CHANTS
This page reproduces the chant book commonly used as part of our practice. Sunday morning chants will follow the order presented here. A few less commonly used chants are added at end.
Daily Chants
About Chanting
A leader begins the opening syllables of each chant, written in boldface in this text. A bell rings and, with the drum beat, the group joins for the rest of the chant. Some chants are preceded by a longer “EKO” recited by the leader.
The syllables we chant are old languages, often meaningful in translation, and worthy of study and contemplation. Some are translated here (itallics). However chanting is not an intellectual exercise, but an opportunity to engage wholeheartedly, a practice with relevance, afterall, to the meaning of the words.
MAHAPRAJNAPARAMITA HRIDAYA SUTRA
Great Wisdom Heart Sutra
maka hanya haramita shin gyo kan ji zai bo sa gyo jin han nya ha ra mi ta ji sho ken go un 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 zets 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 to ko bo dai sat ta e han nya ha ra mi ta ko shin mu ke ge mu ke ge ko mu u ku fu on ri i 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 shin shu ze dai myo shu ze mu jo shu ze mu to do shu no jo i sai ku shin jitsu fu ko ko setsu han nya ha ra mi ta shu soku setsu shu watsu gya te gya te ha ra gya te hara so gya te bo dhi sowa ka han nya shin gyo
One who sees all sorrow in deep transport of wisdom sees self all empty, relieves every suffering. Sariputra, form is not different from emptiness. Emptiness is not different from form. Form is the emptiness. Emptiness is the form. Sensation, thought, inclination, consciousness, also are like this. Sariputra, even all things are like this; not born, not annihilated not tainted, not pure, not increasing, not decreasing. Therefore in emptiness no form, no sensation, no thought, no inclination, no consciousness. No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, object; no eye, no world of eyes until we come to no world of consciousness; no ignorance, also no ignorance annihilation, until we come to no old age, death, also no old age, death annihilation; no suffering, cause of suffering, no nirvana, no path; no wisdom, also no attainment. Because no attainment, a bodhisattva depends on transport of wisdom, mind no obstacle, because no obstacle, no fear. Go beyond all topsy-turvey views, attain nirvana. Past, present and future, every Buddha depends on transport of wisdom. Therefore attain supreme, perfect, enlightenment. Therefore know this transport of wisdom is the great holy vehicle, the great untainted vehicle, the supreme vehicle, the incomparable vehicle, capable of ending all suffering. True not false. Therefore proclaim transport of wisdom, proclaim words that say: Go, go go beyond, go completely beyond, be rooted in the ground of enlightenment. Wisdom Heart Sutra
SHO SAI SHU
Dharani of removing disaster
na mu sa man da mo to nan o ha ra chi ko to sha so no nan to ji to en gya gya gya ki gya ki un nun shi fu ra shi fu ra ha ra shi fu ra ha ra shi fu ra chi shu sa chi shu sa shu shi ri shu shi ri so ha ja so ha ja se chi gya shi ri ei so mo ko
(Three times)
[HONZON EKO]
DAI HI EN MON BU KAI JIN SHU
Dharani of the great compassionate one
na mu ka ra tan no to ra ya ya na mu o ri ya bo ryo ki chi shi fu ra ya fu ji sa to bo ya mo ko sa to bo ya mo ko kya ru ni kya ya en sa ha ra ha ei shu ta no ton sha na mu shi ki ri to i mo o ri ya bo ryo ki chi shi fu ra ri to bo na mu no ra ki 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 ki ri mo ko fu ji 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 chi ri ni shi fu ra ya sha ro sha ro mo mo ha mo ra ho chi ri i ki i ki shi no shi no o ra san fu ra sha ri ha za ha za fu ra 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 fu ji ya fu ji ya fu do ya fu do ya mi chi ri ya no ra ki ji chi ri shu ni no ho ya mo no so mo ko shi do ya so mo ko mo ko shi do ya so mo ko shi do yu ki shi fu ra ya so mo ko no ra ki ji so mo ko mo ra no ra so mo ko shi ra sun o mo gya ya so mo ko so bo mo ko shi do ya so mo ko sha ki ra o shi do ya so mo ko ho do mo gya shi do ya so mo ko no ra ki ji ha gya ra ya so mo ko mo ho ri shin gya ra ya so mo ko na mu ka ra tan no to ra ya ya na mu o ri ya bo ryo ki chi shi fu ra ya so mo ko shi te do mo do ra ho do ya so mo ko
