Grand Master Hsin Tao Guides a ‘Spiritual Awakening’: The Ling Jiou Mountain Water-Land-Air Dharma Assembly Concludes, Offering a Spiritual Remedy for the Earth.
Taoyuan, Taiwan — September 17, 2025 — The Taoyuan Arena reverberated with resonant Buddhist chants and curling clouds of incense. Following eight days and seven nights of solemn practice, the 32nd Ling Jiou Mountain Water-Land-Air Grand Dharma Assembly concluded on the afternoon of September 17 with the dignified “Send-Off” ritual. Themed ‘Spiritual Awakening: Resonating with Ecology,’ this year's Assembly blended traditional Buddhist rites with contemporary ecological awareness, serving not only as a profound spiritual cultivation but also as a living experiment for the future of our planet.
Grand Master Hsin Tao, Founding Abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain, initiated this annual Water-Land, and Air Dharma Assembly as a sacred bridge for reconciling the living and the departed. In his teachings, he explained that the Assembly is not just a gathering point for the spiritual communion of all beings, but also an essential sanctuary for practicing "spiritual ecology." He emphasized that every Dharma service is dedicated to purifying the body and mind, awakening the spirit, and ultimately realizing the compassionate vow of “One World, One Heart, Shared Aspiration for Peace.”
Sprinkling to Purify and Commence the Assembly: Washing Away Worldly Dust, Nurturing Boundless Good Karma
The Assembly officially commenced at 1:00 a.m. on September 13 with the Sprinkling and Purification Ritual. In his opening teaching, Grand Master Hsin Tao explained that the Water-Land， and Air Dharma Assembly is a moment to set aside all attachments and enter into a profound encounter with the spiritual essence of heaven, earth, and all sentient beings. The sprinkling ritual, modeled after Guanyin Bodhisattva’s willow branch and pure water, sanctifies the venue and invites Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and celestial guardians to descend, ensuring the Dharma Assembly unfolds with blessings and harmony.
Grand Master Hsin Tao emphasized that the Water-Land, and Air Assembly itself embodies a vast spiritual ecology. Its purpose is to cleanse the mind, transforming defiled consciousness back to its original purity, so that our innate spirituality may shine forth and resonate with heaven, earth, and all beings. In this way, we move toward the state of “spiritual awakening in resonance with ecology.” He further encouraged participants, under the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to cultivate reverence and sincerity, and to gradually purify the three karmas of body, speech, and mind in preparation for the upcoming Dharma practices.
Solemn Consecration: Opening the Vajra Altar to Resonate with Supreme Positive Energy
Following the purification ritual, the Assembly entered the solemn ceremony of “consecrating the Inner Altar.” Grand Master Hsin Tao explained that this consecration establishes a mandala space that is as unshakable as a diamond and as pure as it is undefiled, ensuring that the Dharma proceedings remain free from obstruction. He stressed that only when participants focus their minds with utmost sincerity, inviting the blessings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors, can the three karmas be purified and the merits of the Assembly extend throughout the ten Dharma realms.
During the segment “One Heart Worldwide: Paying Tribute in Humility,” representatives from Buddhist associations in New York, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia came forward wearing their regional or traditional attire to offer local specialties. Devotees from New York, dressed in jeans, presented coffee beans as a reminder of constant self-reflection. The Indonesian delegation offered chocolate, symbolizing an eternal devotion to the Triple Gem. Thailand’s meditation center brought a miniature stupa and dried fruits, signifying that good deeds bring good results. Representatives from Singapore showcased their nation’s diverse ethnic costumes, embodying the spirit of coexistence and mutual flourishing.
These offerings and traditional garments not only expressed deep reverence for the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas but also highlighted how cultural diversity converged within the Assembly. The gesture embodied the ethos of “coexistence and mutual prosperity” and resonated with Grand Master Hsin Tao’s vision that “spirituality is ecology—sustaining the Earth with love.”
