A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

260 Japanese Miscellany
This brief sonorous metre seemed to me partic-
ularly well adapted for invocatory or incantatory
chanting; and the githt of the segaki-strvice.
was indeed a veritable incantation, — as the following
free translation will make manifest —
:
" We, Bhikshus and Bhikunis, devoutly presenting this
vessel of pure food, do offer the same to all, without excep-
tion, of the Pretas dwelUng in the Ten Directions of Space,
in the surrounding Dharma-worlds, and in every part of
the Earth,—not excepting the smallest atom of dust within
a temple. And also to the spirits of those long dead and
passed away,— and likewise unto the Lord-Spirits of moun-
tain and river and soil, and of waste places.— Hither deign
therefore to approach and to gather, all ye goblins ! — we
now, out of our pity and compassion, desire to give you
food. We wish that each and all of you may enjoy this
our food-gift. And moreover we shall pray, doing homage
to all the Buddhas and to all the Heavenly Ones who dwell
within the Zones of Formlessness, that you, and that all
beings having desire, may be enabled to obtain content-
ment. We shall pray that all of you, by virtue of the utter-
ance of the dhlranis, and by the enjoyment of this foodoffering,
may find the higher knowledge, and be freed from
every pain, and soon obtain rebirth in the Zone Celestial,
there to know every bliss, moving freely in all the Ten
Directions, and finding everywhere delight. — Awaken
within yourselves the Bodhi-Mind ! — follow the Way of
Enlightenment ! Rise to Buddhahood I Turn
backward ! —
—
ye no more
neither linger on the path I Let such among
you as first obtain the Way vow each to lead up the rest,
we beseech you now to watch
and so become free ! —Also