“Mind is unlimited. Chanting when performed egolessly has the power to penetrate visible and invisible worlds.”
Audio Files
Audio files in mp3 format are within the toggles for each chant if recordings are available. To save, right click then select “Save Link As.”
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Chants and Sutras
mp3 audio of Prajna Paramita
The Bodhisattva of Compassion
from the depths of prajna wisdom
saw the emptiness of all five
skandhas and sundered the bonds
that create suff’ring.
Know then:
Form here is only emptiness,
emptiness only form.
Form is no other than emptiness,
emptiness no other than form.
Feeling, thought and choice
consciousness itself
are the same as this.
Dharmas here are empty,
all are the primal void.
None are born or die.
Nor are they stained or pure,
nor do they wax or wane.
So in emptiness no form,
no feeling, thought or choice,
nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose,
tongue, body, mind;
no color, sound, smell,
taste, touch or what the mind
takes hold of,
nor even act of sensing.
No ignorance or end of it,
nor all that comes of ignorance:
no withering, no death,
no end of them.
Nor is there pain or cause of pain
or cease in pain or noble path
to lead from pain,
not even wisdom to attain,
attainment too is emptiness.
So know that the Bodhisattva,
holding to nothing whatever
but dwelling in prajna wisdom,
is freed of delusive hindrance,
rid of the fear bred by it,
and reaches clearest nirvana.
All buddhas of past and present,
buddhas of future time
through faith in prajna wisdom
come to full enlightenment.
Know then the great dharani, the radiant, peerless mantra,
the supreme, unfailing mantra,
the Prajna Paramita,
whose words allay all pain.
This is highest wisdom,
true beyond all doubt,
know and proclaim its truth:
Gate, gate
paragate
parasamgate
bodhi, svaha!
mp3 audio of Kanzeon
Kanzeon!
Praise to Buddha!
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 springs from Mind.
This moment itself is Mind.
mp3 audio of En Mei Jikku Kannon Gyo
Kanzeon!Namu Butsu
Yo Butsu U In
Yo Butsu U En
Bup Po So En
Jo Raku Ga Jo
Cho Nen Kanzeon
Bo Nen Kanzeon
Nen Nen Ju Shin Ki
Nen Nen Fu Ri Shin
mp3 audio of Affirming Faith in Mind
LEADER:
The Great Way . . .
ALL:
is not difficult
for those who do not pick and choose.
When pref’rences are cast aside
the Way stands clear and undisguised.
But even slight distinctions made
set earth and heaven far apart.
If you would clearly see the truth,
discard opinions pro and con.
To founder in dislike and like
is nothing but the mind’s disease.
And not to see the Way’s deep truth
disturbs the mind’s essential peace.
The Way is perfect like vast space,
where there’s no lack and no excess.
Our choice to choose and to reject
prevents our see’ng this simple truth.
Both striving for the outer world
as well as for the inner void
condemn us to entangled lives.
Just calmly see that all is One
and by themselves false views will go.
Attempts to stop activity
will fill you with activity.
Remaining in duality,
you’ll never know of unity.
And not to know this unity
lets conflict lead you far astray.
When you assert that things are real
you miss their true reality.
But to assert that things are void
also misses reality.
The more you talk and think on this
the further from the truth you’ll be.
Cut off all useless thoughts and words
and there’s nowhere you cannot go.
Returning to the root itself,
you’ll find the meaning of all things.
If you pursue appearances
you overlook the primal source.
Awak’ning is to go beyond
both emptiness as well as form.
All changes in this empty world
seem real because of ignorance.
Do not go searching for the truth,
just let those fond opinions go.
Abide not in duality,
refrain from all pursuit of it.
If there’s a trace of right and wrong,
True-mind is lost, confused, distraught.
From One-mind comes duality,
but cling not even to this One.
When this One-mind rests undisturbed
then nothing in the world offends.
And when no thing can give offense,
then all obstructions cease to be.
