Guocheng Temple

Guocheng Temple

Guocheng Temple (formerly known as Guocheng Hermitage) — Established in 1991, it was painstakingly founded by the Venerable Master Guocheng and his family to promote Buddhism and deliver all beings. It is a dedicated practice site for Pure Land Buddhism, focusing solely on chanting the Buddha’s name and reciting scriptures. The monastics strictly observe precepts and uphold reverence, maintaining pure and compassionate conduct with the mission of liberating both the living and the deceased, saving beings from suffering as their purpose, doing their utmost to fulfill it.

The Venerable Master Guocheng comes from several generations of monastics. Venerable Master Yantian has continued the master’s Dharma work, courageously taking on the vital mission of delivering beings and assisting them in their final moments to transition peacefully, thus continuing the Buddha’s wisdom. Under the leadership of Master Guocheng, several generations have vigorously promoted Buddhism, benefiting the nation and the people, bringing welfare to society, and earning high praise from the government and the public. Their compassion has inspired many devotees to come and learn the Dharma and cultivate the path, leading others to shave their heads and ordain with sincere hearts to cultivate and benefit beings. There are now over twenty monastics residing at the temple.

Over the past decade, under the guidance of Master Guocheng and Master Yantian, the monastics of Guocheng Temple have acted in accordance with the great compassion and vows of Amitabha Buddha, walking the same path with a unified heart. They have assisted countless dying practitioners in their transition to the Pure Land, having helped over a hundred individuals pass on to the Western Pure Land. Among those who have passed are people as old as 105 years and as young as 57-day-old infants. At the moment when the karmic retributions of each dying person manifest, Masters Guocheng and Yantian immediately offer patient teachings, explaining the impermanence of life, the terror of samsara, and the peace of being reborn in the Pure Land, free from the cycle of suffering. This allows each person, in their final moments, to feel the compassionate embrace of Amitabha Buddha, dissolving fear and pain, and to pass away with a smile into the jeweled lotus pond, attaining a peaceful rebirth (with most bodies remaining soft after death, faces serene, and many aware of their time of passing), thus achieving liberation.

Moreover, regardless of whether the families of the deceased were previously Buddhist or even critics of Buddhism, they are deeply moved by the inconceivable power of the Dharma after the passing and are transformed, beginning to believe in and chant the name of the Buddha. At Guocheng Temple, regardless of wealth, status, or background, as long as one has a sincere aspiration and wholeheartedly seeks rebirth in the West, the entire monastic community will sincerely assist until the moment of passing and entry into the lotus womb. The Venerable Master Guocheng’s deep sincerity moved Amitabha Buddha himself, who bestowed the recognition: “Guocheng Hermitage — Amitabha Buddha’s Receiving Station.”

Today, the practice of assisting and guiding the dying to rebirth at Guocheng Temple has spread across the country. Through the temple’s efforts, not only has Buddhism developed nationwide — especially the Pure Land chanting practice and deathbed care and guidance — but the dedication of monastics and lay practitioners has also been inspired, along with the growth of similar practices at other practice sites. This has increased the faith of many practitioners in the Western Pure Land. In addition to these practices, Guocheng Temple also holds regular scripture recitation sessions every Saturday for the “Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva Pūrvapraṇidhāna Sūtra” and the “Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra” (or the “Amitabha Sutra”).

The temple has revitalized the Kṣitigarbha path of liberating both the living and the deceased, truly benefiting sentient beings and aligning with the capacities of those in this Dharma-ending age. During the ceremonies, many lay practitioners from across the country who participate report immense benefits, receiving the blessings of the Dharma, clearing karmic obstacles, healing physical illnesses and mental suffering that had persisted for years or even decades, liberating countless beings, and bringing peace and happiness to numerous families.

Guocheng Temple also actively promotes the Dharma, widely prints scriptures, and regularly holds events such as Seven-Day Chanting Retreats, life release, and disaster relief and poverty alleviation activities. It prays for world peace, social stability, and the happiness of the people. The temple hopes that many kind-hearted devotees will support its mission. Many virtuous lay practitioners and dedicated cultivators from various regions have visited Guocheng Temple, feeling a warm, home-like atmosphere. As a result, life release and guiding the dying to rebirth practices have emerged in many areas, fulfilling the wishes of the temple’s masters. May everyone develop a vast, compassionate mind to help all beings attain Buddhahood. All of this is made possible through the compassionate power of Amitabha Buddha, helping beings be free from suffering and bringing joy to all Buddhas. Furthermore, Masters Guocheng and Yantian have made a great vow: Guocheng Temple will perform transference rituals for every practitioner who attains rebirth here, as well as for their past-life relatives, karmic creditors, and those with whom they have karmic debts from killing, to assist them in being reborn in the Pure Land and attaining higher lotus rebirths.

Due to the limited space at the original temple site, which made assisting the dying and guiding rebirth less convenient, Venerable Master Yantian, in order to ensure reliable support for end-of-life care and rebirth guidance, resolved to build a Rebirth Guidance Hall, a Chanting Hall, establish a retirement home, and create a distinctive Pure Land Buddhist academy. After more than three years of effort, they finally obtained the support of leaders at all levels in Daqing City and assistance from various sources.

In late 2002, approval was granted to rebuild Amitabha’s Receiving Station within the Urban Forest. The rebuilt Guocheng Temple will steadfastly uphold the true Dharma, dedicating itself wholeheartedly and tirelessly to all beings. It will also better benefit countless beings, guide more souls to the Pure Land, and provide a warmer, more peaceful environment for practitioners from across the country — a place even more comforting than home — enabling them to attain true liberation. Additionally, it offers a pure place for cultivation for devoted laypeople and monastics, benefiting society, purifying the human mind, and supporting practitioners from all directions to cultivate diligently together and journey to the West.

Guocheng Temple not only strives to promote the Dharma and glorify the Buddha’s teachings, but also actively embodies the spirit of patriotism and love for the Dharma. For over a decade, the temple has released nearly several hundred thousand lives through life release activities, liberating countless beings. To promote national peace and stability and preserve the natural ecological environment, it has made significant contributions. During the flood relief efforts in August 1998, Masters Guocheng and Yantian led groups on multiple occasions, delivering over two hundred thousand yuan worth of flood relief supplies, fruits, clothing, Amitabha Buddha pins, scriptures, and Buddha statues to the front lines. They personally handed the relief materials to the soldiers and pinned the Buddha pins onto the troops, deeply moving them. They also chanted the Buddha’s name with the practitioners, after which the soldiers returned to the battle against the floods.