12/15/2024

2024 Xiangyun Temple Amitabha Dharma Assembly

In celebration of Amitabha's birthday, Xiangyun Temple held an "Amitabha Dharma Assembly" on December 14-15, conducted in the form of a "Zen and Pure Land joint practice." Participants purified their minds through seated meditation, contemplative practices, and the recitation of Amitabha Buddha's name, fostering a spiritual connection with Amitabha. Over 200 devotees attended the two-day event, with a significant increase in participation from locals and young people compared to previous years.

During the assembly, Venerable Jueji, the monastery supervisor, emphasized the importance of chanting Buddha’s name. He shared Master Hsing Yun’s perspective on the Pure Land practice, stating that wholeheartedly reciting "Amitabha Buddha" can help us transcend darkness, suffering, war, and chaos. The Pure Land, according to Master Hsing Yun, is the most abundant and eternal world, free of afflictions and the cycles of birth and death—fulfilling the essential needs of human life.

After the Dharma assembly, devotees were filled with energy and felt a sense of lightness and peace. A local participant, Landry, commented that from a Western perspective, chanting Buddha’s name is a simple yet effective practice. As one integrates the Buddha’s name into their heart, the mind becomes purified, and one is filled with Dharma joy!