Offering after Meng Shan
*Commonly referred to as the ‘Hungry Ghosts Offering.’
This evening liturgy is presented for ‘Western’ Chan Buddhists. Besides being presented entirely in English, all dharani or magical formulae have been replaced with excerpts from the sutras or with brief verses that communicate the intention of the original chant.
OPENING VERSE (x3)
If people wish to fully understand
all buddhas of the three ages,
they should contemplate the nature of the Dharma realm:
everything is made from mind alone.
HELL-SMASHING VERSES
I shall attain Buddhahood
only when every last sentient being
has been converted and saved;
and furthermore, if Hell itself
is not completely emptied of suffering beings,
I vow never to enter Buddhahood.
Great Vow of Bodhisattva King Ksitigharba
Sentient beings lack wisdom,
Wounded and poisoned by the thorns of craving.
For their sake we seek enlightenment:
Such is the law of all Buddhas.
Seeing all things,
Giving up extremes,
Once enlightened, never regressing,
They turn the incomparable Wheel of Truth.
For inconceivable eons
Cultivating various practices with vigor,
In order to liberate beings:
This is the power of the great sages.
The Guide conquers demons
Bravely and invincibly,
Preaching subtle truths in his light
Because of kind compassion.
By knowledge and wisdom
Breaking the barriers of afflictions,
In an instant seeing all:
This is the spiritual power of Buddhas.
Beating the drum of the great teaching,
Awakening all lands in the ten directions,
Making all turn toward enlightenment:
Independent power can act like this.
Without breaking the infinite boundaries,
Traveling through the billions of lands,
Without attachment to anything:
Such is freedom like the Buddhas’.
The Buddhas are like space,
Ultimately forever pure;
Those who rejoice in remembering this
Will fulfill all their vows.
In each and every one of the hells,
They pass innumerable eons;
In order to liberate sentient beings,
They are able to bear these pains.
Without begrudging body or life,
Always preserving the Buddhas’ teachings,
With egoless mind harmonious,
One can attain the enlightened Way.
Avatamsaka Sutra, Awakening by Light
UNIVERSAL INVITATION VERSE
All living beings are continually born and continually die
Simply because they do not know the everlasting true mind,
The bright substance of the pure nature.
Instead they engage in false thinking.
It has been so for endless ages.
Their thoughts are not true, so the wheel keeps turning.
Investigate the unsurpassed true knowledge
And discover your own true nature.
Shurangama Sutra, Vol. 1
UNTYING THE KNOT OF HATRED VERSE
Regard the nature of the intertwined:
Emptiness and existence - both are naught.
Dark confusion is simply ignorance;
Bringing it to light is liberation.
The knots must be untied successively.
When the six are release, even the one ceases to be.
Shurangama Sutra, Vol. 4
HOMAGE RECITATION
Homage to the Great Means Expansive Buddha Flower Adornment Sutra. Homage to the Great Means Expansive Buddha Flower Adornment Sutra. Homage to the Great Means Expansive Buddha Flower Adornment Sutra.
Homage to the eternally dwelling Buddhas of the ten directions. Homage to the eternally dwelling Buddhas of the ten directions. Homage to the eternally dwelling Buddhas of the ten directions.
Homage to the eternally dwelling Dharma of the ten directions.
Homage to the eternally dwelling Sangha of the ten directions.
Homage to our original teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.
Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Contemplator of the World’s Sounds Buddha.
Homage to the Earth Store King Bodhisattva, who rescues the living and the dead from suffering.
Homage to the venerable Ananda, who stated the teachings.
THE THREE REFUGES
I take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha.
I take refuge in the Buddha, the Perfect World-Honored One. I take refuge in the Dharma, which is honorable and apart from desire. I take refuge in the Sangha, the honored among assemblies.
I have taken refuge in the Buddha. I have taken refuge in the Dharma. I have taken refuge in the Sangha.
REPENTANCE VERSE
You disciples of the Buddha, all evil which you have committed from of old is due to beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion, whether in thought, or word, or deed.
You disciples of the Buddha, repent of it all.
You sentient beings, all evil which you have committed from of old is due to beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion, whether in thought, or word, or deed.