If all thought-objects disappear
the thinking subject drops away.
For things are things because of mind,
as mind is mind because of things.
These two are merely relative
and both at source are Emptiness.
In Emptiness these are not two,
yet in each are contained all forms.
Once coarse and fine are seen no more,
then how can there be taking sides?
The Great Way is without limit,
beyond the easy and the hard.
But those who hold to narrow views
are fearful and irresolute;
their frantic haste just slows them down.
If you’re attached to anything,
you surely will go far astray.
Just let go now of clinging mind,
and all things are just as they are.
In essence nothing goes or stays.
See into the true self of things,
and you’re in step with the Great Way,
thus walking freely, undisturbed.
But live in bondage to your thoughts,
and you will be confused, unclear.
This heavy burden weighs you down—
so why keep judging good and bad?
If you would walk the highest Way,
do not reject the sense domain.
For as it is, whole and complete,
this sense world is enlightenment.
The wise do not strive after goals,
but fools place bonds upon themselves.
The One Way knows no diff’rences,
the foolish cling to this and that.
To see Great Mind with thinking mind
is certainly a grave mistake.
From small mind come rest and unrest,
but mind awakened transcends both.
Delusion spawns dualities—
these dreams are merely flow’rs of air—
why work so hard at grasping them?
Both gain and loss, and right and wrong—
once and for all get rid of them.
When you no longer are asleep,
all dreams will vanish by themselves.
If mind does not discriminate,
all things are as they are, as One.
To go to this mysterious Source
frees us from all entanglements.
When all is seen with “equal mind,”
to our Self-nature we return.
This single mind goes right beyond
all reasons and comparison.
Stop movement and there’s no movement,
Stop rest and no-rest comes instead.
When rest and no-rest cease to be,
then even oneness disappears.
This ultimate finality’s
beyond all laws, can’t be described.
With single mind one with the Way,
all ego-centered strivings cease;
Doubts and confusion disappear,
and so true faith pervades our life.
There is no thing that clings to us,
and nothing that is left behind.
All’s self-revealing, void and clear,
without exerting power of mind.
Thought cannot reach this state of truth,
here feelings are of no avail.
In this true world of Emptiness
both self and other are no more.
To enter this true empty world,
immediately affirm “not-two.”
In this “not-two” all is the same,
with nothing separate or outside.
The wise in all times and places
awaken to this primal truth.
The Way’s beyond all space, all time,
one instant is ten thousand years.
Not only here, not only there,
truth’s right before your very eyes.
Distinctions such as large and small
have relevance for you no more.
The largest is the smallest too—
here limitations have no place.
What is is not, what is not is
if this is not yet clear to you,
you’re still far from the inner truth.
One thing is all, all things are one—
know this and all’s whole and complete.
When faith and Mind are not sep’rate,
and not sep’rate are Mind and faith,
this is beyond all words, all thought
For here there is no yesterday,
no tomorrow,
no today.
No audio for this chant
LEADER:The mind of . . .
ALL:
the great sage of In-di-a
is inti-mate-ly trans-mitted from west to east.
While human facul-ties are sharp or dull,
the Way has no north-ern or southern ances-tors.
The subtle source shines clear in the light;
the branching streams flow on in the dark.
Gras-ping at things is sure-ly de-lu-sion ac-cor-ding with
same-ness is still not en-lighten-ment.
All the ob-jects of the sen-ses
inter-act and yet do not.
Inter-ac-ting brings in-volve-ment.
Other-wise, each keeps its place.
Sights vary in charac-ter and form,
sounds differ as pleas-ing or harsh.
Re-fined and coarse speech
come to-gether in the dark,
Clear and murky phra-ses
are dis-tinguished in the light.
The four ele-ments re-turn to their na-tures
just as a child turns to its mo-ther;
Fire heats, wind moves,
water wets, earth is sol-id.
