Experience sharing

A Reflection on Repentance

Going to temple to do repentance prayers in the seventh month of the lunar calendar is something that I have done ever since I was a teenager. I prayed for the souls I may have hurt knowingly and unknowingly, in this life and in my past lives. I prayed that if I cannot be forgiven for my past mistakes, then perhaps, the punishment can be lessened.
 
Listening to Venerable Chang Wu's talk today, I realized that the practice of repentance isn't just about asking for a lesser punishment, or no punishment at all. Repentance prayer is the formal practice of reminding myself of correct actions, atoning for past wrongs, and vowing to not make the same mistakes. By asking for forgiveness, I remind myself to also forgive others.
 
The practice of repentance reminds me that holding on to grudges and demanding equal repayment will only trap me in a never ending cycle of suffering. What was hurtful to me, may have been done accidentally. What was hurtful to me, might not be viewed as being hurtful by others.
 
Trying to even the scale and fix the injustice will likely result in the other party feeling unjustly targeted, and they will want revenge, and around and around we go. As Shi Fu (Master Sheng Yen) said, this endless cycle arises from our fixation on our sense of self. To be truly repentant is to accept what has happened and not view the events through the lens of the self.
 
While the broader world may ask us to curate images of success and beauty, the practice of repentance asks us to humble ourselves to others. This is a practice I cherish and look forward to every year. 
 
Written by Tina Su 2026.08.23
Photo: Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre