On the morning of August 27, 2021 (the twentieth day of the seventh month in Chinese lunar calendar), the opening ceremony of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Dharma Assembly was held at the Medicine Buddha Hall of Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou.
At 8:30 am, the host of the ceremony offered burning incense and purified the ritual altar with willow water. All the participants of the dharma assembly contemplated as they chanted the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapranidhana Sutra piously, deeply moved by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s vow to take responsibility for the instruction of all beings in the six realms as well as his vow not to achieve Buddhahood until all hells are emptied.
The transference of merits helps to eliminate diseases and epidemics and bring auspicious blessings to the general public and the country. May all the living beings relieve from sufferings and gain wisdom with the help of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s vows. Also, may all the deceased in the world of all ten directions free from hell and reborn in the pure land.
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is greatly respected and worshiped for his vows to guide all livings beings free from the hell. To pay respect to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Lingyin Temple holds a dharma assembly in the seventh lunar month every year for altruism and blessings to the general public.
The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Dharma Assembly will end on September 6 (the thirtieth day of the seventh lunar month). During this time, the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapranidhana Sutra will be chanted twice a day. On the last day, the Yogacara Ulka-mukha Dharma Service (also known as the Releasing the Flaming-Mouths Ritual) will be performed and bring the dharma assembly to a successful close.
