Saturday Sutras

Donna Denman, Chant Leader

2022 Sensei Egart’s Talks on our Sutra Service 

Sutra Service Part 1

Sutra Service Part 2

Sutra Service Part 3

Saturday Sutra Service 

Purification

All the ancient twisted karma,
From beginningless greed, hatred and ignorance
Born of my body, mouth and thought,
I now confess openly and fully.
(repeated 3 times) 

Vandana

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammasambuddhassa.
(I venerate the Sacred One, the Great Sage, the Truly Enlightened One)

Ti-Sarana

Buddham saranam gacchami;
Dhammam saranam gacchami;
Sangham saranam gacchami.

I take refuge in Buddha;
I take refuge in Dharma;
I take refuge in Sangha.

The Great Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, practicing deep Prajna Paramita,

clearly saw that all five skandhas are empty,

transforming anguish and distress.

Shariputra, form is no other than emptiness,

emptiness no other than form;

Form is exactly emptiness, emptiness exactly form.

Sensation, perception, mental reaction, consciousness,

are also like this.

Shariputra, all things are essentially empty—

not born, not destroyed;

not stained, not pure;

without loss, without gain.

Therefore in emptiness there is no form, no sensation, perception,

mental reaction, consciousness;

no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind;

no color, sound, smell, taste, touch, object of thought;

no seeing and so on to no thinking,

no ignorance and also no ending of ignorance;

and so on to no old age and death

and also no ending of old age and death

no anguish, cause of anguish, cessation, path;

no wisdom and no attainment.

Since there is nothing to attain,

the Bodhisattva lives by Prajna Paramita,

with no hindrance in the mind;

no hindrance and therefore no fear;

far beyond delusive thinking right here is Nirvana.

All Buddhas of past, present and future live by Prajna Paramita,

attaining Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is the great sacred mantra,

the great vivid mantra,

the unsurpassed mantra,

the supreme mantra,

which completely removes all suffering.

This is truth, not mere formality.

Therefore set forth the Prajna Paramita mantra,

set forth this mantra and proclaim;

Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Swaha!

ShoSaiMyo Kichijo Dahrani
(The Dharani of Good Fortune That Averts Calamities)

No Mo San Man Da Moto Nan
(Veneration to all Buddhas!)

Oha Ra Chi Koto Sha Sono Nan
(The incomparable Buddha-power that banishes suffering)

To Ji To En Gya Gya Gya Ki Gya Ki Un Nun
(Om! The Buddha of reality, wisdom, Nirvana!)

Shifu Ra Shifu Ra Hara Shifu Ra Hara Shifu Ra
(Light! Light! Great light! Great light!)

Chishu Sa Chishu Sa Shushi Ri Shushi Ri
(With no categories, this mysterious power)

Soha Ja Soha Ja Sen Chi Gya Shiri Ei Somo Ko
(Saves all beings; suffering goes, happiness comes, Svaha!)
(repeat three times)

First Sutra Service Dedication

Buddha-nature pervades the whole universe, existing right here now,
With our reciting of the “Maka Hannya Haramita Shin Gyo”
            (or the “Great Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra”)
and “Shosaimyo Kichijo Dharani,”
Let us unite with:

The Ancient Seven Buddhas, Dai Osho,
Shakyamuni Buddha, Dai Osho,
Mahaprajapati, Dai Osho,
Boddhidharma, Dai Osho,
Tozan Ryokai, Dai Osho,
Matsuzan Ryonen, Dai Osho,
Dogen Kigen, Dai Osho,
Keizan Jokin, Dai Osho,
Mokufu Sonin, Dai Osho,
Daiun Sogaku, Dai Osho,
Hakuin Ryoko, Dai Osho,
Koun Zenshin, Dai Osho;
Robert Chotan Aitken, Dai Osho.

Infinite realms of light and dark convey the Buddha Mind;
Birds, trees and stars and we ourselves come forth in perfect harmony;
We recite our gatha and our sutra for the many beings of the world;
In grateful thanks to all our many guides along the ancient way;
All founding teachers, past, present, future, Dai Osho;
Let true Dharma continue,
Sangha relations become complete;

All Buddhas throughout space and time,
All bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas,The great Prajnaparamita.

Torei Zenji Bodhisattva’s Vow

When I look deeply into the real form of the universe,
everything reveals the mysterious truth of the Tathagata.
This truth never fails;
in every moment and in every place
things can’t help but shine with this light.

Realizing this, our ancestors gave reverent care
to animals, birds, and all beings.
Realizing this, we ourselves know
that our daily food, clothing and shelter
are the warm body and beating heart of the Buddha.

How can we be ungrateful to anyone or anything?
Even though someone may be a fool,
we can be compassionate.
If someone turns against us,
speaking ill of us and treating us bitterly,
it’s best to bow down:
this is the Buddha appearing to us,
finding ways to free us from our attachments—
the very ones that have made us suffer
again and again and again.

Now on each flash of thought
a lotus flower blooms,
and on each flower: a Buddha.
The light of the Tathagata
appears before us,
soaking into our feet.

May we share this mind with all beings
so that we and the world together
may grow in wisdom.
 

When Emmei Jikku Kanon Gyo
(Ten verse Kannon Sutra of Timeless Life)

Kan-ze-on!                                                       Kanzeon!

Na-mu Butsu                                                   I venerate the Buddha;

Yo Butsu U In                                                 with the Buddha I have my source

Yo Butsu U En                                                with the Buddha I have affinity —

Bup-po So En                                                 affinity with Buddha, Dharma, Sangha;

Jo-raku Ga Jo                                                constancy, ease, the self, and purity.

Cho Nen Kan-ze-on                                      Mornings my thought is Kanzeon;

Bo Nen Kan-ze-on                                         evenings my thought is Kanzeon;

Nen Nen Ju Shin Ki                                       thought after thought arises in the mind;

Nen Nen Fu Ri Shin                                      thought after thought is not separate from mind.
(repeat seven times)

Second Sutra Service Dedication
The Buddha and his teachers and his many sons and daughters turn the Dharma wheel to show the wisdom of the stones and clouds;
Whenever we send forth these invocations they are heard and subtly answered.  We give thanks to:

Rinzai Gigen, Dai Osho,
Hakuin Ekaku, Dai Osho,
Satsu, Dai Osho,
Torei Enji, Dai Osho,
Choro Nyogen, Dai Osho,
Hannya Gempo, Dai Osho,
Mitta Soen, Dai Osho,
Maurine Myoon Stuart, Dai Osho;

And to our relatives and companions of the past who rest in deepest samadhi,

All Buddhas throughout space and time,
All bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas,
The great Prajnaparamita. 

Great Vows for All
All Beings, one body, I vow to free them.
Greed, hatred and ignorance rise endlessly—I vow to abandon them.
Dharma gates are countless— I vow to wake to them.
The Buddha Way is unsurpassed- I vow to embody it fully.
(repeat three times)