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doshi (the Leader): BU JO MI DA NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we respectfully call upon Amida Buddha to enter thisplace of practice[1]
doon (together): SAN GE RAKU[2]
as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome
doshi: BU JO SHA KA NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we respectfully call upon Shakyamuni Buddha to enter this place of practice
doon: SAN GE RAKU
as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome
doshi: BU JO JIP-PO NYO RAI NIU DO JO
we respectfully call upon all Buddhas from the ten directions
doon: SAN GE RAKU
as we joyfully scatter flowers of welcome
●
doshi: NAMO KIE BU, NAMO KIE HO, NAMO KIE SO[3]
I take refuge in the Buddha, I take refuge in the Dharma, I take refuge in the Sangha
doon: NAMO KIE BU. NAMO KIE HO. NAMO KIE SO
doon: NAMO KIE BU. NAMO KIE HO. NAMO KIE SO
doon: NAMO KIE BU. NAMO KIE HO. NAMO KIE SO
●
doshi: KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI[4]◙
I take refuge in/Homage to the Tathagata of Unhindered Light Pervading the Ten Quarters
doon: KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI◙
doon: KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI◙
doon: KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI◙
●
doshi: NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI[5]◙
I take refuge in/Homage to the Tathagata of Inconceivable Light
doon: NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI◙
doon: NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI◙
doon: NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI◙
●
doshi: NA MO A MI DA BU[6]◙
I take refuge in/Homage to Amida Buddha
doon: NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU[7] …………◙
●
doshi:NA MO
I take refuge in (homage to)
doon:
MU RYO KO BU
Buddha of Infinite Light
MU HEN KO BU
Buddha of Boundless Light
MU GE KO BU
Buddha of Unhindered Light
MU TAI KO BU
Buddha of Incomparable Light
EN NO KO BU
Buddha Lord of Blazing Light
SHO JO KO BU
Buddha of Pure Light
KAN GI KO BU
Buddha of the Light of Joy
CHI E KO BU
Buddha of the Light of Wisdom
FU DAN KO BU
Buddha of Uninterrupted Light
NAN JI KO BU
Buddha of Inconceivable Light
MU SHO KO BU
Buddha of Inexpressible Light
CHO NICHI GAK KO BU
Buddha of the Light Outshining the Sun and Moon[8]
●
(repeat three times)
doshi: NA MO A MI DA BU◙
I take refuge in/Homage to Amida Buddha
doon: NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU …………◙[9]
●
doshi: GA-N NI SHI KU DO KU[10]
May the merits of the [Primal] Vow [of Amida]
doon: BYO – U DO – U SE IS – SA – I
be received equally by all beings
DO – U HO – TSU BO DA – I SHI – N
May all develop bodhicitta[11],
O – U JO – U A – A – A – A – N RAK – KOKU
And may they be born in the Land of Peace and Bliss
● ● ●
Juseige – Hymns of Repetitions of the Vows, is a fragment from the Larger Sutra and represents the words said by Dharmakara Bodhisattva, the future Amida Buddha, after proclaiming His 48 Vows. In the lines following the verses of Junirai it is said, “As soon as Bhikṣu Dharmakara spoke those verses, the entire earth quaked in six ways and a rain of wonderful flowers fell from heaven, scattering everywhere. Spontaneous music was heard and a voice in the sky said, ‘Surely you will attain highest, perfect Enlightenment.’”The translation ofJuseigeis fromThe Three Pure Land Sutras - A Study and Translation from Chinese by Hisao Inagaki in collaboration with Harold Stewart, Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai and Numata Centre for Buddhist Translation and Research, Kyoto, 2003
●●
doshi (the Leader):
GA GON CHO SE GAN
I have made vows, unrivaled in all the world;
doon (together):
HIS-SHI MU JO DO
I shall certainly reach the unsurpassed Way.
SHI GAN FU MAN ZOK[U]
If these vows should not be fulfilled,
SEI FU JO SHO GAK[U]
May I not attain perfect Enlightenment.
GA O MU RYO KO
If I should not become a great benefactor
FU I DAI SE SHU
In lives to come for immeasurable kalpas
FU SAI SHO BIN GU
To save the poor and the afflicted everywhere,
SEI FU JO SHO GAK[U]
May I not attain perfect Enlightenment.
