Embedded Files
This ceremony is to offer peace of mind and courage to the sick and to those who have been victims of disasters as well as to their relatives and friends.
1. Opening the Ceremony
Sitting Meditation [12 minutes]
Incense Offering
[bell, bell, bell]
In gratitude, we offer this incense
throughout space and time
to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
May it be fragrant as Earth herself,
reflecting careful efforts,
wholehearted awareness,
and the fruit of understanding,
slowly ripening.
May we and all beings
be companions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
May we awaken from forgetfulness
and realize our true home.
[bell]
Touching the Earth
Opening Gatha
The one who bows and the one who is bowed to
are both, by nature, empty.
Therefore the communication between them
is inexpressibly perfect.
Our practice center is the Net of Indra
reflecting all Buddhas everywhere.
And with my person in front of each Buddha,
I go with my whole life for refuge.
[bell]
Prostrations
[Touch the earth one time at the sound of each bell.]
Offering light in the Ten Directions,
the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Teaching and living the way of awareness
in the very midst of suffering and confusion,
Shakyamuni Buddha, the Fully Enlightened One,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Cutting through ignorance, awakening our hearts and our minds,
Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Great Understanding,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Working mindfully, working joyfully for the sake of all beings,
Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Great Action,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Listening deeply, serving beings in countless ways,
Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Fearless and persevering through realms of suffering and darkness,
Kshitigarbha, the Bodhisattva of Great Aspiration,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Mother of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and all beings, nourishing,
holding, and healing all, Bodhisattva Gaia, Great Mother Earth,
precious jewel of the cosmos, to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Radiating light in all directions, source of life on Earth,
Mahavairocana Tathagata, Great Father Sun, Buddha of infinite
light and life, to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Seed of awakening and loving kindness
in children and all beings,
Maitreya, the Buddha to-be-born,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
[you may choose to add any of the following optional verses.]
Seeing the Buddha in everyone,
Sadaparibhuta, the Bodhisattva of Constant Respect,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Convener of the Sangha, the teacher Mahakashyapa,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Wise elder brother, the teacher Shariputra,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Showing love for parents, the teacher Mahamaudgalyayana,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Master of the Vinaya, the teacher Upali,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Recorder of the teachings, the teacher Ananda,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
The first bhikshuni, Mahagotami,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell]
Showing the way fearlessly and compassionately,
the stream of all our Ancestral Teachers,
to whom we bow in gratitude.
[bell, bell]
2. Opening Verse
[bell, bell, bell]
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa
[bell]
The Dharma is deep and lovely.
We now have a chance to see, study, and practice it.
We vow to realize its true meaning.
[bell]
3. Mindfulness of Loved Ones
Brothers and Sisters, it is time to bring our loved ones to mind: those to whom we wish to send the healing energy of love and compassion. Let us sit and enjoy our breathing for a few moments, allowing our beloved ones to be present with us now.
[ten breaths in silence]
4. The Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma: Universal Door Chapter
Brothers and Sisters, please listen. The peace and joy of the entire world, including the worlds of the living and the dead, depend on our own peace and joy in this moment. With all our heart and one-pointed mind, let us chant the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma [see here].
5. Introductory Words
[adapt as appropriate.]
Today the community has gathered to recite the sutra, practice mindfulness of the Buddha, and give spiritual support and offer peace to [name]. There are relatives and friends of [name] present with us to join in giving spiritual support. Brothers and Sisters, listen carefully. Once one person is able to give rise to a deep sense of peace and happiness, the whole world benefits. We have gathered today to light the lamp of peace and happiness in our hearts by practicing sitting meditation, walking meditation, reciting the Lotus Sutra, and being mindful of the Buddha in order to be in communion with the essence of great love, compassion, joy, equanimity, and fearlessness. These are motivating forces that can transform situations of fear and danger and restore peace and happiness where they have been lost. The peace and joy of the world depend on our peace and joy at this moment. With all our concentration and a one-pointed mind, let us recite the name of Avalokiteshvara:
Namo’valokiteshvaraya
[repeat twenty-one times]
[bell, bell]
6. Praising the Bodhisattva of Compassion
The nectar of compassion is seen on the willow branch
held by the Bodhisattva.
A single drop of this nectar is enough to bring life
to the Ten Directions of the Cosmos.
May all afflictions of this world disappear totally and
may this place of practice be completely purified
by the Bodhisattva’s nectar of compassion.
Homage to the Bodhisattva Who Refreshes the Earth.
From the depths of understanding, a flower of great eloquence blooms:
The Bodhisattva stands majestically
upon the waves of birth and death, free from all afflictions.