The Precept of the Nether World: Activating the Bodhisattva DNA to Achieve Life’s Reconciliation
On the evening of September 15, the Dharma Assembly welcomed its most central rite—the Precept of the Nether World. This solemn and auspicious ceremony drew devotees from both Taiwan and abroad, as well as distinguished guests including the Deputy President of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Thailand, Deputy Minister of the Interior Wu Tang-An, and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-Yi. Together with local followers, they witnessed the ritual, praying for harmony between the living and the departed and for all sentient beings to be freed from suffering and attain bliss.
In his sermon on the Precept of the Nether World, Grand Master Hsin Tao delved into the profound meaning and significance of the Dharma event. He explained that the initial steps in receiving the Precept are “arousing faith, taking refuge, repenting, and generating bodhicitta.” The Grand Master further clarified that the Bodhisattva Precept originates from the very source of the Buddhas and forms the foundation of Bodhisattva practice. By taking the Precept, our contaminated karmic patterns are transformed into pure Bodhisattva “DNA.” Through this observance, we can purify our body, speech, and mind, anchoring them in virtuous conduct, ultimately realizing the nature of emptiness in an integration of compassion and wisdom, resonating with all sentient beings across the Dharma realms, and awakening a far-reaching, unwavering bodhicitta.
The Precept offered a profound opportunity for life’s reconciliation between the realms of the living and the deceased. It helped the departed move beyond suffering to attain peace, while giving the living a chance to confront impermanence and cultivate wisdom and compassion through the Dharma’s guidance. Grand Master Hsin Tao encouraged all participants to regard the Dharma Assembly as a path to liberation, visualizing family members and sentient beings from all realms receiving the pure Precept, allowing their awakened consciousness to radiate light, transcend the ocean of suffering, and ultimately realize the self-mastery of complete liberation.
From the Heart: Nine Pillars of Spiritual Ecology and Mindful Living
The LJM Water-Land, and Air Dharma Assembly impacts far beyond its ceremonial venue, where prayers are recited and mantras chanted. It extends into daily life by promoting mindful eating under the banner of an 'Awakened Lifestyle' to reduce carbon emissions. Venerable Chan Chun, Superintendent of LJM Buddhist Society, explained that this approach differs from traditional environmental efforts, which tend to emphasize policy and technology; Spiritual Ecology, in contrast, focuses on an inner awakening that nurtures harmonious equality between humans and Nature. For many years, LJM has promoted its 'Nine Pillars of an Awakened Lifestyle' — tranquility, compassion, dialogue, vegetarianism, recycling, frugality, carbon reduction, water conservation, and greening — bringing spiritual practice from the temple into everyday life and turning mindful intentions into concrete action.
The recent Dharma Assembly centered on the theme of an 'Awakened Lifestyle,' transforming compassion into tangible practice at the dining table. Participants were encouraged to use reusable utensils or bring their own eco-friendly tableware, while the event fully embraced vegetarian meals, making each mindful bite a starting point for Buddhist practice. At the East gate, a large display board, catchy rhymes, and short videos on the 'Five Steps of Recycling' promoted the principle of 'borrow and return' for reusable tableware. These concrete actions turned environmental awareness from a mere ideal into a joyful, collective practice.
Grand Master Hsin Tao pointed out that the ecological crises facing the world today - earthquakes, wildfires, heat waves, torrential rains, and floods - stem from humanity's inability to recognize the innate purity of our own spirituality and to feel the interconnectedness of all life. He emphasized that the key to addressing these challenges lies in awakening our spirituality, understanding that all beings arise from the same source, and realizing a "diverse, interdependent, and mutually sustaining community of life."
Religion and Policy in Resonance: LJM as a National Role Model for Earth Stewardship
LJM’s efforts resonate closely with Taoyuan City’s sustainability policies. The city has earned the top A-level recognition from the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) for two consecutive years, making it the only municipality in Taiwan to achieve this distinction. Grand Master Hsin Tao emphasized that “spiritual awakening is not mere lip service; it requires the unity of heart and action.” This ethos was not only practiced at the Dharma Assembly but also extended into collaboration with local authorities.
