Sutras, Gathas and Additional Texts

Sutras and Gathas

Customary Refrain

All Buddhas throughout space and time
All Bodhisattva Mahasattvas
Maha Prajna Paramita

The Four Great Vows

Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them.
Desires are inexhaustible, I vow to put an end to them.
The Dharmas are boundless, I vow to master them.
The Buddha Way is unattainable, I vow to attain it.

Japanese (SHI-KU SEI-GAN MON)

SHU-JO MU-HEN SEI-GAN DO
BON-NO MU-JIN SEDI-GAN DAN
HO-MON MU-RYO SEI-GAN GAKU
BUTSU-DO MU-JO SEI-GAN JO

Verse of the Kesa

Vast is the robe of liberation.
A formless field of benefaction.
I wear the Tathagata teaching,
Saving all sentient beings.

Japanese

DAI SAI GEDAP-PUKU
MUSO FUKU DEN E
HI BU NYORAI KYO
KO DO SHOSHU JO

Gatha on Opening the Sutra

The Dharma, incomparably profound and infinitely subtle,
Is rarely encountered, even in millions of ages.
Now we see it, hear it, receive and maintain it.
May we completely realize the Tathagata’s true meaning.

Verse of Atonement

All evil karma ever committed by me since of old,
On account of my beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,
Born of my body, mouth and thought,
Now I atone for it all.

Meal Gatha

(Gassho)

ALL:
Buddha was born at Kapilavastu
Enlightened at Magadah
Taught at Paranasi
Entered Nirvana at Kusinagara
Now I open Buddha Tathagatha’s eating bowls
May we be relieved from self-clinging
With all sentient beings.

INO:
In the midst of the three treasures with all sentient beings, let us recite the names of Buddha:

ALL:
Pure Dharmakaya Vairochana Buddha
Complete Sambhogakaya Vairochana Buddha
Numerous Nirmanakaya Shakyamuni Buddhas
Future Maitreya Buddha
All Buddhas throughout space and time

Mahayana Saddharma Pundarika Sutra

Great Manjusri Bodhisattva
Mahayana
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
Great compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
All Bodhisattva Mahasattvas
Maha Prajna Paramita

(Breakfast)

INO:
This food comes from the efforts of all sentient beings, past and present, and its ten advantages give us physical and spiritual well-being and promote pure practice.

(Lunch)

INO:
We offer this meal of three virtues and six tastes to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, and to the life of the Dharma worlds.

(Gassho)

ALL:
First, seventy-two labors brought us this food.

(Bow in shashu)

We should know how it comes to us

(Zazen mudra)

Second, as we receive this offering, we should consider whether our virtue and practice deserve it.
Third, as we desire the natural order of mind, to be free from clinging, we must be free from greed.
Fourth, to support our life we take this food.
Fifth, to attain our Way we take this food.

(Lunch only)

(Bow, make food offering) All those of the spiritual worlds, now I give you this offering. This food will pervade everywhere.
(Gassho) First, this food is for the three treasures.
(Bow, put spoon in 1st bowl, sticks on 2nd Second) It is for our teachers, parents, nation, and all sentient beings.
Third, it is for all beings in the six worlds.
(Bow, hold Buddha Bowl above eye level) Thus we eat this food with everyone.
We eat to stop all suffering, to practice good, to save all sentient beings, and to accomplish our Buddha Way.
(Begin eating.)

(When leader finishes first bowl, offering and condiments are collected. When leader puts down spatula, water is served. When leader gasshos, water is collected. Ino starts:)

(Gassho)

ALL:
The water with which I wash these bowls tastes like ambrosia;
I offer it to the various spirits to satisfy them.
Om, Makurasai Svaha!

(Gassho)

INO:
May we exist in muddy water with purity like a lotus.
Thus we bow to Buddha.

