The Great Compassion Repentance Service

In our daily lives, when our clothes become dirty, we wash them with water. When our minds are polluted by greed, anger, and delusion, we become worried and troubled. In Buddhism, devotees practice repentance to cleanse their minds and rid themselves of worries. The benefits of practicing repentance include eradicating hindrances, purify our body, speech and mind, see our true natures and realize all wisdom.

There are different repentance ceremonies, with the Great Compassion Repentance Service being one of the most popular. The Great Compassion Repentance Service is based on the Great Compassion Mantra. The full name of the Great Compassion Mantra means, “Thousand-arms and thousand-eyes Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s all-embracing great compassion Dharani”.

By participating in the ceremony, devotees benefit from the strength of the compassionate vows of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to find peace within themselves. They learn to treat others with respect and humility, bringing harmony to their families and society.  

Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto will hold the Great Compassion Repentance Service three times a year:

1. To celebrate the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Birthday
2. To celebrate the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day
3. To celebrate the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Renunciation Day