A Prayer

My first teacher of Shugendo (who died in 1993), back in 1969-70, used to recite this prayer from memory at the end of any service or ceremony, as part of the "turning over of the merit to all sentient beings." I had never seen it in written form until it was recently sent among his original hand-written prayer books. It probably came to him through the Tibetan tradition.

MAY ALL BEINGS WHO ARE WITHOUT PROTECTION AND HAVE NO PROTECTION, QUICKLY ATTAIN THE UNSURPASSABLE  CONDITION OF SUPREME ENLIGHTENMENT. LET THE TWELVE-FOLD CAUSAL NEXUS, WHICH IS THE BASIS OF ALL DELUDING EXISTENCE, REVOLVING LIKE THE WHEEL OF A CART, BE QUICKLY DESTROYED.

MAY WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF OUR TEACHERS THAT ALL STUPIDITY MAY BE DISPERSED WITH REGARD TO THE NATURE OF EXISTENCE. MAY WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF OUR TUTELARY  DEITY THAT WE MAY ACHIEVE WHAT WE INTEND.

MAY WE HAVE THE BLESSING OF THE GREAT SYMBOL IN THE WOMB OF BODY SPEECH AND MIND; THE BLESSING OF THE DHARMA-KAYA, BOUNDLESS LIGHT; EXTENDING BLESSINGS THROUGHOUT THE REALM OF A THOUSAND SUNS, FOREMOST IN HE PERFECTION OF THE GLORIOUS QUALITIES WHICH ARE THE BEST OF ALL DESIRABLE THINGS. MAY BLESSINGS SUCH AS THESE DESCEND UPON US HERE TODAY.

THE BLESSING OF THE SAMBHOGA-KAYA, THE GREAT COMPASSIONATE ONES, EXTENDING BLESSINGS LIKE THE MOON THROUGH THE HEAVENS, FOREMOST IN THE PERFECTION OF THE HOPES OF BODILY BEINGS. MAY BLESSINGS SUCH AS THESE DESCEND UPON US HERE TODAY.

THE BLESSING OF THE NIRMANA-KAYA, EXTENDING BLESSINGS FAR AND WIDE EVEN TO THE MYRIAD OF STARS, TEACHING IN A MANNER SUITABLE TO EACH PLACE AND EACH PERSON. MAY BLESSINGS SUCH AS THESE DESCEND UPON US HERE TODAY.  

OM NAMO AMITTABHAYA BODHAYA

En-no-Obasoku Icon

The legendary founder of the various sects of Shugendo who lived in the Yamato region, the ancient spiritual heart of Japan, circa 750AD. This icon dates from the 17thC resurgence of Shugendo and shows him taming the demons so that they serve the Dharma and benefit all beings. The mantra is NAMO JINBEN DAI BOSATSU which means roughly, "The great bodhisattva who transformed the spirits."

A SUTRA'S PROPHECY

THE FIVE 500 YEAR PERIODS OF SHAKYAMUNI'S DHARMA

(from "Moon-Repository Assembly Sutra" Ch 17. probably composed in the 2nd period)

Anybody familiar with Buddhist literature knows that "500" does not mean the exact number, as distinguished from 499 or 501, but rather means "lots and lots." But just for fun, that is, 'fun' if you are a number cruncher, here are the dates if you take "500' as an exact number.

1st Period: 483BC-17AD

           Those who follow the right Dharma will attain liberation for sure

2nd Period: 17AD-517AD

           They will attain samadhi for sure

 3rd Period: 517AD-1017AD

           They will read and recite the Sutras

4th Period: 1017AD-1517AD

           They will build temples and pagodas

5th Period: 1517AD-2017AD

           They will argue among themselves and bring ruin to the Dharma

One point of interest here is the ending date 2017, a year not far ahead. If it were, say, 1997AD or 2117AD nobody would care. Then, if you consider this present 5th period, it seems this is a valid capsule statement of what we witness. We still see some Buddhists with a narrow vision, unaware of the miracle of the Buddha, their conception of the Buddha limited to an 80-year lifespan 2500 years ago, spending their energy  writing that Mahayana Sutras are false because they claim to be written by Shakyamuni Buddha.