Deputy Director Lan Pin-Chun of Taoyuan City Government Civil Affairs Department explained that the government guides temples and devotees to adopt environmentally friendly worship practices through four strategies: regulation, incentives, education, and certification. So far, these measures have reduced incense burning by over 26,000 sticks, decreased paper money burning by nearly 20,000 kilograms, and cut carbon emissions by approximately 30,000 kilograms. By balancing cultural reverence with environmental stewardship, Taoyuan has set a national example of “honoring the deities while protecting the Earth.”
Sending Off the Saints: Completing the Dharma Events and Passing on the Legacy of Sustainability
Following the solemn 'Sending Off the Saints' ritual on the afternoon of September 17, the 2025 LJM Water-Land, and Air Dharma Assembly drew to a successful close. Grand Master Hsin Tao remarked that the Assembly itself, in its time and space, constitutes a supreme monastery for practicing Buddhism - a guaranteed fast-track toward enlightenment. He emphasized that the Dharma Assembly offers an unparalleled path for guiding our ancestors, close kin, and all sentient beings who suffer, allowing them to enter the Pure Land and transcend the cycles of suffering.
Grand Master Hsin Tao noted that sustaining such a large-scale Water-Land Dharma Assembly for 32 consecutive years relies not only on the immense coordination of people and resources but, most importantly, on a profound compassionate vow to save sentient beings from suffering - free from any desire for fame or gain. He expressed special gratitude to the Assembly’s Pledges Sub-Committee, whose unwavering dedication ensures that those lacking merit or opportunity to attend in person can still receive the Assembly’s blessings, swiftly progressing on the path toward liberation and Buddhahood.
During the 'Sending Off the Saints' ritual, devout followers carried incense, flowers, lanterns, and banners as they circled Taoyuan Arena, led by dragon and lion dances accompanied by drums. In their hearts, they visualized ancestors across generations and sentient beings from all karmic realms boarding the ship to the Pure Land of Utmost Bliss under the guidance of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The ceremony not only manifested the power of collective vows but also stirred profound gratitude and tender-heartedness among all participants.
The recent Dharma Assembly not only offered participants a purification of the heart and liberation of the spirit, but also linked the amassed positive karmic energy in a continuous cycle, ensuring its enduring influence across space and time. Grand Master Hsin Tao concluded the Assembly with heartfelt blessings: "May wars cease, life be filled with peace, ecology harmonize, and the Earth remain safe." He also warmly invited everyone to reconvene at Taoyuan Arena from July 22 to 29, 2026, to once again seize this rare opportunity for creating merit and spreading goodwill.
Grand Master Hsin Tao, Founding Abbot of Ling Jiou Mountain, initiated this annual Water-Land, and Air Dharma Assembly as a sacred bridge for reconciling the living and the departed. In his teachings, he explained that the Assembly is not just a gathering point for the spiritual communion of all beings, but also an essential sanctuary for practicing "spiritual ecology." He emphasized that every Dharma service is dedicated to purifying the body and mind, awakening the spirit, and ultimately realizing the compassionate vow of “One World, One Heart, Shared Aspiration for Peace.”
Sprinkling to Purify and Commence the Assembly: Washing Away Worldly Dust, Nurturing Boundless Good Karma
The Assembly officially commenced at 1:00 a.m. on September 13 with the Sprinkling and Purification Ritual. In his opening teaching, Grand Master Hsin Tao explained that the Water-Land， and Air Dharma Assembly is a moment to set aside all attachments and enter into a profound encounter with the spiritual essence of heaven, earth, and all sentient beings. The sprinkling ritual, modeled after Guanyin Bodhisattva’s willow branch and pure water, sanctifies the venue and invites Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and celestial guardians to descend, ensuring the Dharma Assembly unfolds with blessings and harmony.
Grand Master Hsin Tao emphasized that the Water-Land, and Air Assembly itself embodies a vast spiritual ecology. Its purpose is to cleanse the mind, transforming defiled consciousness back to its original purity, so that our innate spirituality may shine forth and resonate with heaven, earth, and all beings. In this way, we move toward the state of “spiritual awakening in resonance with ecology.” He further encouraged participants, under the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, to cultivate reverence and sincerity, and to gradually purify the three karmas of body, speech, and mind in preparation for the upcoming Dharma practices.