[SOSHI EKO]
DAI SEGAKI
jya jin nyu ryo shi san shi i shi fu in kan ha kai shin i shi yui shin zo na mu ji ho fu na mu ji ho ha na mu ji ho sen na mu hon su shi kya mu ni fu na mu dai zu dai hi kyu ku kan shi in bu sa na mu ki ko o nan son sha na mu sa bo to to gya to bo ryo ki chi en san mo ra san mo ra kin na mu su ryo bo ya to to gya to ya to ji to en su ryo su ryo bo ya su ryo bo ya su ryo so mo ko na mu sa man da ho do nan ban na mu ho shin ji rai na mu to ho ji rai na mu myo shi shin ji rai na mu ko ha shin ji rai na mu ri fu i ji rai na mu kan ro yo ji rai na mu o mi to ji rai na mu o mi to bo ya to to gya to ya to ni ya to o mi ri tsu bo bi o mi ri to shi ta bo mi o mi ri to bi gya ra chi o mi ri to bi gya ra to kya mi ni gya gya no shi to ya ri so mo ko jin shu kya ji jin nin shi fu shi o sa shu ki jin gen kai bo man sha ken shin shi do yu min san zen do ki i san bo ha bu ji kyu kin te shin bu jo ka kun te bu hen jin mi rai i shi shun san zun pa shi ji ten ki jin shu go kin su ji kyu su ji hen ji ho i shi ki jin kyo i su shu an shu sen gen ho ta bu mo ki ro te son sha fu ra ju bu kyu mo sha ri ku san nan nyo su in san nyu shi an shi san zu ha nan ku shun san kyu mo kyu ko sen na su jin shu rin nui san jin zu gen ni su kun tei fu gyu o i shi go ten ni shun san kai kyu jin bu do ji ho san shi i shi shi bu shi son bu sa mo ko sa mo ko ho jya ho ro mi
[EKO]
KOZEN DAITO
Final admonition of national teacher Kozen Daito
ko zen daito koku shi yui kai nan jira sho nin kono san chu ni kita atte do no tame ni ko beo atsu mu eji kino tame ni suru koto naka re kata a te kizu to yu koto na ku kuchi a te kura wazu to yu koto na shi tada sube kara ku ju niji chu muri eno toko roni muka atte kiwa me kita ri kiwa me saru be shi ko in yano goto shi tsutsu shin de zo yo shin suru koto naka re kan shuse yo kan shuse yo ro so an gyano no chi aru iwa ji mon han ko bu kaku kyo kan kin gin o chiri ba me tashu nyo netsu aru iwa ju kyo fun ju cho za fu ga ichi jiki bo sai roku ji gyo do tato i in moni shi saru to ie domo bu so fuden no myo do o mo te kyo kan ni kaza i sezu nba tachi ma chi in gao hatsu mushi shin pu chini otsu mina kore jyama no shuzo kuna ri ro so yo saru koto hisa shiku tomo jison to sho suru koto o yuru sa ji aru iwa mo shi ichi nin a ri yaga ini men ze shi i pa bo tei se kyaku sho nai ni yasa i kon o nite ki shite hio sugo suto mo sen ichi ni koji o kyu mei suru tei wa ro so to nichi nichi sho ken ho on tei no hito na ri tare ka ae te kyo kotsu sen ya ben sen ben sen
You who have come to this mountain gathered for the sake of the way, don’t put your heads together for the sake of food and clothes. As long as you have shoulders it won’t be the case that you will be wearing nothing. As long a you have a mouth it won’t be the case that you will have nothing to eat. There’s only one thing to do! Throughout the twelve hours face towards the incomprehensible and investigate all your comings and goings. Time passes like an arrow. Quiet down and be careful not to disturb your mind with worldly concerns. Look, look! After this old monk’s departure you might have a very prosperous temple with buildings and sutra scrolls inlaid profusely with gold and silver; and noisy throngs of enthusiastic devotees. Or perhaps you may spend time reading sutras and chanting and doing much zazen without ever lying down. Perhaps you will eat only once a day, observe the fast days, and practice religious deeds throughout the six periods of the day. Even when you practice forthrightly like this, if you don’t embody the untransmissible and mysterious way of the Buddhas and the ancestors, hold it in your hearts, you will soon come to ignore the law of cause and effect and fall off the true wind and earth. All such beings belong to the family of evil demons. However long my departure from the world may be, I will not permit them to be called my descendants. However, let there be just one individual, who may be living in the wilderness in a hut thatched with one bundle of straw passing the days eating vegetables and roots boiled in a broken legged pot; if that person is single-mindedly devoted to the investigation of their own affairs, that is the very one who has a daily interview with this old monk and is the real person of gratitude. Who should ever despise such a one? Be diligent, be diligent!
