DDM Global News
The “Praying for the Globe” Online Practice Event Series
Monastics of the Chan Retreat Center and the Chan Meditation Center have co-organized a series of online group practice events to pray for global prosperity, peace, and an early end of the pandemic. These events will take place from February 12, the first day of the Lunar New Year, to April 4. During these practice events, the monastics will lead participants to practice the methods of Medicine Buddha and realize the "path of benefitting self and others during the pandemic."
The series includes an Intensive Group Practice of Reciting the Medicine Buddha Mantra, starting from the afternoon of February 12 and concluding on April 3. Through the daily chanting of the Medicine Buddha Mantra from 5 to 5:30 pm, let us pray that the pandemic will soon be over, all sentient beings can enjoy ease and wellbeing of body and mind, and their good wishes may come true.
The 52-day intensive group practice will end with the Three-Session Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra, which will take place on April 4 at 3 pm. As Ven. Chang Hwa, director of Chan Meditation Center, mentioned, the coronavirus pandemic has now changed our lifestyle, so Dharma centers must offer alternative methods of practice as well. Thanks to the Internet, we can attend such a sublime virtual Dharma assembly regardless of where we are physically. The hope is that with the Medicine Buddha's spiritual empowerment, the year 2021 can be a turning point for everyone to find the right medicine for their body and mind amidst the disruption caused by the pandemic.
For the Medicine Buddha Chanting Service conducted every morning from the 1st to 5th day of the Lunar New Year, the monastics led participants to recite the Medicine Buddha Sutra, chant the Medicine Buddha Mantra 108 times, and recite the Buddha's name. These three parts of the service were conducted respectively by Ven. Guo Yuan, abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center and vice abbot-president of Dharma Drum Mountain; Ven. Chang Yuan, director of DDRC; and Ven. Chang Hu, former director of DDRC. They gave Dharma talks on how to calm the mind in our daily life, as well as the methods of practice featuring the Medicine Buddha. On the first day of the service, Ven. Guo Yuan said that over the past year many people and their loved ones have died due to the coronavirus disease. Though it is a pity, the causes and conditions are beyond our control. Nevertheless, we can remind ourselves of the Buddhist teaching of impermanence and learn to accept the fact. Given the ongoing pandemic, we should do our part by observing the health measures, while helping others benefit from the Buddhist practice, for all people to enjoy peace of mind, and, thus, a peaceful life.
Text: Chan Meditation Center
Translation: Hsiao Chen-An
Editing: Chang Chia-Cheng(張家誠), Keith Brown
The series includes an Intensive Group Practice of Reciting the Medicine Buddha Mantra, starting from the afternoon of February 12 and concluding on April 3. Through the daily chanting of the Medicine Buddha Mantra from 5 to 5:30 pm, let us pray that the pandemic will soon be over, all sentient beings can enjoy ease and wellbeing of body and mind, and their good wishes may come true.
The 52-day intensive group practice will end with the Three-Session Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra, which will take place on April 4 at 3 pm. As Ven. Chang Hwa, director of Chan Meditation Center, mentioned, the coronavirus pandemic has now changed our lifestyle, so Dharma centers must offer alternative methods of practice as well. Thanks to the Internet, we can attend such a sublime virtual Dharma assembly regardless of where we are physically. The hope is that with the Medicine Buddha's spiritual empowerment, the year 2021 can be a turning point for everyone to find the right medicine for their body and mind amidst the disruption caused by the pandemic.
For the Medicine Buddha Chanting Service conducted every morning from the 1st to 5th day of the Lunar New Year, the monastics led participants to recite the Medicine Buddha Sutra, chant the Medicine Buddha Mantra 108 times, and recite the Buddha's name. These three parts of the service were conducted respectively by Ven. Guo Yuan, abbot of Dharma Drum Retreat Center and vice abbot-president of Dharma Drum Mountain; Ven. Chang Yuan, director of DDRC; and Ven. Chang Hu, former director of DDRC. They gave Dharma talks on how to calm the mind in our daily life, as well as the methods of practice featuring the Medicine Buddha. On the first day of the service, Ven. Guo Yuan said that over the past year many people and their loved ones have died due to the coronavirus disease. Though it is a pity, the causes and conditions are beyond our control. Nevertheless, we can remind ourselves of the Buddhist teaching of impermanence and learn to accept the fact. Given the ongoing pandemic, we should do our part by observing the health measures, while helping others benefit from the Buddhist practice, for all people to enjoy peace of mind, and, thus, a peaceful life.
Text: Chan Meditation Center
Translation: Hsiao Chen-An
Editing: Chang Chia-Cheng(張家誠), Keith Brown