Chants

Sanbutsuge

Ko gen gi gi I jin mu goku Nyo ze en myo Mu yo to sha	The shining face of the Buddha is glorious; Boundless is his magnificence. Radiant splendor such as his Is beyond all comparison.
Nichi gatsu ma ni Shu ko en yo Kai shitsu on pei Yu nyaku ju moku	The sun, the moon and the mani-jewel, Though shining with dazzling brightness, Are completely dimmed and obscured As if they were a pile of ink-sticks
Nyo rai yo gen Cho se mu rin Sho gaku dai on Ko ru jippo	The countenance of the Tathagata Is beyond compare in the whole world. The great voice of the Enlightened One Resounds throughout the ten regions.
Kai mon sho jin San mai chie I toku mu ryo Shu sho ke u	His morality, learning, endeavor, Absorption in meditation, wisdom And magnificent virtues have no equal; They are wonderful and unsurpassed.
Jin tai zen en Sho butsu ho kai Gu jin jin no Ku go gai tai	He meditates deeply and directly On the oceanic Dharma of all the Buddhas. He knows its depth and breadth And penetrates to its farthest end.
Mu myo yoku nu Se son yo mu Nin o shi shi Jin toku mu ryo	Ignorance, greed and anger Are forever absent in the World-Honored One. He is the lion, the most valiant of all men; His glorious virtue is unlimited.
Ku kun ko dai Chi e jin myo Ko myo i so Shin do dai sen	His meritorious achievements are vast; His wisdom is deep and sublime. His light, with awe-inspiring glory, Shakes the universe of a thousand million worlds.
Gan ga sa butsu Zai sho ho o Ka do shoji Mi fu ge datsu	I resolve to become a Buddha, Equal in attainment to you, O holy king of the Dharma, To save living beings from birth-and-death, And to lead them all to emancipation.
Fu se jo i Kai nin sho jin Nyo ze san mai Chi e ijo	My discipline in giving, mind-control, Moral virtues, forbearance and effort, And also in meditation and wisdom, Shall be supreme and unsurpassed.
Go sei toku butsu Fu gyo shi gan Issai ku ku I sa dai an	I vow that, when I have become a Buddha, I shall carry out this promise everywhere; And to all fear-ridden beings Shall I give great peace.
Ke shi u butsu Hyaku sen oku man Mu ryo dai sho Shu nyo go ja	Even though there are Buddhas, A thousand million kotis in number, And multitudes of great sages Countless as the sands of the Ganges,
Ku yo is sai Shi to sho butsu Fu nyo gu do Ken sho fu gyaku	I shall make offerings To all those Buddhas. I shall seek the supreme Way Resolutely and tirelessly.
Hi nyo go ja Sho butsu se kai Bu fu ka ge Mu shu setsu do	Even though the Buddha-lands are as innumerable As the sands of the Ganges, And other regions and worlds Are also without number.
Ko myo shissho Hen shi sho koku Nyo ze sho jin I jin nan ryo	My light shall shine everywhere, Pervading all those lands. Such being the result of my efforts, My glorious power shall be immeasurable.
Ryo ga sa butsu Koku do dai ichi Go shu ki myo Do jo chozetsu	When I have become a Buddha, My land shall be most exquisite, And its people wonderful and unexcelled; The seat of Enlightenment shall be supreme.
Koku nyo naion Ni mu to so Ga to aimin Do datsu issai	My land, being like Nirvana itself, Shall be beyond comparison. I take pity on living beings And resolve to save them all.
Jippo rai sho Shin etsu sho jo I to ga koku Ke raku an on	Those who come from the ten quarters Shall find joy and serenity of heart; When they reach my land, They shall dwell in peace and happiness.
Ko butsu shin myo Ze ga shin sho Hotsu gan o hi Riki sho sho yoku	I beg you, the Buddha, to become my witness And to vouch for the truth of my aspiration. Having now made my vows to you, I will strive to fulfill them.
Jippo se son Chi e mu ge Jo ryo shi son Chi ga shin gyo	The World-Honored Ones in the ten quarters Have unimpeded wisdom; I call upon those Honored Ones To bear witness to my intention.
Ke ryo shin shi Sho ku doku chu Ga gyo sho jin Nin ju fu ke	Even though I must remain In a state of extreme pain, I will diligently practice, Enduring all hardships with tireless vigor.