SHIGU SEI GANFour Great Vows
(Three times)
shu jo mu hen
sei gan do
bon no mu jin
sei gan dan
ho mon mu ryo
sei gan gaku
butsu do mu jo
sei gan jo
Beings numberless
Vow to liberate
Faults without end
Vow to overcome
Wisdom boundless
Vow to learn
Awakened way unsurpassed
Vow to embody
EMMEI JUKKO KANNON GYOKannon Sutra Chant
kan ze on
na mu butsu
yo butsu u in
yo butsu u en
bu po so en
jo raku go jo
cho nen kan ze on
bo nen kan ze on
nen nen ju shin ki
nen nen fu ri shin
Kanzeon
Buddha of compassion
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 heart and mind
This moment itself is heart and mind
ATTA DIPA
Look Within
atta dipa
viharatha
atta sharana
ananna sharana
dhamma dipa
dhamma sharana
ananna sharana
Look within!
You are The Light.
Take refuge in yourself.
Do not take refuge in others.
Look within!
The Light is The Dharma.
Take refuge in The Dharma.
Do not take refuge in anything,
Other than The Dharma.
SANGE
Repentance Chant
ga shaku sho zo sho aku go (bell)
kai yu mu shi ton jin chi (bell)
ju shin ku i shi sho sho (bell
issai ga kon kai san ge (bell)
All evil committed by me past and future,
due to my limitless greed, anger and folly,
born of my body mouth and mind,
I now repent.
REFUGE CHANT
Namu ki e butsu
Namu ki e ho
Namu ki e so
Ki ebutsu mu jo son
Ki e ho ri yoku son
Ki e so wa go son
ki e bukkyo
Ki e ho kyo
Ki e so kyo
Take refuge in Buddha
Take refuge in Dharma
Take refuge in Sangh
Take refuge in Buddha the incomparable honored one
Thke refuge in Dharma, honored for purity
Take refuge in Sangha, honored for harmony
Refuge in Buddha accomplished
Refuge in Dharma accomplished
Refuge in Sangha accomplished
Daily Chants
About Chanting
A leader begins the opening syllables of each chant, written in boldface in this text. A bell rings and, with the drum beat, the group joins for the rest of the chant. Some chants are preceded by a longer “EKO” recited by the leader.
The syllables we chant are old languages, often meaningful in translation, and worthy of study and contemplation. Some are translated here (itallics). However chanting is not an intellectual exercise, but an opportunity to engage wholeheartedly, a practice with relevance, afterall, to the meaning of the words.
MAHAPRAJNAPARAMITA HRIDAYA SUTRA
Great Wisdom Heart Sutra
maka hanya haramita shin gyo kan ji zai bo sa gyo jin han nya ha ra mi ta ji sho ken go un 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 zets 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 to ko bo dai sat ta e han nya ha ra mi ta ko shin mu ke ge mu ke ge ko mu u ku fu on ri i 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 shin shu ze dai myo shu ze mu jo shu ze mu to do shu no jo i sai ku shin jitsu fu ko ko setsu han nya ha ra mi ta shu soku setsu shu watsu gya te gya te ha ra gya te hara so gya te bo dhi sowa ka han nya shin gyo
One who sees all sorrow in deep transport of wisdom sees self all empty, relieves every suffering. Sariputra, form is not different from emptiness. Emptiness is not different from form. Form is the emptiness. Emptiness is the form. Sensation, thought, inclination, consciousness, also are like this. Sariputra, even all things are like this; not born, not annihilated not tainted, not pure, not increasing, not decreasing. Therefore in emptiness no form, no sensation, no thought, no inclination, no consciousness. No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind; no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, object; no eye, no world of eyes until we come to no world of consciousness; no ignorance, also no ignorance annihilation, until we come to no old age, death, also no old age, death annihilation; no suffering, cause of suffering, no nirvana, no path; no wisdom, also no attainment. Because no attainment, a bodhisattva depends on transport of wisdom, mind no obstacle, because no obstacle, no fear. Go beyond all topsy-turvey views, attain nirvana. Past, present and future, every Buddha depends on transport of wisdom. Therefore attain supreme, perfect, enlightenment. Therefore know this transport of wisdom is the great holy vehicle, the great untainted vehicle, the supreme vehicle, the incomparable vehicle, capable of ending all suffering. True not false. Therefore proclaim transport of wisdom, proclaim words that say: Go, go go beyond, go completely beyond, be rooted in the ground of enlightenment. Wisdom Heart Sutra
