Q&As on the Great Repentance Text

Q1: Why is the Great Repentance Text included in the evening service?
 
Morning and evening recitations are fundamental daily practices for Buddhists. The modern Tiantai Master Xingci (興慈法師) said, "Disobeying morning and evening recitations is like a fine horse without reins," highlighting the importance of these two practices. In his "Combined Explanation of the Two Daily Practices," the Master explained that the morning recitation is performed "before external circumstances stir the mind, it remains calm and peaceful; rise, tidy your clothes, and recite the Shurangama Mantra to quell the five desires before they arise, quickly achieving a clear and focused mind." This allows our minds to begin the day in a stable and calm state.
 
After a long day of activity, how should we calm our minds? When arranging daily practices, the patriarchs and great masters included the Great Repentance Text in the evening recitation. Through this text, we reflect on our actions of body, speech, and mind throughout the day, repent of our sins to the Buddhas, and, through bowing to the Buddhas and reciting their names, cultivate a heart that turns towards and learns from the Buddha. At the end of the day, through repentance, dedication of merit, and vows, one hopes to "gather all goodness and return to the Pure Land." These morning and evening practices, while seemingly simple, actually continue to cultivate the practitioner's wisdom and resolve for the path in the long run.
 
Q2: What are the benefits of paying homage to the Eighty-Eight Buddhas?
 
Paying homage to the Buddha is an introductory method of spiritual practice. The merit of paying homage to the Eighty-Eight Buddhas is inconceivable. The Eighty-Eight Buddhas include the Fifty-Three Buddhas of the past and the Thirty-Five Buddhas who reside in the ten directions. According to the Sutra on Contemplation of the Medicine King and Supreme Medicine Bodhisattva (Bhaiṣajyarājabhaiṣajyasamudagatabodhisattvasūtra, in Sanskrit), the Buddha, having heard the names of the Fifty-Three Buddhas in the past, joyfully taught three thousand people to recite their names and sincerely pay homage. In doing so, individuals can plant the seeds for Buddhahood, thereby becoming three thousand Buddhas in the past, present, and future kalpas. The Sutra explains that simply hearing the names of the Fifty-Three Buddhas ensures one will never fall into evil realms; reciting their names ensures one will always encounter the Buddha in every lifetime; and paying homage to the Buddha can eradicate the sins of the four grave offenses, the five heinous offenses, and slandering the Dharma.
 
Regarding the benefits of paying homage to the Thirty-Five Buddhas, the Maharatnakuta Sutra (the Great Treasures Collection Sutra) states: "If any sentient being has committed the five heinous offenses and ten evil deeds and has not repented for countless eons, they should pay homage to the Thirty-Five Buddhas and sincerely repent of all their sins and obstacles, which will all be eradicated." It is evident that paying homage to the Eighty-Eight Buddhas, under the protection of all Buddhas, purifies the mind, brings constant peace and happiness, and perpetually connects one with the cause of learning Buddhism until Buddhahood is attained.
 
Q3: Which is more extraordinary: paying homage to the Thousand Buddhas or the Eighty-Eight Buddhas?
 
Both the Thousand Buddhas Repentance and the Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance Text enhance blessings and wisdom through paying homage to all Buddhas, repenting of karmic obstacles, and making offerings to the Three Jewels; both are equally extraordinary. The Thousand Buddhas Repentance involves paying homage to the three thousand Buddhas spanning the past, present, and future, with one prostration for each Buddha's name recited, typically taking three days to complete. The Eighty-Eight Buddhas Great Repentance Text, on the other hand, combines the Eighty-Eight Buddhas and the repentance verses as its main body, reciting and paying homage together. The entire ceremony takes approximately two hours.
 
With a devout heart, repenting for past evil deeds, and praying for the blessings of all Buddhas to eliminate calamities and obstacles, one can experience immeasurable Dharma joy. This can happen regardless of whether one recites the Great Repentance Text for two hours, participates in the entire three-day Thousand Buddhas Repentance Dharma Assembly, or even sets aside one or two days for participating in repentance as circumstances permit.  
 
Q4: Why does the Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly primarily consist of the Great Repentance Text?
 
The Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly is a type of repentance ritual, lasting approximately two hours. After the Ming and Qing dynasties, the ritual became standardized, mainly consisting of: incense praise, the Great Repentance Text, verses praising the Buddha, making vows while prostrating to the Buddha, taking refuge in the Three Jewels, and dedication of merit. Depending on the purpose, the following rituals can be conducted: Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly for longevity, Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly for Amitabha Buddha, Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly for Shakyamuni Buddha, Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly for Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly for Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and Universal Buddha Dharma Assembly for the Lunar New Year, etc.
 
"Universal Buddha" refers to a Buddhist assembly practiced jointly by the public. Unlike other repentance rituals that require a repentance altar and limit the number of participants, Universal Buddha Dharma Assemblies can be attended by everyone and do not require a special altar. (Editorial Office)



Related articles:

Welcoming the New Year with the Eighty-Eight Buddhas

Encountering the Eighty-Eight Buddhas - Illuminating Our Lives Every Day

Majestic Virtues – The Ten Epithets of the Buddha

Mindfully Reciting the Eighty-Eight Buddhas is a Good Spiritual Practice

Q&As on the Great Repentance Text

How to Practice the Great Repentance Text at Home?



Resource: Issue 378 of Humanity Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photo: 劉建志
Translation: James 
Editing: Keith Brown, Patricia Yang