Verses at meals
These verses are chanted at meals during a retreat. The text is from the sheet used at the summer retreat in Bristol in 2003. The Japanese is in Latin letters, with the English translation. Gudo Nishijima recites the five reflections in a video.
Verse to open o-ryoki
Bu sho Kapira
Jo do Makada
Sep po Harana
Nyu metsu Kuchira
Nyorai o ryoki
Ga kon toku fu ten
Gan gui i sai shu
To san rin ku nyaku.
Gautama Buddha was born in Kapila. Attaining the truth in Makada, he preached the teachings in Harana and died in Kuchira. Awakened Buddha, I have the utensils for eating. Now I open them. I pray that all living beings will find the same. May those who eat meals, those who serve meals, and the meals themselves be serene and undisturbed.
Five reflections
Hitotsu niwa kono tasho wo hakkari kano raisho hakaru.
Futatsu niwa onore ga toku gyo no zen ketsu o hakkatte kuni ozu.
Mitsu niwa shin wo fuse gi toga wo hana ruru koto wa tonto wo shu to su.
Yotsu niwa masani ryoyaku wo koto to suru wa gyo ko wo ryozen ga tame nari.
Itsutsu niwa jodo no tame no yueni ima kono jiki wo uku.
We reflect upon the insufficiency of our effort in this life. We contemplate the effort that has gone into the preparation of this meal.
We reflect upon our merit. We know that we are not deserving of this meal.
We reflect upon the sources of our mental illusions and mistakes. We must avoid greed, anger, and ignorance.
We reflect upon the reasons for eating meals. It is to avoid becoming weak and thin.
Finally, we reflect upon the ultimate reason for taking meals. It is only to attain the Truth.
In praise of o-ryoki
Jo bun sam bo ju bun shi on
Ge kyu roku do kai do ku yo.
Ikku idan issai aku
Niku ishu issai zen
Sanku ido shoshu jo
Kai gu jo butsu do.
Our meal is in three parts: The first portion is for the Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. The second portion is for the Four Honoured Ones: Our parents, our rulers, sentient beings, and the Universe itself. The third portion is for the six kinds of beings, from the gods to the dwellers in hell. We serve these meals to all equally. They are not for us alone. We eat the first portion to cut the wrong, the second portion to promote the good, and the third to save all living beings. May all living beings attain the Truth.
Poem of returning water
Ga shi sem pa sui
Nyo ten kan ro mi
Se yo ki jin shu
Shitsu ryo toku bo man
On ma kura sai so waka.
This water which has been used to wash our O-Ryoki has a taste like the sweet rain of heaven. We offer it to countless gods and demons alike. May it serve all living beings and bring them perfect contentment.