SHO SAI SHU
Dharani of removing disaster
na mu sa man da mo to nan o ha ra chi ko to sha so no nan to ji to en gya gya gya ki gya ki un nun shi fu ra shi fu ra ha ra shi fu ra ha ra shi fu ra chi shu sa chi shu sa shu shi ri shu shi ri so ha ja so ha ja se chi gya shi ri ei so mo ko
(Three times)
[HONZON EKO]
DAI HI EN MON BU KAI JIN SHU
Dharani of the great compassionate one
na mu ka ra tan no to ra ya ya na mu o ri ya bo ryo ki chi shi fu ra ya fu ji sa to bo ya mo ko sa to bo ya mo ko kya ru ni kya ya en sa ha ra ha ei shu ta no ton sha na mu shi ki ri to i mo o ri ya bo ryo ki chi shi fu ra ri to bo na mu no ra ki 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 ki ri mo ko fu ji 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 chi ri ni shi fu ra ya sha ro sha ro mo mo ha mo ra ho chi ri i ki i ki shi no shi no o ra san fu ra sha ri ha za ha za fu ra 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 fu ji ya fu ji ya fu do ya fu do ya mi chi ri ya no ra ki ji chi ri shu ni no ho ya mo no so mo ko shi do ya so mo ko mo ko shi do ya so mo ko shi do yu ki shi fu ra ya so mo ko no ra ki ji so mo ko mo ra no ra so mo ko shi ra sun o mo gya ya so mo ko so bo mo ko shi do ya so mo ko sha ki ra o shi do ya so mo ko ho do mo gya shi do ya so mo ko no ra ki ji ha gya ra ya so mo ko mo ho ri shin gya ra ya so mo ko na mu ka ra tan no to ra ya ya na mu o ri ya bo ryo ki chi shi fu ra ya so mo ko shi te do mo do ra ho do ya so mo ko
[SOSHI EKO]
DAI SEGAKI
jya jin nyu ryo shi san shi i shi fu in kan ha kai shin i shi yui shin zo na mu ji ho fu na mu ji ho ha na mu ji ho sen na mu hon su shi kya mu ni fu na mu dai zu dai hi kyu ku kan shi in bu sa na mu ki ko o nan son sha na mu sa bo to to gya to bo ryo ki chi en san mo ra san mo ra kin na mu su ryo bo ya to to gya to ya to ji to en su ryo su ryo bo ya su ryo bo ya su ryo so mo ko na mu sa man da ho do nan ban na mu ho shin ji rai na mu to ho ji rai na mu myo shi shin ji rai na mu ko ha shin ji rai na mu ri fu i ji rai na mu kan ro yo ji rai na mu o mi to ji rai na mu o mi to bo ya to to gya to ya to ni ya to o mi ri tsu bo bi o mi ri to shi ta bo mi o mi ri to bi gya ra chi o mi ri to bi gya ra to kya mi ni gya gya no shi to ya ri so mo ko jin shu kya ji jin nin shi fu shi o sa shu ki jin gen kai bo man sha ken shin shi do yu min san zen do ki i san bo ha bu ji kyu kin te shin bu jo ka kun te bu hen jin mi rai i shi shun san zun pa shi ji ten ki jin shu go kin su ji kyu su ji hen ji ho i shi ki jin kyo i su shu an shu sen gen ho ta bu mo ki ro te son sha fu ra ju bu kyu mo sha ri ku san nan nyo su in san nyu shi an shi san zu ha nan ku shun san kyu mo kyu ko sen na su jin shu rin nui san jin zu gen ni su kun tei fu gyu o i shi go ten ni shun san kai kyu jin bu do ji ho san shi i shi shi bu shi son bu sa mo ko sa mo ko ho jya ho ro mi
[EKO]
KOZEN DAITO
Final admonition of national teacher Kozen Daito
ko zen daito koku shi yui kai nan jira sho nin kono san chu ni kita atte do no tame ni ko beo atsu mu eji kino tame ni suru koto naka re kata a te kizu to yu koto na ku kuchi a te kura wazu to yu koto na shi tada sube kara ku ju niji chu muri eno toko roni muka atte kiwa me kita ri kiwa me saru be shi ko in yano goto shi tsutsu shin de zo yo shin suru koto naka re kan shuse yo kan shuse yo ro so an gyano no chi aru iwa ji mon han ko bu kaku kyo kan kin gin o chiri ba me tashu nyo netsu aru iwa ju kyo fun ju cho za fu ga ichi jiki bo sai roku ji gyo do tato i in moni shi saru to ie domo bu so fuden no myo do o mo te kyo kan ni kaza i sezu nba tachi ma chi in gao hatsu mushi shin pu chini otsu mina kore jyama no shuzo kuna ri ro so yo saru koto hisa shiku tomo jison to sho suru koto o yuru sa ji aru iwa mo shi ichi nin a ri yaga ini men ze shi i pa bo tei se kyaku sho nai ni yasa i kon o nite ki shite hio sugo suto mo sen ichi ni koji o kyu mei suru tei wa ro so to nichi nichi sho ken ho on tei no hito na ri tare ka ae te kyo kotsu sen ya ben sen ben sen
