3rd Day of Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Function

The 3rd day of Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma function commence on the evening of 27th May. 150 devotees rushed to the temple after work to continue reciting and paying homage to the 3rd fascicle of the Repentance Text, hoping to eliminate their Karmic obstructions through diligence and perseverance. Under the lead of Venerable Abbess Manshin and other Venerables, everyone conducted the ceremony in accordance to the Dharma and required etiquettes, thus adorning the Main Shrine magnificently with sounds of Buddhist hymns.

After completion of the function, Venerable Juexi explained to everyone the meaning behind the perfume, flower, light and treasure offerings made toward Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The first fascicle describes perfume offering, thus leading to a story of Venerable Ananda asked the Buddha a question: “All fragrance within the world permeates according to the direction of the wind, but what kind of fragrance does not permeate along the wind direction?” The Buddha compassionately replied: “only the fragrance of precepts from upholding them strictly will not be forced to flow with the wind.” This is why at the beginning of Dharma functions we always recite the line “True fragrance from upholding precepts and meditative concentration” to offer to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The second fascicle talks about offerings of flowers, which contains the line “Child wearing green garment personally witnessed the honoured and compassionate visage while holding flowers”. This child wearing green garment was Sakyamuni Buddha in a previous life before he obtained enlightenment and Buddhahood. When he offered flowers to the past Dipankara Buddha the merits obtained were incomprehensible. Flower represents physical offering, not only does it adorn the Shrine, it adorns ourselves even more, hence our cultivation advances from the “joyful ground” to “leaving defilement ground”.

The 3rd fascicle describes fruit offering. The sutras states that riches comes from giving, upright appearance comes from forbearance and beautiful singing voice comes from praising the Triple Gem. Hence all appropriate causes and conditions will yield appropriate results and effects. It is encouraged for everyone to continue practicing Buddhism with diligence. From the starting point of cultivating the 6 paramitas, we can arrive at the Bodhisattva stage of “luminous ground”, thus obtaining right awakening and uncover wisdom.