Memorial Service For Those Who Have Died In Japanese Disaster

One way to express support for those who have died is to offer a simple memorial service. Money for the living is also nice.

Directions: Light your altar candle and offer incense (and sweet hot water and tea if you’re so inclined). Make three full bows. Chant either the Daihishin Dharani, Heart Sutra or Ten Line Kanzeon. Close with the Eko (below) and three bows.

Eko (Returning the Merit):

Earnestly consider:
The coming and going of life and death
is like the changing of hot and cold,
summer and winter.

Their coming and going is like a bolt of lightening
striking through the empty sky;
their passing is like waves disappearing into the great ocean.

An earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, andthe karmic bonds that held so many to this existence were exhausted and their great lives suddenly came to an end.

We heartily pray that you bloom like a flower of wisdom
in the garden of enlightenment;
Like ripples lapping the beach of Truth.

Realizing the transiency of all worldly things,
enter Nirvana with joy!

Having chanted the Dai Hi Shin Dharani,
this wholehearted assembly respectfully prays
that great good fortune adorn your path of awakening.

All Buddhas throughout space and time
all honored ones bodhisattva mahasattvas
wisdom beyond wisdom mahaprajna paramita

Memorial Service for Those Who Have Died in Japanese Disaster