Thirty-Five Essential Texts with Commentary
by Kazuaki Tanahashi
The audio tracks presented here are a selection from Part One, “The Daily Chants,” and Part Two, “Chants for Events,” of the book Zen Chants: Thirty-five Essential Texts with Commentary by Kazuaki Tanahashi. These audio files were edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi, produced by Karuna Tanahashi, and mixed and mastered by Alex Platt.
Note: Click a file to view listen in your web browser. To download, click on the SoundCloud icon to the right of the track. After opening the SoundCloud window, click "more" on each track and select "download."
All recordings of chants on these audio tracks are in public domain except for Ten Line Sutra of Avalokiteshvara’s Boundless Life © Luc De Winter, Ensemble Polyfoon.
Texts and Credits
Note: “The Editor” here means Kazuaki Tanahashi.
1. Awakening Together (English)
Solo chant by Karuna Tanahashi
Translated by Joan Halifax and the Editor
All awakened ones
throughout space and time,
honored ones, great beings,
who help all to awaken,
together may we realize
wisdom beyond wisdom!
2. Awakening Together (Japanese)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
Ji h san shi i shi fu.
Shi son bu sa mo ko sa.
Mo ko ho ja ho ro mi.
3. Four All-Embracing Vows (English)
Solo chant by Karuna Tanahashi
A common translation, adapted by Joan Halifax and modified by the Editor
Beings are numberless; I vow to awaken them.
Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to transform them.
Dharmas are boundless; I vow to comprehend them.
The awakened way is incomparable; I vow to embody it.
4. Four Vows (Shi Kuseigan Mon, Japanese)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
Shuj muhen sei gan do.
Bonn mujin sei gan dan.
Hmon mury sei gan gaku.
Butsud muj sei gan j.
5. Ten-Line Life-Affirming SÇtra of Avalokiteshvara (English)
Group chant at Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Translated by Joan Halifax and the Editor
Avalokiteshvara, perceiver of the cries of the world,
takes refuge in Buddha,
will be a buddha,
helps all to be buddhas,
is not separate from Buddha, Dharma, Sangha—
being eternal, intimate, pure, and joyful.
In the morning, be one with Avalokiteshvara.
In the evening, be one with Avalokiteshvara,
whose heart, moment by moment, arises,
whose heart, moment by moment, remains!
6. Ten-Line SÇtra of Avalokiteshvara’s Boundless Life (polyphony, English)
Composed by Luc De Winter
Sung by Ensemble Polyfoon, Antwerp, Belgium
Directed by Lieven Deroo
Reproduced with permission from Sandokai
7. Ten-Line Life-Affirming SÇtra of Avalokiteshvara (Emmei Jukku Kannon Gy, Japanese)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
Kanzeon.
Namu butsu.
Yo butsu u in.
Yo butsu u en.
Bupps en
J raku ga j.
Ch nen Kanzeon.
Bo nen Kanzeon.
Nen nen jÇ shin ki.
Nen nen fu ri shin.
8. SÇtra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom (English)
Group chant at Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Translated by Joan Halifax and the Editor
Avalokiteshvara, who helps all to awaken,
moves in the deep course of
realizing wisdom beyond wisdom,
sees that all five streams of
body, heart, and mind are without boundary,
and frees all from anguish.
O Shariputra,
[who listens to the teachings of the Buddha],
form is not separate from boundlessness;
boundlessness is not separate from form.
Form is boundlessness; boundlessness is form.
The same is true of feelings, perceptions, inclinations, and discernment.
O Shariputra,
boundlessness is the nature of all things.
Boundlessness neither arises nor perishes,
neither stains nor purifies,
neither increases nor decreases.
Boundlessness is not limited by form,
nor by feelings, perceptions, inclinations, or discernment.
It is free of the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind;
free of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and any object of mind;
free of sensory realms, including the realm of mind.
It is free of ignorance and the end of ignorance.
Boundlessness is free of old age and death,
and free of the end of old age and death.
It is free of suffering, arising, cessation, and path,
and free of wisdom and attainment.
Being free of attainment, those who help all to awaken
abide in the realization of wisdom beyond wisdom
and live with an unhindered mind.
Without hindrance, the mind has no fear.
Free from confusion, those who lead all to liberation
embody profound serenity.
All those in the past, present, and future,
who realize wisdom beyond wisdom,
manifest unsurpassable and thorough awakening.
Know that realizing wisdom beyond wisdom
is no other than this wondrous mantra,
luminous, unequaled, and supreme.
It relieves all suffering.
It is genuine and not illusory.
So set forth this mantra of realizing wisdom beyond wisdom.
Set forth this mantra that says:
Gaté, gaté, paragaté, parasamgaté, bodhi! Svah!
