Kuan Yin Bodhisattva Recitation Session

AT THE CITY OF TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS

All 237 acres of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas were traversed during the weeklong recitation session to seek for rain and purify the grounds of the newly founded world Buddhist center.

Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa, Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa comes floating through the fragrance of the lilacs and glides among the fir groves. Cranes perch on tree-tops and squirrels line the quiet streets as an orderly procession of people meanders and winds around the buildings at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, sending forth to the blazing blue sky the prayer, Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa, Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa. Invoking the aid of the greatly kind and compassionate Bodhisattva Who Observes the Sounds of the World to end the suffering caused by the drought in California, the drought of water and the drought of kindness and compassion in the entire world.

      This was the prayer of those who participated in the weeklong recitation session of the name of Kuan Shih Yin Bodhisattva, the first session ever held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas. All week the participants alternated walking recitation with silent sitting meditation. The hour-long walks circled each of the buildings several times to purify them and also circled the boundaries of the City to ward off evil influences.
As they walked, the reciters wove a net of sincere prayer around the entire City, and, expanding their thoughts and hearts as the week progressed, sent it out to encircle the entire Dharma-realm with compassion. Each recitation, made with a sincere heart, sought to change the karma of living beings, of the country, and of the world from evil to good, and to bring forth the blessing of beneficent, life-giving water, so that the suffering of all might be relieved.

At the right Sangha members concentrate of the name of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva during walking meditation.

 

 

Procession passes Dharma Realm Buddhist University classroom building while reciting the name of Kuan Yin Bodhisattva.

      The sun beat down relentlessly on the shaven and unshaven heads of those intent upon their invocation; the sky remained fiercely and stubbornly barren, blank-blue, until the very end of the week, when softly, long serpent-like clouds crept slowly in from the sea, as though they had come to listen to the music of Kuan Yin's name and the timeless rhythm of the wooden fish and bell calmly floating through the heavens and pervading empty space. Finally, the next week, the news reached the sleeping rain dragons in their far-off retreat and they answered the summons with a watery response.

      This first session at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas inaugurated the practice of the ancient Dharma-door of recitation, a peerless way to achieve a total concentration of the mind and bring its ceaseless thoughts to a halt. During the week instructional talks were given by participants who told stories of the miraculous responses evoked by the sincere recitation of Kuan Yin's name and related their own personal experiences.

      This summer the practice of sitting meditation will be introduced at the City in two intensive Ch'an sessions during the summer study and practice sessions. Ch'an, silent sitting and investigation, is another ancient Dharma-door.

CURRENT: AVATAMSAKA ASSEMBLY

The Venerable Master Hua, Founder and President of the Sino-American Buddhist Association, delivers daily lectures on the Avatamsaka Sutra at 7:00 PM and an additional lecture at 12:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, at cold Mountain Monastery, 1731 15th Street, San Francisco, California.