Venerable Guo Xing Presided Dharma Service at DDM Vancouver Center
Dharma Drum Mountain Vancouver Center held Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance Dharma Service for repaying kindness on the Summer Lantern Festival starting from the afternoon on August 29th to September 1st, 2013. Venerable Guo Xing, Abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center and Chan Meditation Center in New York, presided the ceremony with four monastics’ assistance.
During three and a half days, more than 150 people fully participated in the ceremony which included series of events: ritual purification, altar setup, reciting the Sutra of Ksitigarbha (Earth Store) Bodhisattva, Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance, food offering, evening service, and dharma talks. Buddhists regard July of the lunar year as the time for them to show respect and gratitude to the spirits of ancestors, expanding to all the spirits of the deceased. Thus, the ceremony in July of the lunar year is one of the most significant services.
In addition, Buddhists cultivate themselves the great compassion from learning the spirit of Earth Store Bodhisattva who had made great vows: “As long as the hells are not empty, I will not become a Buddha.” This is the reason why Dharma Drum Mountain held the ceremony for the postulants, novice monks and nuns to take vows and become monks or nuns on Earth Store Bodhisattva’s birthday every year. The monastics are encouraged to follow the path of Bodhisattva and give themselves for life so as to spreading the joy of Dharma and benefiting all sentient beings.
Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance conveys the message that cause-and-effect never vanishes itself no matter how long ago it was created. Sentient beings can only eliminate their karma through constant practice of repenting and repaying.
Venerable Guo Xing gave Dharma Talks before the end of events every day. His talks emphasized on the importance of believing in cause-and-effect as well as provided the method for relieving sufferings in daily life. He said that people can accumulate their good karma by helping others without expectation of rewards. The correct understanding about selfless is that there is no giver, there is no receiver, and there is no anything to be given. Those who conduct ten good deeds can purify their body, verbal, and mind so as to eradicate the Three Poisons as a result.
At the completion of the ceremony, DDM Vancouver prepared an apple for every participant to share blessings from the Venerable Guo Xing, Guo Zhou, Chang Xing, Chang Sheng, Chang Min and all volunteers at the center. All participants do enjoy the Dharma assembly as well as appreciate the monastics and volunteers at DDM Vancouver. It is impossible to make the ceremony a success without their efforts putting in for working out events ahead. What a blessing for all of us to meet each other and practice together at DDM Vancouver.
(Shared by DDM Vancouver Center )