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Gathas and Verses

General Dedication

All Buddhas throughout space and time
All Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas
Maha Prajnaparamita

Gatha On Opening The Sutra

(Before Dharma talk)
The Dharma, incomparably profound and infinitely subtle,
is always encountered,
but rarely perceived
even in millions of ages.
Now we see it, hear it, receive and maintain it.
May we completely realize
the Tathagata’s true meaning.

Gatha Of Atonement

(before morning zazen)
All karma ever committed by me since of old,
due to my beginningless greed, hatred, lust, envy and delusion,
Born of my action, speech, and thoughts,
now I atone for it all.

Verse Of The Kesa

(after dawn zazen)
Vast is the robe of liberation,
a formless field of benefaction.
I wear the Tathagata-teaching
serving all sentient beings.

The Four Vows

(after evening zazen, and Dharma activity)
Numberless beings, I vow to serve them.
Inexhaustible delusions, I vow to end them.
Boundless dharmas, I vow to practice them.
Unsurpassable Buddha Way, I vow to embody it.

Informal Meal Gatha

Let us reflect on the efforts that brought us this food
And consider how it comes to us.
Reflect on our virtue and practice, and whether we are worthy of this offering.
Regard greed as the obstacle to freedom of mind
Regard this meal as medicine to sustain our life.
For the sake of enlightenment, we now receive this food.
First, this food is for the Three Treasures;
Second, it is for our teachers, parents, community and all beings everywhere.
Third, it is for all beings in the six realms.
Thus, we eat this food with everyone.
We eat to stop all evil
To practice good;
To liberate all beings;
And to accomplish the Buddha way.

Meal Chant

All:
Buddha was born in Kapilavastu,
Enlightened in Maghada,
Taught in Varanasi,
Entered Nirvana in Kusinagara.
Now we set out Buddha’s eating bowls.
May we, with all living beings,
Realize the emptiness of the three wheels:
Giver, receiver, and gift.

Leader:
In the midst of the Three Treasures
Together with all beings,
Let us recite the names of Buddha:

All:
Pure Dharmakaya Vairochana Buddha
Complete Sambhogakaya Lochana Buddha
Myriad Nirmanakaya Shakyamuni Buddhas
Future Maitreya Buddha
All Buddhas throughout space and time;
Mahayana Sutra, Lotus of the Wondrous Dharma.
Great Wisdom Manjusri Bodhisattva;
Great Action Samantabhadra Bodhisattva;
Great Compassion Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva;
Great Vow Jizo Bodhisattva:
All Bodhisattva- Mahasattvas;
Wisdom beyond Wisdom Maha Prajna Paramita.

Head Trainee/Shuso: (Breakfast)
This food comes from the efforts of all beings, past and present; and its ten benefits give us physical and spiritual well-being and promote pure practice.

Head Trainee/Shuso: (Lunch)
We offer this meal of three virtues and six tastes
to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha,
and to all the life in the Dharma worlds.

All:
Let us reflect on the efforts that brought us this food
And consider how it comes to us.
Reflect on our virtue and practice, and whether we are worthy of this offering.
Regard greed as the obstacle to freedom of mind
Regard this meal as medicine to sustain our life.
For the sake of enlightenment, we now receive this food.

All: Lunch only
Oh spirits, we now give you this offering;
This food is for all of you in the ten directions.

All:
First, this food is for the Three Treasures;
Second, it is for our teachers, parents, community and all beings everywhere.
Third, it is for all beings in the six realms.
Thus, we eat this food with everyone.
We eat to stop all evil
To practice good;
To liberate all beings;
And to accomplish the Buddha way.

All: (when bowl cleaning water is being collected)
The water with which we wash these bowls,
tastes like ambrosia.
We offer it to all you various spirits.
May you be fully satisfied.
Om, Makurasai Svaha!

Leader: (after the meal)
Abiding in this ephemeral world
Like a lotus in muddy water
The mind is pure and goes beyond.
Thus we bow to Buddha

Evening Verse

(Call and Response)
Leader: Let me respectfully remind you,

All: Life and death are of supreme importance.

Leader: Time swiftly passes by,

All: and opportunity is lost.

Leader: Each of us should strive to awaken…

All: awaken…

Leader: all: Take heed. Do not squander your life.

