【Chung Tai Chan Monastery】05_Dharma Ceremonies 20240118

The 2024 Founding Patriarch’s Pagoda Sweeping Memorial Service on the Buddha's Enlightenment Day

On the anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment day, January 18^th, 2024, Chung Tai Chan Monastery held the Founding Patriarch’s Pagoda Sweeping Memorial Service. This solemn event was a profound expression of gratitude for the compassionate guidance of both Shakyamuni Buddha and Grand Master Weichueh, Founding Abbot of Chung Tai.

Over seven thousand participants attended the ceremony, including Chung Tai monks, nuns, and disciples from meditation centers across Taiwan. Participants outside of Taiwan were able to join the proceedings via live broadcast from Chung Tai’s overseas meditation centers. All participants joined their hearts and minds in a Dharma assembly to honor the patriarchs and express their deepest gratitude.

Sweeping the Pagoda in Homage to the Patriarchs

The Pagoda Sweeping Memorial Service began at 9:30 a.m. when Venerable Abbot Jianying, Chung Tai’s monastic officials, and the abbots and abbesses of the meditation centers gathered inside the Hall of Patriarchs.

In front of Grand Master Weichueh’s memorial shrine, Abbot Jianying led the assembly in chanting the Praise to the Founding Patriarch. With utmost reverence, he made a ceremonial offering of flowers, incense, tea, and a lamp before circumambulating the shrine three times with palms together. After paying respects to the Grand Master’s relics, Abbot Jianying prostrated three times before the Grand Master’s memorial tablet and portrait. In the Buddhist tradition, these gestures express the deepest respect, gratitude, and devotion to a teacher or elder.

Next, the congregation proceeded to the Founding Abbot Pagoda in Deer Park while chanting the Buddha’s name, their voices in unison. Monks, nuns, and lay practitioners stood around the pagoda, their palms joined in reverence. Other participants followed the proceedings via live broadcast.

Abbot Jianying performed three prostrations and three circumambulations. Then taking up a broom, he meticulously swept the crown, body, and base of the pagoda. After this solemn act, he offered incense and alms and knelt in front of the pagoda to recite the ceremony’s Dharma words. Alongside the Abbot, the assembly also knelt in reverence to wholeheartedly receive the teachings.

After the Dharma words were spoken, the assembly joined together to chant the Praise to the Founding Patriarch, making deep prostrations to the pagoda. As the Masters of Liturgy began chanting the Buddha’s name, the congregation joined their voices and began circumambulating the pagoda, an expression of boundless gratitude for the immeasurable kindness and vows of Grand Master Weichueh.

1-3. Abbot Jianying sincerely made offerings in front of Grand Master Weichueh's memorial tablet, then circumambulated the shrine three times with joined palms, paying respects to the Grand Master’s relics.
4.5. Following tradition, Venerable Abbot Jianying led attendees to prostrate before the portrait of the Founding Abbot, expressing deep gratitude for his teachings.

Deep Gratitude, Eternal Remembrance

The second part of the ceremony commemorating the Buddha’s enlightenment day commenced at 11:00 a.m. the same morning. Chanting the Buddha’s name, attendees welcomed Abbot Jianying to preside over the ceremony. Together, they chanted the Precept and Serenity Incense Praise, the Heart Sutra, and the Praise of the Buddha.

During the proceedings, Abbot Jianying gave a Dharma talk explaining the significance of the day:

“Today we hold a two-in-one ceremony to both commemorate Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment and to honor Grand Master Weichueh with the Pagoda Sweeping Memorial Service. This is an occasion to learn from the Buddha and aspire towards enlightenment, and also to remember the compassionate guidance of the Grand Master.

To sweep the pagoda not only symbolizes the cleaning of external form, but also the purification of our minds. There is a saying, ‘Sweeping the ground, we sweep the mind-ground.’ In the pagoda sweeping liturgy, the buddha we invoke through chanting is ‘Namo Vairochana Buddha of Pure Dharmakaya.’ Throughout the ceremony, this serves to remind us of the bedrock of cultivation. This is one of the Dharma teachings embodied by the Pagoda Sweeping Ceremony.

“Sweeping the pagoda on the Buddha’s enlightenment day has further significance. It reminds us to learn from the Buddha and his successful cultivation. Therefore, during the second half of the ceremony, we commemorate the Buddha’s enlightenment in the way outlined by the Dharma and the precepts. We chant the Precept and Samadhi Incense Praise, the Heart Sutra, and the Praise of the Buddha: ‘In the heavens above and the earth below, no one can be compared to the Buddha. Throughout all the worlds, he is peerless. I have seen all that is in this world. There is no one who is comparable to the Buddha.’

We praise the Buddha and remember his teachings. Because Shakyamuni Buddha’s Dharma teachings have been passed down to us, we have the opportunity to cultivate Buddhism and become true Buddhist disciples. The purpose of being a Buddhist is to the learn from the Buddha and ultimately attain enlightenment.”

The Abbot also encouraged the congregation stating, "The Way is always present. Shakyamuni Buddha attained it over three thousand years ago and it is available to us in the present moment. Awakening, however, is up to us. How can we awaken to the Way? We can learn from the Buddha’s life journey. He renounced a royal life, transcended the five desires, and persevered through various trials on the path to enlightenment. Finally, on the eighth night of the twelfth lunar month, the Buddha attained enlightenment. For the remainder of this life, forty-nine years, he taught the Dharma to benefit sentient beings and show them the Way. The footsteps of the Buddha are worth learning and following.

Concluding his talk, Abbot Jianying mentioned, “In paying homage to the patriarchs and circumambulating the Founding Abbot Pagoda, let us appreciate the guidance of Grand Master Weichueh and apply the Three Links of Cultivation in our daily lives. Let us embody the Chung Tai Vow of Practice: “Manifest outwardly as an ordained monk; accord inwardly with the unsurpassed seal; practice unwaveringly the bodhisattva way; guiding all sentient beings to enlightenment.”

On Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment day, the Chung Tai community paid their respects to the patriarchs through the Pagoda Sweeping Memorial Service. They reflected on the compassionate teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha and the virtuous guidance of the Founding Abbot. May all comprehend the essence of the Buddha’s enlightenment and awaken to the true nature. May all cultivators steadfastly traverse the bodhisattva path.

1-3. With deep reverence, Abbot Jianying circumambulated the pagoda three times and sequentially swept the pagoda's crown, body, and base.

4-5.After offering incense, alms, and speaking Dharma words, Abbot Jianying led the congregation in prostrating to the pagoda.
6.Each participant circumambulated the pagoda, expressing their boundless gratitude.

7.During the ceremony commemorating the Shakyamuni Buddha’s enlightenment day, the congregation devoutly chanted the Heart Sutra and recited the Verses in Praise of the Buddha.
8-9.Abbot Jianying encouraged the assembly to reflect on the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha as well as the profound kindness of the Founding Abbot.

The ceremony was attended by 60 participants at Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston in the United States.

At the Great Buddha Monastery in Thailand, 49 people attended the ceremony.

At Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale in the United States, 81 individuals participated in the ceremony.

At Hua Yi Si in Italy, 98 attendees participated in the ceremony.

At Pu Guang Meditation Center in Hong Kong, 260 individuals participated in the ceremony.

At Bao Lin Chan Monastery in Australia, 80 participants attended the ceremony.

At Pu Dong Chan Monastery in Japan, 42 lay practitioners joined the ceremony.

At the Ocean Sky Chan Monastery in the Philippines, 67 disciples participated in the ceremony.

The 2024 Founding Patriarch’s Pagoda Sweeping Memorial Service on the Buddha's Enlightenment Day

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