A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

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262 Japanese Miscellany
the tip of the middle finger touching the tip of
the thumb, and the rest of the fingers extended.
Then is recited, with a different, but equally
weird gesture, the Dh^rani of the Breaking
of the Gates of Hell. Next is repeated the
Se-Kanro verse, or Dharani of the Bestowal of
the Amrita, — by virtue of which it is supposed
that the food-offerings are transformed, for the
sake of the ghosts, into heavenly nectar and am-
brosia. And thereafter is chanted, three times,
an invocation to the Five Tathagatas — :
"Salutation to Hosho NySrai, — hereby besought to
relieve [the Pretas] from the karma of all desire, and to fill
them with bliss
"Salutation to Myo-Shikishin-Nyorai,— besought to
take away from them every imperfection of form I
"Salutation to Kanro-0-Nyorai,— besought to purify
their bodies and their minds, and to give them peace of
heart!
"Salutation to Kobaku-Shin-Nyorai, — besought to
favor them with the delight of excellent taste I
"Salutation to Rifui-Nyorai,— besought to free them
from all their fears, and to deliver them out of the World
"
of Hungry Spirits I
The book Bongyo Segaki-Monben says : —
"When the officiants have thus recited the
names of the Five Tath^gatas, then, by the grace of
the power of those Buddhas, all the Pretas shall be