You sentient beings, repent of it all.
You wandering and solitary spirits, all evil which you have committed from of old is due to beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion, whether in thought, or word, or deed.
You wandering and solitary spirits, repent of it all.
THE BODHISATTVA VOWS
Creatures are numberless. I vow to save them all. Delusions are inexhaustible. I vow to break them all. Dharma gates are immeasurable. I vow to enter them all. The Way of the Buddha is unsurpassed. I vow to fully realize it. (x3)
The living beings of the self-nature, I vow to liberate. The afflictions of the self-nature, I vow to extinguish. The dharma-doors of the self-nature, I vow to master. The Buddha-path of the self-nature, I vow to fully realize. (x3)
EXTINGUISHING FIXED-KARMA VERSE (x3)
May the inevitability of the chain of causation be broken, Seeds of good, seeds of evil, and seeds of neither-good-nor-evil, All become virgin soil for what is planted in this very blameless moment. Tathagatagharba! Womb of the Buddhas!
ERADICATING KARMIC OBSTACLES VERSE (x3)
There is no past and no future. Release attachments and dwell here-and-now, In perfect and unimpeded purity. So encounter your original Buddha-nature.
OPENING THE THROAT VERSE
May the throats of all disciples of the Buddha be opened, that they may with us receive this and every gift and be satisfied.
May the throats of all creatures be opened, that they may with us receive this and every gift and be satisfied.
May the throats of all wandering and solitary spirits be opened, that they may with us receive this and every gift and be satisfied.
SAMAYA VERSE
That which is in accord with Truth is Samaya. That which is in harmony with Objective Reality is Samaya. Such is our earnest resolve!
FOOD TRANSFORMATION VERSE
[During this verse, hold the food offering bowl in the left hand with the right hand on top of it. Elevate the portion, and return it to its place on the offering tray or altar.]
May this food and drink be all food and drink. May it be multiplied throughout the universe, Extending to every particle in the ten directions, And all universes contained within every particle without end.
AMBROSIAL VERSE
[During this verse, lift the vessel of water with the right hand. Touch it lightly to the rim of the food offering bowl, then turn it twice above the incense and twice above the food offering bowl. Finally, pour 1/3 of the water into the food offering bowl and return the vessel of water to its place. The remaining 2/3 vessel of water is considered blessed water and may be used for ritual purposes. Some Western Chan and Zen Buddhists refer to this as “wisdom water” and use it to purify or ritually consecrate holy items or spaces by sprinkling, using either a small willow branch, brush, or fingers.]
May this water be blessed, pure, and undefiled. (x3) May all receive this life-giving drink and food.
WATERWHEEL VERSE
May this water, imbued with the power of the Dharma, Flow throughout the entire universe, And transmit the blessings of the Dharma to all it touches.
MILK SEA VERSE
[It is the custom of some to circumambulate once, holding the offering bowl before them.]
The ten thousand Buddhas have shaken the universe with the Dharma. The churning of the Saha world has brought forth these blessed gifts. May all partake of them and attain unparalleled, complete Awakening!
HOMAGE TO THE SEVEN TATHAGATAS
Blessed be Tathagata Prabhutaratna. Blessed be Tathagata Ratnasambhava. Blessed be Tathagata Surupakaya. Blessed be Tathagata Vairocana. Blessed be Tathagata Li Pu Wei. Blessed be Tathagata Amrtaraja. Blessed be Tathagata Amita.
[OR]
Homage to the Thus Come One, Many Jewels! Homage to the Thus Come One, Jewelled Victory! Homage to the Thus Come One, Wondrous Form! Homage to the Thus Come One, Extensive Body! Homage to the Thus Come One, Apart From Fear! Homage to the Thus Come One, Sweet Dew King! Homage to the Thus Come One, Amituofo!
BLESSING
Miraculous devotions bless the pure Dharma food As a universal gift to all innumerable disciples of the Buddha. May they all be satisfied and renounce grudging and greed, Readily leave the darkness and be reborn in the Pure Land, And take refuge in the Triple Jewel and give rise to bodhi, And ultimately realize Supreme Awakening.