9. SÇtra on the Heart of Realizing Wisdom Beyond Wisdom (Maka Hannya Haramitta Shingy, Japanese)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
Kan ji zai bo satsu gy jin han nya ha ra mit ta ji
sh ken go on kai kÇ do is sai ku yaku
sha ri shi shiki fu i kÇ kÇ fu i shiki shiki soku ze kÇ
kÇ soku ze shiki ju s gy shiki yaku bu nyo ze
sha ri shi ze sho h kÇ s fu sh fu metsu fu ku fu j fu z fu gen
ze ko kÇ chÇ mu shiki mu ju s gy shiki mu gen ni bi zes shin ni
mu shiki sh k mi soku h mu gen kai nai shi mu i shiki kai
mu mu my yaku mu mu my jin nai shi mu r shi yaku mu r shi jin
mu ku shu metsu d mu chi yaku mu toku
i mu sho tok ko bo dai sat ta e han nya ha ra mit ta ko shin mu kei ge
mu kei ge ko mu fu ku fu on ri is sai ten do mu so ku kyo ne han
san ze sho butsu e han nya ha ra mit ta ko toku a noku ta ra sam
myaku sam bo dai ko chi han nya ha ra mit ta ze dai jin shu
ze dai my shu ze mu j shu ze mu t d shu n jo is sai ku
shin jitsu fu ko ko setsu han nya ha ra mti ta shu soku setsu shu watsu
gya te gya tei ha ra gya tei hara so gya tei bo ji sowa ka.
han nya shin gy
10. Meal Chant (English)
Group chant at Salt Spring Zen Circle, British Columbia, Canada
A common translation, modified by the Editor
We reflect on the effort that brought us this food and consider how it comes to us.
We reflect on our practice and service and whether we are worthy of this offering.
We regard it as essential to keep the mind free from excess and greed.
We regard this food as good medicine to sustain our life.
For the sake of awakening, we now receive this food.
11. Robe Verse (English)
Group chant at Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Translated by Blanche Hartman and the Editor
Modified by Joan Halifax and the Editor
Vast is the robe of liberation,
a formless field of benefaction!
I wear the Tathgata’s teaching
to awaken countless beings.
12. Robe Verse (Japanese)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
Dai sai gedappuku.
Mus fuku den’e.
Hi bu nyorai ky.
Kd shoshuj.
13. Three Refuges (Pali)
Group chant at Metta Forest Monastery, Valley Center, California
A common version
Buddham saranam gacchmi
Dhammam saranam gacchmi
Sangham saranam gacchmi
Dutiyam-pi, Buddham saranam gacchmi
Dutiyam-pi, dhammam saranam gacchmi
Dutiyam-pi, sangham saranam gacchmi
Tatiyam-pi, Buddham saranam gacchmi
Tatiyam-pi, dhammam saranam gacchmi
Tatiyam-pi, sangham saranam gacchmi
14. Mett (Pali/English)
Group chant at Metta Forest Monastery, Valley Center, California
Translated by Thanissaro Bhikku
Aha_ sukhito homi—May I be happy.
Niddukkho homi—May I be free from stress and pain.
Avero homi—May I be free from animosity.
Abypajjho homi—May I be free from opression.
AnÇgho homi—May I be free from trouble.
SukhÇ attnam pariharmi—May I look after myself with ease.
Sabbe satt sukhit hontu—May all living beings be happy.
Sabbe satt aver hontu—May all living beings be free from animosity.
Sabbe satt abypajjh hontu—May all living beings be free from opression.
Sabbe satt anÇgh hontu—May all living beings be free from trouble.
Sabbe satt sukhÇ attnam pariharantu—May all living beings look after themselves with ease.
15. Great Compassionate Heart DhranÇ (Daihi Shin Darani, Japanese)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
namu kara tan n tora y y namu ori y boryo ki chi shifu ra ya fuji sato bo y moko
sato bo y mo k kya runi kya y en sa hara ha e shu tan n ton sh namu shiki rÇ to i m
ori y boryo ki chi shifu r ri to b namu no r kin ji ki rÇ mo ko ho d sha mi sa b
o to j shu ben o shu in sa bo sa t no mo bo gy mo ha te cho to ji t en o bo ryo kÇ ru
gya chÇ kya ra chÇ i kiri mo k fuji sa t sa bo sa b mo ra mo r mo ki mo kÇ ri to in ku ry ku ry ke mo to ry to ry ho ja ya chÇ mo ko ho ja ya chÇ to ra to r chiri nÇ shifu ra y sha r sha r mo mo ha mo r ho chi rÇ i ki i kÇ shi no shi n ora san fura sha rÇ ha za ha z fura sha y ku ry ku ry mo ra ku ry ku ry ki ri sha r sha r shi ri shi rÇ su ry su ry fuji y fuji y fudo y fudo y mi chiri y nora kin jÇ chiri shuni n hoya mono somo k shido y somo k moko
shido y somo k shido yu kÇ shifu ra y somo k nora kin jÇ somo k mo ra no ra somo k
shira su omo gya y somo k sobo moko shido y somo k shaki r oshi do y somo k hodo mogya shido y somo k nora kin jÇ ha gyara y somo k mo horÇ shin gyara y somo k namu kara tan n tora y y namu ori y boryo ki chi shifu ra y somo k shite d modor hodo y somo k
16. Wondrous Auspicious DhranÇ for Averting Calamities (Japanese, Shsai My Kichij Darani)
Solo chant by Gengo Akiba
A common version
nomo san manda motonan oha rachÇ koto sh sono nan t
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