Closing Liturgy

Gatha

All celestials, titans and spirits

Who have come to hear the Dharma,

Should earnestly uphold it, that it may remain forever,

And everyone may practice it with diligence.

All who have come here to listen,

Whether of this earth or beyond,

Should rely on the True Dharma, practicing 
 

day and night,

With compassion toward all beings, always rescuing and protecting them.

We wish that the world may be forever calm and peaceful,

And that the infinite wisdom of the Dharma always benefit sentient beings.

May all their transgressions be erased,

May they escape suffering and enter Nirvana.

May the precepts always perfume their bodies,

May samadhi always clothe their forms.

May the flowers of wisdom adorn all lands,

May all realms always be peaceful and serene. 

Homage to the Dharma-protecting Bodhisattvas- Mahasattvas (3 times)

(At this point, the reciter of the precepts arises and, with palms joined, announces: "As instructed, I [name] have just finished reciting the precepts. If, because of my laxity in guarding the three karma of body speech and mind, there were errors or omissions, I humbly request the indulgence of the assembly.")

 

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The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra

When the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was practicing the deep Prajna Paramita, she perceived that the Five Skandhas were empty. Thus, she overcame all ills and suffering.

Oh, Sariputra, form does not differ from emptiness, and emptiness does not differ from form. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form; the same is true for feelings, perceptions, impulses and consciousness.

Oh, Sariputra, the characteristics of emptiness of all dharmas are non-arising, non-ceasing, non-defiled, non-pure, non-increasing, non-decreasing.

Therefore, in emptiness there are no forms, no feelings, perceptions, impulses or consciousness; no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch or phenomena; no realm of the eye and so forth, up to no realm of consciousness; no ignorance and no ending of ignorance, and so forth, up to no old age and death and no ending of old age and death. There is also no suffering, or cause of suffering, or cessation of suffering, and no Path. There is no wisdom and there is no attainment, because there is nothing to be attained.

The Bodhisattvas, relying on Prajna Paramita, have no obstruction in their minds. Because there is no obstruction, there is no fear, and they transcend confusion and deluded views, ultimately reaching Nirvana.

The Buddhas of the past, present and future, relying on Prajna Paramita, attain Supreme Enlightenment. Therefore, the Prajna Paramita is the great divine mantra, the mantra of illumination, the supreme mantra, the unequalled mantra, which can dispel all suffering -- truly and not falsely. She then uttered the Prajna Paramita mantra, saying:

"Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha."  
 

 


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(If time allows, the practitioner can recite the Buddha's name and dedicate the merits, following the general Pure Land liturgy; alternatively, if time does not permit, the text below may be used.)

Listening to these precepts is an act of supreme virtue;

I dedicate these countless supreme virtues and merits to all sentient beings in the Dharma Realm,

Vowing that they may swiftly achieve rebirth

In the land of the Buddha of Limitless Light.

I vow to eradicate all obstructions and afflictions,

I vow to attain Supreme Enlightenment,

I vow to eradicate all delusive karma,

Thus will I always follow the Bodhisattva Path.

I vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land,

The Nine Lotus Grades will be my parents;

When the blossoms open, I will see Amitabha Buddha and awaken to the truth of Non-Birth,

Non-retrogressing Bodhisattvas will be my friends.

 

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I dedicate these merits and virtues

To everyone everywhere

So that all sentient beings and I

Achieve Buddhahood together.

I take refuge in the Buddha, vowing that sentient beings may understand the Great Way and develop the Supreme Mind;

I take refuge in the Dharma, vowing that sentient beings may penetrate all the sutras with wisdom as profound as the oceans;

I take refuge in the Sangha, vowing that sentient beings be in harmony with the Great Assembly, free of all obstructions.

Vows

May Amitabha Buddha always come to protect me, helping to develop my good roots. May I be diligent in this life and never lose the pure causes for rebirth in Amitabha's Land. When I depart from this world, may my body and mind be in correct concentration, with no impediments to my faculties of hearing and sight. May Amitabha Buddha appear before me, with the Assembly of Bodhisattvas bearing a lotus dais. In an instant, I shall be reborn in the Pure Land, perfect the Bodhisattva Path and rescue all sentient beings. Together, may we all achieve Supreme Wisdom. 

Bowing with Utmost Reverence

Homage to the great merciful and compassionate Buddha Amitabha of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss;

Homage to the great compassionate Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, to the Bodhisattva Mahasthama and to the Pure Assembly of Bodhisattvas, as vast as the oceans;

Homage to the Pure Land Assembly, as vast as the oceans, of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, superior Bodhisattvas and Beings of the Highest Virtue.