2008年萬佛城萬佛寶懺法會

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萬佛聖城固定在每年春季浴佛節前，啟建為期三週的〈萬佛寶懺〉。這個法門在西方國家，乃至全世界都是非常殊勝、稀有的。

上人曾說：「上虛下雲老和尚以前修拜萬佛懺這個法門，我以前也是從這條路上走過來的。」可見萬佛寶懺之重要。因此每年此時，都有數百位的信眾從世界各地前來，在萬佛城內的萬佛殿，一同修習〈萬佛懺〉這個難得的法門。

萬佛城舉行〈萬佛懺〉的這項傳統，可追溯至一九七二年代，上人在三藩市金山寺度化眾生的時期。當時的西方弟子幾乎沒有學過什麼佛法，只有一些在大學或研究所裏學過佛學，有少數幾個人曾試過打坐；至於對拜懺這種法門，極為陌生。

為了奠定佛法在西方堅實的基礎，上人總是讓弟子們全面地接觸、學習，開拓弟子的心胸視野，而非閉門造車。當然，就包括了藉機讓弟子學習禮拜〈萬佛懺〉。當時上人這麼開示：

「在這個佛七之後，又有一個禪七，我們大家共同來修行，在一起用功。還有《萬佛名經》已經來了，我們最好在晚間，大家共同來拜這個〈萬佛懺〉；拜〈萬佛懺〉的功德是沒有辦法可以說得完的。有罪業的，罪業就沒有了；沒有善根的人，善根就有了；沒有修行的人，藉此來修行，增長善根，善根圓滿了就會開悟：所以拜〈萬佛懺〉的功德是不可思議的。每天我們先試驗著在晚間拜一個鐘頭〈萬佛懺〉；明年我們就開始正式拜〈萬佛懺〉。各位對拜懺都應該看得特別重要，才能得到拜懺的好處。」

本片總長一小時十分鐘，其中包括萬佛聖城初一、十五的「佛前大供」，以及〈萬佛懺〉一小部份實況錄影。待日後，有因緣能拍攝全程三週的〈萬佛懺〉法會時，再與網友分享。

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.

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