持齋念佛懺悔禮文 1.5

1.5

By chance, because the True School is broad and far-reaching, unless one accumulates goodness one will not attain it; the ocean of suffering is difficult to cross, and unless one has a boat or ship one cannot traverse it. Just as the thousand Buddhas of the Good Kalpa took form through holy transformation, the thirty-three heavens manifest the wheel-turning king through the karma of merit. Therefore Śākya cultivated the path relying on six years of hardships, and the Youth surrendered his body to seek the eight characters of four lines. The ocean of the Buddha's merit cannot be fully praised. Now, the patron of the fast before this seat bows his head in reverent salutation to the Buddhas of the ten directions, the venerable Dharma, prajñā, the arhats, and the holy Saṅgha. Thereupon blessings arrive in the present; he invites the assembly, always making aspirations throughout the year, that his household may be safe and at peace, reverently preparing a dāna fast for the midday offering. We pray that from now on, the Fragrant Mountain and fragrant waters will wash and cleanse body and mind, that the unexcelled clarified butter (amṛta) will flow within the body, that his form will be like the jewelled mountain, immovable and uninclinable, his life equal to […]. May his spirit constantly abide in the realm [of purity]; may bodhi advance daily, may the karma of wisdom be exalted and bright, his blessings and age be equal to the Sugata's, and his lifespan equal to the vajra and the like. As for his daughters, their fine virtues are like the blooming beauty of jade trees, their refined deportment like clusters of flowers shining in radiance. We further pray that through this merit—may the holy transformation of the Emperor and Empress be boundless, serenely seated on the terrace of the One Emperor, not clinging to the transformations of a thousand kings; as the sun declines toward evening, the holy [ruler] receives the appointed time; may the peoples of foreign lands, holding divine charts, arrive in rivalry; may farmers yield their ridges and roads permit diverging paths; may the imperial fortune flourish forever, extending through ten thousand generations. May the three realms turn into a pure land, and the hells be transformed into a city of fragrance. May all leave the gate of suffering and together ascend the path of awakening.
Chant in Sanskrit tone:
How does one attain longevity
and a diamond-indestructible body?
By what causes and conditions does the Buddha
attain great and steadfast power?
How does one, through this sūtra,
ultimately reach the other shore?
We pray the Buddha will reveal the subtle and secret,
and explain it extensively for sentient beings.
On behalf of the twenty-eight heavens, the kings Śakra and Brahmā, and others, we reverently bow to the ever-abiding Three Jewels.
On behalf of the donor's adornment of merit and wisdom, we reverently bow to the ever-abiding Three Jewels.
That sentient beings of the six destinies may leave hindrances and be liberated below, we make obeisance to all the worthy and holy ones.
Aspirational mantra for the donation of food: The food now donated is offered above to all Buddhas, in the middle to the worthy and holy ones, and below to sentient beings of the Dharma-realm, that all may be equally satisfied and partake of this offering. The fragrance of the food is untouched; we offer it above to all Buddhas, in the middle to the worthy and holy ones, and below to sentient beings of the Dharma-realm, that all may be equally satisfied.
Aspirational mantra for the inspection of food: We respectfully inform the great assembly: the fast food prepared by the disciple was made by many hands, mostly not according to rule; we pray the assembly will show great compassion, bestow it, and rejoice. We inform the great assembly again: the fast food prepared by the disciple was made by the hands of the assembly, mostly not according to rule; intending to respect the fast, the time has passed, and leftover food remains. We invite the assembly to distribute the leftover food, bestowing it, universally reciting: Residing in the world like empty space, / like a lotus flower unattached to water, / with a mind pure and transcending it, / bowing our heads we worship the Unexcelled Honoured One.
Aspirational mantra for giving: Both are foremost among the ten thousand practices, letting go of attachments and departing from stinginess and greed. Therefore the donor, having now provided the fast, fearing the fruit may not be complete, also presents pure wealth as giving. May those who have previously passed away be reborn in the Western Direction, and those now present perceive the nature and realize the Buddha Path.
All show reverence:
I take refuge in the Buddha, wishing that all sentient beings may comprehend the Correct Awakening and bring forth the aspiration for bodhi.
I take refuge in the Dharma, wishing that all sentient beings may deeply enter the canon of sūtras, their wisdom like the ocean.
I take refuge in the Saṅgha, wishing that all sentient beings may lead the great assembly, all without hindrance, with reverent obeisance to the listening assembly.