Eye and sights, ear and sounds,
nose and smells, tongue and tastes;
Thus with each and every-thing,
de-pending on these roots, the leaves spread forth.
Trunk and bran-ches share the es-sence;
re-fined and com-mon, each has its speech.
In the light there is dark but don’t take it as dark;
in the dark there is light, but don’t see it as light
Light and dark op-pose one a-noth-er
like the front and back foot in walk-ing.
Each of the myriad things has its mer-it ex-pressed
ac-cording to func-tion and place.
Phe-nome-na e-xist — box and lid fit;
princi-ple re-sponds — arrow points meet.
Hear-ing the words, under-stand the mean-ing;
don’t set up stan-dards of your own.
If you don’t under-stand the Way right be-fore you,
how will you know the path as you walk?
Pro-gress is not a mat-ter of far or near,
but if you are con-fused, moun-tains and ri-vers block your way.
I re-spect-fully urge you who stu-dy the myster-y do
not pass your days and nights in vain.
mp3 audio of The Lotus Sutra Scripture
LEADER:
In verse Mujinni Bodhisattva asked,
“World Honored One possessor of all grace
For what reason is the heir of the Buddha named Kanzeon?”
ALL:
The World Honored One answered too in verse:
“Listen to the actions of Kanzeon
Which have their application to all!
Her vow is deep like the ocean
Unfathomable though kalpas pass
A myriad of Buddhas she has truly served
And made a great, pure vow.
If you hear her name and see her body,
and bear her in mind,
Your life will not be in vain;
And you will end all sufferings.
If someone wants to hurt you
And pushes you into a great firepit,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
The firepit will change into a pond.
If you’re cast adrift upon the vast ocean
And meet danger from dragons, fish and demons,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
The waves will not drown you.
If from the peak of Sumeru
Someone would push you down
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
Like the sun you will stand firm in the sky.
If evil ones chase you
And push you from Mount Diamond,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
Not even a single hair will be harmed.
If robbers surround you
Each with a sword drawn to strike,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
Compassion will awaken in them.
If you suffer by royal command
And your life is to end in execution,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
The sword will be broken to bits.
If you are imprisoned,
Shackled, and chained,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
The fetters will drop and you’ll be released.
If someone wants to injure you
With curses or poison,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
These ills will return from whence they came.
If you meet evil rakshas,
Poisonous dragons or demons,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
They will not dare to harm you.
If you are surrounded by evil beasts
Whose teeth and claws are fearfully sharp,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
They will run away in boundless retreat.
If vipers, lizards, snakes or scorpions,
Threaten to scorch you with poisonous breath
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
They will turn away quickly at the sound
of your voice.
If clouds thunder and lightning flashes,
If hailstones beat and rain pours down,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
Immediately they will vanish away.
If sentient beings are in great adversity
And immeasurable suffering presses them down,
The wonderful power of the wisdom of Kannon can relieve the sufferings of the world.
Endowed with transcendent powers
Full master of wisdom and skillful means,
In all the worlds in the ten directions,
There’s no place she doesn’t manifest herself.
The suff’rings of those in the troubled states:
Hell dwellers, hungry spirits, and beasts;
The sufferings of birth, old age, illness and death all by degrees are ended by her.
She of the true gaze, she of the pure gaze,
gaze of great and encompassing wisdom,
gaze of pity, gaze of compassion—
ever longed for, ever revered.
She is a spotless pure ray of light,
A sun of wisdom dispelling darkness.
Subduer of woes of storm and fire
Illumining all the world.
Her will of compassion shakes like thunder;
Her mind of mercy is like a great cloud
Which sends down sweet dew of Dharma rain to quench the flames of earthly desires.
In disputes before judges or in the midst of battle,
If you think on the power of Kanzeon
All enemies will flee away.
She has a wondrous voice,
The voice of one who perceives the world,
A brahma voice, voice of the rolling tide,
A voice unsurpassed in all this world;
Therefore you should always think on her.
