The Great Compassion Repentance Service was developed and created based on the ‘Mahâ Karuṇâ Dhâranî’ by Monk Zhili in the Song Dynasty, who was reincarnated from Shakyamuni Buddha’s son, Râhula. Aside from containing the Great Compassion Mantra and the core idea of it, the entire practice process also includes rituals such as setting up the practice chamber, selecting a sacred space, making offerings, entering and initiating the confessional, repenting, contemplating, etc. It only takes a few minutes to chant the Great Compassion Mantra once , but it usually takes up to two hours to practice the Great Compassion Repentance ceremony.
The Great Compassion Repentance Service is a type of repentance method, as well as a type of ‘phenomenon method’, which means it is a method to express religious sentiment through phenomenon and rituals, as well as through sound, chanting, adornment of the practice space, sincerity of practitioners, and the mutual coordination and rhythms of the whole group. As such, it is a good method to practice within a group. Although the Great Compassion Repentance is certainly a ritual involving literal repentance, it is not strictly limited in meaning to the act of repenting past mistakes; nor, for that matter, is it limited to simply praying for happiness and benefits for individuals . As one type of ‘Avalokitesvara Boddisattva method’, it indicates Avalokitesvara’s wisdom and complete enlightenment, as well as compassion and skillful means. There are ten great vows that lead practitioners to the repentance. They are:
- Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I master all Dharma quickly； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I obtain the eye of wisdom soon； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I deliver all beings quickly； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I obtain the expedient means soon； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I sail the boat of Prajna quickly； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I cross the ocean of suffering soon； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I obtain the full practice of the precepts and dhyana quickly； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I reach the summit of Nirvana soon； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I enter the abode of non-doing quickly； - Homage to the most compassionate Avalokitesvara,
May I attain unification with the Dharmakaya soon.
Ultimately, the meaning of this repentance is for self-realization and rescuing. Through the process of self-liberation and enlightenment, individual beings would generate great bodhi mind which corresponds to Avalokitesvara’s compassion, and utilizes all kinds of skillful means and profit to assist the other beings to attain their own true nature.