Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance

Through repentance, the suffering arising from delusion and karma can be eradicated

The primary purpose of the Emperor Liang Repentance Ceremony is to help liberate all sentient beings in the Six Realms from suffering. Through practices such as paying homage to the Buddha, reciting scriptures, and engaging in repentance, practitioners are encouraged to reflect upon the negative karma they have created, recognize and sincerely regret their harmful actions, and openly confess their transgressions. Through sincere repentance, one may gradually free oneself from the suffering caused by past karma.
At the same time, the practice of repentance provides an opportunity for practitioners to reflect on harmful karma they and their family members have created in this and past lives. It asks us to examine behaviors that may easily go unnoticed in daily life and to become more mindful of our speech and thoughts. Through this practice, all sentient beings should confess their transgressions and make necessary changes.

Dependent Origination

According to the traditional account, Empress Xi, the wife of Emperor Wu of Liang, was known for her intense jealousy and harsh, venomous speech. She died unexpectedly at the age of thirty. She was said to have been reborn as a python after her death because of the intense anger and resentment she harbored during her lifetime as a human. One night, she appeared before Emperor Wu of Liang in his palace. She revealed the suffering she was experiencing and explained the causes that had led to her rebirth as a python. She then sincerely pleaded with Emperor Wu to help free her from this suffering.

After hearing Empress Xi's words, Emperor Wu of Liang asked Master Baozhi to compile ten volumes of repentance texts based on the essential teachings of the Buddhist scriptures. He then organized a repentance ceremony dedicated to Empress Xi. The day after the ceremony, a figure appeared before Emperor Wu of Liang  expressing her gratitude to him for arranging the ceremony. It was Empress Xi. Through her sincere and devout repentance, she was said to have been freed from the form of a python, her karmic obstacles purified, and reborn in the Trayastrisma Heaven.

Ceremony Text

There are numerous accounts of practitioners experiencing profound responses to the Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance through sincere and devout repentance. For this reason, the Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance has remained one of the most widely practiced repentance liturgies since the Liang Dynasty, with a history spanning more than 1,400 years. Renowned for its beautiful literary style, the Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance is often regarded as the King of Repentance. Consisting of ten volumes, it presents a comprehensive Mahayana Sutra (or comprehensive collection of Buddhist teachings) centered on repentance and the purification of karma for sentient beings throughout the Six Realms. The text not only explains the various karmic consequences that may arise from unwholesome actions but also outlines the causes and conditions that give rise to such actions. It also exhorts sentient beings to refrain from creating various karmic causes.

Each section begins with taking refuge in the Three Jewels, dispelling doubts, and engaging in repentance. This kind of spiritual practice involves not only repenting for the karmic offenses one has committed in the past, but also repenting on behalf of sentient beings in the hungry ghost and animal realms for the karmic obstacles they have created, and even repenting for the wrongdoings committed by one’s parents, teachers, siblings, and others throughout countless past lifetimes. The repentance texts carefully identify the faults and unwholesome actions that are easily overlooked in daily life, bringing them to our attention one by one. Through this process, practitioners are encouraged to reflect deeply on their conduct, openly confess their transgressions, cultivate greater mindfulness, and guard their thoughts, words, and actions to prevent them from generating the causes of suffering.

In addition, the repentance texts invoke the sacred names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, including Maitreya Buddha, Shakyamuni Buddha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and many others. By reciting their sacred names and contemplating the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas as witnesses to their repentance, practitioners sincerely acknowledge their past transgressions and make a solemn vow to transform their conduct.

In general, the Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance Ceremony lasts five to seven days. Before the ceremony begins, the sacred space is first purified through ritual sprinkling. At the beginning of each section, participants chant praises to the Three Jewels and pay homage to the Buddhas. The Dharma assembly then proceeds with reading the repentance texts, practicing repentance, and making vows. During the recitation, practitioners generally remain standing. Whenever the sacred name of a Buddha or Bodhisattva is recited, they bow once in homage. Participating in the ceremony from beginning to end therefore requires considerable physical and mental stamina. However, by incorporating mindfulness and meditative practices, relaxing the body and mind, and maintaining focused attention during the prostrations, practitioners can cultivate greater physical ease, mental calm, and inner stability throughout the seven-day practice.

Furthermore, some temples conclude the ceremony on the final day with an offering ceremony to the Buddhas and Celestial Guardians, a Yogacara Ulka Mukha Service, or the Recitation Ritual of Amitabha Sutra in Three Sessions. The offering to the Buddhas and Celestial Guardians involves paying homage to the twenty-four devas of the Desire Realm and Form Realm, as well as the Four Heavenly Kings, who are regarded as Dharma protectors of Buddhism, and Maitreya Bodhisattva, who resides in Tuṣhita Heaven. In addition to expressing gratitude to the celestial beings and Bodhisattvas for their protection, practitioners also pray for the flourishing of the Dharma and for peace, harmony, and well-being throughout the world.

The Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance is regarded as one of the most profound and revered repentance practices. It is also associated with many accounts of profound spiritual responses. During the repentance ceremony, when practitioners approach all sentient beings in the spirit world and the Dharma protectors with sincerity and reverence, they are believed to be able to join the assembly and practice together. For this reason, participating in the Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance calls for a sincere and repentant heart. Through sincere repentance, practitioners can purify their minds and bring greater peace and stability to both body and mind. When the ceremony is performed with genuine devotion and earnestness, practitioners may also dedicate the merit generated through the practice to deceased family members to let them share the benefits.

(Compiled by Lin Qianrong 林蒨蓉) 

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