Maha Prajña Paramita Heart Sutra

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, doing deep Prajña Paramita,
Clearly saw emptiness of all the five conditions
Thus completely relieving misfortune and pain.
Oh Shariputra, form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness no other than form;
Form is exactly emptiness, emptiness exactly form.
Sensation, conception, discrimination, awareness are likewise like this.
Oh Shariputra, all Dharmas are forms of emptiness:
Not born, not destroyed; not stained, not pure, without loss, without gain.
So in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, conception, discrimination, awareness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, phenomena.
No realm of sight, no realm of consciousness; no ignorance and no end to ignorance,
No old age and death, no end to old age and death,
No suffering , no cause of suffering, no extinguishing,
no path, no wisdom and no gain.
No gain and thus the Bodhisattva lives Prajña Paramita,
With no hindrance in the mind.
No hindrance, therefore no fear.
Far beyond deluded thoughts, this is Nirvana.
All past, present, and future Buddhas live Prajña Paramita.
And therefore attain Añutara-Samyak-Sambodhi.
Therefore know Prajña Paramita is the great mantra,
The vivid mantra, the best mantra, the unsurpassable mantra.
It completely clears all pain.
This is the truth not a lie.
So set forth the Prajña Paramita mantra,
Set forth this mantra and say:
Gate Gate Paragate! Parasamgate! Bodhi Svaha! Prajna Heart Sutra!

Maka Hannya Haramita Shin Gyo

Kan Ji Zai Bo Sa Gyo Jin Han Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ji Sho Ken Go On Kai Ku Do I Sai Ku Yaku Sha Ri Shi Shiki Fu I Ku Ku Fu I Shiki Shiki Soku Ze Ku Ku Soku Ze Shiki Ju So Gyo Shiki Yaku Bu Nyo Ze Sha Ri Shi Ze Sho Ho Ku So Fu Sho Fu Metsu Fu Ku Fu Jo Fu Zo Fu Gen Ze Ko Ku Chu Mu Shiki Mu Ju So Gyo Shiki Mu Gen Ni Bi Ze Shin Ni Mu Shiki Sho Ko Mi Soku Ho Mu Gen Kai Nai Shi Mu I Shiki Kai Mu Mu Myo Yaku Mu Mu Myo Jin Nai Shi Mu Ro Shi Yaku Mu Ro Shi Jin Mu Ku Shu Metsu Do Mu Chi Yaku Mu Toku I Mu Sho Tok’ko Bo Dai Sat Ta E Han-Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ko Shin Mu Kei Ge Mu Kei Ge Ko Mu U Ku Fu On Ri Is-Sai Ten Do Mu So Ku Gyo Ne Han San Ze Sho Butsu E Han Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ko Toku A Noku Ta Ra San Myaku San Bo Dai Ko Chi Han-Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Ze Dai Jin Shu Ze Dai Myo Shu Ze Mu Jo Shu Ze Mu To To Shu No Jo Is sai Ku Shin Jitsu Fu Ko Ko Setsu Han Nya Ha Ra Mi Ta Shu Soku Setsu Shu Watsu Gya Tei Gya Tei Ha Ra Gya Tei Hara So Gya Tei Bo Ji Sowa Ka Han Nya Shin Gyo

 

Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani

(Auspicious Dharani For Averting Calamity)

No Mo San Man Da Moto Nan Oha Ra Chi Koto Sha Sono Nan To Ji To En Gya Gya Gya Ki Gya Ki Un Nun Shiu Ra Shiu Ra Hara Shiu Ra Hara Shiu Ra Chishu Sa Chishu Sa Chishu Ri Chishu Ri Sowa Ja Sowa Ja Sen Chi Gya Shiri E Somo Ko

En Mei Jukku Kannon Gyo

(Ten Phrase Kannon Sutra)

(Chant 3 Times)
Kan Ze On
Na Mu Butsu
Yo Butsu U In
Yo Butsu U En
Bup Po So En
Jo Raku Ga Jo Cho Nen
Kan Ze On Bo Nen
Kan Ze On Nen Nen
Ju Shin Ki Nen Nen
Fu Ri Shin

(Chant 4 times)
Kanzeon!
At one with Buddha
Directly Buddha
Also indirectly Buddha
And indirectly Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
Joyful pure eternal being!
Morning mind is Kanzeon.
Evening mind is Kanzeon.
Nen, nen arises from Mind
Nen, Nen is not separate from Mind.

