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Evening Practice

Incense Offering
 
Precious incense is burning.
Pervading the dharma realm,
the assembly of Buddhas
receives the jewel-like fragrance.
 
Auspicious clouds now appear
as I sincerely request,
that in their loving-kindness,
the Buddhas be present here.
 
Repentance Verse
 
All my unskillful karma, 
born from mental defilement, 
made known in deed, speech, and thought, 
I now avow and transform. 
 
Beneath Dark Clouds (Based on Verses from the Shoshinge)
 
To those bound by blind passion
unable to free themselves,
Shakyamuni Buddha taught
the practice of nembutsu.
 
Despite our unskillful acts
when we hear the holy name
with a single thought of faith
then our birth becomes assured.
 
Though defilement may remain,
our lives will yet be brightened.
Overhead dark clouds may pass,
but still our hearts will rejoice.
 
 Opening the Dharma
 
The profound and rare Dharma
not easily encountered,
I now see, hear and accept.
May I know its true meaning.
 
[Bell]


Juseige

BUSSETSU MURYO JUKYO
[Bell]

GA GON CHO SE GAN
HIS-SHI MU JO DO
SHI GAN FU MAN ZOKU
SEI FU JO SHO GAKU

 

GA O MU RYO KO
FU I DAI SE SHU
FU SAI SHO BIN GU
SEI FU JO SHO GAKU

 

GA SHI JO BUTSU DO
MYO SHO CHO JIP-PO
KU KYO MI SHO MON
SEI FU JO SHO GAKU

 

RI YOKU JIN SHO NEN
JO E SHU BON GYO
SHI GU MU JO DO
I SHO TEN NIN SHI 

 

JIN RIKI EN DAI KO
FU SHO MU SAI DO
SHO JO SAN KU MYO
KO SAI SHU YAKU NAN

 

KAI HI CHI E GEN
MES-SHI KON MO AN
HEI SOKU SHO AKU DO
TSU DATSU ZEN SHU MON

 

KO SO JO MAN ZOKU
I YO RO JIP-PO
NICHI GATSU SHU JU KI
TEN KO ON PU GEN

 

ISHU KAI HO ZO
KO SE KU DOKU HO
JO O DAI SHU CHU
SEP-PO SHI SHI KU

 

KU YO IS-SAI BUTSU
GU SOKU SHU TOKU HON
GAN E SHITSU JO MAN
TOKU I SAN GAI O

 

NYO BUTSU MU GE CHI
TSU DATSU Ml FU SHO
GAN GA KU E RIKI
TO SHI SAI SHO SON


SHI GAN NYAK-KO KA
DAI SEN O KAN DO
KO KU SHO TEN NIN
TO U CHIN MYO KE

In Praise of Amida Buddha's Light
 
Amida Buddha's light shines
throughout the ten directions
grasping those who hold his name
never to abandon them.
 

 

 

 


[Nembutsu]
 
Vow for Rebirth and Return
 
At the moment of my death
there will be no obstacles.
I will instantly be born
in Amida Buddha's land.
 
I will return to this world
until the hells are empty.
Only when all have been saved
will I enter cessation.
 
The Bodhisattva Vows
 
The numberless multitude, 
I will lead across and save;
Inexhaustible passions,
I will cut off and remove.
 
Dharma-gates without measure,
I will enter and master;
The unsurpassed Buddha way,
I will follow and attain.
 
Dedication of Merit
 
May this merit and virtue
be shared universally,
that all may be led across
 
each in their own time and way
and together we may be
born in Utmost Happiness.
 

Verses Based on the Juseige

Buddha Speaks the Infinite Life Sutra

[Bell]

[In the immeasurable past,
before an Exalted One,
ready to proclaim his vows
Dharmakara kindly spoke:]
 
“I establish the Great Vows.
I attain the Supreme Way. 
Should these vows not be fulfilled,
I would not become Buddha.
 
Throughout immeasurable time,
I shall save all those in need.
Should I fail in this great task,
I would not become Buddha.
 
When at last I am Buddha, 
if there is a single place
where my name cannot be heard
I would not become Buddha.
 
My mind free of defilement
I will walk the Highest Path; 
with moon-like serenity,
I will turn the Dharma-wheel.
 
I will be a source of light
piercing all dream-like thinking.
With depth of right reflection, 
in all places I will shine. 
 
I will open wisdom's eye. 
I will remove ignorance.
I will cut off evil paths.
I will open Dharma-gates.
 
With all merits and virtues 
my great light shall be adorned.
Across all the world-systems
unhindered my light shall shine.
 
From those drowning and adrift
I will be inseparable.
With a lion's roar and thunder
I will give Dharma-treasure.
 
Recollecting all Buddhas, 
I will attain all virtues. 
Throughout the vast world-systems 
I will master the three realms.
 
Just as there is no place where
your wisdom does not prevail,
World Honored One and Buddha,
so too will my wisdom be. 
 
If these vows be not in vain, 
let the world-systems tremble 
And the heavenly devas 
rain down wondrous sky-flowers.”
 
[Now as Amida Buddha 
Dharmakara dwells beyond
a billion worlds to the west,
where he expounds the Dharma.]

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