Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance at
CTTB in 2008
Prior to Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday each spring, Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance is held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas for three weeks long. Rare Extremely supreme and exceptional does this Dharma Door reveal to be, not only in this country but also throughout the world.
Venerable Master Hsuan-Hua once said,
“Venerable Master Hsu-Yun took the path through the Dharma Door of Bowing to Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance, and so did I.”
The importance of this repentance is out of question. As a result, hundreds of Buddhists from all over the world assembled in the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas at CTTB to learn and practice this invaluable Dharma Door—bowing to Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance every year.
The tradition of bowing to Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance in CTTB originated in 1972 when Venerable Master Hua crossed over the living beings at Gold Mountain Monastery in San Francisco downtown. Western disciples then knew very little of Buddhism, except a few took courses on Buddhism in the universities or graduate schools, or even fewer ever practiced meditation. As for bowing in repentance, they knew nothing about the Dharma Door at all.
In order to solidify the foundation of Buddhism in the West, Venerable Master Hua always tried to expose disciples to as many Dharma Doors as possible, with a hope to enlarge and extend disciples’ basis and vision, instead of confining them in a limited scope with false makings of comprehension on Buddhism. Consequently, he for sure would take the opportunity to lead disciples to bowing to Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance. Venerable Master Hua then talked on the Dharma,
“A seven-day Amitabha Buddha Recitation will be followed by a seven-day Chan Meditation. During this period of time, we all assemble here to diligently cultivate and practice. By the way, the copies of the Sutra of the Ten Thousand Buddhas’ Names have arrived. We had better bow to Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance together as a practice in the evening.
It is inexhaustible to articulate the merit and virtue derived from bowing in repentance before the Ten Thousand Buddhas. For example, bowing in repentance can eradicate the karmic offenses for those who bear them. It can help those without good roots to obtain good roots.
It also can help those without cultivation to cultivate and grow good roots. Once good roots are developed and perfected, the enlightenment ensues.
In a word, the merit and virtue of bowing to Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance is inconceivable. Thus, we will experiment it by bowing in repentance for one hour every evening. We will hold the complete repentance next year. Everyone should value the importance of bowing in repentance. Only by so doing can you derive its benefit.”
This DVD times around one hour and ten minutes in total. It includes the rituals of Meal Offering before the Buddhas on the first and fifteen of lunar month in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and episodes of partial Ten Thousand Buddhas Repentance.
In the near future, if there are chances to record the complete three-week assembly of Ten Thousand Buddhas Jeweled Repentance, we will certainly share with everybody here on the website. |