Fulfilling the Merits of Emperor Liang Repentance Service
Fo Guang Shan (FGS) South Island New Zealand held function for Emperor Liang Repentance dharma service for chapter four and five of the Emperor Liang Repentance Sutra on 3rd May. Fo Guang Shan New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin with many venerable leaded everyone on with a pious heart for chanting the sutra. Everyone was really touched and joyous for the magnificent service on the day. During the Dharma talk Abbess noted that no matter where you go where you are everyone had to have a bodhi mind and a heart to serve and a compassionate mind so that everyone can gain wisdom and good fortune. Abbess also announced that when we are in the human realm we must cultivate ourselves and uphole Dharma and be diligent every time. Abbess praised the wisdom of Master Bao Zi Gong for writing such an incredible and extraordinary repentance sutra for everyone to chant. In chapter six, in the prologue to repentance section of the sutra, Master Bao Zi Gong mentioned on six parimitas, Buddhist six flowers; Nelumbo nucifera, Crinum amabile, Hedychium chrysoleucum, Plumeria rubra, Michelia champaca, Musella lasiocarpa, six jewels, six realms, six consciousness and more to let everyone go deep into the sutra.
On 4th May, Fo Guang Shan South Island New Zealand continued the Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Function from chapter seven to eight. Venerable Abbess Manshin and other venerable used their magnificent voices to chant the Buddha names and leaded approximately 80 people for the gem offering to many Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Abbess also gave dharma talk to everyone stated that the whole Emperor Liang Repentance Sutra had ten chapters with 40 sub chapters and 2000 Buddha names. Especially in chapter seventh there were 15 self fortunate including relieving or exiting from hunger ghost, animal and be able to be born into a moral country that contains Buddhism and have all six senses and be able to read, listen and chant sutra. If you have all these features it really worth self fortunate.
On 5th May it is the Vesak Day in lunar calendar, 15th April. It is the day that Buddha was born everyone celebrates his birth, enlightenment and nirvana. On this day, Fo Guang Shan South Island New Zealand chanted chapter nine and ten of the Emperor Liang Repentance Sutra. Abbess leaded approximately 70 devotees through the repentance sutra and transferring merit. Everyone piously repented and finished the whole repentance sutra. Abbess announced during dharma talk that she was joyous to see everyone practicing so diligently. She hoped that everyone can gain wisdom through repenting for their six sences and making vows in the Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Function. Master Bao Zi Gong reminded us through the sutra that we must be cautious with the things we say and speak, we must not stop repenting and making vows also propagating dharma and praise Buddha and Bodhisattva. Lastly temple gave holy water to everyone that participated to the function to wish that they can gain wisdom and have a good fortune on their journey of learning Buddhism.
This year is the second year that Fo Guang Shan South Island New Zealand held Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Function; there were a third more participants than last year’s from 50 people to 80.people. Everyone really cherished and understood the meaning of Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Function and everyone started to gain confidence in Buddhism.