On November 16, 2015, which is the Birthday of Patriarch Bodhidharma on the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, Shaolin Temple held its annual ceremony of "Chan Session" in winter. The "Chan Session" includes seven phases which takes every seven days as a phase and it lasts for forty-nine days. Futhermore, 136 masters, 123 Buddhist monks and 13 novice monks attended this "Chan Session". Master Shaoyun, Master Xiuyuan, Master Benru and Master Yaorong served as the Chief monk of this ceremony, Master Longzhong, Master Yandian, Master Tianyuan, Master Puming, Master Renjue, Master Xufa, Master Yanli and Master Yandian served as the executive monks in the "Chan Session".
The attendees ask for a leave of life and death.
At five o'clock that afternoon, the Buddhist monks who attended this ceremony went to the Hall of Abbot asking for a leave of life and death (a routine of "Chan Session") after the ancestor-worship ceremony and begged for the instruction given by Ven.Abbot Yongxin.
Ven.Abbot Yongxin said:"There are many Buddhist monks attended this year's "Chan Session" which including the returning cultivators, newcomers as well as the overseas disciples. At the same time, all of the Shaolin monks will try their best to provide a better service for the attendees in the ceremony. I believe that this "Chan Session" will surely be a great success!" All the attendees were so happy to hear the warm words from Ven.Abbot Yongxin, and they all vowed to practice more harder.
So far, the Opening Ceremony of 2015 "Chan Session" Held Successfully.