Practical Q&A-Preparations before attending the Dharma assembly

This is my first time attending a Dharma assembly.
What should I do if I don't understand anything?
How does one participate in a Dharma assembly, even if for the first time?
Let this practical guide tell you,
Things to note during the Dharma assembly
This will allow you to participate in the Dharma assembly with peace of mind.

1. What are the objects and functions of ancestral tablets for disaster relief and memorial services? What are the differences between the two?

A: In Buddhist ceremonies, you will often see two types of memorial tablets: the first for those seeking to eliminate calamities, and second for those seeking to transcend death. The one for those seeking to eliminate calamities is for living people and is written on red tablets; the one for those seeking to transcend death is for deceased people and is written on yellow tablets.

Life is often filled with unforeseen calamities. The memorial tablets used in Dharma assemblies express care and blessings, praying for the Buddha and Bodhisattvas to help us overcome these challenges. For deceased relatives, we chant scriptures and perform meritorious deeds to help them be reborn in a better realm.

Generally, when attending a memorial service for the deceased, people often write memorial tablets for their relatives or the deceased and make offerings of money. These offerings are made to support the Three Jewels, propagate Buddhism, and help more people gain the opportunity to participate in the service, benefiting more sentient beings, both living and deceased. Therefore, giving alms has its merits. As for the power of dispelling calamities and performing meritorious deeds, it primarily depends on the donor's intention. Therefore, as long as one is sincere and expresses blessings for the peace and well-being of their loved ones-- in addition to caring for all beings in the spirit world-- the same effect can be achieved.

2. What preparations are needed to attend the Dharma assembly?

A: When deciding to attend a Dharma assembly, first prepare yourself mentally for the trip, and then prepare all the necessary arrangements. If the assembly requires prior registration, then you should register in advance so that the organizers can make preparations early. If you do not register in advance, it is perfectly fine to go at any time.

It is recommended that participants eat vegetarian meals for one or two meals before attending the Dharma assembly to purify their mind and body. Once inside the temple, participants are also prohibited from bringing meat, tobacco, or alcohol. To maintain the solemnity of the ceremony, it is best to wear a Haiqing robe (traditional Buddhist robe) or simple, clean, and dignified clothing. Makeup is not required, or only light makeup is necessary. Furthermore, avoid outlandish attire to prevent disturbing other participants' concentration. Whether or not to bring offerings depends on the needs of the Dharma assembly. If offerings are required, the assembly will usually inform participants beforehand, and those who bring offerings can request assistance from the reception desk.

In fact, the most important consideration before a Dharma assembly is to have a sincere mental preparation for practice. During the preparation process, one should gradually gather one's scattered thoughts, as well as calmly and steadily settle the mind and body. Only when the mind is sufficiently devout, will practice be effective, and in doing so, all spirits will feel it. The significance of the Dharma assembly lies in participation. Even if preparation is not yet sufficient, as long as one sincerely attends in person, it can still generate the functions of practice and benefit others.

3. What is a benefactor? Do benefactors receive greater benefits?

A: A benefactor is someone who makes offerings to the Three Jewels of a temple, regardless of the amount donated; every person who makes an offering is a benefactor. Because there are many people making offerings, temples usually write down the names of benefactors who make large donations to represent all benefactors and to express the temple's gratitude.

Only the names of those who make large donations are written down to avoid using too much paper and burdening the environment. On the other hand, the good deeds of the donors can be widely known through this process and, simultaneously, the donors can form good connections with more people. This not only encourages the donors to have the aspiration and good intention to support the Three Jewels, but also encourages more people to participate.

Nevertheless, the merit of giving alms neither increases nor decreases with the amount of money given; what matters is the sincerity of the intention. The ancient story of the "poor woman with a lamp" emphasizes the merit of the poor woman's sincere offering of a lamp, highlighting the power of her devout heart. As for the effectiveness of practice during a Dharma assembly, it depends on the individual's effort and intention, and is not affected by the amount of money given.

4. If I am unable to attend a Dharma assembly at a temple, can I perform a ritual for the deceased at home?

A: Since a Dharma assembly for the deceased must have a presiding monk, at home, one can only recite scriptures, chant Buddha's name, perform repentance rituals, and dedicate merits to deceased relatives and friends. 

If you do not have a Buddhist shrine at home, first choose a clean, tidy, bright, and well-ventilated place as your shrine. Ideally, prepare a table to enshrine the Buddha image, along with fresh flowers and vegetarian fruits as offerings, or simply offer water and incense. Before the ceremony, it is best to bathe and observe a vegetarian diet to purify your mind and body. Once everything is ready, you can recite and prostrate yourself according to the *Emperor Liang's Repentance Ceremony* or the *Earth Store Bodhisattva Repentance Ceremony*, depending on the length of the text. You can recite it all at once or in several sessions, whichever is more convenient for you. If you choose to recite in several sessions, continue from where you left off in each session, without starting from the beginning. At the end of each session, dedicate the merits of your practice.

One can perform meritorious deeds for deceased relatives and friends, as well as for karmic creditors, both at home and in a temple. However, the power of collective merit in a temple--- where everyone's thoughts are gathered together to liberate all sentient beings in the ten directions--- is greater than that of performing meritorious deeds at home.

5. How should one dedicate merit? Will relatives truly receive the dedication?

A: Usually during the dedication ceremony in a Dharma assembly, Venerable Yuezhong will lead everyone in chanting the "Dedication Verse," thereby dedicating the merits of reciting scriptures and chanting Buddha's name to others. This creates a kind of spiritual resonance, allowing people to feel the power of merit.

Dedication of merit is the act of channeling one's own mental energy through the vows of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to the intended recipient. Just as sunlight, after being refracted in one place, can illuminate a dark place, allowing it to receive light even without direct sunlight, so too, with unwavering faith, one can dedicate merit to those in need, and the recipient will receive this merit.

Although you dedicate merit to others, your own merit is not diminished. It's like a lamp that can light many lamps, yet its own light is not weakened by lighting other lamps. Buddhism also encourages people to expand the scope of dedication to all sentient beings beyond their relatives. Every time you perform a good deed, dedicate the merit; this is a natural expression of compassion.


Resource: Issue 240 of Humanity Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photo: Public Relations and Communications Office
Translation: Christina
Editing: Keith Brown, Patricia Yang