On May 5, the 2023 Five Precepts Ceremony came to a successful close at Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou. This ceremony lasted for five days and on the morning of the last day, Abbot of Lingyin Temple Venerable Master Guangquan gave the refuges and five precepts to the lay Buddhists.
During this Dharma event, all lay Buddhists assembled at the Buddhist hall at 5:00 a.m. every day for morning sessions, neatly dressed in Buddhist robes. They blissfully started a new day with Buddhist chanting ringing in the ears.
Led by experienced Buddhist masters, the lay Buddhists learned how to get dressed in Buddhist robes, how to worship at a Dharma assembly as well as etiquette for living in a temple. They strictly followed the rules so as to receive the blessing of the Triple Gem and protection from heavenly guardians. Everyone prayed that all sentient beings be enlightened and free from suffering.
After the evening meal, the lay Buddhists were arranged to participate in a repentance ritual in which they repented for transgressions in the past and committed to corrective actions. Such a repentance practice helped eliminate sins, purity the body and mind, and recognize the pure intrinsic nature of humans. All lay Buddhists on both sides of the hall chanted the supreme name of Śākyamuni, filling the whole hall with bliss and solemnity.
In addition to the morning sessions and repentance practice, the lay Buddhists recited the Sūtra of the Upāsaka Precepts every day and had rehearsals for the Five Precepts Ceremony.
Over eighty lay Buddhists participated in the Five Precepts Ceremony, formally taking vows to follow the classic five moral precepts that date from the Buddha’s time. It is hoped that they would be blessed with Buddhist wisdom and attain enlightenment soon.
