Zen Liturgy

I am currently working on the Liturgy for the Five Mountain Sangha and am exploring the connections of the Caodong and Linji Lineages. I have entered into collaboration with the Boundless Way Zen Project and have discovered that their Liturgy is much more significant to English Speaking Westerners. Based upon this I have begun to explore the English translations of the liturgy that was inherited from Zen Master Seung Sahn through Korea.

I have turned to my friend, Robert Buswell, PhD, for his work on the liturgy in his book "The Zen Monastic Experience." I have taken some liberties, but am using his core of translation for some of the content to the new Liturgy for the Five Mountain Sangha. I am including the four great vows as their representation moved my after reviewing their representation in his Appendix.

The Four Expansive Vows
[Hapchang; bow at end]

Sentient beings are numberless;
We vow to save them all.
Delusions are endless;
We vow to cut through them all.
The teachings are infinite;
We vow to learn them all.
The Buddha way is inconceivable;
We vow to attain it.

Sentient beings of my own self nature;
I vow to save them all.
Delusions of my own self nature;
I vow to cut through them all.
The teachings in my own self nature;
I vow to learn them all.
The Buddha way of my own self nature;
I vow to attain it.

Homage to the Buddhas who abide
eternally in the ten directions.
Homage to the Dharmas that abide
eternally in the ten directions.
Homage to the Sanghas that abide
eternally in the ten directions.

Today is Buddha's Birthday

As today is Buddha's Birthday, (Lunar Calendar) I thought I'd post our Ceremony for Buddha's Birthday.

I. Lighting of candles and incense

II. Opening bell

Please stand

III. The Threefold Refuge (recite all together in unison)na–mu bul–ta bu–jung gwang–nim bop–hena–mu dal–ma bu–jung gwang–nim bop–hena–mu sung–ga bu–jung gwang–nim bop–heHomage to all the Buddhas, who are present in their glory at this assembly.Homage to the Dharma, which is present in its glory at this Assembly.Homage to all the Sangha, who are present in their glory at this Assembly.

IV. Sogamuni Bul chanting (about five minutes)
na–mu bul–ta bu–jung gwang–nim bop–he
na–mu dal–ma bu–jung gwang–nim bop–he
na–mu sung–ga bu–jung gwang–nim bop–he

na–mu sam–gye dae–sa sa–saeng ja–bu
shi–a bon–sa

so–ga–mon–ni bul
so–ga–mon–ni bul.....(Repeat)

so–ga–mon–ni bul
chon–sang chon–ha mu–yo–bul
shi–bang se–gye yong–mu–bi
se–gan so–yu a–jin–gyon
il–che mu–yu yo–bul–cha
go–a il–shim gwi–myong jong–nye

myol–op –jang jin–on
om a–ro–ruk–gye sa–ba–ha
om a–ro–ruk–gye sa–ba–ha
om a–ro–ruk–gye sa–ba–ha

won song–chwi jin–on
om a–mot–ka sal–ba–da–ra sa–da–ya shi–bye–hum
om a–mot–ka sal–ba–da–ra sa–da–ya shi–bye–hum
om a–mot–ka sal–ba–da–ra sa–da–ya shi–bye–hum

bu–sol so–jae gil–sang da–ra–ni
na–mu sa–man–da mot–ta–nam a–ba–ra–ji
ha–da–sa sa–na–nam da–nya–ta
om ka–ka ka–hye ka–hye hum–hum a–ba–ra
a–ba–ra ba–ra–a–ba–ra ba–ra–a–ba–ra
ji–tta ji–tta ji–ri ji–ri ppa–da ppa–da
son–ji–ga shi–ri–e sa–ba–ha

na–mu sa–man–da mot–ta–nam a–ba–ra–ji
ha–da–sa sa–na–nam da–nya–ta
om ka–ka ka–hye ka–hye hum–hum a–ba–ra
a–ba–ra ba–ra–a–ba–ra ba–ra–a–ba–ra
ji–tta ji–tta ji–ri ji–ri ppa–da ppa–da
son–ji–ga shi–ri–e sa–ba–ha

na–mu sa–man–da mot–ta–nam a–ba–ra–ji
ha–da–sa sa–na–nam da–nya–ta
om ka–ka ka–hye ka–hye hum–hum a–ba–ra
a–ba–ra ba–ra–a–ba–ra ba–ra–a–ba–ra
ji–tta ji–tta ji–ri ji–ri ppa–da ppa–da
son–ji–ga shi–ri–e sa–ba–ha

bo gwol jin–on
om ho–ro ho–ro sa–ya mo–ke sa–ba–ha
om ho–ro ho–ro sa–ya mo–ke sa–ba–ha
om ho–ro ho–ro sa–ya mo–ke sa–ba–ha

bo–ho–hyang jin–on
om sam–ma–ra sam–ma–ra mi–ma–na
sa–ra–ma ja–ga–ra ba–ra–hum
om sam–ma–ra sam–ma–ra mi–ma–na
sa–ra–ma ja–ga–ra ba–ra–hum
om sam–ma–ra sam–ma–ra mi–ma–na
sa–ra–ma ja–ga–ra ba–ra–hum

chal–chin shim–nyom ga–su–ji
dae–he jung–su ka–um–jin
ho–gong ga–ryang pung ga gye
mu–nung jin–sol
bul gong–dok

V. Children offer flowers to the Buddha

VI. Meditation for five minutes (hit the chukpi three times to begin meditation.)(hit the chukpi three times to end meditation.)

VII. Short talks

Bow to Buddha
Bow to Zen Master
Bow to Sangha

VIII. Formal Dharma Speech to last approximately fifteen minutes)

IX. Original Poem

Please stand

X. The Four Great Vows (all together)

Sentient beings are numberless;
We vow to save them all.
Delusions are endless;
We vow to cut through them all.
The teachings are infinite;
We vow to learn them all.
The Buddha way is inconceivable;
We vow to attain it.

XI. Extinguishing of candles

XII. Closing announcements