Repentance Practice

Question: In Chinese Buddhism the concept of repentance and repentance ceremonies seem to be very important. Are there any specifically Pure Land approaches to repentance?

Response: There is a beautifully moving repentance verse in Buddhism:

All evil actions committed by me since time immemorial,
stemming from greed, anger, and ignorance,
arising from body, speech, and mind,
I deeply repent having committed.

Personally, I find that saying this verse and prostrating along with my practice of chanting "Amituofo" to be deeply moving.

Also, talk to those you have hurt. After saying the verse, tell them how deeply you regret the harm you have done. Ask all those you harmed to please not obstruct you on your path to rebirth in the Pure Land, and Buddhahood. Explain that seeking revenge for past harm will only bring future retaliation, which is of no benefit to them. Ask them to please allow you to practice so you can dedicate the merits to them and to all those who suffer. And assure them that upon attaining that rebirth you will come back to help them also end suffering and attain happiness.

Comments

[Claire]

For the first time I understand clearly the repentant verse and how important the daily recitation is to us all. With sincere regret for causing untold harm in the past, especially to our karmic creditors, we can only strive to practice diligently and to dedicate merits to them, with sincere hope to help lessen their pain and suffering rather than to reduce our own karmic obstacles. And with that intent alone, your daily Morning Verse on the blog that encompass all beings; it would include our karmic creditors as well, wouldn't it?

[Venerable Wuling]

Claire, yes, "all beings" includes all those we have hurt in the past, all those we owe.

[veli]

I just did the repentance verse, and tears kept falling while I spoke. It's more clear to me that I came to this life with heavy bad Karma and should pay back all the debts first. Thank you for your advice.