CEREMONIES
Dharma Ceremonies
Great Buddha Monastery organizes various Dharma ceremonies to create auspicious conditions for the public to eliminate calamities, pray for blessings, and purify body and mind. During the ceremony, participants sincerely dedicate themselves to the Three Jewels, nurturing their bodhi seeds. By practicing generosity and patience, they eliminate the three obstacles and afflictions; by offering repentance and chanting sutras, they dedicate merits to all sentient beings in the Dharma realm, so they can be liberated from suffering and attain true happiness.
Dharma Ceremony Schedule:
- 09:00 Repentance or sutra recitation
- 11:00 Offering Ceremony before the Buddha, Dharma teaching, Offering to the Sangha, Liturgy for eliminating calamities
- 12:30 Vegetarian lunch
- 13:30 Sutra of Impermanence, Mengshan Food Offering Service, dedication of merits
- 15:00 Completion of ceremony
Evening Chanting
The sutras teach, "Through collective practice, swift progress is made, and the ten grounds are effortlessly transcended ."
Evening chanting is one of two daily practices in the monastery. A session includes chanting, sitting meditation, and paying homage to the buddhas. The goal of these ceremonies is to purify the three actions of body, speech, and mind, and to dedicate the merits of cultivation to all sentient beings, so they can be liberated from suffering, attain true joy, and progress towards buddhahood. Through evening chanting and the collective practice, individuals can elevate themselves and even attain enlightenment.
Evening chanting is open to the public every Tuesday to Thursday from 16:00-17:00.
Repentance Ceremony
Offenses arise from the mind, so repent with the mind.
When the mind is extinguished, so are offenses.
Mind gone, offenses extinguished, both are empty.
This is called true repentance.
Everyone has karmic obstacles that can hinder our studies, careers, spiritual practice, families, and physical health. Many people also commit the five offenses: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication, creating unwholesome karma that results in present and future suffering. But if one can sincerely repent, these karmic obstacles can be alleviated and virtuous roots can grow.
Repentance Ceremonies are held every Friday from 19:00-20:30. The public is welcome to attend.
One-Day Chan Retreat
Chan is the non-duality of samadhi and wisdom. With samadhi and wisdom, we can succeed in our lives and endeavors.
Practicing Buddhism is to cultivate the mind of Buddha. As the scriptures say, "Chan is the mind of Buddha." Chan is the mind of Buddha, which is also the pure mind inherent in all sentient beings. This Chan mind cannot be attained externally; it must be realized through personal experience. Chan teaches us how to stabilize the mind, purify the mind, awaken the mind, and enlighten the mind.
The one-day Chan retreat includes six sessions of sitting meditation and a group consultation with a Dharma master at the end of the day. Lunch and dinner will be provided. During the retreat, participants set aside all worldly attachments to focus solely on Chan meditation. There is no talking, recording, browsing cell phones, or any other forms of Buddhist practice.
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