GA SHI JO BUTSU DO
When I attain Buddhahood,
MYO SHO CHO JIP-PO
My Name will be heard throughout the ten directions;
KU KYO Ml SHO MON
Should there be any place where it is not heard,
SEI FU JO SHO GAK[U]
May I not attain perfect Enlightenment.
Rl YOKU JIN SHO NEN
Free of greed and with profound mindfulness
JO E SHU BON GYO
And pure wisdom, I will perform the sacred practices;
SHI GU MU JO DO
I will seek to attain the unsurpassed Way
I SHO TEN NIN SHI
And become the teacher of devas and humans.
JIN RIKI EN DAI KO
With my divine power I will display great light,
FU SHO MU SAI DO
Illuminating the worlds without limit,
SHO JO SAN KU MYO
And dispel the darkness of the three defilements;
KO SAI SHU YAKU NAN
Thus I will deliver all beings from misery.
KAI HI CHI E GEN
Having obtained the eye of wisdom,
MES-SHI KON MO AN
I will remove the darkness of ignorance;
HEI SOKU SHO AKU DO
I will block all evil paths
TSU DATSU ZEN SHU MON
And open the gate to the good realms.
KO SO JO MAN ZOK[U]
When merits and virtues are perfected,
I YO RO JIP-PO
My majestic light will radiate in the ten directions,
NICHI GATSU SHU JU KI
Outshining the sun and moon
TEN KO ON PU GEN
And surpassing the brilliance of the heavens.
I SHU KAI HO ZO
I will open the Dharma storehouse for the multitudes
KO SE KU DOKU HO
And endow them all with treasures of merit.
JO O DAI SHU JU
Being always among the multitudes,
SEP-PO SHI SHI KU
I will proclaim the Dharma with the lion’s roar.
KU YO IS-SAI BU[TSU]
I will make offerings to all the Buddhas,
GU SOKU SHU TOKU HON
Thereby acquiring roots of virtue.
GAN E SHITSU JO MAN
When my vows are fulfilled and wisdom perfected,
TOKU I SAN GAI O
I shall be the sovereign of the three worlds.
NYO BUTSU MU GE CHI
Like your unhindered wisdom, O Buddha,
TSU DATSU Ml FU SHO
Mine shall reach everywhere, illuminating all;
GAN GA KU E RIKI
May my supreme wisdom
TO SHI SAI SHO SON
Be like yours, Most Honored One.
SHI GAN NYAK-KO KA
If these vows are to be fulfilled,
DAI SEN O KAN DO
Let this universe of a thousand million worlds quake in response
KO KU SHO TEN NIN
And let all the devas in heaven
TO U CHIN MYO KE
Rain down rare and marvelous flowers.
●
doshi: NA MO A MI DA BU◙
I take refuge in/Homage to Amida Buddha
doon: NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU,NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU …………◙
●
doshi: GA-N NI SHI KU DO KU
May the merits of the [Primal] Vow [of Amida]
doon: BYO – U DO – U SE IS – SA – I
be received equally by all beings
DO – U HO – TSU BO DA – I SHI – N
May all develop bodhicitta,
O – U JO – U A – A – A – A – N RAK – KOKU
And may they be born in the Land of Peace and Bliss
● ● ●
Sambutsuge - Hymns in Praise of the Buddha
(sorry, this was not our best recitation and there were a few mistakes)
Sambutsuge – Hymns in Praise of the Buddhais a fragment from theLarger Sutrain which Dharmakara Bodhisattva, the future Amida Buddha, admires His Master, Lokesvararaja Buddha and promises that He will become a Savior of all beings.
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doshi: doon:
KO GEN GI GI I JIN MU GOKU
NYO ZE EN MYO MU YO TO SHA
Your radiant countenance is majestic;
And your dignity is boundless.
Radiant splendor such as yours has no equal.
NICHI GATSU MA NI SHU KO EN NYO
KAI SHITSU ON PEI YU NYAKU JU MOKU
Even the blazing light of
The Sun, moon and mani-jewels
Is completely hidden and obscured,
And looks like a mass of black inksticks.