Solemn Consecration: Opening the Vajra Altar to Resonate with Supreme Positive Energy
Following the purification ritual, the Assembly entered the solemn ceremony of “consecrating the Inner Altar.” Grand Master Hsin Tao explained that this consecration establishes a mandala space that is as unshakable as a diamond and as pure as it is undefiled, ensuring that the Dharma proceedings remain free from obstruction. He stressed that only when participants focus their minds with utmost sincerity, inviting the blessings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma protectors, can the three karmas be purified and the merits of the Assembly extend throughout the ten Dharma realms.
During the segment “One Heart Worldwide: Paying Tribute in Humility,” representatives from Buddhist associations in New York, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia came forward wearing their regional or traditional attire to offer local specialties. Devotees from New York, dressed in jeans, presented coffee beans as a reminder of constant self-reflection. The Indonesian delegation offered chocolate, symbolizing an eternal devotion to the Triple Gem. Thailand’s meditation center brought a miniature stupa and dried fruits, signifying that good deeds bring good results. Representatives from Singapore showcased their nation’s diverse ethnic costumes, embodying the spirit of coexistence and mutual flourishing.
These offerings and traditional garments not only expressed deep reverence for the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas but also highlighted how cultural diversity converged within the Assembly. The gesture embodied the ethos of “coexistence and mutual prosperity” and resonated with Grand Master Hsin Tao’s vision that “spirituality is ecology—sustaining the Earth with love.”
The Precept of the Nether World: Activating the Bodhisattva DNA to Achieve Life’s Reconciliation
On the evening of September 15, the Dharma Assembly welcomed its most central rite—the Precept of the Nether World. This solemn and auspicious ceremony drew devotees from both Taiwan and abroad, as well as distinguished guests including the Deputy President of Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University in Thailand, Deputy Minister of the Interior Wu Tang-An, and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-Yi. Together with local followers, they witnessed the ritual, praying for harmony between the living and the departed and for all sentient beings to be freed from suffering and attain bliss.
In his sermon on the Precept of the Nether World, Grand Master Hsin Tao delved into the profound meaning and significance of the Dharma event. He explained that the initial steps in receiving the Precept are “arousing faith, taking refuge, repenting, and generating bodhicitta.” The Grand Master further clarified that the Bodhisattva Precept originates from the very source of the Buddhas and forms the foundation of Bodhisattva practice. By taking the Precept, our contaminated karmic patterns are transformed into pure Bodhisattva “DNA.” Through this observance, we can purify our body, speech, and mind, anchoring them in virtuous conduct, ultimately realizing the nature of emptiness in an integration of compassion and wisdom, resonating with all sentient beings across the Dharma realms, and awakening a far-reaching, unwavering bodhicitta.
The Precept offered a profound opportunity for life’s reconciliation between the realms of the living and the deceased. It helped the departed move beyond suffering to attain peace, while giving the living a chance to confront impermanence and cultivate wisdom and compassion through the Dharma’s guidance. Grand Master Hsin Tao encouraged all participants to regard the Dharma Assembly as a path to liberation, visualizing family members and sentient beings from all realms receiving the pure Precept, allowing their awakened consciousness to radiate light, transcend the ocean of suffering, and ultimately realize the self-mastery of complete liberation.
From the Heart: Nine Pillars of Spiritual Ecology and Mindful Living
The LJM Water-Land, and Air Dharma Assembly impacts far beyond its ceremonial venue, where prayers are recited and mantras chanted. It extends into daily life by promoting mindful eating under the banner of an 'Awakened Lifestyle' to reduce carbon emissions. Venerable Chan Chun, Superintendent of LJM Buddhist Society, explained that this approach differs from traditional environmental efforts, which tend to emphasize policy and technology; Spiritual Ecology, in contrast, focuses on an inner awakening that nurtures harmonious equality between humans and Nature. For many years, LJM has promoted its 'Nine Pillars of an Awakened Lifestyle' — tranquility, compassion, dialogue, vegetarianism, recycling, frugality, carbon reduction, water conservation, and greening — bringing spiritual practice from the temple into everyday life and turning mindful intentions into concrete action.
