The Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Assembly, also known as the Repentance Dharma of Kindness and Compassion in the Bodhimanda, was first held by Emperor Wu of Liang (given name Xiao Yan) during the Southern Dynasties period to deliver Empress Chi from suffering. Emperor Wu was a devout Buddhist monarch who valued spiritual practice, and he revered the eminent monk Master Baozhi as his national advisor.
After his beloved empress passed away, Emperor Wu mourned her deeply. One night in his dreams, he heard a rustling sound outside his chambers and ventured out, only to find a large python. The python spoke to him with a sorrowful look in its eyes, “I am Empress Chi. As a result of my venomous thoughts, words, and constant feelings of envy, I have been reborn as a snake. Now, I cannot find shelter or food, and insects gnaw on every scale on my body. I beg you, Your Majesty. Free me from this suffering.” With that, the python disappeared.
Once he woke up, Emperor Wu immediately consulted Master Baozhi. The master informed him that only through devout repentance could the empress be saved. Thus, Master Baozhi gathered monks, compiled names of various Buddhas from the scriptures, and invited the high-ranking monks to recite and perform repentance rituals for the empress.
As the ritual concluded, Emperor Wu noticed a lingering fragrance in the room. Suddenly, a graceful figure appeared before him, saying, “Thanks to your meritorious deeds on my behalf, I was released from my serpentine form and reborn in the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven. I have come to express my gratitude.” After that, the figure disappeared. Such is the inconceivable merit of repentance!
Since then, the Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Assembly has been revered as the best way to repent for one’s wrongdoings in Buddhism. It is highly beneficial for both the living and the dead, and it is still going strong over a thousand years later. The ritual includes taking refuge, eliminating doubts, repenting for wrongdoings, resolving grievances, worshipping Buddhas, expressing gratitude, and dedicating merits. Its purpose is to help practitioners eliminate karmic obstacles for their own benefit and that of others, to free themselves from afflictions, and to attain peace and auspiciousness.