AFTERNOON PUJA

Listen here (recorded at Trigonos, North Wales. August 2008)

Dedication

Sentient beings are as limitless as the whole of space.
May they each effortlessly realise the nature of their mind.
And may every single being in all the six realms,
Attain all together the Ground of Primordial Perfection.
By the merit I have gathered from all acts of virtue done in this way,
May all the sufferings of every being disappear.

The Maha Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutra

(bold indicates tonal change during chanting)

Avalokitasvara bodhisattva when practising deep with the prajna paramita perceives that all five skandhas are empty and is safe from all suffering and distress. Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. That which is form is emptiness; that which is emptiness, form. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness. Shariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness. They do not appear or disappear; are not tainted or pure; do not increase or decrease. Therefore, in emptiness no form, no feelings, perceptions, impulses, consciousness; no eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind, no colour, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind, no realm of eyes and so forth until no realm of mind consciousness. No ignorance and also no extinction of it; and so forth until no old age and death, and also no extinction of them. No suffering, no origination, no stopping, no path, no cognition, also no attainment. With nothing to attain the bodhisattva depends on prajna paramita and his mind is no hindrance. Without any hindrance no fears exist. Far apart from every perverted view he dwells in nirvana. In the three worlds all Buddhas depend on prajna paramita and attain anutarasamyaksambodhi. Therefore, know that prajna paramita is the great transcendent mantra, is the great bright mantra, is the utmost mantra, is the supreme mantra which is able to relieve all suffering, and is true not false. So proclaim the prajna paramita mantra, proclaim the mantra which says –

Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha!

Bodhisattva Vows

Innumerable are sentient beings, I vow to save them all
Inexhaustible are the passions, I vow to transform them all
Immeasurable are the Dharma teachings, I vow to learn them all
Infinite is the Buddha-truth, I vow to attain it.

Morning Puja