Repentance ceremony on Feb. 29th, Year of the Snake

March 28th, 2025 (Feb. 29th, LC) good men and believing women inside and outside HCMC returned to Hoang Phap pagoda to attend a periodical penitential ritual.

Before the rite, Junior Thich Tam Khac, Monks of Hoang Phap pagoda had a dharma talk named Summary of Great Dharani Sutra

 

The Great Compassion Mantra is very familiar to Mahayana Buddhists. Most of the practice sessions chant this mantra, but the mantra is transcribed from Sanskrit, most Buddhists do not understand the reason and full meaning.

 

In the Great Dharani Sutra, when Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara met Buddha Thien Quang Vuong Tinh Tru, the Buddha taught Her the Quảng Đại Viên Mãn Vô Ngại Đại Bi Tâm Đà Ra Ni to practice and recite. After achieving great compassion and great vows to bring happiness to all living beings, eliminate illness and suffering, dispel fear, and fulfill Her wishes, the Bodhisattva taught this Great Compassion Mantra for all living beings to know and chant.

 

In the mantra, just the first sentence “Nam mô hắc la đát na đa ra dạ da” is meaningful enough for those who recite it, and when practiced, they will gain benefits. Namo is a transliteration from Sanskrit, translated in Chinese as refuge. Taking refuge is relying on the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha with complete respect. The full meaning of this mantra is “Taking refuge in the boundless and endless Three Jewels throughout the ten directions”. The benefit of regularly reciting this mantra is that it is a reminder the believers who have taken refuge in the Three Jewels should be true Buddhists. It means they must abandon evil deeds, do good deeds, correct mistakes, renew their body and mind, and resolutely turn toward goodness; Only by this doing they can achieve practical benefits. As a result, it is shown that the nature of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is the essence of the Buddhas of the three periods. The great compassion of Bodhisattva is what Buddhist practitioners should strive for and obey to increase their good roots and achieve the fruit of enlightenment.

 

After the Dharma talk, the mass entered the penitential ritual as usual.

 

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