Song of the Jewel Mirror Awareness

The Dharma of thusness
is intimately conveyed by Buddhas and Ancestors.
Now you have it,
keep it well.
Filling a silver bowl with snow,
hiding a heron in the moonlight.
When you array them, they’re not the same;
When you mix them, you know where they are.
The meaning is not in the words,
yet it responds to the inquiring impulse.
If you’re excited, it becomes a pitfall.
If you miss it, you fall into retrospective hesitation.
Turning away and touching are both wrong
for it is like a mass of fire.
Just to depict it in literary form
is to relegate it to defilement.
It is bright just at midnight;
it doesn’t appear at dawn.
It acts as a guide for beings.
its use removes all pains.
Although it is not fabricated,
it is not without speech.
It is like facing a jewel mirror.
Form and image behold each other–
You are not it,
it is actually you.
It is like a babe in the world,
in five aspects complete;
It does not come or go,
nor rise nor stand.
“Baba wawa”–
is there anything said or not?
Ultimately it does not apprehend anything,
because its speech is not yet correct.
It is like the six lines of the double split hexagram;
The relative and absolute integrate–
Piled up, they make three;
the complete transformation makes five.
It is like the taste of the five-flavored herb,
like the diamond thunderbolt.
Subtly included within the true,
inquiry and response come up together.
Communing with the source and communing with the process,
It includes integration and includes the road;
Merging is auspicious;
do not violate it.
Naturally real yet inconceivable,
It is not within the province of delusion or enlightenment.
With causal conditions, time and season,
quiescently it shines bright.
In its fineness, it fits into spacelessness;
In its greatness, it is utterly beyond location.
A hairsbreadth’s deviation
will fail to accord with the proper attunement.
Now there are sudden and gradual,
in connection with which are set up basic approaches.
Once basic approaches are distinguished,
then there are guiding rules.
But even though the basis is reached and the approach comprehended,
True eternity still flows.
Outwardly still while inwardly moving,
Like a tethered colt, a trapped rat–
The ancient saints pitied them,
and bestowed upon them the teaching;
According to their delusions,
they called black as white–
When erroneous imaginations cease,
the acquiescent mind realizes itself.
If you want to conform to the ancient way,
please observe the ancients of former times;
When about to fulfill the way of Buddhahood,
one gazed at a tree for ten aeons.
Like a tiger leaving part of its prey,
a horse with a white left hind leg.
Because there is the base,
[There are] jewel pedestals, fine clothing;
Because there is the startlingly different,
[There are] house, cat and cow.
Yi with his archer’s skill,
Could hit a target at a hundred paces.
But when arrowpoints meet head on,
What has this to do with the power of skill?
When the wooden man begins to sing,
The stone woman gets up to dance;
It’s not within reach of feeling or discrimination
How could it admit of consideration in thought ?
A minister serves the lord,
a son obeys the father.
Not obeying is not filial
and not serving is no help.
Practice intimately, working within,
As though a fool, like an idiot;
If you can achieve continuity,
This is called the host within the host.

Matriarchs’ Lineage

Prajña Paramita Honored One
Maha Maya Honored One
Ratnavati Honored One
Shrimala Honored One
Naga Deva Honored One
Prabhuta Honored One
Vasumitra Honored One
Mahapajapati Honored One
Khema Honored One
Patacara Honored One
Uttama Honored One
Bhadda Kundalakesa Honored One
Khujjutara Honored One
Addhakasi Honored One
Ubbiri Honored One
Sumana Honored One
Kisagotami Honored One
Yasodhara Honored One
Soma Honored One
Dhamma Honored One
Uppalavanna Honored One
Bhadda Kapilani Honored One
Punnika Honored One
Dhammadina Honored One
Subha Honored One
Sanghamitta Honored One
Prajñatara Honored One