You who have come to this mountain gathered for the sake of the way, don’t put your heads together for the sake of food and clothes. As long as you have shoulders it won’t be the case that you will be wearing nothing. As long a you have a mouth it won’t be the case that you will have nothing to eat. There’s only one thing to do! Throughout the twelve hours face towards the incomprehensible and investigate all your comings and goings. Time passes like an arrow. Quiet down and be careful not to disturb your mind with worldly concerns. Look, look! After this old monk’s departure you might have a very prosperous temple with buildings and sutra scrolls inlaid profusely with gold and silver; and noisy throngs of enthusiastic devotees. Or perhaps you may spend time reading sutras and chanting and doing much zazen without ever lying down. Perhaps you will eat only once a day, observe the fast days, and practice religious deeds throughout the six periods of the day. Even when you practice forthrightly like this, if you don’t embody the untransmissible and mysterious way of the Buddhas and the ancestors, hold it in your hearts, you will soon come to ignore the law of cause and effect and fall off the true wind and earth. All such beings belong to the family of evil demons. However long my departure from the world may be, I will not permit them to be called my descendants. However, let there be just one individual, who may be living in the wilderness in a hut thatched with one bundle of straw passing the days eating vegetables and roots boiled in a broken legged pot; if that person is single-mindedly devoted to the investigation of their own affairs, that is the very one who has a daily interview with this old monk and is the real person of gratitude. Who should ever despise such a one? Be diligent, be diligent!
SHIGU SEI GANFour Great Vows
(Three times)
shu jo mu hen
sei gan do
bon no mu jin
sei gan dan
ho mon mu ryo
sei gan gaku
butsu do mu jo
sei gan jo
Beings numberless
Vow to liberate
Faults without end
Vow to overcome
Wisdom boundless
Vow to learn
Awakened way unsurpassed
Vow to embody
EMMEI JUKKO KANNON GYOKannon Sutra Chant
kan ze on
na mu butsu
yo butsu u in
yo butsu u en
bu po so en
jo raku go jo
cho nen kan ze on
bo nen kan ze on
nen nen ju shin ki
nen nen fu ri shin
Kanzeon
Buddha of compassion
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 heart and mind
This moment itself is heart and mind
ATTA DIPA
Look Within
atta dipa
viharatha
atta sharana
ananna sharana
dhamma dipa
dhamma sharana
ananna sharana
Look within!
You are The Light.
Take refuge in yourself.
Do not take refuge in others.
Look within!
The Light is The Dharma.
Take refuge in The Dharma.
Do not take refuge in anything,
Other than The Dharma.
SANGE
Repentance Chant
ga shaku sho zo sho aku go (bell)
kai yu mu shi ton jin chi (bell)
ju shin ku i shi sho sho (bell
issai ga kon kai san ge (bell)
All evil committed by me past and future,
due to my limitless greed, anger and folly,
born of my body mouth and mind,
I now repent.
REFUGE CHANT
Namu ki e butsu
Namu ki e ho
Namu ki e so
Ki ebutsu mu jo son
Ki e ho ri yoku son
Ki e so wa go son
ki e bukkyo
Ki e ho kyo
Ki e so kyo
Take refuge in Buddha
Take refuge in Dharma
Take refuge in Sangh
Take refuge in Buddha the incomparable honored one
Thke refuge in Dharma, honored for purity
Take refuge in Sangha, honored for harmony
Refuge in Buddha accomplished
Refuge in Dharma accomplished
Refuge in Sangha accomplished
Proudly powered by Weebly