NYO RAI YO GEN CHO SE MU RIN
SHO GAKU DAI ON KO RU JIP-PO
The countenance of the Tathagata
Is unequaled in the world;
The great voice of the Perfectly Enlightened One
Resounds throughout the ten quarters
KAI MON SHO JIN SAM-MAI CHI E
I TOKU MU RYO SHU SHO KE U
Your observance of precepts, learning, diligence,
Meditation, and wisdom –
The magnificence of these virtues is peerless,
Excellent and unsurpassed.
JIN TAI ZEN NEN SHO BUTSU HO KAI
GU JIN JIN NO KU GO GAI TAI
Deeply and clearly mindful
Of the ocean of the Dharma of all Buddhas,
You know its depth and breadth,
And reach its farthest end.
MU MYO YOKU NU SE SON YO MU
NIN NO SHI SHI JIN TOKU MU RYO
Ignorance, greed and anger
Are completely absent in the World Honored One,
You are a lion, the most courageous of all humans,
Having immeasurable majestic virtues.
KU KUN KO DAI CHI E JIN MYO
KO MYO I SO SHIN DO DAI SEN
Your meritorious accomplishment is vast,
And your wisdom is deep and supreme;
The majestic glory of your light
Shakes the great thousand worlds.
GAN GA SA BUTSU SAI SHO HO O
KA DO SHO JI MI FU GE DATSU
I vow to become a Buddha,
Equal to you, the most honored King of the Dharma,
And to bring sentient beings from birth-and-death
To the final attainment of emancipation.
FU SE JO I KAI NIN SHO JIN
NYO ZE SAM-MAI CHI E I JO
My practice of giving, self-discipline,
Observance of precepts, forbearance, diligence,
And also mediation and wisdom
Shall be unsurpassed.
GO SEI TOKU BUTSU FU GYO SHI GAN
IS-SAI KU KU I SA DAI AN
I resolve that, when I become a Buddha,
I will fulfill this vow in every possible way,
And to all beings who live in fear,
I will give great peace.
KE SHI U BUTSU HYAKU SEN NOKU MAN
MU RYO DAI SHO SHU NYO GO JA
Even though there are Buddhas
As many as a thousand million kotis,
Or countless great sages
As many as the sands of the Ganges,
KU YO IS-SAI SHI TO SHO BUTSU
FU NYO GU DO KEN SHO FU KYAKU
I will make offerings
To all these Buddhas,
Nothing surpasses my determination
To seek the Way steadfastly and untiringly.
HI NYO GO JA SHO BUTSU SE KAI
BU FU KA KE MU SHU SETSU DO
Even though there are Buddha-worlds
As many as the sands of the Ganges,
And also innumerable lands
Beyond calculation,
KO MYO SHIS-SHO HEN SHI SHO KOKU
NYO ZE SHO JIN I JIN NAN RYO
My light shall illumine
All of these lands.
I will make such efforts
That my divine power may be boundless
RYO GA SA BUTSU KOKU DO DAI ICHI
GO SHU KI MYO DO JO CHO ZETSU
When I become a Buddha,
My land shall be the most exquisite;
People ther shall be unrivaled and excellent
Any my seat of Enlightenment shall be beyond compare.
KOKU NYO NAI ON NI MU TO SO
GA TO AI MIN DO DATSU IS-SAI
My land shall be like Nirvana.
Being supreme and unequaled.
Out of compassion and pity,
I will bring all to emancipation.
JIP-PO RAI SHO SHIN-NETSU SHO JO
I TO GA KOKU KE RAKU AN-NON
Those who come from the ten quarters,
Shall rejoice with pure hearts;
Once they reach my Land,
They shall dwell in peace and happiness.
KO BUTSU SHIN MYO ZE GA SHIN SHO
HOTSU GAN NO HI RIKI SHO SHO YOKU
May you, the Buddha,
be my witness
And attest to the truthfulness of my resolution.
I have thus made my aspiration;
I will endeavor to fulfill it.
JIP-PO SE SON CHI E MU GE
JO RYO SHI SON CHI GA SHIN GYO
The World-honored Ones in the ten quarters
Have unimpeded wisdom;
May these honored ones
Always know my intentions.