Jingjian Honored One (Jing-jyen)
Zongchi Honored One (Dzong-chih)
Shiji Honored One (Sher-jee)
Ling Xingpo Honored One (Ling Shing-po)
Laywoman Pang Honored One (Laywoman Pang)
Lingzhao Honored One (Ling-jow)
Wutai Honored One (Woo-tie)
Liu Tiemo Honored One (Lyoo Tee-eh-mo)
Rice Cake Woman Honored One
Moshan Liaoran Honored One (Moh-shahn Lee-ow-ran)
Miaoxin Honored One (Mee-ow-shin)
Kongshi Daoren Honored One (Kong-sher Dow-ren)
Yu Daopo Honored One (Yoo Dow-po)
Miaodao Honored One (Mee-ow-dow)
Huiguang Honored One (Hway-gwong)
Huiwen Honored One (Hway-wen)
Fadeng Honored One (Fah-dung)
Miaozong Honored One (Mee-ow-dzong)
Wenzhao Honored One (Wen-jow)
Miaohui Honored One (Mee-ow-hway)
Zhiyuan Xinggang Honored One (Jer-yoo-ahn Shing-gahng)
Jizong Xingche Honored One (Jee-dzong Shing-chuh)
Jifu Zukui Honored One (Jee-foo Dzoo-kway)
Shenyi Honored One (Shen-ee)

Zenshin Honored One
Kōmyō Honored One
Tachinbana no Kachiko Honored One
Seishi Honored One
Ryōnen Honored One
Egi Honored One
Mugai Nyodai Honored One
Ekan Honored One
Kakuzan Shidō Honored One
Kontō Ekyū Honored One
Mokufu Sonin Honored One
Sōitsu Honored One
Shōtaku Honored One
Eshun Honored One
Yodo Honored One
Yōshihime Honored One
Soshin Honored One
Tenshū Honored One
Daitsu Bunchi Honored One
Ryonen Genso Honored One
Tachibana no Someko Honored One
Satsu Honored One
Ohashi Honored One
Teijitsu Honored One
Otagaki Rengetsu Honored One
Tenmyō Jōrin Honored One
Hori Mitsujō Honored One
Nakasawa Sozen Honored One
Satomi Myōdō Honored One
Kojima Kendō Honored One
Kojima Kendō Honored One
Yoshida Eshun Honored One
Kasai Joshin Honored One
Ruth Eryu Sasaki Honored One
Maurine Myo-on Stuart Honored One
Houn Jiyu Kennett Honored One
Toni Packer Honored One
Darlene Kenpo Cohen Honored One

The Identity of Relative and Absolute

The mind of the Great Sage of India was intimately conveyed from West to East.
Among human beings are wise ones and fools
But in the Way there is no northern and southern Ancestor.
The subtle source is clear and bright; the tributary streams flow through the darkness.
To be attached to things is illusion; to encounter the absolute is not yet enlightenment.
Each and all the subjective and objective spheres are related, and at the same time independent.
Related and yet working differently.
Though each keeps its own place, form makes the character and appearance different.
Sounds distinguish comfort and discomfort.
The dark makes all words one; the brightness distinguishes good and bad phrases.
The four elements return to their own nature as a child to its mother.
Fire is hot, wind moves, water is wet, earth hard.
Eyes see, ears hear, nose smells, tongue tastes the salt and sour.
Each is independent of the other.
Cause and effect must return to the great reality
Like leaves that come from the same root.
The words high and low are used relatively.
Within light there is darkness, but do not try to understand that darkness.
Within darkness there is light, but do not look for that light
Light and darkness are a pair like the foot before and the foot behind in walking.
Each thing has its own intrinsic value
and is related to everything else in function and position.
Ordinary life fits the absolute as a box and its lid.
The absolute works together with the relative like two arrows meeting in mid air.
Reading words you should grasp the great reality.
Do not judge by any standards.
If you do not see the Way,
You do not see it even as you walk on it.
When you walk the Way it is not near, it is not far.
If you are deluded, you are mountains
and rivers away from it.
I respectfully say to those who wish to be enlightened
Do not waste your time by night or day!

