The Platform of Reconciliation

Life is a karmic memory drive, in which all the karmic conditions accumulated from past lives manifest in our present existence. Likewise, the actions we perform in this life will be imprinted upon the continuum of consciousness and carried into future lives. Therefore, when encountering the various circumstances and conditions that arise in life, we should not choose to harbor hatred—for hatred only breeds further hatred. The conflicts arising from the five poisons—greed, aversion, ignorance, pride, and doubt—can only disrupt the harmony of our existence and bring about grave calamities upon the world. Hence, we must learn to accept and transform these adverse conditions into extensions of virtuous connections; only then can we transcend the cycle of samsaric existence.

The Water, Land, and Air Dharma Assembly signifies a grand reconciliation of life—a vast gathering of harmony among all virtuous conditions. In the visible world, from high-ranking officials and high-status individuals to ordinary people, and even to the smallest sentient creatures such as insects and ants, all are inspired to attend. In the invisible realm, countless unseen beings, upon merely hearing the Dharma, immediately resonate and are thus embraced within its compassionate power. Within the solemn and meritorious atmosphere of the Dharma Assembly, we extend the great compassion that pervades the entire dharmadhatu, benefiting all sentient beings throughout the ten directions and the three times. Through this process, we deepen our understanding and appreciation of the preciousness of life itself, elevating our spiritual state of mind and enhancing the welfare of our society.

Through seven consecutive days of mantra recitation, sutra chanting, offerings, observance of ethical discipline, contrition, and aspiration, we transform the karmic imprints of greed, aversion, and ignorance. In doing so, sentient beings can transcend suffering and obstacles, and connect with complete and harmonious karmic conditions. During these seven days, we purify the mind, open inner space and stillness, make contrition for our resentments and entanglements with other beings, and restore mutual purity through sincerity and devotion. At the same time, through the recitation of mantras and scriptures, we dissolve the obstructions of troubled ideas, clarify the entanglements of life, and vow to follow the path of aspiration. Through offerings, we accumulate merit and virtuous conditions, transforming adverse circumstances into opportunities for spiritual integration. Most essential of all is sincerity. When one practices with genuine devotion and sincerity, one naturally gives rise to great courage and diligence, thereby resonating with the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. In such a state, every place becomes a site of awakening and accomplishment.

The Water, Land, and Air Dharma Assembly thus serves as a platform for realizing the harmony of life. This harmony extends not only among human beings but also between humanity and the natural world. The disasters that afflict the earth are inseparably linked to the collective karma of humankind—the greater the accumulation of non-virtuous actions, the greater the suffering that follows. In recent years, natural and human-made disasters have continuously arisen across the globe, causing loss of life and property while worsening the conditions for survival. All of these stem from the disharmony among sentient beings.
Hence, through the Water, Land, and Art Dharma Assembly, we seek to reconcile life itself—to gather wholesome connections and to harmonize the relationship between humanity and the planet. During the assembly, we maintain a pure and vigilant mind, never allowing distraction or negligence to arise. We transform the latent seeds within our consciousness into the pure bodhi seeds of awakening, manifesting the compassion of harmony in our daily lives. Through the altruistic vows of the Dharma, we transform suffering into compassion, enabling all beings to coexist in peace and mutual harmony.