DDM Global News
CMC Led the Buddha's Name Recitation and Making Vows
During the month of Ullambana Festival, the Buddhist month of filial piety, Chan Meditation Center (CMC) of Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) in New York held the "one-day Amitabha recitation & Eight Precepts retreat" and the "Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions" Dharma Assemblies on August 17th and August 18th, 2024 respectively, to express gratitude. By observing the precepts and reciting the Buddha's name, the participants anchored their mind on Amitabha's name together to pray for everyone to see the light of their own nature. In addition, by transferring merits, they wished all sentient beings to have a rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss by the power of Amitabha's vows, where they can cultivate blessings and wisdom for an indefinite period and attain Buddhahood soon."Observing the Eight Precepts for a whole day invokes boundless blessings and keeps all evils at bay." More than 40 practitioners attended the one-day Amitabha recitation & Eight Precepts retreat on August 17th. At the beginning of the retreat, a Dharma talk video of the DDM founder Master Sheng Yen was played to explain the meaning, content, and merits of the Eight Precepts. Afterwards, under the witness of Ven. Chang Hwa (常華法師), who transmitted the precepts, participants earnestly took the precepts. After the precept transmission ritual, everyone assiduously recited the Buddha's name and made prostrations amidst the chanting.
As the officiant of the retreat, Ven. Chang Hwa reminded everyone that, in Master Sheng Yen's Dharma talk, he had pointed out, "The Eight Precepts emphasize abstinence from lust and eating in moderation." It is of extraordinary merit that lay practitioners can learn and experience a desireless life of a monastic for a whole day. She also shared that Master Sheng Yen had taught that practitioners must have a "sense of direction." Therefore, she encouraged everyone to keep three concepts right while learning and practicing Buddhist teachings: "Be precise in establishing correct cognition and views, use the methods correctly, and cultivate both virtuous karmic roots and merit, as well as the causes and conditions for them to grow."
On August 18th, the "Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions" was held from 2 pm to 8 pm. Ven. Guo Goang (果廣法師), the Vice Abbess of DDM, was invited to preside over the ritual, leading 73 practitioners in the Buddhist practice that benefits both the living and the deceased. The Venerable explained that the "Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions" is one of Nianfo (the Buddha's name recitation) practice in the Pure Land School. Compiled by Chan Master Zhongfeng Mingben (中峰明本), the scripture of the liturgy is elegantly written and emphasizes both understanding and practice. She pointed out that, in addition to its beautifully crafted content, the scripture also conveys the profound meaning that affirms the Buddha nature in everyone. Moreover, it clearly states the far-reaching benefit of practicing the "Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions," which extends from present life to future lives, from the practitioners themselves to their karmic creditors and even to all sentient beings. From the perspective of the practice of the three provisions of Pure Land School, which is "faith, aspiration, and practice," the Venerable also reminded us that we must constantly "anchor our mind" on reciting the name of Amitabha. Only through such practice, along with the observance of precepts and the cultivation of virtues, can we fulfill the conditions for being reborn in the Western World of Ultimate Bliss.It has been a long time since the last time CMC held the Buddhist practice of "one-day Amitabha recitation & Eight Precepts retreat" and the "Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions." As these practices took place at CMC once again, everyone energetically recited the Buddha's name, practiced the repentance prostration, and listened to Dharma talks with joy. Ven. Yan She (演捨法師), the timekeeper of the one-day retreat, reminded us to recite the Buddha's name to constantly rein in our body and mind in our daily life, as well as illuminate the light of our nature using the Buddha's name. Ven. Chang Zhai (常齋法師), the timekeeper of the recitation ritual in three sessions, also led everyone to dedicate the merits of their devotional practice to themselves, their family members, those they neither like nor dislike, and those who they resent and hate, in the hope that each one of us can benefit all sentient beings.
Original Chinese text / Chan Meditation Center
Photos / Chan Meditation Center, Wang Ting-Hsin (王定馨), Anderson Cheng
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, James