SALT LAKE BUDDHISTFELLOWSHIP PRACTICE

MANUAL

Christopher Kakuyo Sensei

February 28, 2020

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ContentsSENSEI’S OPENING . . . . . . . . . . . . 5SANGHA OPENING . . . . . . . . . . . . 6DEEP LISTENING . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7INVOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8GRATITUDE AFFIRMATION . . . . . . 9THE SAME WORK AS THE BUDDHA’S 10ANGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11THE DISCOURSE OF LOVING KINDNESS 12MEDICINE ASPIRATION . . . . . . . . . 14GREAT EARTH BODHISATTVA . . . . 15LETTING GO TO FREEDOM . . . . . . 16INVOCATION OF AMIDA BUDDHA . . 17INVOCATION OF QUAN YIN . . . . . . 18GOING FOR REFUGE . . . . . . . . . . 19CANDLE LIGHTING . . . . . . . . . . . 20INCENSE OFFERING . . . . . . . . . . . 21AMITABHA CHANT . . . . . . . . . . . 22JIZO CHANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24KUAN YIN MANTRA . . . . . . . . . . . 25HEART SUTRA MANTRA . . . . . . . . 26FELLOWSHIP CLOSING . . . . . . . . . 27BODHI DAY CANDLE LIGHTING . . . 28

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SENSEI’S OPENING

SenseiWith deepest reverence and compassion, we cometogether just as we are in the spirit of the Buddha,the Enlightened One, the compassionate.

Life is One.We are One with the Buddha.We are One with the Teaching.We are One in the spirit of universal fellowship.

We resolve to be earnest students of the Buddhaand to dedicate our lives to kindness andcompassion, following the Way he has pointedout.

Embraced by his great compassion, may we, likehim, attain the noblest and most peaceful state ofAwakening,

May we enter the pure land here and now.

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SANGHA OPENING

SpeakerThe Sangha is invited to come back to ourbreathing so that the collective energy ofmindfulness will bring us together as anorganism, flowing as a river with no moreseparation.

Let the whole Sanghabreathe as one body,chant as one body,listen as one body.

Transcending the boundaries of a delusive self,liberating from the superiority complex,the inferiority complex, and the equality complex.

SanghaMy body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness. Isend my heart along with the sound of the bell. Maythe hearer awake from forgetfulness and transcendall anxiety and sorrow and hear the name that callsto all of us.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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DEEP LISTENING

SenseiBeing aware that deep listening can alleviatesuffering. . .

SanghaI am determinedto practice deep listening andto cultivate a listening heart,to listen without judgementto myself and to others.

I am determinedto hold space with another,to understand and to bringunderstanding,

to cultivate compassion, and to easesuffering, realizing that deep listeningis an act of love.

So I vow to be still,to be still with you and to listen.

And I vow to listen for the callof all the Buddhas and of Amida

to come,

come and dance.

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INVOCATION

SenseiWe have gathered together today with openhearted awareness. May we be nourished byeach other and by all the Buddhas andBodhisattvas and by our myriad of teachers,

in body,in mind,in spirit,

and in the Way of Oneness.

SanghaMay our gathering together inspire usto direct our hearts and minds.

To heal, not to harm.To help, not to hinder.To bless, not to curse.

To always serve the spirit of awakening.

May It Be So.

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GRATITUDE AFFIRMATION

SenseiWhen sorrow invades the mind, we find theBuddha’s teachings.

SanghaThank you sorrow!

SenseiThrough cruel adversity we discover the Sanghaand the transformation of suffering.

SanghaThank you cruel adversity!

SenseiWhen our clinging and aversions overwhelm usmay we discover the Great compassion of AmidaBuddha.

SanghaThank you clinging and aversions!

SenseiThrough the unfolding of the Dharma we placeour hands in gassho and bow to the oneness oflife.

SanghaNamu Amida Butsu.

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THE SAME WORK AS THE BUDDHA’S

SenseiOur work and the Buddha’s are the same.Let us remember that we are called to becompassionate, understanding that. . .

Sanghain compassionthere is no respectand no disrespect,

no responsibility,no judgement.

There isno anger,no bias,no prejudice.

In compassion, we do not keep othersfrom what they are doingor what they are thinking,

we do not look for cause or blame, andgive no thought to effort.

In compassion, our only concernis for the suffering that is there.

May it be so.

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ANGER

SenseiWhen anger and malice arise,may we see in ourselves and othersthe pain and fear that it hides.

May I see anger and malice as theoverflowing of suffering

and not confuse protective angerwith destructive anger

and may we have the insightto know the difference.

SanghaI vow here with all beingsto be present in the moment,and listen deeply with an open heartfor the truth in what is being said,

ignoring the way it is said.

May it be so.

Adapted from Robert Aitken

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THE DISCOURSE OF LOVING KINDNESS

SenseiIn the Metta Sutra the Buddha teachesloving-kindness - let us now recite the heartof this teaching.

SanghaPracticing loving-kindness as taught by theAwakened one.

