Photo / Lin Yi-Kai
Article / Huang Yu-Chuan

On March 11, the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University held a Great Compassion Repentance Ceremony at the Yunshui Xuan Buddha Hall on campus. Organized and planned by third-year students, the ceremony aimed to familiarize students with Buddhist rituals, deepen their compassion through scripture recitation, and offer blessings for the university community and the benefactors who support education. A total of 102 faculty members and students participated in this solemn event, including Professors Zeng Zhi-Mian and Zheng Mei-Mei, along with fellow students from the department, gathering in devotion.

To ensure the smooth execution of the ceremony, students worked collaboratively in four specialized teams: administration and documentation, incense and sound control, logistics and setup, and publicity and photography. They managed every aspect of the event, from planning and promotion to venue arrangement. This process was not only an extension of their classroom learning but also a valuable hands-on experience in organizing Buddhist ceremonies.

Throughout the preparation period, Venerable Miao Jia, the dormitory instructor, and Venerable Zhi Ru, the guiding teacher, provided continuous support and guidance. Their dedication and encouragement enabled students to complete their tasks successfully, gaining significant insights along the way. On the day of the ceremony, students followed the leading monastics with reverence, bowing their heads, placing their palms together, and reciting the scriptures with sincerity. The ritual proceeded smoothly and solemnly, ensuring its success.

As the ceremony reached its conclusion, third-year student Venerable Hui Shen delivered a Dharma talk on the essence of repentance. He explained that “Chan” (懺) refers to tolerance and seeking forgiveness, while “Hui” (悔) means acknowledging one's mistakes. He emphasized that repentance is not only about reflecting on past misdeeds but also about making a firm resolution to correct mistakes and avoid repeating them.

In the end, Venerable Hui Shen encouraged all participants to purify their body, speech, and mind through the merits of repentance, to cultivate the Bodhi mind, and to pray for world peace and inner tranquility. The ceremony served as a profound reminder of the transformative power of Buddhist practice, reinforcing the university's commitment to the spiritual and ethical development of its students.