Juseige

Ga gon cho se gan Hisshi mu jo do Shi gan fu man zoku Sei fu jo sho gaku	I establish the Vows unexcelled, And reach the Highest Path, Bodhi Were these Vows unfulfilled, I would never attain Enlightenment.
Ga o mu ryo ko Fu i dai se shu Fu sai sho bin gu Sei fu jo sho gaku	I will be the greater provider Throughout innumerable kalpas. Should I fail to save all in need, I would never attain Enlightenment.
Ga shi j o butsu do Myo sho cho jippo Ku kyo mi sho mon Sei fu jo sho gaku	Upon my attaining Enlightenment, If my Name were not heard anywhere In the ten quarters of the universe, I would never attain Enlightenment.
Ri yoku jin sho nen Jo e shu bon gyo Shi gu mu jo do I sho tennin shi	Practicing the Holy Way – Selflessness, Depth in right reflection and pure wisdom, Aspiring toward the highest path, I will be the teacher of devas and men.
Jin riki en dai ko Fu sho mu sai do Sho jo san ku myo Ko sai shu yaku nan	My wondrous power by its great light Brightens the countless lands throughout, Removes the darkness of the three defilements And delivers all from suffering and pain.
Kai hi chi e gen Messhi kon mo an Hei soku sho aku do Tsu datsu zen shu mon	Opening the eyes of Wisdom, I will end this darkness of ignorance. Blocking all paths of evil, I will open the gate to Attainment.
Ko so jo man zoku I yo ro jippo Nichi gatsu shu ju ki Ten ko on pu gen	Having attained Buddhahood untainted, My august air shall illumine the ten quarters. The sun and the moon being outshone, The celestial lights shall hide in shame.
I shu kai ho zo Ko se ku doku ho Jo o dai shu chu Seppo shi shi ku	I will open the Dharma-storehouse And bestow upon all the treasures of my virtues. Constantly going among the masses. I will preach the Dharma with a lion’s roar.
Ku yo issai butsu Gu soku shu toku hon Gan e shitsu jo man Toku i san gai o	Paying homage to all the Buddhas, I will be endowed with all virtues. Vows and wisdom completely realized, I will be master of the three worlds.
Nyo butsu mu ge chi Tsu datsu mi fu sho Gan ga ku e riki To shi sai sho son	As Buddha’s Wisdom unimpeded Has no place its light cannot reach, So my power of Merit and Wisdom Shall be equal to the Honored One’s.
Shi gan nyakkoku ka Dai sen o kan do Ko ku sho tennin To u chin myo ke	If my Vows be certainly fulfilled, May this whole universe quake. And may the host of devas Rain wondrous blossoms from the sky.

