6th Day of Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Function

On the evening of 30th May 130 devotees gathered inside the Main Shrine to recite and pay homage according to 6th Fascicle of the “Emperor Liang Repentance Text” under the lead of Venerable Abbess Manshin. The 5th Fascicle reminded everyone to contemplate how intrinsic nature of the 5 aggregates comes from accumulation, hence we all should think about how to accumulate wholesome karma.

After the function, Venerable Juexi explained the 3 virtues of tea offering:

1. Eliminate the Mara of sleep
2. Aids digestion
3. Reduces desires

Furthermore tea also represents the 6 Paramita:

• Paramita of Giving by expansion of the tea leaves after being immersed in water
• Paramita of Upholding Precepts by emitting aromas
• Paramita of Forbearance by enduring countless plucking, heating, drying and immersion
• Paramita of Diligence by energising one’s mental functions.
• Paramita of Meditative Concentration by obtaining indestructible concentration from one’s mind being energised
• Paramita of Prajna, because like wisdom can cure our mind’s sickness, tea can be used as medicines to cure physical sickness

Because the 6 Fascicle’s tea offerings emphasis mental clarity and awareness, everyone present were encouraged to use today’s repentance to thoroughly cleanse one’s action, speech and thoughts. Turning the 10 unwholesome actions of killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, flattery, duplicity, slandering, greed, anger, and ignorance into the 10 wholesome deeds. Then vowing to not reoffend and purify our mind in order to diligently practice. Arriving at the 6th Bodhisattva stage of “Manifesting before All” with body and mind that are soft and light, allowing wisdom to manifest before all and be filled with Dharma joy.

Afterwards, Venerable Juexi shared 3 Buddhist “Chan public cases” with everyone:

1. Patriarch Bodhidharma sat in solitary meditation for 9 years. When practicing sitting meditation in front of a wall he often becomes drowsy, so he ripped off his eye lids to prevent feeling sleepy. After the cast away eye lids were thrown onto the ground, they eventually sprouted and grew into leafy plants, which his disciples used to make teas to resist from falling asleep during meditation. The moral of this story is that we should always uphold right thoughts and have determination. Then use courage and wisdom to eliminate obstructions and turn them into bright illumination.
2. When people visit Chan Master Zhaozhou, whether it’s the first visit or many subsequent visits, the Chan Master never goes on about huge deep theories; instead he simply offers tea to his visitors. This is to encourage everyone to suddenly awaken to our mind and thought at this very present moment, which is like a person drinking water, how cold or warm only he can know. Hence one should experience using a mind of equanimity to investigate the Way and understand the One Original Truth.
3. While the Buddha was expounding the Dharma at Jetavana, an elder always wanted to make offerings to the Buddha, but due to inadequate conditions, he never had the opportunity. So he decided to set up a tea stand by Jetavana’s entrance to offer beverages to the passersby. After 3 month, the Buddha finally drank the offered teas. Because of his sincere and devout heart while making the offering, the elder’s merits allow him to be reborn in a blissfully pleasurable heaven after passing away. At that time the Buddha is still preaching the Dharma in the human realm, and the elder still continued to descend from heaven to listen to the teachings and make tea offerings to the Buddha. Eventually the elder obtained Arhatship. This story reminds everyone that we should use a heart of devotion and respect to make offerings to the Triple Gem, thus gaining limitless merits and plant causes and conditions for our future liberation.