September Buddha Recitation Retreat

September Buddha Recitation Retreat | Dharma Masters Lead in Harmony, Bell Sounds Gather the Mind in Devotion

Seven Days of Buddha Recitation · Voices Returning to the Heart

From September 14 to 20, 2025, Mituo Village held its Autumn Intensive Seven-Day Buddha Recitation Retreat. Over the course of seven days, everyone gathered at the monastery. With each recitation of the Buddha’s Name, body and mind gradually settled, and faith and vows grew stronger day by day.

The Bell Gathers the Mind · Dharma Masters Lead Together

Each morning, as the wooden board was struck to begin the day, the great hall resonated with melodious recitations of Amitabha’s Name. Venerable Shangde Xiayi sat directly before the Great Buddha, holding the hand bell. His clear and powerful rhythm was precise and skillful. Each sound of the bell seemed to fall straight into the heart, guiding everyone into calmness.

At the same time, Venerable Shangchang Xiangneng stood at the front to lead the assembly, his deep and steady voice harmonizing with the bell. Even more precious was that the resident Dharma Masters of Amitabha Village also joined wholeheartedly in leading the recitations. With dignified bearing, their voices blended like a great ocean tide, filling the entire hall with powerful spiritual influence.

Naturally, everyone’s mind was gathered with the sound, distracting thoughts subsided, and wandering ideas could not arise. Many practitioners shared: “Sometimes when I recite the Buddha’s Name for a long time, my mind scatters. But within this rhythm, my mind naturally settles, and I recite with great steadiness and joy.”

Daily Dharma Talks · Strengthening Faith and Vows

After the final incense of each day, Venerable Shangde Xiayi gave a Dharma talk, drawing from Master Ouyi’s Essentials of Amitabha Buddha.

“Faith and vows are the true cause of rebirth; holding the Name is the true practice of rebirth. If faith and vows are firm, then even with heavy karmic obstacles, one can rely on the Buddha’s compassion and be assured of rebirth.”

Sometimes the Dharma Master quoted classical passages, other times he addressed the mindset of modern practitioners, reminding everyone: “Do not fear having many scattered thoughts. The more scattered thoughts arise, the more tightly you must hold onto the Buddha’s Name.”

Listeners felt that these teachings, simple yet profound, transformed the wisdom of the patriarchs into practical strength for daily cultivation. Thus, reciting the Buddha’s Name was no longer a mechanical repetition, but every phrase carried true faith and sincere aspiration, returning the heart to Amitabha.

Experience of Recitation · Spiritual Purification

For seven days, the sound of Buddha recitation filled the hall without pause, day and night.
Some were moved to tears, as knots of sorrow in their hearts gradually dissolved;
some felt their body and mind become light and at ease, as if dwelling in a cool lotus pond;
others gave rise to firm vows:
“In this life, I seek only rebirth in the Pure Land, never again to drift with karmic currents.”

Master Yinguang once taught: “The practice of Buddha recitation is the most simple and the most complete. It universally encompasses beings of all capacities.”

During the retreat, everyone personally experienced the plain yet profound power of this practice—regardless of one’s capacity, as long as one single-mindedly recites the Name, one can find stability and refuge within it.

Dedication of Merit · Gratitude and Vows

As the seven days came to a close, the entire assembly gathered together for dedication of merit. With each voice reciting the Buddha’s Name, compassionate aspirations filled the hall: May there be peace in the world, may all beings find happiness, may the seasons bring harmony, and may all beings in suffering attain liberation.

Master Shandao, in his Commentary on the Contemplation Sutra, wrote: “When sentient beings recite the Name, they will certainly attain rebirth. Regardless of the weight of their karma or merit, it depends only on the depth of faith and vows.”

In the light of this patriarch’s teaching, the dedication of merit felt especially solemn and heartwarming. Everyone departed the retreat hall filled with gratitude, joy, and trust in Amitabha’s compassionate vows.

Conclusion

Though the seven-day retreat had concluded, the recitation of the Buddha’s Name will never cease.
May everyone carry the pure roots planted during these days into daily life.
Wherever one may be, may the Buddha’s Name be a constant companion, and faith and vows the vessel that carries us—until we are all born together in the Lotus Land of Ultimate Bliss.