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Chanting Ceremony - The Practice of Unfolding the Thousand-Petaled Lotus
The chanting ceremony is practiced twice a month in the monastery, and is now being prepared in a version for lay friends at home, following the “Engaged Buddhism” approach. Before the ceremony, the sangha renews body and mind through repentance on the full moon and the first day of the lunar month, bathing, shaving their heads, and wearing ceremonial robes. On the morning of the ceremony, the atmosphere is festive: the great bell is sounded slowly, drums, wooden fish, and the fragrance of incense fill the hall, there is solemn silence, sitting meditation, walking meditation, and tea meditation before entering the main hall for chanting.
The content of the chanting ceremony includes the following main parts:
- Explaining the meaning of chúc (clearly wishing for true needs) and tán (praising wholesome and beautiful qualities)
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Chanting and praising the first verse for incense:
• The precious censer burns fragrant incense, its smoke spirals and spreads throughout the ten directions…
• The bodhi mind is courageous and extraordinary, wherever it touches, it radiates light… -
Chanting and praising to honor the World-Honored One:
• The fully awakened great being appears in this Saha world…
• The World-Honored One’s countenance is like the full moon, and also like the sun radiating bright light… -
Wishing for the fourfold sangha:
• May the Buddha’s way shine ever brighter, and the Dharma doors become clearer day by day…
• May the winds be gentle, the rains timely, the land and country be at peace; may nature be safe and society be free and equal… - Concluding with a vow to follow the example of Samantabhadra, Avalokiteshvara, and to take refuge in Maha Prajna Paramita