The pure sounds of chanting permeated Lingyen Mountain Temple during its first ever Flower Adornment Grand Dharma Service, from May 22nd to June 12th, 2022. For 21 days, we sincerely recited the Flower Adornment Sutra, known as the king of all sutras, and held a Grand Offering to the Buddhas and Devas at 6:00AM on the final day in respect and gratitude for the protection of all Buddhas. At 4:00PM we held a Grand Meng Mountain Food Bestowal Service for all beings the Six Paths of Transmigration. We dedicated the extraordinary merits of this service in prayer that the world will be at peace, the weather will be seasonable, and the pandemic will soon settle down. We also prayed for our own blessings, health in body and mind, and removal of karmic hindrances. The service was streamed online every day so that those who were unable to participate in person could practice diligently at home.

This was the first time Lingyen Mountain Temple (Canada) has held a Dharma Service of this kind. Under the leadership of the Venerable Abbot, Dharma Master Tze Cheng, the Masters and volunteers began to prepare the solemn and majestic ceremonial grounds several months in advance. During the three weeks of the service, many people enthusiastically came to recite the Flower Adornment Sutra. Listening the first of the Buddha’s Dharma teachings, we made the resolve for Bodhi together with all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Flower Adornment assembly. We followed the teachings of Manjusri and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva as they encouraged the Youth Sudhana and all sages in the assembly to return to the Western Pure Land. At the end of each chapter, the ceremonial Masters led the assembly in chanting the Flower Adornment Syllabary. For the final chapter, The Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, we respectfully requested the Venerable Abbot, along with Dharma Master Tze Yo and Dharma Master Tze Xiang to lead the assembly in reciting the sutra and chanting the Syllabary. All who participated were filled with joy of the Dharma. A Grand Offering before the Buddhas and Dedication of Merits before the longevity and memorial plaques was held each day, and a lamp altar was set up as an offering to the Buddhas.

From 6:00AM to 12:00PM on the final day, we held a Grand Offering to the Buddhas and Devas. We respectfully asked the Venerable Abbot, along with Dharma Master Tze Yo and Dharma Master Tze Xiang, to preside over the service. The sounds of their pure and melodious Buddhist chanting benefited all human and heavenly beings. We also invited five renowned traditional Chinese orchestral musicians to offer their elegant melodies to the Three Treasures and all heavenly beings. During the solemn ceremony, participants respectfully made offerings to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions, Dharma protecting dragons, devas, and sages, in gratitude for their kind protection and virtuous conduct. The temple’s Buddhist Youth served as the ceremonial attendants, and were integral in facilitating the completion of the offering ceremony. From 4:00PM to 8:00PM was the Grand Meng Mountain Food Bestowal, presided over by three Dharma Masters, during which the sweet dew of Dharma was universally offered to all sentient beings.

The Venerable Abbot, Dharma Master Tze Cheng, kindly stayed after the ceremony to give Dharma teachings to all participants. He encouraged everyone, after reciting the Flower Adornment Sutra for 21 days, to bring forth a determined resolve for Bodhi and practice the Bodhisattva Way. The first step in practicing the Bodhisattva Way is renunciation. Being able to renounce our possessions will allow us to take a step further and let go of our attachment to the self. As it is said, “Of the myriad practices of the Six Paramitas, giving is foremost.” Practicing the Six Paramitas might appear to be for the sake of helping others, but it is in fact a means of strengthening ourselves. The meaning of participating in a Dharma service is to gather in our minds and contemplate according to the text, so that we are in accord with the Dharma and can let go of our self-attachment. Maintaining a strong Bodhi resolve is not easy, so we need to often return to Lingyen Mountain Temple to maintain our practice. By doing so, we reinforce our Bodhi mind and improve our right mindfulness. We will be able to let go of secular affairs, feelings and customs. Our Bodhi resolve will not break down under the burden of our afflictions, and we will truly be able to go to the Western Pure Land with the Venerable Master.