The Koyasan Shingon-shu Lay Practitioner's Daily Service Before begining, rinse your mouth, wash your hands clean, and offer candles and incense to the Buddha. Sit with proper posture, calm your mind, and place your hands together for prayer. It is said that the chanting of sutras should be neither slow nor fast, neither soft nor loud. Use a medium level voice and chant evenly. The passages marked "Leader" are only for the person who is leading the chanting, and the "Group" is where everyone chants together. It is important to remember that in Shingon Buddhism the chanting of sutras is an occasion in which the Three Mysteries of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha join together with our own three functions of the body, speech and mind to form a single entity in meditation. Veneration (Raihai) Om sarva-Tathâgata-pada-vandanam karomi. (Sk) On saruba tatagyta hanna mana nau kyaromi (Jp) (Om I bow down at the feet of all the Tathâgatas.) - Repeat the Sanskrit (Sk) or Japanese (Jp) form of the mantra 3 times. Repentance (Sange) LEADER: All my past deeds GROUP: originating from greed, hatred, and ignorance are products of my own physical, verbal and mental misdeeds. I repent all wrongdoings committed by my body, mouth and mind. The Three Jewels (Sanki) LEADER: We put our faith in Buddha. GROUP: May we all together realize Buddhahood to attain awakening. LEADER: We put our faith in Dharma. GROUP: May we all together dwell in Buddha's Teachings and attain the infinite wisdom. LEADER: We put our faith in Sangha. GROUP: May we all together be of One in accord and harmony and live the life of Universal Brotherhood. The Three Refuges (Sankyô) LEADER: I take refuge in the Three Jewels. GROUP: Buddham saranam gacchami. (I take refuge in the Buddha.) Dharmam saranam gacchami. (I take refuge in the Dharma.) Sangham saranam gacchami. (I take refuge in the Sangha.) - Repeat the Sanskrit statements three times. The Ten Precepts (Jûzenkai) LEADER: From this day forward GROUP: I will do my best to observe Ten Precepts: 1. I will not harm life. 2. I will not steal. 3. I will not commit adultery. 4. I will not tell a lie. 5. I will not exaggerate. 6. I will not speak abusively. 7. I will not equivocate. 8. I will not be greedy. 9. I will not be hateful. 10. I will not lose sight of the Truth. Awakening the Mind of Enlightenment (Hotsubodaishin) LEADER: In pure faith GROUP: I awaken the mind of Enlightenment. I aspire, together with others, to cross over the sea of birth and death, and quickly reach the shore of liberation. On bôji shitta boda hadayami. (Jp) Om bodhi-cittam utpadayami. (Sk) (Om I aspire to evolve the Awakened mind.) - Repeat the Sanskrit (Sk) or Japanese (Jp) form of the mantra 3 times. Samaya Vow (Sanmaya-kai) LEADER: I, a child of the Mahâvairocana Buddha, GROUP: will abide in the Buddha's great compassion and wisdom. As the embodiment of the Buddha's Wisdom, I will make a wholehearted effort to help others. On sanmaya satôban. (Jp) Om samaya sattvam. (Om I am united in the vow.) (Sk) Om samayas tvm. (Om you are united in the vow.) (Sk) - Repeat the Sanskrit (Sk) or Japanese (Jp) forms of the mantra 3 times. Prelude (Kaikyô-ge) LEADER: The Heart Sutra (Hannya Shin Gyô) is GROUP: the essence of Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism in particular. If I uphold, recite and expound this sutra and offer it to others, I can be freed from suffering and can attain Buddhahood. If I practice the teaching given herein and contemplate its meaning, I can find the Path to Awakening. This sutra is the lamp of the world that sheds light upon darkness. It is the raft that carries all sentient beings safely across the sea of birth and death. May I enter deeply into the meaning of the sutra and recite it earnestly. LEADER: The unsurpassed, profoundest, and most exquisite Truth is GROUP: difficult to encounter, even in one billion kalpas. Now we are about to see, listen to, and hold the sutra containing the Truth. May we understand the true meaning of the Buddha's message. The Heart Sutra (Hannya Shin Gyô) LEADER: Bussetsu Maka Hannya Haramita Shin Gyô GROUP: Kanjizai bosa, gyo jin-hannya-haramita ji, shoken goun kai ku, do issai kuyaku. Sharishi, shiki fu i ku, ku fu i shiki, shiki soku ze ku, ku soku ze shiki, ju-so-gyo-shiki yakubu nyoze. Sharishi, ze shoho kuso fusho fumetsu, fuku fujo, fuzo fugen. Zeko ku chu mu shiki mu ju-so-gyo-shiki; mu gen-ni-bi-zet-shin-ni; mu shiki-sho-ko-mi-soku-ho; mu genkai naishi mu ishikikai; mu mumyo, yaku