China Trip and Buddhist Anthem

Things are moving ahead smoothly in my quest to get to China next month: air tickets purchased, a Visa in the hopper (unlike 18 months ago when a planned India journey was scuttled by my ignorance of such “technicalities”), and I’m beginning to educate myself on the area (Chang’an / Xi’an), the history (mostly T’ang Dynasty), and, perhaps most importantly, the music:

(from a Buddhist discussion list)

http://you.video.sina.com.cn/b/10128346-1317142124.html

This is apparently the “Buddhist Anthem” for Chinese Buddhists, known as the San Bao Ge (“The Triple Gem Song”).

Of particular irony to me is that the person responsible for the video, posted on a site inside Communist China, calls herself “Lotusopium.”

A shotgun translation of the lyrics
(http://www.tiefosi.net/foxue/sutra/sanbaoge.htm)

In the long nights in the heavens and on earth,
In the darkness of the universe,
Who shone the light (onto the worlds)?

With the fires of the triple worlds,
With the oppressions of the multitude of suffering,
Who gave peace?

Great compassion, great wisdom, great heroic powers!
Namo Buddhaya!
Buddhaya!
Shining on all there is,
Manifesting among beings,
Unknowable is thy merits.

Having now know, this only is the true refuge.
Till the end of (my/our) lifetime,
Dedicating all my/our live,
I/We will have faith, accept, and practice all I/we can.

Encompassing the Two Truths,
Built on the Three Trainings,
Boundless is the Dharmakaya.

Complete and perfect,
Free from all stains,
Glorious is the fortress of Nirvana.

All conditions are empty,
Only consciousness manifest,
Namo Dharmaya!
Dharmaya!
No truth will remain veiled,
All will be understood,
Bright is its Great Wisdom.

Having now know, this only is the true refuge.
Till the end of (my/our) lifetime,
Dedicating all my/our live,
I/We will have faith, accept, and practice all I/we can.

Abiding in the pure Precepts and rituals,
Wonderfully interwoven with the precepts (ok, not sure)
Modeled after the Sage on Vulture’s Peak.

Attaining the true fruits,
Propagating the Dharma to benefit the world,
Bearing the torch of the Buddha.

Countless are the sages of the Three Yanas,
Namo Sanghaya!
Sanghaya!
Leading all beings,
Clearing all obstructions,
Holding the fort of the true Dharma.

Having now know, this only is the true refuge.
Till the end of (my/our) lifetime,
Dedicating all my/our live,
I/We will have faith, accept, and practice all I/we can.

——— END ———–

(with thanks to Buddha-L and the contributor/translator)