Shoshinge

Ki myo mu ryo ju nyo rai Na mu fu ka shi gi ko Ho zo bo satsu in ni ji Zai se ji sai o bus-sho	I take refuge in the Tathagata of Immeasurable Life! I entrust myself to the Buddha of Inconceivable Light! Bodhisattva Dharmakara, in his causal stage, Under the guidance of Lokesvararaja Buddha,
To ken sho butsu jo do in Koku do nin den shi zen maku Kon ryu mu jo shu sho gan Cho hotsu ke u dai gu zei	Searched into the origins of the Buddhas' pure lands, And the qualities of those lands and their men and devas; He then established the supreme, incomparable Vow; He made the great Vow rare and all-encompassing.
Go ko shi yui shi sho ju Ju sei myo sho mon jip-po Fu ho mu ryo mu hen ko Mu ge mu tai ko en no	In five kalpas of profound thought, he embraced this Vow, Then resolved again that his Name be heard throughout the ten quarters. Everywhere he casts light immeasurable, boundless, Unhindered, unequaled, light-lord of all brilliance,
Sho jo kan gi chi e ko Fu dan nan ji mu sho ko Cho nichi gak-ko sho jin setsu Is-sai gun jo mu ko sho	Pure light, joyful light, the light of wisdom, Light constant, inconceivable, light beyond speaking, Light excelling sun and moon he sends forth, illumining countless worlds; The multitudes of beings all receive the radiance.
Hon gan myo go sho jo go Shin shin shin gyo gan ni in Jo to gaku sho dai ne han His-shi metsu do gan jo ju	The Name embodying the Primal Vow is the act of true settlement, The Vow of entrusting with sincere mind is the cause of birth; We realize the equal of enlightenment and supreme nirvana Through the fulfillment of the Vow of attaining nirvana without fail.
Nyo rai sho i ko shus-se Yui setsu mi da hon gan kai Go joku aku ji gun jo kai O shin nyo rai nyo jitsu gon	Sakyamuni Tathagata appeared in this world Solely to teach the ocean-like Primal Vow of Amida; We, an ocean of beings in an evil age of five defilements, Should entrust ourselves to the Tathagata's words of truth.
No hotsu ichi nen ki ai shin Fu dan bon no toku ne han Bon jo gyaku ho sai e nyu\ Nyo shu shi nyu kai ichi mi	When the one thought-moment of joy arises, Nirvana is attained without severing blind passions; When ignorant and wise, even grave offenders and slanders of the dharma, all alike turn and enter shinjin, They are like waters that, on entering the ocean, become one in taste with it.
Ses-shu shin ko jo sho go I no sui ha mu myo an Ton nai shin zo shi un mu Jo fu shin jitsu shin jin ten	The light of compassion that grasps us illumines and protects us always; The darkness of our ignorance is already broken through; Still the clouds and mists of greed and desire, anger and hatred, Cover as always the sky of true and real shinjin.
Hi nyo nik-ko fu un mu Un mu shi ge myo mu an Gyaku shin ken kyo dai kyo ki Soku o cho zetsu go aku shu	But though light of the sun is veiled by clouds and mists, Beneath the clouds and mists there is brightness, not dark. When one realizes shinjin, seeing and revering and attaining great joy, One immediately leaps crosswise, closing off the five evil courses.
Is-sai zen maku bon bu nin Mon shin nyo rai gu zei gan Butsu gon ko dai sho ge sha Ze nin myo fun da ri ke-	All foolish beings, whether good or evil, When they hear and entrust to Amida's universal Vow, Are praised by the Buddha as people of vast and excellent understanding; Such a person is called a pure white lotus.
Mi da butsu hon gan nen butsu Ja ken kyo man naku shu jo Shin gyo ju ji jin ni nan Nan chu shi nan mu ka shi	For evil sentient beings of wrong views and arrogance, The nembutsu that embodies Amida's Primal Vow Is hard to accept in shinjin; This most difficult of difficulties, nothing surpasses.
In do sai ten shi ron ge Chu ka jichi iki shi ko so Ken dai sho ko se sho i Myo nyo rai hon ze o ki	The masters of India in the west, who explained the teaching in treatises, And the eminent monks of China and Japan, Clarified the Great Sage's true intent in appearing in the world, And revealed that Amida's Primal Vow accords with the nature of beings.
Sha ka nyo rai ryo ga sen I shu go myo nan ten jiku Ryu ju dai ji shut-to se Shitsu no zai ha u mu ken	Sakyamuni Tathagata, on Mount Lanka, Prophesied to the multitudes that in south India The mahasattva Nagarjuna would appear in this world To crush the views of being and non-being;
Sen zetsu dai jo mu jo ho Sho kan gi ji sho an raku Ken ji nan gyo roku ro ku Shin gyo i gyo shi do raku	Proclaiming the unexcelled Mahayana teaching, He would attain the stage of joy and be born in the land of happiness. Nagarjuna clarifies the hardship on the overland path of difficult practice, And leads us to entrust to the pleasure on the waterway of easy practice.
Oku nen mi da butsu hon gan Ji nen soku ji nyu hitsu jo Yui no jo sho nyo rai go O ho dai hi gu zei on	He teaches that the moment one thinks on Amida's Primal Vow, One is naturally brought to enter the stage of the definitely settled; Solely saying the Tathagata's Name constantly, One should respond with gratitude to the universal Vow of great compassion.
Ten jin bo Satsu zo ron setsu Ki myo mu ge ko nyo rai E Shu ta ra ken shin jitsu Ko sen o cho dai sei gan	Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, composing a treatise, declares That he takes refuge in the Tathagata of unhindered light, And that relying on the sutras, he will reveal the true and real virtues, And make widely known the great Vow by which we leap crosswise beyond birth-and-death.
