The Three Treasures

[Hands palm-to-palm]

I take refuge in Buddha,

and resolve that with all beings
I will understand the Great Way
whereby the Buddha seed may forever thrive.

I take refuge in Dharma,

and resolve that with all beings
I will enter deeply into the sutra-treasure
whereby my wisdom may grow as vast as the ocean.

I take refuge in Sangha,

and in its wisdom, example, and never-failing help,
and resolve to live in harmony with all sentient beings.

 

Heart of Perfect Wisdom

(Prajña Paramita Hridaya)

The Bodhisattva of Compassion
from the depths of prajña wisdom
saw the emptiness of all five skandhas
and sundered the bonds that cause all suffering.

Know then :
Form here is only emptiness ;
emptiness only form.
Form is no other than emptiness ;
emptiness no other than form.
Feeling, thought, and choice —
consciousness itself —
are the same as this.

Dharmas here are empty;
all are the primal void.
None are born or die,
nor are they stained or pure,
nor do they wax or wane.

So in emptiness no form,
no feeling, thought, or choice,
nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind,
no color, sound, smell, taste, touch,
or what the mind takes hold of,
nor even act of sensing.
No ignorance or end of it,
nor all that comes of ignorance :
No withering, no death, no end of them.

Nor is there pain, or cause of pain,
or cease in pain,
or noble path to lead from pain;
not even wisdom to attain:
Attainment too is emptiness.

So know that the Bodhisattva,
holding to nothing whatever,
but dwelling in prajña wisdom,
is freed of delusive hindrance,
rid of the fear bred by it,
and reaches clearest nirvana.

All buddhas of past and present,
buddhas of future time,
through faith in prajña wisdom,
come to full enlightenment.
Know then the great dharani,
the radiant, peerless mantra,
the supreme, unfailing mantra,
the Prajña Paramita,
whose words allay all pain.
This is highest wisdom,
true beyond all doubt ;
know and proclaim its truth:

Gate, gate
paragate
parasamgate
bodhi, svaha!

 

Ten-Verse Kannon Sutra

Kanzeon!
Praise to Buddha!
All are one with Buddha;
all awake to Buddha.
Buddha, Dharma, Sangha —
eternal, joyous, selfless, pure.
Through the day Kanzeon
through the night Kanzeon.
This moment arises from Mind;
this moment itself is Mind.

 

Shosai Myokichijo Darani

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
shifu ra shifu ra
hara shifu ra hara shifu ra
chishu sa chishu sa
chishu ri chishu ri
sowa ja sowa ja
sen chi gya
shiri ei so mo ko.

 

Return of Merit

[Hands palm-to-palm]

Leader:

Faith in Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
brings true liberation.
We now return the merit of our chanting to:
Shakyamuni Buddha,
Mañjushrı Bodhisattva,
Avalokita Bodhisattva,
Bhadra Bodhisattva.
We place our faith in the Great Heart of Perfect Wisdom.
May all beings attain Buddhahood !

All:

Ten Directions, Three Worlds,
All Buddhas, Bodhisattva-mahasattvas,
Maha Prajña Paramita.

 

The Four Vows

[Hands palm-to-palm]

All beings, without number,
I vow to liberate.

Endless blind passions
I vow to uproot.

Dharma gates, beyond measure,
I vow to penetrate.

The Great Way of Buddha
I vow to attain.