To foster peace of mind during the pandemic while commemorating the Ghost Festival, the 2020 Tripartite Amitabha Sutra Recitation Ritual, organized by Chan Meditation Center, took place at Dharma Drum Retreat Center on August 30.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dharma assembly-- conducted by Ven. Guo Yuan and performed by seven other resident monastics, including Venerables Chang Yuan and Chang Hu-- was presented online via YouTube, thus allowing devotees worldwide to practice together. In an effort to pray for a successful battle against the pandemic, the group practice was held in hopes that that the power of Amitabha Buddha's compassionate vows could help the deceased quickly be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Promoted by Chan master Zhongfeng Mingben of the Yuan dynasty, the Tripartite Amitabha Sutra Recitation Ritual is a practice method used in the Pure Land school. Its chief aim is to encourage Pure Land practitioners to attain liberation by practicing the recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name, as well as guide the spirits of the deceased to be reborn into the Pure Land, resulting in liberation from the suffering of samsaric karma.
The ritual mainly consists in the recitation of The Amitabha Sutra, the Amitabha Pure Land Rebirth Mantra and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's Ten Great Vows, as well as the text of repentance and vow-making.
Throughout the ritual, the monastics’ chanting echoed in the Chan Hall and resonated with all participants who were fully immersed in the event, creating a moving atmosphere.
Text: Shi, Min(史敏)
Photos: Ding, Yan-Li (丁燕莉)
Translation: Hsiao, Chen-An
Editing: Chang, Chia-Cheng (張家誠); Keith Brown
Extended Reading
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