Malaysian Adherents Observed the Eight Precepts to Cultivate Virtuous Causes Together for Liberation of Life and Death

On May 1^st 2024, Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) Buddhist Centre Malaysia held a "One-day Amitabha Recitation & Eight Precepts Retreat." More than 120 followers vowed to undertake the Eight Precepts, experiencing the modest and simple monastic lifestyle for one day and one night. During the retreat, everyone recited the Buddha's name wholeheartedly to cultivate supramundane, virtuous karmic roots, aspiring to be reborn in Amitabha's Pure Land to attain the supreme Bodhi.

"Many people want to be liberated from samsara (the cycle of life and death), but very few of them can actually achieve it. Therefore, the Buddha initiated the Eight Precepts as an expedient approach for the laity to experience the monastic lifestyle." The time keeper of the retreat, Venerable Yan Lian (演蓮法師), explained that the retreat was a rare and extraordinary occasion for participants to abandon idle chatter and recite the Buddha's name with a collected mind, thereby reducing the likelihood of creating unwholesome karma. By observing the Eight Precepts for just one day and one night, they actually planted the cause to close the gate of life and death. Thus, multiple Buddhist scriptures note that earnest upholders of the Eight Precepts can benefit from boundless merits. Led by Venerable Yan Jiu (演究法師), the host of the retreat, participants devoutly recited the precepts, and completed the precept-receiving ritual by repenting and making vows with utmost sincerity. In the afternoon, the participants attentively circumambulated the Buddha statue, recited the Buddha's name, prostrated to the Buddha, and made repentance prostrations.


As Master Sheng Yen, the founder of DDM, once mentioned in a Dharma talk, the vexation and affliction of all sentient beings stem from the material pursuits and attachment to worldly enjoyments. To leave off the ocean of suffering in the three realms, we should live a contented life with few desires. By living a minimalist lifestyle, we can reduce our vexations. As the calmness of our body and mind grows, we will make less harm and trouble to people around us. Furthermore, the fundamental spirit of upholding precepts lies in practicing the Ten Good Deeds (daśa-kuśala-karmāni) based on the Five Precepts.




Original Chinese text / Luo Zhi Hao(羅志豪)
Photos / Li Tze-ming (李梓銘)
Translation / Li Siang-ling
Editing / Keith Brown, James