【True Buddha Foundation Dharma Affairs Department Announcement】
TBF-DA Prac-0015
Purification and Blessing Ritual Q&A Ⅱ
Q1: Do I need to set up a separate altar? A1: Within the cultivation venue, there should be a separate Purification Hall where Vajrasattva is enshrined as the principal deity. In the Purification Hall, brooms are provided on the left and right side of the deity. (This has been explained in the book.)
Q2: If Vajrasattva and other buddhas and bodhisattvas are already enshrined on the altar, can a broom be placed to the left and right side of Vajrasattva? A2: Temples, chapters, and cultivation associations should establish a separate Purification Hall.
Q3: If a cultivation venue has limited space, how should the Purification Hall be set up? A3: A simple Purification Hall can be established adjacent to the main shrine. A table should be set up with Vajrasattva in the center as the principal deity. As the background, one may hang a thangka or image of the True Buddha Lineage Assembly Mandala, aka the True Buddha School Refuge Tree. An incense burner should be placed in front of the statue of the principal deity and a purification broom should be placed on either side.
Q4: When reciting the mantra, should I hold the broom in my hand or leave it on the shrine? A4:
Prior to obtaining a broom, one should diligently recite the 100 Syllable Mantra to fulfill the condition for blessing the broom. Ordained Sangha must recite the long version of the 100 Syllable Mantra.
One must recite the mantra with full concentration. One may form the Vajrasattva Mudra or hold a mala or a counter. It is not necessary to hold the broom.
To fulfill the condition of reciting the 100 Syllable Mantra and visualizing Vajrasattva radiating light to bless the broom, one must chant the 100 Syllable Mantra 100,000 times prior to performing the ritual.
Q5: Since two brooms are required in each shrine, does this mean each broom requires 100,000 recitations? (200,000 total recitations) A5:
The required number of mantra recitations is not related to the number of brooms.
Because of reciting the 100 Syllable Mantra more than 100,000 times, the practitioner has fulfilled the condition for blessing the broom or brooms.
The 100 Syllable Mantra is the supreme mantra for repentance and elimination of karma. The more one recites the mantra, the better.
100,000 recitations of the mantra is only a baseline, that is, this is just a preliminary, base number of recitations. From 100,000 to 200,000 and more... one gradually accumulates recitations. The more the better.
The key point of reciting the 100 Syllable Mantra is not rushing to finish the recitations. One must concentrate, visualize, and single-mindedly recite the mantra. In this way, one’s mind is united with one’s recitation and one generates the merit of purifying the three secrets.
Q6: Book 283 mentions that the purification implement is a broom. It also states that “Each broom must be blessed with 100,000 recitations of the 100 Syllable Mantra!" A6: Living Buddha Lian-sheng explains as follows, "This means the condition for ordained Sangha and lay practitioners to bless the purification broom is to have recited the 100 Syllable Mantra 100,000 times."
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