Altar Gatas:

Buddha Hall

SILA-INCENSE, SAMADHI-INCENSE, PRAJNA-INCENSE, LIBERATION INCENSE, LIBERATED-WISDOM-INCENSE; BRIGHTLY ILLUMINED CLOUD IS PERMEATING THE DHARMA WORLD.
I OFFER IT TO THE NUMEROUS BUDDHAS IN THE TEN DIRECTIONS, TO THE COUNTLESS SANGHA IN THE TEN DIRECTIONS, TO THE GREAT MASTER SHAKYMUNI BUDDHA, TO THE EIGHTY THOUSAND VENERABLE ARHATS ON MT. GRDHRAKUTA, TO ALL THE SRAVAKA AND PRATYEKA BUDDHAS.
PLEASE BESTOW BENEVOLENT COMPASSION AND WISDOM ON US.
NOMAKU SANMANDA
BODA NAN BAKU (3X)
(Make 3 bows)
OM ORIKYA SOWAKA (3X)

Zendo Main Altar

NAMO GREAT
MANJUSRI BODHISATTVA.
PRACTICE WITH PEACE AND COMFORT,
RAISE THE BODHI MIND.
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PRACTICE, ACHIEVEMENT OF BUDDHAHOOD.
OM ONORI BISHACHI BIRAHOJA RATORI HODO HODONI HOJAYA HONIHAN KUKITSURYO
YOHAN SOMOKO (3X)
(Make 3 bows)

Zendo Front Bathroom

NAMO USUSAMA MYOO
(3X)
SAFETY IN
THE TEMPLE PROPERTY
PURITY IN
THE TEMPLE BUILDINGS
OM KURODAYA SOWAKA
(3X)

Dokusan Room

NOMAKU SANMANDA
BODA NAN BAKU (3X)
(Make 3 bows)

Kanzeon Room Altar

OM ORIKA SOWAKA
(3X)

Shower/Bath Altar

NAMO BADDABARA
BODHISATTVA,
SIXTEEN BODHISATTVAS
REMOVE DEFILEMENTS AND
MAKE BOTH
THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CLEAN.
SWIFTLY ENTER INTO WATER-NATURE-SAMADHI
OM GYAGARI SOWAKA
(3 X)

Mahaprajapati’s Altar

SILA-INCENSE, SAMADHI-INCENSE, PRAJNA INCENSE,
LIBERATION-WISDOM INCENSE;
BRIGHTLY ILLUMINED CLOUD
IS PERMEATING
THE DHARMA WORLD.
I OFFER IT TO THE NUMEROUS BUDDHAS IN THE TEN
DIRECTIONS, TO THE BOUNDLESS
DHARMAS IN THE TEN
DIRECTIONS, TO THE GREAT
FEMALE ANCESTOR
MAHAPAJAPATI,
WHO HAS LED THE WAY FOR WOMEN
IN THE DHARMA WORLDS.
PLEASE BESTOW BENEVOLENT COMPASSION AND WISDOM UPON US.
NOMAKU SANMANDA BODA
NAN BAKU (3X)

Kitchen Altar

NAMO PROTECTOR IDASONTEN
DAIKOKU SONTEN
BISHAMON SONTEN
THOSE WHO ARE EQUAL
IN THE MEALS ARE EQUAL
IN THE DHARMA.
THOSE WHO ARE EQUAL IN THE DHARMA
ARE EQUAL IN THE MEALS.
PLEASE REVOLVE BOTH THE
WHEELS OF THE DHARMA
AND THE WHEELS OF THE MEALS.
OM IDATETA MAKATETA SOWAKA (3X)
OM MAKA KYARAYA SOWAKA (3X)
OM BEI SHIRA MANAYA SOWAKA (3X)
GUARDIANS OF WATER, FIRE,
FURNACES AND GARDENS:
PLEASE REMOVE ALL OBSTACLES
AND HINDRANCES.

Hakuryusan Altar

NAMO HAKURYU O DAIZENJIN
PROTECTORS OF THIS TEMPLE AND ITS GROUNDS.
SHOHO SHICHIRO DAIGEN SHURI
BOSATSU AND HIS RELATIONS.
PLEASE OPERATE THE POWER TO PROTECT THE DHARMA AND TO PROTECT THE SANGHA FROM ALL OBSTACLES.
OM SORA SOBA TE EI SOWAKA (3X)
OM ONORI BISHACHI BIRAHOJA RATORI
HODO HODONI HOJAYA HONIHAN KUKITSURYO YOHAN SOMOKO (3X)

Kaisando Altar

FIRST ANCESTOR
BODHIDHARMA,
TWENTY-EIGHT INDIAN ANCESTORS,
SIX ANCESTORS IN THE EASTERN LAND:
DA-JIEN HWAY-NUNG,
DUNG-SHAN LI-ANG JI-EH,
TIEN-TUNG RUU-JING,
JAPANESE FOUNDERS
EIHEI DOGEN
AND KEIZAN JOKIN;
THE SUCCESSIVE ANCESTORS IN
THE FOUR COUNTRIES.
TO BAIAN HAKUJUN,
HONORARY FOUNDER OF ZCLA
FIRST AMERICAN ANCESTOR
TAIZAN MAEZUMI
AND ALL WOMEN ANCESTORS
WHOSE NAMES HAVE BEEN
FORGOTTEN OR LEFT UNSAID.
PLEASE WITNESS THROUGH ABSOLUTE SAMADHI AND PROTECT US SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE LINEAGE OF THE SOTO TRADITION.
(Make nine bows)