Ko-yu hon gan riki e ko I do gun jo sho is-shin Ki nyu ku doku dai ho kai Hitsu gyaku nyu dai e shu shu	He discloses the mind that is single so that all beings be saved By Amida's directing of virtue through the power of the Primal Vow. When a person turns and enters the great treasure ocean of virtue, Necessarily he joins Amida's assembly;
Toku shi ren ge zo se kai Soku sho shin nyo hos-sho jin Yu bon no rin gen jin zu Nyu sho ji on ji o ge	And when he reaches that lotus-held world, He immediately realizes the body of suchness or dharma-nature. Then sporting in the forests of blind passions, he manifests transcendent powers; Entering the garden of birth-and-death, he assumes various forms to guide others.
Hon shi don ran ryo ten shi Jo ko ran sho bo satsu rai San zo ru shi ju jo kyo Bon jo sen gyo ki raku ho	Turning toward the dwelling of Master T'an-luan, the Emperor of Liang Always paid homage to him as a bodhisattva. Bodhiruci, master of the Tripitaka, gave T'an-luan the Pure Land teachings, And T'an-luan, burning his Taoist scriptures, took refuge in the land of bliss.
Ten jin bo satsu ron chu ge Ho do in ga ken sei gan O gen ne ko yu ta riki Sho jo shi in yui shin jin	In his commentary on the treatise of Bodhisattva Vasubandhu, He shows that the cause and attainment of birth in the fulfilled land lie in the Vow. Our going and returning, directed to us by Amida, come about through Other Power; The truly decisive cause is shinjin.
Waku zen bon bu shin jin potsu Sho-chi sho-ji soku ne hon His-shi mu ryo ko myo do Sho-u shu jo kai fu ke	When a foolish being of delusion and defilement awakens shinjin, He realizes that birth-and-death is itself nirvana; Without fail he reaches the land of immeasurable light And universally guides sentient beings to enlightenment.
Do shaku kes-sho do nan sho Yui myo jo do ka tsu nyu Man zen ji riki hen gon shu En man toku go kan sen sho	Tao-ch'o determined how difficult it is to fulfill the Path of Sages, And reveals that only passage through the Pure Land gate is possible for us. He criticizes self-power endeavor in the myriad good practices, And encourages us solely to say the fulfilled Name embodying true virtue.
San-pu san shin ke on gon Zo matsu ho metsu do-hi in Is-sho zo aku chi gu zei Shi an nyo gai sho myo ka	With kind concern he teaches the three characteristics of entrusting and non-entrusting, Compassionately guiding all identically, whether they live when the dharma survives as but form, when in its last stage, or when it has become extinct. Though a person has committed evil all his life, when he encounters the Primal Vow, He will reach the world of peace and realize the perfect fruit of enlightenment.
Zen-do doku myo bus-sho I Ko ai jo san yo gyaku aku Ko myo myo go ken in nen Kai-nyu hon gan dai-chi kai	Shan-tao alone in his time clarified the Buddha's true intent; Sorrowing at the plight of meditative and non meditative practicers and people of grave evil, He reveals that Amida's light and Name are the causes of birth. When the practicer enters the great ocean of wisdom, the Primal Vow,
Gyo-ja sho-ju kon go shin Kyo-ki ichi nen so o go Yo-I dai to gyaku san nin Soku sho hos-sho shi jo raku	He receives the diamondlike mind And accords with the one thought-moment of joy; whereupon, Equally with Vaidehi, he acquires the threefold wisdom And is immediately brought to attain the eternal bliss of dharma-nature.
Gen shin ko kai ichi dai kyo Hen ki an nyo kan is-sai Sen zo shu shin han sen jin Ho ke ni do sho ben ryu	Genshin, having broadly elucidated the teachings of Sakyamuni's lifetime, Wholeheartedly took refuge in the land of peace and urges all to do so; Ascertaining that minds devoted to single practice are profound, to sundry practice, shallow, He sets forth truly the difference between the fulfilled land and the transformed land.
Goku ju aku nin yui sho butsu Ga yaku zai-hi ses-shu chu Bon no sho gen sui fu ken Dai-hi mu ken jo sho ga	The person burdened with extreme evil should simply say the Name: Although I too am within Amida's grasp, Passions obstruct my eyes and I cannot see him; Nevertheless, great compassion is untiring and illumines me always.
Hon shi gen ku myo buk-kyo Ren min zen maku bon bu nin Shin shu kyo sho ko hen shu Sen jaku hon gan gu aku se	Master Genku, well-versed in the Buddha's teaching, Turned compassionately to foolish people, both good and evil; Establishing in this remote land the teaching and realization that are the true essence of the Pure Land way, He transmits the selected Primal Vow to us of the defiled world:
Gen rai sho-ji rin den ge Ket-chi gi jo I sho shi Soku nyu jaku jo mu I raku Hit-chi shin jin I no nyu	Return to this house of transmigration, of birth-and death, Is decidedly caused by doubt. Swift entrance into the city of tranquillity, the uncreated, Is necessarily brought about by shinjin.
Gu kyo dai ji shu shi tou Jo sai mu hen goku joku aku Do zoku ji shu gu do shin Yu-I ka shin shi ko so se-tsu	The mahasattvas and masters who spread the sutras Save the countless beings of utter defilement and evil. With the same mind, all people of the present, whether monk or lay, Should rely wholly on the teachings of these venerable masters.

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