Have no doubt, even for a moment
The pure seer Kanzeon will be a refuge
When suffering distress or the misery of death. She is endowed with every quality.
Her eye of compassion views all sentient beings, her ocean of blessings is beyond measure. Therefore you should pay homage to her.”
Then Jiji bodhisattva arose,
Stood before the Buddha and addressed him thus:
“World Honored One, they who hear this scripture
Of Kanzeon bosatsu, and hear of her deeds
And transcendent powers,
No small amount of merit will they gain.”
Lead Chanter: (All with hands in gassho)
When the Buddha taught the scripture of the life and work of the All-Sided One, all present then in number eighty-four thousand strong, with all their hearts cherished a longing for the Supreme Enlightenment, with which nothing in all the universe compares.
mp3 audio of The Ancestral Line
LEADER:O Awakened Ones! May the power of your samadhi sustain us. We now return the merit of our chanting to:
ALL (Hands in Gassho):
Vipashyin Buddha, Honored One
Shikhin Buddha, Honored One
Vishvabhu Buddha, Honored One
Krakucchanda Buddha, Honored One
Kanakamuni Buddha, Honored One
Kashyapa Buddha, Honored One
Shakyamuni Buddha, Honored One
Mahakashyapa, Honored One
Ananda, Honored One
Shanavasa, Honored One
Upagupta, Honored One
Dhritaka, Honored One
Miccaka, Honored One
Vasumitra, Honored One
Buddhanandi, Honored One
Buddhamitra, Honored One
Bhikshu Parshva, Honored One
Punyayashas, Honored One
Ashvaghosha, Honored One
Kapimala, Honored One
Nagarjuna, Honored One
Kanadeva, Honored One
Rahulata, Honored One
Sanghanandi, Honored One
Gayashata, Honored One
Kumarata, Honored One
Jayata, Honored One
Vasubandhu, Honored One
Manorhita, Honored One
Haklenayashas, Honored One
Bhikshu Simha, Honored One
Basiasita, Honored One
Punyamitra, Honored One
Prajnatara, Honored One
Bodhidharma, Honored One
Tai-dzoo Hway ku, Honored One
(T’ai-tsu Hui-k’o)
Jyen-jrh Sung-tsan, Honored One
(Chien-chih Seng-ts’an)
Dah-yee Dau-syin, Honored One
(Ta-i Tao-hsin)
Dah-mahn Hoong-ren, Honored One
(Ta-man Hung-jen)
Dah-jyen Hway-nung, Honored One
(Ta-chien Hui-neng)
Ching-yuen Sying-sih, Honored One
(Ching-yuan Hsing-ssu)
Shr-toe Syi-chien, Honored One
(Shih-t’ou Hsi-ch’ien)
Yueh-shan Way-yen, Honored One
(Yueh-shan Wei-yen)
Yoon-yen Tahn-shung, Honored One
(Yun-yen T’an-sheng)
Doong-shan Lyang-jyeh, Honored One
(Tung-shan Liang-chieh)
Yoon-joo Dow-ying, Honored One
(Yun-chu Tao-ying)
Toong-ahn Dow-ying, Honored One
(T’ung-an Tao-ying)
Toong-ahn Gwon-jrh, Honored One
(T’ung-an Kuan-chih)
Lyang-shan Yuen-gwan, Honored One
(Liang-shan Yuan-kuan)
Dah-yahng Jing-shwen, Honored One
(Ta-yang Ching-hsuan)
Toe-dz Yee-ching, Honored One
(T’ou-tzu I-ch’ing)
Fu-roong Dow-kai, Honored One
(Fu-jung Tao-k’ai)
Dhan-shah Dz-chun, Honored One
(Tan-hsia Tzu-ch’un)
Jun-syeh Ching-lyiao, Honored One
(Chen-hsieh Ch’ing-liao)
Tyen-toong Dzoong-jueh, Honored One
(T’ien-t’ung Tsung-chueh)
Shueh-doe Jrh-jyen, Honored One
