On the afternoon of June 13, 2023, a Ksama practice (chanting and repentance practice) was organized by Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou for lay Buddhists and the public to sincerely repent for past negative karma and pray for blessings from the Three Jewels. In this way, obstacles can be eliminated and wisdom shall grow on their path to enlightenment.
At 1:00 pm, over 300 lay Buddhists neatly dressed in Buddhist robes gathered at Zhizhi Hall for the practice. First, they listened attentively to the host Buddhist master who explained to them the significance of Ksama. Then, following the guidance of the Buddhist masters, the two rows of participants on both eastern and western sides bowed alternately as they chanted “Namo Shakyamuni Buddha”. The sound of Buddhist music filled the air, creating a solemn and auspicious atmosphere. The Sanskrit term “Ksama”, transliterated as “chan mo (忏摩)” and abbreviated as “chan (忏)” in Chinese, means “repentance”, through which one can acknowledge past mistakes or transgressions, feel remorse for them, and vow not to commit new negative actions in the future. As part of the repentance ceremony, individuals pay respect to the Buddha, confess their wrongdoings, and make vows to purify their minds and actions. This shared practice in Buddhist temples harnesses the power of the group to overcome laziness and distraction that might take place in individual practice so that negative karma can be eliminated and merit can be accumulated for all.
