Practice Note: In accordance with the Chinese custom, this service is conducted shortly after NOON, this being the ”Evening” in monasteries. This series of recitations is devoted almost entirely to PURE LAND practices as has been the custom since the SUNG era. Those who wish a ”Zen” evening service will find a translation of a JAPANESE-style ZEN EVENING RECITATION in Appendix #3. If this book is used for practice by a small temple where only one major recitation is held daily, it is recommended that the MORNING RECITATION be the one commonly used, saving this recitation and others in this book for appropriate or auspicious occasions. For a listing of such times by the Lunar Calendar, please see Appendix #4-
EVENING RECITATIONS
All take their places in the same manner as for Morning Recitations.
INCENSE HYMN
ALL
Smoldering incense suddenly burns and the Dharma Realm is covered with its fragrance as the myriad Buddha Ocean Assembly as if one from their distance hear us and from this place join together as in an auspicious cloud. Sincere thoughts and honesty flourish as the myriad Buddhas appear in their Perfect Forms. Give Praise to the Fragrant Cloud Covered Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas! Give Praise to the Fragrant Cloud Covered Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas! Give Praise to the Fragrant Cloud Covered Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas!
GATHA FOR OPENING SUTRAS
The Precentor strikes the Great Ch”ing and intones:
PRECENTOR
The incomparable and profoundly exquisite Dharma!
It is rare that it can be met with, even in hundreds of thousands of millions of ages!
We are now permitted to see it! We are now permitted to hear it! We are now permitted to accept it! We are now permitted to hold it! May we truly understand the meaning of these words of the Tathagata!
THE PURE LAND SUTRA
Being the Buddha”s expounding of the Sukhavativyuha-sutra, the Smaller version.
Gatha in Praise of the Sutra
PRECENTOR
Give Praise
ALL
To the Lotus Pond Ocean Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! Give Praise to the Lotus Pond Ocean Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas! Give Praise to the Lotus Pond Ocean Assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!
Text of the Sutra
PRECENTOR
The Buddha”s Expounding of the Amitabha Sutra!
Bring Palms Together
ALL
Thus have I heard: At one time the Buddha was dwelling at Sravasti in the garden and park purchased for His use by Anathapindaka from the Prince Jeta. With Him was a great company of monks numbering over twelve hundred and fifty. All were Great Arhats and many had achieved the State of Discernment The Venerable Sariputra, Mahamaugalyana, Mahakasyapa, Mahakapphina, Mahakatyayana, Mahakaushthila, Revata, Suddhipanthaka, Nanda, Ananda, Rahula, Gavampati, Bharadvaga, Kaodayin, Vakkula and Aniruddha were among them. Also with him and these Great Disciples were many Great Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas. Among these was the Dharma Prince Manjusri Bodhisattva, the Invincible Maitreya Bodhisattva, the Fragrant Elephant of the North Bodhisattva, and the Constant Unfailing Progress Bodhisattva and also many other Great Bodhisattvas. Also there was Sakra, the Indra-Lord of the Devas and with him were countless numbers of other Devas.
Release palms
In this way did the Buddha speak to the Venerable Sariputra:
"O Sariputra, if you go from here to the West and pass beyond Ten Ten Thousands of Hundreds of Thousands Buddhas Lands there exists a region called the Land of Ultimate Joy where there exists a Buddha called Amitabha. He is there now, expounding the Dharma, this Arhat.
"Now, Sariputra, why do you think that this land is called the Land of Ultimate Joy
Because in that realm for all living beings there is neither physical pain nor mental pain and the sources of blessings are without number. For t…
《[晚课] Evening Recitations (late Ven· Shih Shen-Lung(Ryugen Fisher)》全文未完，请进入下页继续阅读…