(Hsueh-tou Chih-chien)
Tyen-toong Roo-jing, Honored One
(T’ien-t’ung Ju-ching)
Eihei Dogen, Honored One
Koun Ejo, Honored One
Tetsu Gikai, Honored One
Keizan Jokin, Honored One
Meiho Sotetsu, Honored One
Shugan Dochin, Honored One
Tessan Shikaku, Honored One
Keigan Eisho, Honored One
Chuzan Ryoun, Honored One
Gisan Tonin, Honored One
Shogaku Kenryu, Honored One
Kinen Horyu, Honored One
Teishitsu Chisen, Honored One
Kokei Shojun, Honored One
Sesso Yuho, Honored One
Kaiten Genju, Honored One
Shuzan Shunsho, Honored One
Chozan Genetsu, Honored One
Fukushu Kochi, Honored One
Myodo Yuton, Honored One
Hakuho Gentekki, Honored One
Gesshu Soko, Honored One
Tokuo Ryoko, Honored One
Hogan Soren, Honored One
Sekiso Tesshu, Honored One
Ryuko Ryoshu, Honored One
Renzan Soho, Honored One
Motsugai shido, Honored One
Gukei Youn, Honored One
Kakusho Sodo, Honored One
Daiun Sogaku, Honored One
Hakuun Ryoko, Honored One
Philip Kapleau, Honored One
LEADER:
You who have handed down the light of Dharma,
we shall repay your benevolence.
ALL:
Ten Directions, Three Worlds,
All Buddhas, Bodhisattva-mahasattvas,
Maha Prajna Paramita.
mp3 audio of Honzon Eko, 10 Directions, Four Vows
(Chanted with hands in gassho)
LEADER:
Faith in Buddha, Dharma, Sangha
brings true liberation.
We now return the merit of our chanting to:
Shakyamuni Buddha
Manjusri Bodhisattva
Avalokita Bodhisattva
Bhadra Bodhisattva
We place our faith in the Great Heart of Perfect Wisdom.
May all beings attain Buddhahood!
TEN DIRECTIONS
ALL:
Ten Directions, Three Worlds,
All Buddhas, Bodhisattva-mahasattvas
Maha Prajna Paramita.
mp3 audio of Honzon Eko, 10 Directions, Four Vows
(Chanted with hands in gassho.)
All beings, without number, I vow to liberate.Endless blind passions, I vow to uproot.
Dharma gates, beyond measure, I vow to penetrate.
The Great Way of Buddha, I vow to attain.
Dharanis and Mantras
mp3 audio of Dai Hi Shin
Namu Kara Tan No Tora Ya Ya Namu Ori Ya Boryo Ki Chi Shifu Ra YaFuji Sato Bo Ya Moko Sato Bo Ya Mo Ko Kya Runi Kya Ya En Sa
Hara Ha Ei Shu Tan No Ton Sha Namu Shiki Ri Toi Mo Ori Ya
Boryo Ki Chi Shifu Ra Rin To Bo Na Mu No Ra Kin 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 Tei Cho
To Ji To En O Bo Ryo Ki Ru Gya Chi Kya Rya Chi I
Kiri Mo Ko Fuji 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 Chiri Ni Shifu Ra Ya
Sha Ro Sha Ro Mo Mo Ha Mo Ra Ho Chi Ri Yu Ki Yu Ki Shi No Shi No
Ora San Fura Sha Ri Ha Za Ha Za Fura 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 Fuji Ya Fuji Ya Fudo Ya Fudo Ya Mi Chiri Ya Nora Kin Ji
Chiri Shuni No Hoya Mono Somo Ko Shido Ya Somo Ko
Moko Shido Ya Somo Ko Shidu Yu Ki Shifu Ra Ya Somo Ko
Nora Kin Ji Somo Ko Mo Ra No Ra Somo Ko Shira Su Omo Gya Ya
Somo Ko Sobo Moko Shido Ya Somo Ko Shaki Ra Oshi Do Ya
Somo Ko Hodo Mogya Shido Ya Somo Ko Nora Kin Ji Ha Gyara Ya
Somo Ko Mo Hori Shin Gyara Ya Somo Ko Namu Kara Tan No
Tora Ya Ya Namu Ori Ya Boryo Ki Chi Shifu Ra Ya
Somo Ko Shite Do Modo Ra Hodo Ya So Mo Ko.