Her great compassion eliminates all sickness,
even that once thought of as incurable.
Her wondrous light sweeps away all obstacles and dangers.
Her willow branch, once waved,
reveals countless Buddha Lands.
Her lotus flower blossoms a multitude of practice centers.
We bow to her. We see her true presence in the here and the now.
We offer her the incense of our hearts.
May the Bodhisattva of Deep Listening embrace us all
with Great Compassion.
Namo’valokiteshvaraya
[Homage to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara]
[bell, bell]
7. May the Day Be Well
May the day be well and the night be well.
May the midday hour bring happiness too.
In every minute and every second,
may the day and night be well.
By the blessing of the Triple Gem,
may all things be protected and safe.
May all beings born in each of the four ways
live in a land of purity.
May all in the Three Realms be born upon Lotus Thrones.
May countless wandering souls
realize the three virtuous positions of the Bodhisattva Path.
May all living beings, with grace and ease,
fulfill the Bodhisattva Stages.
The countenance of the World-Honored One, like the full moon
or like the orb of the sun, shines with the light of clarity.
A halo of wisdom spreads in every direction,
enveloping all with love and compassion,
joy and equanimity.
Namo Shakyamunaye Buddhaya
Namo Shakyamunaye Buddhaya
Namo Shakyamunaye Buddhaya
[bell, bell]
8. Protecting and Transforming
We, your disciples, who from beginningless time
have made ourselves unhappy out of confusion and ignorance,
being born and dying with no direction,
have now found confidence in the highest awakening.
However much we may have drifted on the ocean of suffering,
today we see clearly that there is a beautiful path.
We turn toward the light of loving kindness to direct us.
We bow deeply to the Awakened One and to our spiritual ancestors
who light up the path before us, guiding every step.
[bell]
The wrongdoings and sufferings that imprison us
are brought about by craving, hatred, ignorance, and pride.
Today we begin anew to purify and free our hearts.
With awakened wisdom, bright as the sun and the full moon,
and immeasurable compassion to help humankind,
we resolve to live beautifully.
With all of our heart, we go for refuge to the Three Precious Jewels.
With the boat of loving kindness,
we cross over the ocean of suffering.
With the light of wisdom, we leave behind the forest of confusion.
With determination, we learn, reflect, and practice.
Right View is the ground of our actions in body, speech, and mind.
Right Mindfulness embraces us,
walking, standing, lying down, and sitting,
speaking, smiling, coming in, and going out.
Whenever anger or anxiety enter our heart,
we are determined to breathe mindfully and come back to ourselves.
With every step, we will walk within the Pure Land.
With every look, the Dharmakaya is revealed.
We are careful and attentive as sense organs touch sense objects
so all habit energies can be observed and easily transformed.
May our heart’s garden of awakening
bloom with hundreds of flowers.
May we bring the feelings of peace and joy into every household.
May we plant wholesome seeds on the ten thousand paths.
May we never have the need to leave the Sangha body.
May we never attempt to escape the suffering of the world,
always being present wherever beings need our help.
May mountains and rivers be our witness in this moment
as we bow our heads and request the Lord of Compassion
to embrace us all.
[bell, bell]
9. The Three Refuges
I take refuge in the Buddha,
the one who shows me the way in this life.
I take refuge in the Dharma,
the way of understanding and of love.
I take refuge in the Sangha,
the community that lives in harmony and awareness.
[bell]
Dwelling in the refuge of Buddha,
I clearly see the path of light and beauty in the world.
Dwelling in the refuge of Dharma,
I learn to open many doors on the path of transformation.
Dwelling in the refuge of Sangha,
shining light that supports me, keeping my practice free of obstruction.
[bell]
Taking refuge in the Buddha in myself,
I aspire to help all people recognize their own awakened nature,
realizing the Mind of Love.
Taking refuge in the Dharma in myself,
I aspire to help all people fully master the ways of practice
and walk together on the path of liberation.
Taking refuge in the Sangha in myself,
I aspire to help all people build Fourfold Communities,
to embrace all beings and support their transformation.
[bell, bell]
10. Sharing the Merit
Reciting the sutras, practicing the way of awareness
gives rise to benefits without limit.
We vow to share the fruits with all beings.
We vow to offer tribute to parents, teachers, friends,
and numerous beings
who give guidance and support along the path.
[bell, bell, bell]
11. Words of Gratitude
[At this time, a relative or friend of the sick person is invited to come mindfully before the community to offer a few words of gratitude to everyone who participated in the ceremony.]
Google Sites
Report abuse