Zen Center of Los Angeles Translation

Patriarchs’ Lineage

1. Vipasyn Buddha Honored One
2. Shikhn Buddha Honored One
3. Visvashu Buddha Honored One
4. Krakucchanda Buddha Honored One
5. Kanakamuni Buddha Honored One
6. Kasyapa Buddha Honored One
7. Shakyamuni Buddha Honored One
8. Mahakashyapa Honored One
9. Ananda Honored One
10. Shanavasa Honored One
11. Upagupta Honored One
12. Dhritaka Honored One
13. Micchaka Honored One
14. Vasumitra Honored One
15. Buddhanandi Honored One
16. Buddhamitra Honored One
17. Parshva Honored One
18. Punyayashas Honored One
19. Ashvaghosa Honored One
20. Kapimala Honored One
21. Nagarjuna Honored One
22. Aryadeva Honored One
23. Rahulata Honored One
24. Sanghanandi Honored One
25. Gayashata Honored One
26. Kumarata Honored One
27. Jayata Honored One
28. Vasubandhu Honored One
29. Manorhita Honored One
30. Haklenayashas Honored One
31. Aryasimha Honored One
32. Basiasita Honored One
33. Punyamitra Honored One
34. Prajnatara Honored One
35. Bodhidharma Honored One

36. Dazu Huike Honored One (Da-dzu Hway-kuh)
37. Jianzhi Sengcan Honored One (Jien-jer Sung-tsan)
38. Dayi Daoxin Honored One (Da-ee Dow-shin)
39. Daman Hongren Honored One (Da-man Hong-run)
40. Dajian Huineng Honored One (Da-jien Hway-nung)
41. Qingyuan Xingsi Honored One (Ching-yuu-en Shing-suh)
42. Shitou Xiqian Honored One (Sher-tow Shi-chi-en)
43. Yaoshan Weiyan Honored One (Yow-shan Way-yen)
44. Yunyan Tansheng Honored One (Yun-yaan Taan-shung)
45. Dongshan Liangjie Honored One (Dung-shan Li-ang-ji-eh)
46. Yunju Daoying Honored One (Yun-juu Dow-ying)
47. Tongan Daopi Honored One (Tung-aan Dow-pee)
48. Tongan Guanzhi Honored One (Tung-aan Guan-jer)
49. Liangshan Yuanguan Honored One (Li-ang-shan Yuu-en-guan)
50. Dayang Jingxuan Honored One (Da-yang Jing-shu-an)
51. Touzi Yiqing Honored One (To-dzuh I-ching)
52. Furong Daokai Honored One (Fu-rung Dow-kai)
53. Danxia Zichun Honored One (Dan-shia Dzuh-chuhn)
54. Zhenxie Qingliao Honored One (Jun-shi-eh Ching-li-ow)
55. Tiantong Zongjue Honored One (Tien-tung Dzong-jueh)
56. Xuedou Zhijian Honored One (Shueh-doe Jer-jien)
57. Tiantong Rujing Honored One (Tien-tung Ruu-jing)

58. Eihei Dogen Honored One
59. Koun Ejo Honored One
60. Tetsu Gikai Honored One
61. Keizan Jokin Honored One
62. Gasan Joseki Honored One
63. Taigen Soshin Honored One
64. Baizan Monpon Honored One
65. Nyochu Tengin Honored One
66. Kisan Shosan Honored One
67. Morin Shihan Honored One
68. Shoshi Sotai Honored One
69. Kenchu Hantetsu Honored One
70. Daiju Soko Honored One
71. Kinpo Jusen Honored One
72. Kajin Sochin Honored One
73. Tetsuei Seiton Honored One
74. Shukoku Choton Honored One
75. Ketsuzan Tetsuei Honored One
76. Hoshi Soon Honored One
77. Goho Kainon Honored One
78. Tenkei Denson Honored One
79. Shozan Monko Honored One
80. Niken Sekiryo Honored One
81. Reitan Roryu Honored One
82. Kakujo Tosai Honored One
83. Kakuan Ryogu Honored One
84. Ryoka Daibai Honored One
85. Ungan Guhaku Honored One
86. Baian Hakujun Honored One
87. Taizan Maezumi Honored One
88. Bernie Tetsugen Glassman Honored One