With the limitless merit and virtue that last forever, Let all disciples of the Buddha share the Dharma food.
Miraculous devotions bless the generous Dharma food As a universal gift to all innumerable creatures. May they all be satisfied and renounce grudging and greed, Readily leave the darkness and be reborn in the Pure Land, And take refuge in the Triple Jewel and give rise to bodhi, And ultimately realize Supreme Awakening.
With the limitless merit and virtue that last forever, Let all creatures share the Dharma food.
Miraculous devotions bless the holy ambrosial water As a universal gift to all solitary and wandering spirits. May they all be satisfied and renounce grudging and greed, Readily leave the darkness and be reborn in the Pure Land, And take refuge in the Triple Jewel and give rise to bodhi, And ultimately realize Supreme Awakening.
With the limitless merit and virtue that last forever, Let all solitary and wandering spirits share the Dharma food.
OFFERING
[Place the bowl of pure offering outside, or in a window if placing it outside is impossible. Chant or recite the offering verse at the place of offering if offering individually. If offering as a community, the sangha will chant or recite the offering verse remaining where they are while the gifts are relocated by the attendant or senior alone.]
To you, all disciples of the Buddha, we now make this offering. This food pervades the ten directions, Extending to all disciples of the Buddha together.
May the merit and virtue of this offering go everywhere and reach everyone, So that both those who give and those who receive might realize Awakening.
To you, all creatures, we now make this offering. This food pervades the ten directions, Extending to all creatures together.
May the merit and virtue of this offering go everywhere and reach everyone, So that both those who give and those who receive might realize Awakening.
To you, all wandering and solitary spirits, we now make this offering. This food pervades the ten directions, Extending to all wandering and solitary spirits together.
May the merit and virtue of this offering go everywhere and reach everyone, So that both those who give and those who receive might realize Awakening.
UNRESTRICTED FOOD OFFERING VERSE
May nothing obstruct the going forth of this offering.
UNIVERSAL OFFERING VERSE
May this offering be every offering And may it be offered to every creature, And may it permeate the universe.
HEART SUTRA
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva | when practicing deeply the Prajna Paramita perceives that all five skandhas are empty | and is saved 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 color, 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 the mind is no hindrance; without any hindrance no fears exist. Far apart from every perverted view one dwells in Nirvana. In the three worlds | all Buddhas depend on Prajna Paramita and attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi.
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 gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha gate, gate, paragate, parasamgate, bodhi svaha.
PURE LAND VERSE
Those sons or daughters of a good family, Sariputra, who have set their minds on rebirth in the Buddha-field of Amituofo, the Blessed One, the Tathagata, or those who are now setting their minds, or will set their minds, on such rebirth, they will never retreat in their pursuit of unsurpassable, perfect, and full awakening; they have been reborn, are now being reborn, or will be reborn in that Buddha-field. Therefore, Sariputra, sons or daughters of good families who have faith should actively direct their thoughts towards rebirth in that Buddha-field. (The Shorter Amituofo Sutra)
DELIVERANCE VERSE
May all from four forms of birth enter the Precious Land, And those from the three realms be born from lotus blossoms. May all the myriad spirits attain the three-fold worthiness, And the numberless creatures ascend through the ten stages.
PRAISE OF AMITUOFO
Amituofo golden in color, With form, features, and radiance unequalled, The light of his countenance shine round a hundred worlds, Wide as the seas are his eyes, pure and clear.
Shining in his brilliance by transformation, Are countless bodhisattvas and infinite buddhas. His forty-eight vows will be our liberation, In nine lotus-stages we reach the farthest shore.
Homage to the Buddha of the Western Pure Land, Kind and Compassionate Amituofo.
Namo Amituofo! (recited while circumambulating)
SERMON [Optional]
DEDICATION OF MERIT
May the merits of this three-fold refuge-taking, Of these chants and of these pure offerings, Adorn the Buddha’s Pure Land, Repaying four kinds of kindness above, And aiding those below in the three paths of suffering. May those who see and hear, All bring forth the bodhi heart, And when this retribution body is done, Be born together in the blissful Pure Land.