2026 Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service – Practice at the Main Altar

— Awaken Our Innate Great Compassion, May All Sentient Beings Be Free from Suffering —

Master Sheng Yen once said: “When human minds are in turmoil, so are the spirits and deities. When the spirits and deities are unsettled, disasters arise. If we can come together during the Water and Land Dharma Service to listen to the Dharma, vow to speak kindly and do good deeds, the human minds will be at peace, and so will all sentient beings across the Three Realms.” Therefore, the true purpose of participating in the Dharma services is to pay homage to the Buddhas, praise their virtues, and repent for the karma we have created through our body, speech, and mind. Through these practices, we calm our body and mind, free ourselves from afflictions, and discover the wisdom and meaning of life. This is the true meaning of “deliverance”.

Participating in the Water and Land Dharma Service brings peace and hope to all sentient beings across the past, present, and future. Yet the participants benefit most, finding wisdom and courage in their own lives. In the Water and Land Dharma Service, by sincerely following the teachings of the ancestral masters and maintaining single-minded focus, participants strengthen their practice and purify the karmic actions of body, speech, and mind. As Venerable Master Hsu Yun expressed his hopes for the Dharma services: “Without aiming to liberate others, one liberates oneself; without seeking benefit, one benefits oneself”. This is the essential lesson and spirit of participating in the Water and Land Dharma Service.

“In the gate of the Three Jewels, blessings are easy to cultivate. A single coin given brings ten thousand in return. Still do not believe it? Look to Emperor Liang, who once offered a bamboo hat that has created a karmic affinity governing mountains and rivers.” In his past life, Emperor Liang, motivated by a single kind thought, offered the hat that sheltered him from the wind and rain to a statue of Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. This utterly sincere and earnest reverence created a karmic affinity with the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva and brought him incomparable merit. As the sutra says: “Before attaining Buddhahood, first cultivate good relationships with others.” Whether a person’s relationships are good or bad depends on the karmic affinities they have formed. By participating in the Water and Land Dharma Service, one can form affinities with all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as with all sentient beings. Even if you join only to share in others’ joy, you will still receive the Buddhas’ grace and blessings.

Sentient beings are limitless, and so are the vows and practices of those who rejoice and aspire to benefit them. The merit of rejoicing is therefore like one lamp lighting a thousand lamps, each passing its flame to the next and each light illuminating the others, never to be extinguished. When we take part with sincere aspiration to rejoice, with even a single thought of devotion, the treasure within our minds shines forth with clear light, and boundless merit arises. When we pray for all sentient beings, we awaken the great compassion of our inherent nature!

Dharma Drum Mountain San Francisco Center will launch a group practice to recite “Emperor Liang’s Repentance” in reverence.

【Venue】

Dharma Drum Mountain Bay Area San Francisco Center​​
255 H Street, Fremont, CA 94536
(510) 246-8264

【Dates】

11/24 (Tuesday) ～ 11/28 (Saturday) 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

11/29 (Sunday) 9:30 am – 12:20 pm

【Dharma Services Registration and Offering Sign-Up】Register for Altar Placement and Offerings

       * Types of offerings: Incense, Flowers, Lamps, Fragrant Balm, Tea, Jewels, Clothing

       * Offering sponsorship: $60 per offering

       * Offerings will be presented at the start of the first and third sessions each day. You may present them in person, or a Dharma volunteer can do it for you.

       * Offerings presented on your behalf may be picked up at the reception desk within two weeks after the event (lamp offerings cannot be taken back, but all other offerings can).

       * Except for lamp offerings, all other offerings are available in limited quantities. The styles and colors of the flower, jewel, and clothing offerings will be whatever is available on-site.

       * The deadline for online offering registration is Sunday, November 22. After the Dharma service begins, you can still register for offerings on-site.

       * Click here to learn more:  The Meaning and Merits of the Ten Offerings in the Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance

【Online Memorial Tablets】Register a Memorial Tablet

【Pre-Event Practice】Daily Practice: <The Great Repentance Text of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas>. Each day, bow while reciting the Great Repentance Text of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas, one bow per line, for a total of 108 bows. Or recite the holy name “Homage to our Original Teacher Śākyamuni Buddha” 3,000 times. <The Great Repentance Text of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas>

【Dharma Service Guidelines】

       1. Check-in begins at 9:00 am. Please arrive early to check in.

       2. To keep the hall solemn and orderly, please be seated at least ten minutes before each session begins.

       3. During the Dharma service, please wear a haiqing when entering the altar hall. Please bring your own, or purchase one at the Center.

       4. To attend the Dharma service, please wear neat, loose-fitting, comfortable clothing that you can kneel and bow in.

       ※To keep the Center clean, pure, and solemn, please avoid revealing clothing such as low-cut tops, backless tops, sleeveless shirts, shorts, or short skirts. Since shoes are removed before entering the altar hall, please wear socks.

       5. Please do not bring meat, fish, or other non-vegetarian food, tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, electronic devices, prohibited items, or dangerous items.

       6. During the Dharma service, please keep your mind focused and speak softly. Please follow the order inside and outside the altar hall and the supervising Dharma master’s guidance. When walking in procession, please observe proper etiquette and do not rush ahead of others.

       7. Before entering the altar hall, please be sure to turn off your cell phone.

       8. The Center will provide vegetarian lunches.

       9. You are welcome to sponsor a vegetarian meal for the assembly or make a donation to support the Center.  I want to donate/make an offering.

【Main Altar Program】  Emperor Liang Jeweled Repentance｜Purify Ourselves Through Compassionate Repentance

【Dharma Service Information】Learn more about the meaning of the Dharma service, methods of practice, and related information: Great Compassion Water and Land Dharma Service Website

【Service Schedule】

Daily Practice in the Altar Hall: Make 200 bows to the Buddha, or recite the holy name “Homage to our Original Teacher Śākyamuni Buddha” 3,000 times.