Daihishin Dharani

Namu Kara Tan No Tora Ya Ya Namu Ori Ya Boryo Ki Chi Shiu Ra Ya Fuji Sato Bo Ya Moko Sato Bo Ya Mo Ko Kya Runi Kya Ya En Sa Hara Ha Ei Shu Tan No Ton Sha Namu Shiki Ri Toi Mo Ori Ya Boryo Ki Chi Shiu Ra Ri To Bo Na Mu No Ra Kin Ji Ki Ri Mo Ko Ho Do Sha Mi Sa Bo O To Jo Shu Ben O Shu In Sa Bo Sa To No Mo Bo Gya Mo Ha De Cho To Ji To En O Bo Ryo Ki Ryo Gya Chi Kya Rya Chi I Kiri Mo Ko Fuji Sa To Sa Bo Sa Bo Mo Ra Mo Ra Mo Ki Mo Ki Ri To In Ku Ryo Ku Ryo Ke Mo To Ryo To Ryo Ho Ja Ya Chi Mo Ko Ho Ja Ya Chi To Ra To Ra Chiri Ni Shiu Ra Ya Sha Ro Sha Ro Mo Mo Ha Mo Ra Ho Chi Ri I Ki I Ki Shi No Shi No Ora San Fura Sha Ri Ha Za Ha Za Fura Sha Ya Ku Ryo Ku Ryo Mo Ra Ku Ryo Ku Ryo Ki Ri Sha Ro Sha Ro Shi Ri Shi Ri Su Ryo Su Ryo Fuji Ya Fuji Ya Fudo Ya Fudo Ya Mi Chiri Ya Nora Kin Ji Chiri Shuni No Hoya Mono Somo Ko Shido Ya Somo Ko Moko Shido Ya Somo Ko Shido Yu Ki Shiu Ra Ya Somo Ko Nora Kin Ji Somo Ko Mo Ra No Ra Somo Ko Shira Su Omo Gya Ya Somo Ko Sobo Moko Shido Ya Somo Ko Shaki Ra Oshi Do Ya Somo Ko Hodo Mogya Shido Ya Somo Ko Nora Kin Ji Ha Gyara Ya Somo Ko Mo Hori Shin Gyara Ya Somo Ko Namu Kara Tan No Tora Ya Ya Namu Ori Ya Boryo Ki Chi Shiu Ra Ya Somo Ko Shite Do Modo Ra Hodo Ya So Mo Ko.

New Years and Jizo Dharanis

New Year’s Dharani

(Chant 21 times)
Namu To Nen Jo Hon Myo Ganshin

Jizo Shingon Dharani

(Chant 21 times)
Om Ka Ka Kabi San Ma E Sowa Ka

 

Nenju

Pure Dharmakaya Vairochana Buddha
Complete Sambogakaya Vairochana Buddha
Numerous Nirmanakaya Shakyamuni Buddhas
Future Maitreya Buddha
All Buddhas throughout space and time
Mahayana Saddharma Pundarika Sutra
Great Manjusri Bodhisattva
Mahayana Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
Great Compassionate Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva
All Bodhisattva Mahasattvas
Maha Prajna Paramita

Kan Ro Mon (Gate of Sweet Nectar)