May I be safe.May I be well.May I be happy.May I be free.May I live content and at peace.May I awaken to the right of my own true nature.

May you be safe.May you be well.May you be happy.May you be free.May you live content and at peace.

May all awaken to the right of their own true nature.May all be safe.May all be well.

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May all be happy.May all be free.May all live content and at peace.

May all awaken to the light of their own true nature.

All beings, one Buddha-nature.All beings, one Buddha-nature.All beings, one Buddha-nature.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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MEDICINE ASPIRATION

SenseiThat I may help in the work of the Buddhas. . .

SanghaMay I become sure medicine for every pain.May the force of caring increase in me.May my thoughts be healing.May my words be healing.May my actions be healing.May my breath be healing.May my look be healing.May my touch be healing.

May I hold as my delight the removingof suffering of living beings and givingthem happiness.

May I dedicate myself to othersMay I increase my ability to help others.May virtue increase.May whatever is good within me increase.May that which is beneficial within my increase.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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GREAT EARTH BODHISATTVA

SenseiHere and now we acknowledge the compassionof you, our Great Mother Earth Bodhisattva.

SanghaHere and now we joyfully acknowledge andreceive all that you give to us freely, the air, thewater, and soil that gives us life -

from the lone bee to your great oceanswe acknowledge your wonderful gifts.

Together we vow to practice gratitude,Great Mother Earth Bodhisattva.And now to protect you,

in mind, word, and deed, that you may call us,

Witnesses,Healers,Defenders,

Friends.

May it be so.

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LETTING GO TO FREEDOM

SenseiJust as the vast sky does not hinder whiteclouds,

just as the falling maple leaf presents both frontand back,

just as the water of the lake does not hold thereflection of the bird that flies over,

let us practice letting go.

Let us be like water without resistancelet go of all pretense, scheming, and our need tocontrol the uncontrollable.

SanghaWe vow to walk side by side,supporting one another in our practice.

We vow to let go of the stories and delusionsthat have hindered our freedom for so long.

We vow to accept ourselves just as we are,and by so doing find our true selves

surrounded, supported, and embracedin the oneness of life.

May it be so.

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INVOCATION OF AMIDA BUDDHA

SenseiHearing Namu Amida Butsu, sayingNamu Amida Butsu awakens a Buddharight here!

This Buddha; the source of boundlesscompassion.

This Buddha; gives compassion to all withoutexception.

Just compassion.Just as you are.

SanghaMay each of us cultivate a receiving heartand recall this in the lightand recall this in the dark.

Moment after moment the courageous heartarises!

Time after timethere is nothing but this,nothing to accomplish,nothing to do

but simply “Be”.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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INVOCATION OF QUAN YIN

SenseiWe call upon Quan Yin Bodisattva ofCompassion.

We call upon Quan Yin to inspire our lives.We call upon ourselves to inspire Quan Yin.We call upon ourselves as Quan Yin.

Enlightening, being enlightened, calling andresponding, the birds and stars as Quan Yin,the friend and the enemy as Quan Yin.

Each thought of compassion ever so brief, isQuan Yin herself turning the Dharma Wheel.

Acceptance is Quan Yin.Regarding the cries of the world is Quan Yin.Quan Yin is the realized in hearing the distress andpain of all beings and embraces forests, geckos,and children.

SanghaMay the compassionate action of Quan Yin,mother of all Buddhas, arise from the place ofgrateful receiving.

I honor the great power for the Way, generated bythe profound act of opening myself to the world.

Om Mani Padme HumOm Mani Padme HumOm Mani Padme Hum

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GOING FOR REFUGE

SenseiBuddham Saranam GacchamiDhamman Saranam GacchamiSangham Saranam Gacchami

SanghaI go to the Buddha for guidance. I will follow hisWay of Oneness. I will awaken to his boundlesswisdom and compassion and to my own.

SenseiWe take refuge in the Dharma and the Sangha ofBoundless light.

SanghaI go to the Dharma for guidance. I shall becomeone with its teachings. By its light and the light ofall the Buddhas, I will free myself and all beingsfrom suffering.

I go to the Sangha for guidance. I shall become onewith the Sangha in a spirit of compassion andharmony to help lead all beings to awakening.

I go for refuge to the Buddha.I go for refuge to the Dharma.I go for refuge to the Sangha.

With openness of heart we entrust ourselves tothe oneness of life.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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CANDLE LIGHTING

SenseiKO MYO HEN JOJIP-PO SE KAINEM BU-SHU JOSE-SSHU FU SHA

The boundless light of Amida Buddha illuminatesthe ten directions and all who call the name willbe born in the pure land here and now.

I light this candle to represent the boundless lightof Amida Buddha.

SanghaAs a small light can lead one out of darkness, maythis small light be boundless and lead others outof the darkness of hatred, greed, and confusion.

May it lead each of us to the healingof our deep woundedness.

May it reveal the truth and compassionthat lies in the darkness.

May this small flame be boundless.May it be a light to each of us.

So that the light of the Dharma,and the light of Amida Buddhawill shine forth, showing us

the way to freedom.

