Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo, Daihi Shin Dharani and Lotus Sutra chapter 24

[Ryan379]

Hi all,

I'm curious about the ten verse kannon sutra, the great compassion dharani and the 24th chapter of the Lotus Sutra (sometimes known as the Avalokitesvara sutra) can anybody elaborate a bit on their traditional and modern day uses (particularly in the treeleaf sangha) as well as the context in which they are usually chanted?

I know various traditions chant the Daihi Shin Dharani as part of morning service and that dharanis are very much like mantras in that they are often considered to have special properties and bring about certain effects like an incantation. The Avalokitesvara chapter of the lotus sutra is chanted in morning service in the OBC, and as for the ten verse kannon sutra I have no clue

Thanks everyone



Gassho

Ryan

#SatToday

[Jundo]

Hi Ryan,

Yes, those are all cherished in Soto Zen Liturgy in many of their longer rituals. We will chant the ENMEI JUKKU KANNON GYO (Ten Phrase Kannon Sutra) during our annual Rohatsu Retreat next month. I do so in part to honor my mentor, Doshin Cantor of the White Plum, who was very fond of the chant. It really jumps!:

Kan Ze On
Na Mu Butsu
Yo Butsu U In
Yo Butsu U En
Bup Po So En
Jo Raku Ga Jo Cho Nen
Kan Ze On Bo Nen
Kan Ze On Nen Nen
Ju Shin Ki Nen Nen
Fu Ri Shin


Kanzeon!
At one with Buddha
Directly Buddha
Also indirectly Buddha
And indirectly Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
Joyful pure eternal being!
Morning mind is Kanzeon.
Evening mind is Kanzeon.
Nen, nen arises from Mind
Nen, Nen is not separate from Mind.

As to the others, I am not too big for Dharani, such as the "Dharani to Avert Disaster" (Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani), as I consider them mainly "hocus pocus" and silly. Of course, there are other Sangha that do not consider them so, but I find it to be primarily a magic spell to avoid misfortune, as the name impllies. Just my personal taste to avoid the superstitious aspects of our Traditions.

Some say that chanting the ENMEI is also "life prolonging" to those who chant it, but I suppose I overlook that aspect. The Japanese Rinzai Teacher, Hakuin, wrote on that supposed aspect of the chant, if you are interested, and it also mentions the Lotus Sutra 24th Chapter a little ...

http://clouds-genmyo.blogspot.jp/2012/09/healing-in-zen-enmei-jukku-kannon-gyo.html

The 24th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra also concerns Kannon's powers to help people. I have sometimes written about how Kannon is a symbol of all that is generous and caring in this world ...

http://www.treeleaf.org/sit-a-long/with-jundo-and-taigu/archives/2011/04/whattsa-whosa-bodhisattva---avalokiteshvara-kannon.html

... and we honor the wonderful parables and stories of the Lotus Sutra. However, we have never incorporated that particular chant into our Liturgy here.

Gassho, Jundo

[Ryan379]

Thank you Jundo

Gassho

Ryan

#SatToday