Submitted by miyun on
From May 31st to June 3rd , Than Hsiang Temple organized a three-day Amitabha Recitation Retreat at the Multipurpose Hall. 112 people participated in the retreat and more than 80% were women. Nearly 50% came from other states and sister Low Shaik Yeng came from Sabah. The youngest was 18-year-old Lim Pei Ting who came from Bukit Mertajam. Eighty-year-old Kok Geok Lan from Penang was the oldest among the participants.
31 May 2012
Retreat participants checked in to the temple from 12 noon to 3 p.m. on May 31st. At 3 p.m. Venerable Zhen Xin gave a briefing on rules and regulations to the participants. After the briefing, Venerable Zhen Ti explained the basic procedures after which the participants had their one and only dinner throughout the retreat. They were to skip dinner for the following two days because they would be observing the Eight Precepts. A Cleansing Ceremony was held at 7 p.m. followed by a discourse on Buddhist Ethics given by Venerable Zhen Ru.
1 ~2 June 2012
Daily activities during these two days were as below:
First session: Morning Service/Breakfast,
Second session: Transmitting and Taking the Eight Precepts
Third session and fourth session：Amitabha Buddha Name Recitation, Circumambulation, Meditation
Fifth session: Lunch
Sixth session: Dharma Talk/Repentance
Seventh session: Amitabha Buddha Name Recitation, Circumambulation, Meditation
Eighth session: Evening Service
Ninth session: Dharma talk/Transference of Merits
On the evening of June 1st Venerable Zhen Ru told the participants that in regards of Buddha Name Recitation there were three important keys namely deep faith, sincere vow and excellent practice. He also pointed out that Buddha Name Recitation is an all-inclusive method embracing practitioners of all mental capacities and is also one that is easiest to practice. Besides, the Venerable commented on the merits of reciting the Buddha name, “Since the merits of the Buddha name are also inconceivable, even if we recite the Buddha-name with a scattered mind, it is still a seed of enlightenment, a way of persevering and ascending toward enlightenment without falling back.”
On the following evening Venerable Zhen Ru delivered a discourse on the stages of spiritual path and how they are connected to the Buddha Name Recitation practice. In the Shared Initial Stage a practitioner learns to avoid unwholesome deeds and cultivate wholesome deeds. Their aim is to gain a favourable rebirth in future lives. One recites Amitabha Buddha's name with the intention of getting a rebirth in Sukhavati, the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha. In the Shared Intermediate Stage the practitioner's aspiration is to liberate oneself from Samsara, the cycle of birth and death. In the Exclusive Advanced Stage one not only strives for own emancipation from Samsara but also vows to attain Buddhahood so as to help sentient beings free themselves from sufferings. The Buddha Name Recitation practitioner will vow to return to Samsara to help suffering sentient beings after attaining enlightenment in Sukhavati.
3 June 2012
It was the last day of the retreat. In the morning, participants helped cleaning the environment after the morning service and breakfast. A joint Buddha name recitation was held at Wan Ching Yuen at 8.20 a.m. The participants had a fruitful exchange with the residents. Wan Ching Yuen Centre for the senior citizens is under the aegis of Than Hsiang Buddhist Welfare Association. This Home was founded by Venerable Wei Wu on a charitable basis following the Buddhist spirit of "benevolence, compassion, joy, and equanimity". The primary aim of the Home is to provide personal quality care of the aged whereby they can lead a happy, meaningful and useful life.
After watching documentary movies of the temple and the International Buddhist College, there was a one-hour sharing at the Multipurpose Hall. It was a rewarding retreat from which much merits could be derived in different ways for both participants and volunteers . The participants experienced the serene state in chanting Amitabha Buddha’s name while the volunteers were filled with blissfulness during their three-day voluntary service. They left for home after lunch and the Transference of Merits.
It was indeed a sacred and wonderful retreat. Thanks to all involved who had made this retreat a success!
May Amitabha Buddha bless you with mental peace, happiness and bliss. Amituofo!
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