Scripture Reciting Choir

｜Photo: Fude Temple on Dianzai Street｜

Sometimes there are people wearing Haiqing and reciting Buddhist scripture uniformly, praying for blessing for the public. Most large temples in Taiwan have their own scripture reciting choir, and they recite scriptures regularly. The scripture reciting choir at Fude Temple on Dianzai Street is consisted of more than ten volunteers. They came at the calling by the temple to form a scripture reciting choir, and most members come from Yonghe and Zhonghe Districts. We interviewed members of the choir to learn more about their work at the temple. They also gave us some suggestions as how to recite the scriptures correctly.

Scripture Reciting Time

Besides reciting scriptures on special occasions, the temple also hosts monthly reciting sessions to seek blessing for the public.

Scripture Reciting

｜Photo: Fude Temple on Dianzai Street｜

The second and sixteenth day of each month of the lunar calendar are the days when stores and shops pray for their businesses to prosper. On those two days, the temple’s scripture reciting choir holds a half-day reciting session to seek blessing for about thirty thousand worshippers who have lit a perpetual light at the temple.

Eliminate Misfortune Reciting

On the nineteenth day of each month of the lunar calendar, the temple holds half-day reciting sessions for worshippers who have a perpetual light at the Medicine Buddha hall. The temple also sends written proclamation to heaven seeking blessing for worshippers.

Lighting Ceremony

｜Photo: Fude Temple on Dianzai Street｜

The fifteenth day of January of the lunar calendar is the busiest day of the year for the scripture reciting choir. On this day, the choir recites the names and addresses of individuals who have lit a perpetual light at the temple. Members of the choir are then divided into groups to complete the traditional ceremony before turning the lights on.

Earth God’s Birthday

Earth God’s birthday is on the second day of February of the lunar calendar. On this special day, the scripture reciting choir assembles to recite for Earth God for an entire day.

Moon Light Buddha’s Birthday

｜Photo: Fude Temple on Dianzai Street｜

The fifteenth day of August of the lunar calendar is both Moon Festival and Moon Light Buddha’s birthday. On this day, the scripture reciting choir assembles to recite for Moon Light Buddha for an entire day.

Diminishing Lights Ceremony

The sixteenth day of December of the lunar calendar is also known as Weiya. On this day, the scripture reciting choir recites for the entire day to signify the safe completion of the year. After the reciting is complete, the perpetual lights would be turned off.

Suggestions on Reciting Scriptures

｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

Senior Scripture Reciting Teacher Ms. Chen Chunman

Ms. Chen has about forty years of experience reciting scriptures. She started at the age of thirteen due to a special calling from Buddha. She recommended us to calm our minds when reciting scriptures and listen to Buddhist songs to eliminate negative thoughts. The purpose of reciting scripture is to read and understand the words of Buddha, and it is only those who are dedicated would benefit from reciting the scripture.

Scripture Reciting Choir Senior Member Ms. Liu Shuying

｜Photo: The Wondrous Temple Expedition｜

Ms. Liu has been a member of the scripture reciting choir at Fude Temple on Dianzai Street for eighteen years. She was fascinated by stories related to Buddha when she was little, and she also felt she received a special calling from Buddha. So the moment she learned the temple was recruiting for a scripture reciting choir, she signed up immediately. She believes that the scripture reciting choir is doing its job to encourage people to do nice deeds and say nice things. She suggests that we should always maintain a sense of decency so no evil spirits would come in our way.

Afterthoughts

We interviewed the scripture reciting choir at Fude Temple on Dianzai Street. It was my first time being with a scripture reciting choir of about thirty people, and it was quite a sight! Commissioner Chen of the temple added that the choir once had as many as sixty members! The leader of the choir started learning Buddhism at the age of thirteen. She must have a profound understanding in Buddhism and Taoism. Another member said she will continue learning for as long as she lives!

I heard the sound of people reciting scriptures the moment we arrived at the temple. We interviewed the leader and a senior member of the choir and found out that they have had more than twenty years of experience with scripture reciting. They must be passionate about Buddhism! They taught us a lot about reciting the scripture. At first, scripture reciting sounds like humming, but after the interview, we learned that reciting scripture has a lot of hidden benefits!

Source Text: The Wondrous Temple Expedition, Interview with Scripture Reciting Choir │
Photos: The Wondrous Temple Expedition