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INCENSE OFFERING

SenseiGAN GA SHIN JO NYO KO ROGAN GA SHIN NYO CHI E KANEN NEN BON JO KAI JO KOKU YO JIP-PO SAN ZE BU

In gratitude and joy, we offer this incense to theboundless heart of compassion and to all theBuddhas, Bodhisattvas, and living beings.

By burning this incense, we acknowledge theoneness of all things.

Incense comes in many shapes and colors, andonce burned, all distinctions are transcended.

All become one in the fragrant smoke,representing our transcending of individualselfishness and ego to become onewith all others,

to join the oneness of life.

SanghaMay the fragrance of this incense draw ustogether and unite us in the work of the Buddhasand manifest within each of us a Buddha’s heartof boundless love.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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AMITABHA CHANT

SenseiCome as you areis the invitation of Buddha,Just as you are.

Namu Amida Butsuis the invitation we give

to ourselvesto othersto all living beingsto the totality of our lives, just as they are.

So, come as you are,attend to all and eachNamu Amida Butsu

Stop torturing yourselfwith all those made-up storiesof who you think you are

and aren’t, regardless of whoyou are or are not, regardlessof what you have doneor have left undone

and enter the gate of boundless compassion.

Namu Amida ButsuNamu Amida ButsuNamu Amida Butsu

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SanghaOm Namo AmitabhayaBuddhayaDharmayaSanghaya(repeat)

Om Namo, Om Namo,Om Namo Amitabhaya(repeat)

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JIZO CHANT

SenseiWe practice and recite this for all beings that aretrapped in great suffering. As Jizo is willing togo to hell to find those that are lost, let us invokethe compassionate energy of Jizo and go to thosetrapped in the hell of suffering and bring themout into the compassionate light of all theBuddhas.

SanghaOm Ka KaKabi SanMa EhSowa Ka(repeat)

Note: Traditionally chanting this Dhananiinvokes the energy of Jizo, and may help dispeldistressing, repetitive thoughts. It is inremembrance of all those in different hells,physical and mental. May all beings be free fromsuffering.

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KUAN YIN MANTRA

SenseiShe is a source of light and removes sufferingfrom everyone in the triple world.

She brings light so that all fear and distress maybe forsaken.

She disperses the gloom and darkness ofdelusion.

She herself is the eye of vision and wisdom,the Perfection of Wisdom of the Buddhas -

The Mother of All Buddhas.

SanghaWe dedicate the energy and merit of this mantrato all victims of racism, bigotry, war, andterrorism,

to the healing of hatred in all countries,to the wisdom and compassion of our worldleaders,

to the peace of the world,to the abundance of pure water,

to the healing of the Earth,and to the harmony of all beings.

Om mani padme hum (chant and repeat).

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HEART SUTRA MANTRA

SenseiTo all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and protectorsof the Dharma and the Three Treasures, wesentient beings, lift our hearts to transformignorance, violence, and suffering.

May healing and peace prevail throughout thedharma worlds and all beings realizeboundlessness.

Maha Prajna Paramita.

SanghaGate GateParagate parasamgateBodhi Svaha(repeat)

Translation:Gone, gone, gone beyond.Gone altogether beyond.Oh what an awakening.All hail!

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FELLOWSHIP CLOSING

SenseiMay the merit of this ceremony adorn theBuddha’s pure lands, bring forth the fourfoldkindnesses, and relieve the suffering of life’spaths.

As we leave and conclude this gathering, wesurround all people and all forms of life withinfinite love and compassion.

May the sound of this bell ring through theuniverse awakening all beings to joy andequanimity.

(Ring bell 3x)

SanghaMay all beings be peaceful.May all beings be happy.May all beings be safe.

May all beings awaken to the light of AmidaBuddha. May all beings be free.

Namu Amida Butsu.

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BODHI DAY CANDLE LIGHTING

SenseiAfter many teachers and six years in deep reflection andascetic practice that brought you to the point of death-sitting under the Bodhi tree, you realized you knew nothing- which opened the door to your awakening.

Beneath that same tree, you turned the arrows of suffering,doubt, fear, and expectation into flowers, that rained atyour feet. Thank you Awakened One.

At the very heart of the Buddha Way is the promise ofawakening, the boundless vow, the bright flame of BuddhaNature and the luminous dharma.

In response to your awakening, we pass your light from oneto another, the past reaching far into the future, encour-aging all to take part in the improbable tender awakeningof our world.

We will now light our candles as a symbol of passing thelight and promise of awakening from the Buddha to eachof us. “A thousand candles can be lit from the flame of onecandle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.”

SanghaLet us now come out of the darkness of ourunknowing and the dusk of our dreaming -come out from far places -go forth into the Bright Dawn of our awakening.

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Let us now come all together,bringing our minds,our hearts, andour bodies.

Seeking the clear light of understanding.Seeking the way of the Buddhas.

May the light of our joining flames kindle our resolve,brighten our spirits,reflect our love,and unshadow our days.

Come we now; togetherentering into the Brightening Dawn.

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