Beings are made drunk by the three poisons and One knows not when they’ll wake up

　　I remember the time when I first came to Gold wheel Monastery was October of 1999.  It seemed as if the year was not quite right.  Because of the year 1999, I was destined to stay forever and ever (the Chinese pronunciation for “9” rhymes with the character “久” which means a very long time).  Because of the affinity I have with all of you, we are here still after more than ten years’ time has passed.  I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.  But of course it is a good thing, so I have to continue to go forward with vigor.

At that time everyone came to participate in the Emperor Liang’s Jeweled Repentance with great joy and enthusiasm.  Those who had to work during the day did so and came to Gold Wheel Monastery in the evening to partake in the　repentance ceremony.  The dharma assembly was adorned and filled with　exhilarating sounds of dharma friends chanting　the sutra verses　and　praising the Buddhas.  This was the format we followed in the earlier time, some ten odd years prior.

Then gradually over the years other Dharma Realm Buddhist Association branch monasteries began conducting Emperor Liang’s Jeweled Repentance around Thanksgiving.  Everyone also started going back to having the first incense to the morning hour.  We followed this trend as well.　Because of this change the causes and conditions for participation in the　repentance ceremony started changing too for many people.  Those who were very sincere still were able to overcome the many obstacles to come to join the assembly.  Whether participating in the repentance ceremony in its entirety or just part of it, those who were in the assembly I believe came with a mind of utmost sincerity to bow in repentance.  This mind of utmost sincerity is the Bodhi mind; it has the power to turn and initiate.  Therefore I hope that here at Gold Wheel Monastery people will double down on their effort and sincerity and not just go with the flow, because just going with the flow will be pointless.
When bowing in repentance this year, I felt very touched a couple of times, almost to the point of shedding tears and not being able to continue.  When I came upon the repentance text depicting the sagely virtues of the buddhas and the karmic obstructions of the living beings and so forth, it just seemed so true and real.  In retrospection, in the period of one incense session, how has my mind become stirred and moved? When I bow in repentance, I do not have any thoughts in particular. Yet, I think about us living beings having so many random thoughts, having a mind of selfishness and of seeking personal advantage, a consequence of the deep-seated ignorance that has been with us from beginning-less time.  How can living beings break through such darkness so that the Buddha’s light shines upon our mind?  How are living beings able to blend and unify the light of our mind with the light of the Buddha?  This is absolutely not an easy task.

Therefore, today I think of Universal Worthy (Samantabhadra) Bodhisattva, the King of Great Vows.  How was Samantabhadra Bodhisattva able to accomplish such great vows?  It is because he has great conduct. He genuinely walks the true path and carry out the lofty practice.  The power derived from this conduct is inconceivable.  The Avatamsaka Sutra gives a vivid description of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva’s profound samadhi power. Consequently Samantabhadra Bodhisattva has true power of great vows and great conduct.  His power of samadhi, wisdom, and sila is inconceivable.  A passage in the repentance text reads, “May we living beings in the future certify to the ability to read and comprehend like Samantabhadra Bodhisattva.”  We should learn from Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and emulate how he upholds the　practice. We should also pay respect and prostrate to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in repentance.  I hope we will be able to delve　deeply into the sutra treasury and obtain true wisdom so that we will no longer do muddled things.