Invocation for the Manifestation of the Ten Buddhas
(Everyone in Gassho)
Buddham Saranam Gacchami
Dhammam Saranam Gacchami
Sangham Sarranam Gacchami
Buddham Saranam Gacchami
Dhammam Saranam Gacchami
Sangham Saranam Gacchami
Being One with the Buddhas in the Ten Directions
Being One with the Dharma in the Ten Directions
Being One with the Sangha in the Ten Directions
Being One with all the Formless Forms throughout space and time
Being One with the great Manjusri Bodhisattva
Being One with the great compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
Being One with our original teacher, ShakyamuniBuddha
Being One with our lineage from Mahakasyapa Sonja
Being One with the Mahayana Saddharma Pundarika Sutra
Being One with Maha Prajña Paramita
Supplication for the Raising of the Bodhi Mind Vow to Feed the Hungry Spirits
∆ (Officiant bows at altar) Attention!
∆ (halfway to haishiki) Attention!
∆ Raising the Bodhi Mind, the supreme meal is offered to all the hungry spirits throughout space and time, filling the smallest particle to the largest space.
All you hungry spirits in the ten directions, please gather here. Sharing your distress, I offer you this food, hoping it will resolve your thirsts and hungers.
Prayer of Food Sharing (Sung)
I pray that all who receive this offering will return its merits to all Buddhas and to all creations through-out space and time: in this way they will be thoroughly satisfied.
Prayer of Raising the Bodhi Mind (Spoken)
I further pray that in receiving this meal all your sufferings will be eliminated, and that you will be liberated, so that being joyously reborn you will play freely in the fields of the Pure Land. Raising the Bodhi Mind and practicing the Enlightened Way, you become the future Buddhas without any further regress. Those who realize the way first, please vow to liberate all others throughout all space and time.
Prayer for Fulfilling these Vows (Sung)
I further beseech you to sustain me day and night
and give me courage to fulfill my vows.
Prayer for Transferring the Merit of this Practice (Spoken)
In offering this meal, I pray that you give its merits equally to all creations in the Dharma worlds. Please transfer the merits of this offering to the Dharma world of True Reality, to unsurpassable enlightenment, and to all the Buddha wisdoms.
Repeated Prayer to Attain the Enlightened Way (Sung)
With all our love, with all our spirit, and with all our might, inviting misery and suffering no longer, we vow to accomplish the Way. May all creations in the Dharma world swiftly accomplish the Buddha Way together.
Dharani for the Invitation for the Manifestation of all the Gods and Demons
NO BO BO HO RI GYA RI TA RI TA TA GYA TA YA
Being one with the Unconditioned Tathagata.
Dharani of Hell Crushing and Hungry Spirit Throat Opening
OM BO HO TEI RI GYA TA RI TA TA GYA TA YA
Being one with the Boundless Tathagata.
Dharani of Expansion Prayer upon the Food and Drink
NO MAKU SA RA BA TA TA GYA TA BARO KI TEI OM SAN BA RA SAN BA RA UN
Being one with all Tathagatas and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, please nourish and sustain us.
Dharani upon the Dharma Taste of the Sweet Nectar
NO MAKU SO RO BA YA TA TA GYA TA YA TA NYA TA OM SO RO SO RO HA RA SO RO HA RA SO RO SO WA KA
Being one with the Inconceivable Body Tathagata, let the nectar of Dharma spring forth.
Dharani of feeding all the Hungry Spirits
(Everyone Gassho)
(Repeat 14 times or until officiant completes offering)
NO MAKU SAN MAN DA BO TA NAN BAN
(Repeat 7 times)
Being One with all Buddhas, I turn the water wheel of compassion.
Dharanis for Inviting the Buddhas of the Five Families (Sanskrit is read once, English twice. Ryoban in Gassho)
Invitation for the Manifestation of the Buddhas in the Padma Family
NA MU TA HO NYO RAI NO BO BA GYA BA TEI HA RA BO TA A RA TAN NO YA TA TAGYA TA YA JO KEN TON GO FU KU CHI EN MAN
Being one with all Buddhas in the Unifying spheres, integrating all families, wealth and wisdom are in abundance.
Invitation for the Manifestation of the Buddhas in the Ratna Family
NA MU MYO SHIKI SHIN NYO RAI NO BO BA GYA BA TEI SO RO BA YA TA TA GYA TA YA HA SHU RO BYO EN MAN SO KO
Being one with all Buddhas in the Livelihood Spheres, extending generosity, perfection of both body and mind appears.
Invitation for the Manifestation of the Buddhas in the Buddha Family
NA MU KAN RO O NYO RAI NO BO BA GYA BA TEI AMI RI TEI A RAN JA YA TA TA GYA TA YA KAN PO SHIN JIN RYO JU KE RA KU
Being one with all Buddhas in the Formless Spheres, bodies overflow with boundless Dharma and our lifeis fulfilled.
Invitation for the Manifestation of the Buddhas in the Vajra Family
NA MU KO HAKU SHIN NYO RAI NO BO BA GYA BA TEI BI HO RA GYA TA RA YA TA TA GYA TA YA IN KO KO DAI ON JIKI JU BO
Being one with all Buddhas in the Study Spheres, throats are opened and eating and drinking fully satisfy
Invitation for the Manifestation of the Buddhas in the Karma Family
NA MU RI FU I NYO RAI NO BO BA GYA BA TEI A BA EN GYA RA YA TA TA GYA TA YA KU SHITSU JO RI GA KI SHU
Being one with all Buddhas in the Service Spheres, all sufferings of the Hungry Spirits are healed.
Dharani for Raising the Bodhi Mind

