit and wisdom.
Zhang Liping, a volunteer who has participated in the Repentance Ritual at Nung Chan Monastery for the past eight years, said that apart from volunteering, she also attended the Ritual and performed repentance. While still learning to give and serve, she hoped participants of the ritual can complete the practice in a constant and joyful mind. She also vowed to continuously contribute herself, to the benefit of the self and others.
Lin Chiufeng, who has committed to the Repentance Ritual at DDM since late 1990s, said that in addition to practicing repentance he also helped with the building and planning of the altars. He felt grateful for having committed to the Ritual for nearly 20 years, since he has grown in body and mind by viewing all tasks to be Buddhist undertakings for the benefit of others, and by letting go off self-attachment and the discriminating mind. He hopes more people can also attend the ritual and help with the Dharma center.
Ven. Guo Yi, director of Nung Chan Monastery, expressed that to mark the 20th anniversary of the Repentance Ritual, Master Sheng Yen’s Dharma talk given at the first repentance ritual at DDM was shared with participants. She also thanked the volunteers for their devotion and effort. As the ritual was to be completed on August 13, Dharma Drum Mountain welcomed more people to join the ritual with their friends and relatives, to sow the seeds of blessings and sever affliction, for the transformation and liberation of themselves, their relatives in past lives, and sentient beings in other realms, sharing the benefit of the Dharma.
Translator: Frances Liu (劉珮如)
Editor: Chiacheng Chang (張家誠)