Meal Services

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