(Everyone in Gassho)
Officiant: OM BO JI SHI TA BO DA HA DA YA MI
All: OM BO JI SHI TA BO DA HA DA YA MI

Officiant: Now I have raised the Bodhi Mind.
All: Now I have raised the Bodhi Mind

Officiant: Now I have raised the Bodhi Mind.
All: Now I have raised the Bodhi Mind
Dharani of Giving the Bodhisattva Samadhi Precepts

(Everyone in Gassho)
Officiant: OM SAN MA YA SA TO BAN
All: OM SAN MA YA SA TO BAN

Officiant: I am the Buddhas and they are me
All: I am the Buddhas and they are me

Officiant: I am the Buddhas and they are me
All: I am the Buddhas and they are me
Gatha for Transference of Merit
By this practice I sincerely wish to extend all my love to my own being, friends, enemies, family and community, and to all creations for so much done on my behalf. (Pause)
May those who practice in this sphere continue to empower, to enrich, to enjoy. (Pause)
May those who have gone be released from suffering and nourish peacefulness. (Pause)
May all creations in the three worlds receive loving benefactions. (Pause)
May those suffering on the three paths come to atonement and be cleansed of all
their ills. (Pause)
May they be liberated from samsara and arise in the Pure Land together.
Dedication
Closing Verse
(Everyone in Gassho)
This is our life,
The length of our days.
Day and night
We meditate upon it

Additional Texts

Village Zendo Sutra Book

A collection of sutras and gathas used in Village Zendo Services

PDF

Fukazazenji

Universal Way of Zazen by Dogen Zenji

Genjokoan

Actualizing the Fundamental Point by Eihei Dogen Zenji

PDF

Zazen Wasan

The Song of Zazen

Oryoki

Instructions on the practice of formal eating

PDF

Uji

The Time-Being by Eihei Dogen Zenji

PDF

Bendowa

Bendowa: On the Endeavor of the Way

The Four Bodhisattva Vows

Handouts from the Four Bodhisattva Vows Workshop

PDF

Vimalakirti Sutra

The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: Mahayana Scripture

Jukai – Precepts

The Sixteen Precepts of the Zen Peacemaker Order

PDF

Tenzo Kyokun

Instructions for the Cook by Dogen Zenji

PDF

Shodoka

The Song of Enlightenment, a collection of 64 verses attributed to the T’ang dynasty master Yongjia Xuanjue.

The Platform Sutra

The Zen teaching of Hui-Neng

Komyozo Zanmai

“The Practice of the Treasury of Luminosity” by Dogen Zenji’s successor, Kou Ejo Zenji.

PDF

Mountains and Rivers Sutra

By Dogen Zenji

PDF

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