Lianghuang Repentance Ceremony — 1 to 8 April 2012 · 梁皇寶懺法會 · 2012年4月1至8日

On 1 April 2012, Yanshan Leizang Temple solemnly commenced an eight-day Lianghuang Repentance Ceremony (梁皇寶懺), presided over by Vajra Master Lian Ou, with the resident Dharma teacher Master Lian Yu from Bao Yue Tong Xiu Hui of Taichung City leading the chanting. Under the support and protection of Masters Lian Ding, Lian You, and Lian An, together with temple president of Bao Yue Tong Xiu Hui Ms. Chen Yixuan and over a hundred fellow practitioners and devotees, the ceremonies were conducted with great solemnity and magnificence.

二〇一二年四月一日，澳洲雪梨嚴山雷藏寺恭請釋蓮歐金剛上師主壇梁皇寶懺法會，協同來自台中市寶悅同修會常住法師蓮余法師共同帶領唱頌，在蓮定、蓮由、蓮銨法師、寶悅同修會陳懿萱堂主及一百多位同門善信大德護持下莊嚴隆重地展開為期八天的拜懺法會。

In his Dharma talks throughout the repentance sessions, Master Lian Ou noted that the Lianghuang Repentance as practised in the True Buddha School is especially precious because it carries the blessings of the Root Guru and all ancestral masters, incorporating mantra recitation and visualisation — making it more supreme than ordinary Exoteric repentance liturgies. Over the eight days, Master Lian Ou offered inspired teachings on the essence of repentance: "Do not refrain from doing good deeds because they seem small; do not commit wrongdoings because they seem minor. Always cultivate thoughts of goodness and be generous in giving." He also explained that in life, things rarely go as wished — when they do, it is because karmic affinity and merit are both present. When facing adversity, the ability to transform one's mindset is most important: we must transform our circumstances rather than be transformed by them.

蓮歐上師開示提到真佛宗的梁皇寶懺珍貴之處在於它有根本上師及歷代祖師的加持，加入持咒與觀想，比一般顯教的拜懺更殊勝。上師妙語如珠的開示讓大家能深入拜懺的要義並從中得到啟發：上師提到「勿以善小而不為，勿以惡小而為之；隨時要心存善念，多做布施」，並舉例說明人生不如意的事十常八九，所求如願時，往往是因緣福德俱足；當面臨不如意時，要如何轉化心念很重要，我們要去轉境而不要被境轉。

Master Lian Ou also spoke on the importance of the "four conditions for practice": resources, a Dharma companion, the Dharma itself, and a proper place. He reminded everyone that on the path of practice, a Dharma companion's guidance and reminders help one see and correct faults one cannot perceive oneself. Among the three karmic channels of body, speech, and mind, speech karma is the easiest to transgress: "Leave three parts of what you would say at the tip of your tongue" — do not speak rashly and hurt others. He encouraged all to do things that benefit the greater community and to come forward as volunteers. Finally, he noted that among the many methods of repentance, the most important is to dissolve wrongdoings into the great emptiness, and urged everyone to revere the teacher, honour the Dharma, and practise sincerely — cherishing the Dharma resources one already has.

另外也提到在修行的路上「財、侶、法、地」的重要性，每個人在修行的過程都需要道侶的規勸與提醒，來改進自己看不到的缺點；上師也提醒大家，在身口意三業中，口業最容易犯，「話到舌邊留三分」，不要一時逞快而傷害別人。蓮歐上師提及師尊的教導要多做利益大眾的事情，也鼓勵大家出來當義工。最後上師提到懺悔的方法很多，最重要的是要真空化無，並期許大家要「敬師、重法、實修」並且好好珍惜現有的修行資糧。

The attending Dharma teachers also offered encouragement: Master Lian Yu urged everyone to come regularly to the temple for group practice and reminded all to use wisdom to discern, not to be deceived by appearances; Master Lian You spoke on mutual acceptance and tolerance — not forcing, clinging, or being confused by things, and allowing life to flow naturally; Master Lian Ding reminded everyone not to indulge in greed, anger, or delusion, emphasising the importance of sincere repentance and making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. On behalf of the board, Master Lian An concluded by expressing gratitude to Master Lian Ou for his efforts in presiding over the ceremony, to all Dharma teachers and benefactors for their support, to the volunteers for their wholehearted service, and to all devotees for their enthusiastic participation.

連日來護持法會的眾法師們也給予同門提醒與鼓勵：蓮余法師鼓勵大家常到廟裡同修，並勉勵大家要凡事要以智慧分辨，不要被表相所蒙蔽；蓮由法師提到人與人之間要互相接納與寬容，很多事情我們不要去勉強、不執也不迷惑，能隨順自然地過日子；蓮定法師提醒大家不要做貪嗔癡的事情，並強調誠心懺悔及供養佛菩薩很重要。蓮銨法師在法會結束時代表理事會感謝蓮歐上師連日來主壇法會的辛勞、眾法師與法會功德主的護持、義工們的發心幫忙以及與會善信大德的踴躍參與。

On the final evening of the Lianghuang Repentance, thunder and lightning filled the sky and a timely rain fell, bringing a sense of cool freshness to all hearts — drawing a perfect close to the days of repentance practice.

梁皇寶懺法會結懺當晚雷電交加、天下甘霖，頓時讓人心中覺得清涼，也為連日來的拜懺法會畫下完美的句點。

Yoga Flaming Mouth Salvation Ceremony — 9 April 2012 · 瑜伽焰口超度法會 · 2012年4月9日

On 9 April, the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Yoga Flaming Mouth Salvation Ceremony was held, presided over by Vajra Master Lian Ou, led by Master Lian Yu, with Masters Lian Ding, Lian You, and Lian An, the temple president of Bao Yue Tong Xiu Hui, and over a hundred fellow practitioners and devotees in support — offering Dharma food and sweet nectar to the spirits and conducting their deliverance. After the ceremony, Vajra Master Lian Ou conferred upon all present the "Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Disaster-Pacifying and Blessing-Bestowal Initiation." Under the blessings of the Root Guru and all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and with the enthusiastic support of all present, the Yoga Flaming Mouth Salvation Ceremony concluded auspiciously and completely.

四月九日舉行地藏王菩薩瑜伽焰口超度法會，恭請釋蓮歐金剛上師主壇，由蓮余法師帶領，蓮定、蓮由、蓮銨法師、台中市寶悅同修會堂主及一百多位同門善信大德護持下，為眾靈施法食甘露並進行超度。會後釋蓮歐金剛上師給與會同門做「地藏王菩薩息災賜福灌頂」，瑜伽焰口超度法會在根本上師及諸佛菩薩加持、以及與會同門的熱烈護持下圓滿結束。