mu mumyo jin naishi mu roshi, yaku mu roshi jin, mu ku-ju-metsu-do; mu chi yaku mu toku, imu shotokko. Bodaisatta e hannya-haramita ko, shin mu kege; mu kege ko, mu u kufu; onri issai tendo muso kugyo nehan. Sanze shobutsu e hannya-haramita ko, toku anokutara-sammyaku-sambodai. Kochi hannya-haramita, ze daijinshu, ze daimyoshu, ze mujoshu, ze mutodoshu, nojo issai ku, shinjitsu fu ko; ko setsu hannya-haramitashu, soku sesshu watsu: Gyate, gyate, hara-gyate, hara-sogyate, boji sowaka. Hannya-shin-gyô. Mantras of the Thirteen Buddhas (Jusanbustu Shingon) - Repeat each of the following mantras, in Japanese or Sanskrit, seven times. Acalanatha Vidyârâja (Fudô Myôô ) GROUP: Nômaku sanmanda bazaradan senda makaroshada sowataya un tarata kanman. (Jp) Namah samanta-vajrânâm canda mahârosana sphotaya hûm trat hâm mâm (Sk) (Homage to the all-pervading Vajras! O Violent One of great wrath! Destroy! hûm trat hâm mâm) Sâkyamuni Tathâgata (Shaka Nyorai ) GROUP: Nômaku Sanmanda bodanan baku. (Jp) Namah samanta-buddhânâm bhah (Sk) (Homage to all the Buddhas! bhah) Mañjusri Bodhisattva (Monju Bosatsu ) GROUP: On a rahashano. (Jp) Om ara pa ca na. (Sk) (Om a ra pa ca na.) Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Fugen Bosatsu) GROUP: On sanmaya saTôban. (Jp) Om sammaya sattvam. (Om samayas tvam) (Sk) (Om I am (you are) an embodiment of the pledge.) Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Jizô Bosatsu) GROUP: On kakaka bisanmaei sowaka. (Jp) Om ha-ha-ha vismaye svâhâ. (Sk) (Om Oh Wondrous One svâhâ.) Maitreya Bodhisattva (Miroku Bosatsu) GROUP: On maitareiya sowaka. (Jp) Om Maitreya svâhâ. (Sk) (Om Compassionate One svâhâ.) Bhaisajyaguru Tathâgata (Yakushi Nyorai ) GROUP: On koro koro sendari matôgi sowaka. (Jp) Om huru huru candâli mâtàngi svâhâ. (Sk) (Om heal, heal; Candâli Mâtàngi svâhâ.) Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Kannon Bosatsu) GROUP: On arorikya sowaka. (Jp) Om ârolik svâhâ. (Sk) (Om Unstained One svâhâ.) Mahâsthamaprapta Bodhisattva (Seishi Bosatsu) GROUP: On san zan zan saku sowaka. (Jp) Om sam jam jam sah svâhâ. (Sk) (Om may defilements be removed svâhâ.) Amitâbha and Amitâyus Tathâgata (Amida Nyorai ) GROUP: On amirita teizei kara un. (Jp) Om amrta-teje hara hûm. (Sk) (Om save us in the glory of the Deathless One hûm!) Aksobhya Tathâgata (Ashuku Nyorai ) GROUP: On akishubiya un. (Jp) Om aksobhya hûm. (Sk) (Om Immovable One hûm.) Mahâvairocana Tathâgata (Dainichi Nyorai ) GROUP: On abiraunken; bazaradato ban. (Jp) Om a-vi-ra-hûm-kham; vajra dhâtu vam. (Sk) (Om All Pervading One; Imperishable One.) Akasagarbha Bodhisattva (Kokûzô Bosatsu ) GROUP: Nôbô akyasha kyarabaya on arikya mari bori sowaka. (Jp) Namo Akasagarbhaya om ârya kamari mauli svâhâ. (Skt) (Homage to the great Space-bearer who holds a flower and wears a garland and a jeweled crown svâhâ.) Light Mantra (Kômyô Shingon) LEADER: The Light mantra contains, GROUP: in its syllables, the entire power of the omnipresent Mahâvairocana Buddha. When we recite the mantra earnestly; the Light of the Buddha will embrace us. Illusions will disappear spontaneously, as the moon becomes free from mist. On abokya beirosha nô maka bodara mani handoma jimbara harabaritaya un. (Jp) Om amogha-vairocana mahamudrå mani-padma-jvala pravarttaya hûm. (Sk) (Om Unfailing Vairocana, the great mudrå (symbol), mani (jewel), padma (lotus), and jvala (light), evolve! hûm.) - Repeat the Sanskrit (Sk) or Japanese (Jp) form of the mantra 7 times. Invocation (Gohôgô) LEADER: Let us take refuge in our Great Master, Kôbô Daishi, GROUP: Namu Daishi Henjô Kongô. (Jp) ( I take refuge in the Great Guru, the Vajra of all pervading spiritual radiance.) - Repeat the invovation "Namu Daishi..." 7 times. Prayer (Kigan-mon) LEADER: We reverently pray GROUP: for eternal harmony in the universe. May we attain Buddhahood in this very life in this esoteric realm of Mahâvairocana. May the weather be seasonable, may the harvest be fruitful, may countries exist in harmony, and may all people enjoy happiness. May we share these benefits equally. Universal Prayer (Ekô) LEADER: May the merits we have accumulated GROUP: be extended universally to all sentient beings so that they, together with us, may equally realize the Awakening. Veneration (Raihai) Om sarva-Tathâgata-pada-vandanam karomi. (Sk) On saruba tatagyta hanna mana nau kyaromi (Jp) (Om I bow down at the feet of all the Tathâgatas.) - Repeat the Sanskrit (Sk) or Japanese (Jp) form of the mantra 3 times. ©1998,1999 Shingon Buddhist International Institute