Busshō Kapila

Sutra of Meals
This sutra is chanted only during sesshin before each meal.

Bussho Kapila
Jodo Makada
Seppo Harana
Nyumetsu kuchira
Nyoraï oryoki
Gakkon toku futen
Ganku issaï shu
Tosan rinku jaku

Hands in gassho.

Begin filling the bowls or plates once the master has been served.
Shinjin pashin biru shanofu
Enmom hoshin ru shanofu
Senpaï kashin shakyamuni fu
Toraï asan miruson fu
Jiho sanshi i shi fu
Daïjin myo horenkajin
Daïshin monju suribusa
Daïan fuen busa
Daïhi kanshi in busa
Shi son busa mokosa
Moko hoja horomi

First, weigh this place
After weighing, quickly place the hands in kinhin posture, then in zazen.
Weigh the coming and going of misfortune
Second, weigh the merit of one’s own practice
And dedicate it to all beings
Third, guard the mind and depart from wrongdoing
So as to swiftly attain the Way
Fourth, truly regard the taking of medicine
As the nurturing of the sick for the sake of practice
Fifth, for the sake of the bodhisattva path
Now receive this food

For the morning genmaï, place the spoon in the bowl with the handle facing forward.
For the midday meal, do the same with the fork and prepare a small piece of bread that those assigned to service will come to take (ceremony of the Gakis, the hungry spirits)

(Only the godo chants this passage)

Jiten kijin shu
gokin suji kyu
suji hen jiho
Ishi kijin kyo

Lift the bowl or plate by holding it only with the thumb, index, and middle fingers at face height.
Jobun sambo chubun shion
Gekyu rokudo kaïdoku jo
Ikkui dan issaï aku
Nikui shu issaï zen
Sankui do sho shu jo
Kaïgu jo butsudo

Eat the genmaï by lifting the bowl to mouth height.
Serve the tea once the master has been served.
Before drinking the tea, lift the bowl as for the genmaï.
Gashi sen bassui
Nyo ten kan romi
Seyo ki jinshu
Shitsu ryo tokubo u man
Onma kura saï sowaka