WEEKEND INSTRUCTIONSOn the weekends, follow the procedures outlined in the Standard Observances of the Soto Zen Zchool for abbreviating daily observances:
“In morning, rise from bed, do face washing, go to main hall, light candles and offer stick incense before buddha. Next, carry out dawn zazen in some appropriate place. When finished, offer incense before buddha, at founding abbot’s hall, ancestors hall (spirit tablet hall), etc. When done, perform morning sutra chanting. Following morning sutra chanting, while chanting Heart Sutra, go before stove god and perform sutra chanting for stove god; on fifth day of month do sutra chanting for Idaten. From beginning to end, make no prostrations. Also, do not use hand-bell, but chant while shaking small clappered bell [...]
“Next, do cleaning inside and out, then have breakfast (at this time, either chant all for formal meals or simply chant Verse of Five Contemplations). After breakfast, do whatever temple work or other tasks are called for.
“When evening comes, evening sutra chanting takes place (if one has time to do it, also perform midday sutra chanting). Later in evening, choose an appropriate time and do evening sitting.”
MAKA HAN-NYA HARA MIT-TA SHIN GYOKan ji zai bo sa gyo jin han-nya ha ra mi ta ji sho ken ◎ go on kai ku do is-sai ku yaku sha ri shi shiki fu i ku ku fu i shiki shiki soku ze ku ku soku ze shiki ju so gyo shiki yaku bu nyo ze sha ri shi ze sho ho ku so fu sho fu metsu fu ku fu jo fu zo fu gen ze ko ku chu mu shiki mu ju so gyo shiki mu gen ni bi zes-shin ni mu shiki sho ko mi soku ho mu gen kai nai shi mu i shiki kai mu mu myo yaku mu mu myo jin nai shi mu ro shi yaku mu ro shi jin mu ku shu metsu do mu chi yaku mu toku i mu sho tok-ko bo dai sat-ta e han-nya ha ra mi ta ◎ ko shin mu kei ge mu kei ge ko mu u ku fu on ri is-sai ten do mu so ku gyo ne han san ze sho butsu e han-nya ha ra mi ta ◎ ko toku a noku ta ra san myaku san bo dai ko chi han-nya ha ra mi ta ze dai jin shu ze dai myo shu ze mu jo shu ze mu to do shu no jo is-sai ku shin jitsu fu ko ko setsu han-nya ha ra mi ta shu soku setsu shu watsu gya tei gya tei ● ha ra gya tei hara so gya tei ● bo ji sowa ka han-nya shin gyo.
MAIN OBJECT VENERATION EKOHaving chanted the Heart Sutra, we reverently offer the merit generated thereby to our Great Benefactor and Founder of the Teachings, the Original Teacher Shakyamuni, to Yuima Kōji, to the Eminent Ancestor Dogen, and to the Great Ancestor Keizan, that it may adorn their awakening, the unsurpassed fruit of Buddhahood.
We humbly pray that the blessings of the four benefactors may be fully requited, that the three classes of existences may all be saved, and that sentient beings throughout the triple world equally perfect omniscience.
We pray that this family shall flourish, and we pray for the health, healing, and safeguarding of [insert names here]. We pray that misfortunes and hindrances shall be prevented and removed, and that all conditions shall be favorable.
◎ ji ho san shi i shi fu shi son bu sa mo ko sa ◎ mo ko ho ja ho ro mi
DAIHISHIN DARANINamu kara tan no tora ya ya namu ori ya boryo ki chi shifu ra ya fuji sato bo ya moko sato bo ya mo ko kya runi kya ya ◎ en sa hara ha e 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 te cho to ji to en o bo ryo ki ru gya chi kya ra 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 i ki i ki shi no shi no ora san fura sha ri ha za ha zan 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 shido yu ki shifu ra ya somo ko ◎ nora kin ji somo ko mo ra no ra somo ko shira su omo gya ya so mo 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.
ANCESTORS EKOThe clear, cool moon of the bodhisattva floats in the sky of utter emptiness； in the pure water of the mind of beings, the reflection of bodhi will appear. We humbly beg the three treasures for their illumination. Having chanted the Great Compassion Dharani, we offer the merit generated thereby to the spirits of ancestors and deceased family members of this household, to the six close kin and seven generations of parents, and to all sentient beings of the dharma realm, including the myriad spirits of the triple world both with and without connections to the living. What we pray for is that their delusion of long kalpas will now be extinguished, that the marvelous wisdom of true emptiness will hereby appear, and that they will immediately comprehend the uncreated and quickly confirm the fruit of Buddhahood.
◎ ji ho san shi i shi fu shi son bu sa mo ko sa ◎ mo ko ho ja ho ro mi
HEART OF GREAT PERFECT WISDOM SUTRAAvalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, when deeply practicing prajna paramita, clearly saw ◎ that all five aggregates are empty and thus relieved all suffering. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness, emptiness itself form. Sensations, perceptions, formations, and consciousness are also like this. Shariputra, all dharmas are marked by emptiness; they neither arise nor cease, are neither defiled nor pure, neither increase nor decrease. Therefore, given emptiness, there is no form, no sensation, no perception, no formation, no consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind; no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind; no realm of sight... no realm of mind consciousness. There is neither ignorance nor extinction of ignorance... neither old age and death, nor extinction of old age and death; no suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path; no knowledge and no attainment. With nothing to attain, a bodhisattva relies on prajna paramita, ◎ and thus the mind is without hindrance. Without hindrance, there is no fear. Far beyond all inverted views, one realizes nirvana. All buddhas of past, present, and future rely on prajna paramita ◎ and thereby attain unsurpassed, complete, perfect enlightenment. Therefore, know the prajna paramita as the great miraculous mantra, the great bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the incomparable mantra, which removes all suffering and is true, not false. Therefore we proclaim the prajna paramita mantra, the mantra that says: “Gate Gate ● Paragate Parasamgate ● Bodhi Svaha.”
KITCHEN SPIRIT EKOHaving recited the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra, we dedicate the merit to Daikokuten [or other enshrined object], the kitchen spirit of this household, that he may guard the dharma and protect our family.
◎ All buddhas throughout space and time, all honored ones, bodhisattvas, mahasattvas, ◎ wisdom beyond wisdom, maha-prajnaparamita. ◎
SPECIAL OBSERVANCESAdd holiday observances here according to the annual calendar.
EVENING SUTRA CHANTINGOffer incense and chant seven times: “Shi do nī, o kya rā, mi ri shū, ho ri to ra yā, ni ke rī.”
Eko Text for Evening Sutra Chanting: “Chanting the Surangama Heart Mantra, we dedicate this merit to the pure body of the dharma realm, to the myriad spirits, and to our kitchen deity. We pray for a safe and peaceful household and for the flourishing of the Dharma through our actions. Ji ho san shi i shi fu, shi son bu sa mo ko sa, mo ko ho ja ho ro mi.”