Sho sekai bon no ge

This little verse was in the newsletter a while ago as part of the Ghohatsu Nenju – Formal Meal Verses. It is chanted at the end of the meal by the Ino. I have also heard it chanted in the dojo at the end of a teaching or a mondo or a short zazen. I think it is a beautiful verse in both English and Sino-Japanese.

During the summer camps this year at La Gendronnière this next verse was chanted before breakfast in the Buddha hall. It is a dharani which is a bit like a mantra and really can’t be translated accurately. It is the sound which is important and is said to be a manifestation of ku, our true nature. This dharani calls upon the skills of Idaten, the kitchen deity who protects the monks and nuns. Idaten was guarding the Buddha’s ashes and a demon tried to steal them, he chased the demon away and retrieved the ashes. So he represents dealing quickly and efficiently with disasters.

I found this translation on the internet, the Soto school sutra book doesn’t translate it. Don’t take the translation too literally please!

This dharani is chanted 3 times. It begins quite quickly and is very quick by the end! The symbol <**> indicates a ring of the bell and <@> represents a deadened ring of the bell.