Repentance ritual in East Asian Buddhism

Repentance is a central concept in Buddhism. What does it consist of? Is it merely a confession? Or does it encompass broader embodied practices? Does this function only as an individual practice or a collective ritual in both monastic and lay traditions? 

Both historical and contemporary materials suggest that it serves diverse functions: healing, prayers for prosperity, and the prevention of calamities. In Mahayana traditions, these practises developed into elaborate ceremonies that reflect shared concerns across monastic and lay communities throughout East Asia. Some scholarship has examined historical repentance in relation to Buddhist precepts or ordination, yet its role in monastic and lay settings has received little attention. 

This workshop brings together scholars and practitioners to explore the performance of repentance in East Asian Buddhism. By centring ritual enactment, it aims to discuss how the concept of repentance is embodied and transformed across different social settings and historical periods. Through comparative discussion, the workshop reconsiders our understanding of repentance as both purification and a means of generating worldly benefits, while fostering cross-regional dialogue on Mahayana traditions. The roundtable includes both historical perspectives and contemporary case studies from practitioners' viewpoints. 

This event is free and open to everyone. Refreshments will be offered in a tea/coffee break. The audience will be warmly encouraged to ask questions to the speakers and to propose their views on the subject. 

Sponser and organiser

The Buddhist Inside Out series is kindly sponsored by the Khyentse Foundation. It has been organised by the SOAS Centre of Buddhist Studies.