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Dd2 404 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST who protectest us ever from the evil ways of birth, who grantest us to be born in the presence of Buddha, who dis- pellest all troubles, evil diseases and ignorance, who, by thy power of spiritual perception, art able to appear always to answer prayer, causing that which is desired to be brought about, who removest all doubts, who art able to cause speedy acquirement of the three degrees^ of merit, and a rapid birth in the land of Buddha (or in the position of Buddha) ; possessed of infinite spiritual power, beyond the capability of language to express, we therefore adore Thee and worship, with one heart and mind ! \_Direction.'] — The worshippers should be filled with holy joy and pious reverence, their hearts without confusion ; they should render due homage; bowing three times at the mention of Sakya Buddha, etc. Then proceed : — [Invocation.] — One in heart and mind, we worship Thee our own Teacher Sakya Muni Lokajit ! [Direction.] — Repeat three times; bow three times; and with deep reflection say secretly, " The nature both of the object and subject in worship is empty (spiritual). Difficult is it to explain the blending of the one with the other. I regard this sacred altar as a Royal gem (a mirror ?)— in the midst of it appears the shadow of Sakya Tathagata ; my body also appears in the presence of Sakya ; prostrate thus upon my face and hands I worship him, that hereafter all the Buddhas and Bodhisatwas when invoked may duly appear." [Chant.] — One in heart and mind we worship thee Amit- abha of the Western world Sukhavati, Lokajit. [Here follow ascriptions of worship to all the Buddhas and Bodhisatwas named in the former part of this service.] \_Direction.]—Miev these acts of worship, all the worshippers should bow once, then let the officiating priest proceed. LESSON. The Scripture saith: Whatever Bikshu or Bikshunt, Upa- saka or Upasaki, layman or laywoman, desires to recite the sentences of this service, in order to excite in the midst of all sentient creatures the o})oration of the Compassionate ' Lit. "the three vehicles." SCRIPTUEES FROM THE CHINESE. 405 Merciful Heart, ought first to go through the tbllowiiig vows : — ■ IJDirection.] — Then all prostrate themselves and say, — All hail ! Great Compassionate Kwan-shai-yin, Oh ! may I soon acquire perfect knowledge. All hail ! Great Compassionate Kwan-shai-yin, Oh ! may I soon attain the eyes of Divine Wisdom ! All hail ! etc.. Oh ! may I quickly deliver all sentient creatures ! All hail ! etc.. Oh ! may I soon acquire a glorious emancipation ! All hail ! etc., Oh ! may I soon cross over to the other side, in the boat Prajna ! All hail ! etc., Oh ! may I soon pass over the sea of sorrow ! All hail ! etc.. Oh ! may I quickly obtain holiness {lit. the fixed way of the moral precepts). All hail ! etc.. Oh ! may I soon attain to Nirvana (the hill of Nirvana). All hail ! etc.. Oh ! may I quickly return to unconditioned Being (wou wei). Though I were cast upon the mountain of knives. They should not hurt me ! • Though thrown into the midst of the lake of fire. It should not burn me ! Though hurled down to the lowest hell, It should not hold me ! Though hungry ghosts surrounded me. They should not touch me ! Though exposed to the power of Asuras, Their malice should not reach me ! Though transformed amongst the lowest forms of life, I should attain to heavenly wisdom ! 406 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST [Invocation.'] — Hail! Kwan-yin Bodliisatwa. IBirection.'] — To be repeated ten times, quickly. Let the worshippers here pray for deliverance from any particular calamity, such as fire, drowning, etc. [Invocation.'] — Hail ! Amitablia Buddha. [Direction.] — Ten times quickly repeated. Then let the officiating priest continue thus — [Lesson.] — Kwan-yin, addressing Buddha, said: World honoured one ! Whilst the recitation of these divine sen- tences is ineffectual to deliver creatures from the three evil ways of birth, I vow never to arrive at the condition of Buddha ! So long as those who recite these divine sentences are not born in the various lands of all the Buddhas, I vow never to arrive at that condition myself ! So long as those who recite these divine sentences are unable to attain eveiy degree of spiritual perception, 1 vow never to arrive at the condition of Buddha ! So long as those who recite these divine sentences do not receive full answer to their prayers, I vow to remain as I am ! Then, in the midst of all the congregation — with closed palms, standing perfectly upright, exciting in all creatures the great compassionate heart, his eyebrows raised, a smile on his lips — Kwan-yin forthwith began to deliver these comprehensive, effectual, complete, great compassionate heart Dharani, mysterious and divine sentences. [Direction.] — Then let all the priests recite together — Namo ho lo tan na to lo ye ye, Namo ho li ye, Po lou ki ti lo cho lo yo. Bo ti sah to po ye. Mo ho ka lou ni ka ye, Om! Sah pa lah fah ye, etc. [These Dharanis being corrupt forms of Sanskrit or Pali words — chiefly names of popular objects of worship, inter- spersed with interjcctional phrases, such as Om, svah, etc., — I do not transcribe them further. The Sanskrit forms of tlic few written above appear to be Namo Ratnatrayaya, SCRIPTURES PROM THE CHINESE. 407 Namo Aryavalokitesvaraya, Bodhisatvaya, Maliasattvaya, Ma- hakarunikaya, Om, etc., etc.] \_Directlon.] — The worshippers having recited the Dharani, must pros- trate themselves on their faces and hands three times ; then stand up four times in succession ; then walk round the altar in procession eleven times ; then stand up again three times in succession. This being finished, all standing upright, let the officiating priest continue thus — Kwan-yin Bodhisatwa having delivered these sentences, the great earth trembled six times. The heavens rained precious flowers, which fell down in commingled profusion. All the Buddhas of the ten quarters rejoiced. The powerful demons and the heretics shook with fear, and their hair stood on end. The members of the congregation immediately entered upon the paths, some on the path Si'otapauua, some on the path Sakradagami, some on the path Anagami, some on the path of a Eahat ; others again obtained that condition which is known as the first platform (one earth), others the second, others the third, and so on, up to the tenth (Dasab- humi), and numberless others attained to the heart of wisdom (i. e., complete knowledge or Bodhi.) \_Direction.2 — Bowing low, say thus — We, and all men from the very first, by reason of the grievous sins we have committed in thought, word, and deed, have lived in ignorance of all the Buddhas, and of any way of escape from the consequences of our conduct. We have followed only the course of this evil world, nor have we known aught of supreme wisdom ; and even now, though enhghtened as to our duty, yet, with others, we still commit heavy sius^ which prevent us advancing in true know- ledge. Therefore, in the presence of Kwan-yin, and the Buddhas of the ten regions, we would humble ourselves and repent us of our sins. Oh ! that we may have strength to do so aright, and that they may cause all obstacles to be removed. [Here with a loud voice add] — For the sake of all sentient creatures, in whatever capacity they be, would that all obstacles may be removed, we confess our sins and repent ! 408 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST \^Direction.^ — A complete prostration. Then continue thus — We, and all men from the first, from too great love of outward things, and from inward affection to men, leading to sinful friendships, having no wish to benefit others, or to do good in the least degree, have only strengthened the power of the three sources of sin, and added sin to sin ; and even though our actual crimes have not been so great, yet a wicked heart has ruled us within ; day and night, without interval or hesitation, have we continually contrived how to do wrong. There has been no desii'e after knowledge, no fear of misery, no alarm, no heart-chiding, we have gone on heedless of all consequences.