AZC Chant Book (pdf)
Bodhisattva Ceremony (mp3)

Short Chants

Before Lecture

An unsurpassed, penetrating and perfect Dharma,
Is rarely met with even in a hundred thousand million kalpas.
Having it to see and listen to, to remember and accept,
I vow to tast the truth of the Tathagatha's words.

After Lecture

May our intentions equally penetrate every being and place,
With the true merit of Buddha's Way.
Beings are numberless, I vow to save them.
Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to end them
Dharma gates are boundless, I vow to enter them.
Buddha's Way is unsurpassable, I vow to become it.

Robe Chant (after morning zazen, before putting on robes)

dai zai ge da pu ku
mu so fu ku den e
hi bu nyo rai kyo
ko do sho shu jo

repeat first verse

Great robe of liberation
Field far beyond form and emptiness
Wearing the Tathagata’s teaching
Saving all Beings


All Buddhas ... (together during service after eko)

All Buddhas, ten directions, three times.
All beings, bodhisattva mahasattvas.


Wisdom beyond wisdon, maha prajna paramita.

... and in Sino-Japanese

ji ho san shi i shi fu
shi son bu sa mo ko sa
mo ko ho ja ho ro mi

Repentance (three times)

All my ancient twisted karma,
From beginningless greed, hate and delusion,
Borne through body, speech and mind,
I now fully avow.

Refuges

I take refuge in Buddha.
I take refuge in Dharma.
I take refuge in Sangha.
I take refuge in Buddha as the perfect teacher.
I take refuge in Dharma as the perfect teaching.
I take refuge in Sangha as the perfect life.
Now I have completely taken refuge in Buddha.
Now I have completely taken refuge in Dharma.
Now I have completely taken refuge in Sangha.


... and in Pali

Buddham saranam gacchami.
Dhammam saranam gacchami.
Sangham saranam gacchami.
Dutiampi Buddham saranam gacchami.
Dutiampi Dhammam saranam gacchami.
Dutiampi Sangham saranam gacchami.
Tatiampi Buddham saranam gacchami.
Tatiampi Dhammam saranam gacchami.
Tatiampi Sangham saranam gacchami.

Bodhisattva Ceremony, aka, Full-Moon Ceremony.

This short ceremony is performed on or near full moon days. Based on the traditional monks' Posada (Uposatta) Ceremony, it is opportunity to renew the Bodhisattva Vows (Precepts). However, this ceremony is open to anyone prepared to do a lot of bows. If you have not actually taken the Precepts and do not intend to, that's OK: The clever wording in our ceremony leaves a loophole. The ceremony takes the form of call and response, not indicating memorization, except for the following:

I take refuge in Buddha
Before all beings,
Entering the merciful ocean,
Of Buddha's way.

I take refuge in Dharma
Before all beings,
Immersing body and mind,
Deeply in the Way.

I take refuge in Sangha.
Before all beings,
Bringing harmony to everyone,
Free from hindrance.