KE RYO SHIN SHI SHO KU DOKU CHU
GA GYO SHO JIN NIN JU FU KE
●
Even if I should be subjected to
All kinds of suffering and torment,
Continuing my practice undeterred,
I would endure it and never have any regrets.
doshi: NA MO A MI DA BU ◙
I take refuge in/Homage to Amida Buddha
doon: NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU, NA MO A MI DA BU …………◙
●
doshi: GA-N NI SHI KU DO KU
May the merits of the [Primal] Vow [of Amida]
doon: BYO – U DO – U SE IS – SA – I
be received equally by all beings
DO – U HO – TSU BO DA – I SHI – N
May all develop bodhicitta,
O – U JO – U A – A – A – A – N RAK – KOKU
And may they be born in the Land of Peace and Bliss
● ● ●
[1] Sambujo – the Three Invitations are addressed to Amida, Shakyamuni and all Buddhas in the ten directions. The place of practice (dojo) where we invite these Honored guests, can be a temple, one’s own house or any place where people meet to say Nembutsu and listen to Amida Dharma.
[2]When saying SAN GE RAKU, the priest and participants may scatter petals of roses or any flower in the direction of the altar or they can make the mudra of offering flowers.
[3]Sankie – The Three Refuges (in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha).
[4] KI MYO JIN JI PO MU GE KO NYO RAI: The Name of Amida Buddha with ten characters.
[5] NA MO FU KA SHI GI KO NYO RAI:The Name of Amida Buddha with nine characters.
[6] NA MO A MI DA BU: The Name of Amida Buddha with six characters. You can prolong the recitation of this Name as much as you like.
[7]You can strike the bell from time to time, during the six-character Name recitation, to change the rhythm (slower-faster-slower, etc.) or simply to keep everyone alert.
[8] Recitation of the Twelve Lights of Amida Buddha as they appear in the Larger Sutra:
“The Buddha of Infinite Life(Amida) is called by the following names: the Buddha of Infinite (Immeasurable) Light, the Buddha of Boundless Light, the Buddha of Unhindered Light, the Buddha of Incomparable ( Unequalled) Light, the Buddha of Light that is Lord of Blazing Light, the Buddha of Pure Light, the Buddha of the Light of Joy, the Buddha of the Light of Wisdom, the Buddha of Uninterrupted Light, the Buddha of Inconceivable Light, the Buddha of Inexpressible Light, and the Buddha of Light Surpassing the Sun and Moon”.
[9] If you decide to make a longer Nembutsu service, you can now recite again the Twelve Lights of Amida and then continue with more recitations of the six character Name (Namo Amida Bu). You can repeat the Ten Lights recitations followed by Namo Amida Bu as many times as you like.
[10]This part is called Eko or merit transference. In the practices based on personal power the practitioner “earns” virtues which he transfers for his own Enlightenment. But in the case of Other Power (Pure Land) way, the transference of merits takes place from Amida Buddha to those who entrust to Him. This transference of merit (eko) carries the follower to the Pure Land where he attains Nirvana or perfect Enlightenment. Shinran Shonin says in a hymn:
“When sentient beings of this evil world
of the five defilements
Entrust themselves to the selected Primal Vow,
Virtues indescribable, inexplicable, and inconceivable
Fill those practitioners."
The merit transference from Amida to the practitioner has two aspects: 1) the merit transference of going forth (Oso-Eko) and2) the merit transference of returning to this world (Genso-Eko).
The first refers to the fact that through Amida's transference of merit we go to His Pure Land where we become Buddhas, while the second one means that after we become Buddhas in the Pure Land by sharing the same Enlightenment as Amida, we return to the various samsaric realms and universes, to save all beings.
[11]Bodhicita or
Bodhi Mind is the aspiration to attain Budhahood for
oneself and all beings. This is fulfilled in the Awakening of Faith
(shinjin) in the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha. Master Shan-tao said:
“Awake your Bodhi Mind to Amida’s Compassion”, that is,
aspire to your and other beings Liberation by relying on the
Compasion of Amida (His Primal Vow).So, the Awakening of the Bodhi
Mind, the obligatory condition in Mahayana for attaining the
supreme Enlightenment, appears in Jodo Shinshu in the form of the
entrusting heart (shinjin). Shinran Shonin said, “The mind
aspiring to become Buddha
Is the mind seeking to save sentient beings;
The mind that seeks to save sentient beings
Is True Faith endowed by Amida’s Compassion.”
(Hymns on the Patriachs, 18)