mp3 audio of Sho Sai Myo
No Mo Sam Man Da Moto Nam Oha Ra ChiKoto Sha Sono Nan To Ji To En
Gya Gya Gya Ki Gya Ki
Un Nun Shifu Ra Shifu Ra
Hara Shifu Ra Hara Shifu Ra
Chishu Sa Chishu Sa
Chishu Ri Chishu Ri
Soha Ja Soha Ja
Sen Chi Gya Shiri Ei Somo Ko
mp3 audio of MANTRA OF BHAISAJYAGURU
Na Mo Bha Ga Va Te Bhai Sa Jya Gu RuVai Du Rya Pra Bha Ra Ja Ya Ta Tha Ga Ta
Ya Ar Ha Te Sam Yak Sam Bud Dha Ya
Ta Dya Tha Om Bhai Sa Jye Bhai Sa Jye
Bhai Sa Jya Sam Mud Ga Te Sva Ha
mp3 audio of DHARANI OF AVALOKITESVARA
Na-mo rat-natra-ya-ya
na-mah
ar-ya a-va-lo-ki-tes-va-ra-ya
bo-dhi-satt-va-ya ma-ha-satt-va-ya
ma-ha ka-ru-ni-ka-ya
o-om
sa-ba-la va-ti
su-dha-na-tas-ya
na-mas kri-va-ni-mam
ar-ya a-va-lo-ki-tes-va-ra
lam-ta-bha na-mo
ni-la-kan-tha
sri-ma-ha-pa-ta-sa-mi
sar-va-to-dhu-su-phem
a-si-yum sar-va-sa-da
na-ma bha-ga
ma-bha-te-tu
tad-ya-tha o-om
a-va-lo-ki lo-ka-te
ka-la-ti e-si-li
ma-ha bo-dhi-satt-va
sa-bho sa-bho
ma-ra ma-ra
ma-si ma-si
ri-dha-yum
gu-ru gu-ru
ga-mam
tu-ru tu-ru
bha-si-ya-ti
ma-ha
vha-si-ya-ti
dha-ra dha-ra
dhi-ri-ni sva-ra-ya
ja-la ja-la
ma-ma bha-ma-ra
mu-dhi-li
e-dhye-hi
si-na si-na
a-la-sim
bha-la-sa-ri bha-sa
bha-sim bha-ra-sa-ya
hu-lu hu-lu pra
hu-lu hu-lu
sri sa-ra sa-ra
si-ri si-ri su-ru su-ru
bu-dhi bu-dhi
bu-dha-ya bu-dha-ya
mai-tri-ye
ni-la-kan-tha
tri-sa-ra-na
bha-ya-ma-na sva-ha
si-ta-ya sva-ha
ma-ha si-ta-ya sva-ha si-ta-ya-ye
sva-ra-ya sva-ha
ni la-kan-thi sva-ha
pra-ni-la sva-ha
sri si-dha
mu-kha-ya sva-ha
sar-va ma-ha
as-ta-ya sva-ha
cak-ra as-ta-ya sva-ha
pad-ma ke-sa-ya sva-ha
ni-la-kan-the
pan-ta-la-ya sva-ha
mo-bho-li-san-ka-ra-ye sva-ha
na-mo rat-na tra-ya-ya
na-mah ar-ya a-va-lo-ki-ta
is-var-a-ya sva-ha
o-om
sidh-yan-tu
man-tra pa-ta-ye sva-ha!