The recent Dharma Assembly centered on the theme of an 'Awakened Lifestyle,' transforming compassion into tangible practice at the dining table. Participants were encouraged to use reusable utensils or bring their own eco-friendly tableware, while the event fully embraced vegetarian meals, making each mindful bite a starting point for Buddhist practice. At the East gate, a large display board, catchy rhymes, and short videos on the 'Five Steps of Recycling' promoted the principle of 'borrow and return' for reusable tableware. These concrete actions turned environmental awareness from a mere ideal into a joyful, collective practice.
Grand Master Hsin Tao pointed out that the ecological crises facing the world today - earthquakes, wildfires, heat waves, torrential rains, and floods - stem from humanity's inability to recognize the innate purity of our own spirituality and to feel the interconnectedness of all life. He emphasized that the key to addressing these challenges lies in awakening our spirituality, understanding that all beings arise from the same source, and realizing a "diverse, interdependent, and mutually sustaining community of life."
Religion and Policy in Resonance: LJM as a National Role Model for Earth Stewardship
LJM’s efforts resonate closely with Taoyuan City’s sustainability policies. The city has earned the top A-level recognition from the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) for two consecutive years, making it the only municipality in Taiwan to achieve this distinction. Grand Master Hsin Tao emphasized that “spiritual awakening is not mere lip service; it requires the unity of heart and action.” This ethos was not only practiced at the Dharma Assembly but also extended into collaboration with local authorities.
Deputy Director Lan Pin-Chun of Taoyuan City Government Civil Affairs Department explained that the government guides temples and devotees to adopt environmentally friendly worship practices through four strategies: regulation, incentives, education, and certification. So far, these measures have reduced incense burning by over 26,000 sticks, decreased paper money burning by nearly 20,000 kilograms, and cut carbon emissions by approximately 30,000 kilograms. By balancing cultural reverence with environmental stewardship, Taoyuan has set a national example of “honoring the deities while protecting the Earth.”
Sending Off the Saints: Completing the Dharma Events and Passing on the Legacy of Sustainability
Following the solemn 'Sending Off the Saints' ritual on the afternoon of September 17, the 2025 LJM Water-Land, and Air Dharma Assembly drew to a successful close. Grand Master Hsin Tao remarked that the Assembly itself, in its time and space, constitutes a supreme monastery for practicing Buddhism - a guaranteed fast-track toward enlightenment. He emphasized that the Dharma Assembly offers an unparalleled path for guiding our ancestors, close kin, and all sentient beings who suffer, allowing them to enter the Pure Land and transcend the cycles of suffering.
Grand Master Hsin Tao noted that sustaining such a large-scale Water-Land Dharma Assembly for 32 consecutive years relies not only on the immense coordination of people and resources but, most importantly, on a profound compassionate vow to save sentient beings from suffering - free from any desire for fame or gain. He expressed special gratitude to the Assembly’s Pledges Sub-Committee, whose unwavering dedication ensures that those lacking merit or opportunity to attend in person can still receive the Assembly’s blessings, swiftly progressing on the path toward liberation and Buddhahood.
During the 'Sending Off the Saints' ritual, devout followers carried incense, flowers, lanterns, and banners as they circled Taoyuan Arena, led by dragon and lion dances accompanied by drums. In their hearts, they visualized ancestors across generations and sentient beings from all karmic realms boarding the ship to the Pure Land of Utmost Bliss under the guidance of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The ceremony not only manifested the power of collective vows but also stirred profound gratitude and tender-heartedness among all participants.
The recent Dharma Assembly not only offered participants a purification of the heart and liberation of the spirit, but also linked the amassed positive karmic energy in a continuous cycle, ensuring its enduring influence across space and time. Grand Master Hsin Tao concluded the Assembly with heartfelt blessings: "May wars cease, life be filled with peace, ecology harmonize, and the Earth remain safe." He also warmly invited everyone to reconvene at Taoyuan Arena from July 22 to 29, 2026, to once again seize this rare opportunity for creating merit and spreading goodwill.