SEJIKI is an ancient Buddhist ceremony, a food offering to the Hungry Ghosts. A separate altar will be put up on the opposite side of the zendo, so that the spirits may not feel intimidated. There will be many delicious food items prepared (you may also add your favorite candy!) and offered.
Hungry ghosts are all those spirits who feel unsatisfied and cannot get enough nourishment. They have large stomachs and thin throats. These beings can also be within ourselves. Sejiki-e is conducted for the benefit of these sprits, to whom we offer food and the Dharma.
The ceremony will be celebrated at 5:00 pm. Afterwards you may stay for a potluck dinner and conversation.
The Sejiki Ceremony has an unusual chant from the sutra Kanromon, Gate of Sweet Nectar, which the entire assembly participates in. It contains the core teachings on the practice of making offerings and a series of incantations handed down from the Buddha. The chant forms the basis of the ritual.
At the end we will read the names of people who died in the recent past, either sangha and family members or other important people in our community. They can also include people who you did not know personally. Please send me names in writing that you would like to be included.
Please familiarize yourself with the chant prior to the actual ceremony at 6:00 pm on October 31st. See below for the transcript of the chant.
GATE OF SWEET DEW:
Homage to the buddhas in ten directions.
Homage to the dharma in ten directions.
Homage to the sangha in ten directions.
Homage to our original teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha.
Homage to the great merciful, compassionate reliever of suffering, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.
Homage to the expounder of the teachings, the venerable Ananda.
Giving rise to the awakened mind, we unconditionally offer a bowl of pure food to all the hungry ghosts in every land to the farthest reaches of vast emptiness in the ten directions, including every atom throughout the entire dharma realm. We invite all our departed ancestors going back to ancient times, the spirits dwelling in mountains, rivers, and earth, as well as demonic spirits from the untamed wilderness, to come and gather here. Now, with deep sympathy we offer food to all of you, sincerely hoping that you will each accept this food and turn it over, making offerings to buddhas, sages, and all sentient beings throughout the vast emptiness of the universe, so that you and all the many sentient beings will be satisfied. Moreover, we sincerely wish that your bodies be conveyed by these mantras and food so that you may depart from suffering, be liberated, find birth in heaven, and receive joy. In accord with your intentions, may you travel freely through the pure lands in the ten directions and arouse awakened mind practicing the awakened way and in the future become a buddha without regressing. We entreat those who have previously attained the way since ancient times to vow to realize liberation together with all beings. Day and night, constantly protect us so that our vows will be fulfilled. We offer food to beings throughout the dharma realm, so that every being will equally receive this fortunate offering. Whatever virtue and merit this produces, we completely transfer and dedicate to the unsurpassed awakening with total clarity and wisdom of the whole dharma realm of true reality, that all may speedily attain buddhahood without incurring any other destinies. May all sentient beings of the dharma realm take advantage of this teaching to quickly attain buddhahood.
KAN RO MON [Italicized portions of the text are not chanted.]
Dharani for Summoning Deceased Spirits to the Great Assembly
Nō bō bohori gyari tari tatāgyata ya
Dharani for Breaking Down the Gates of Hell and Opening Throats
Ōm boho tēiri gyatari tatāgyata ya
Dharanis Summoning the Five Tathagathas with Precious Names
Homage to the Many Jewels Tathagatha,
Nō bo bagya batēi hara bota ara tānnō ya tatāgyata ya
Removing the karma of greed, fully complete with blessing and wisdom.
Homage to the Wondrous Form Body Tathagatha,
Nō bo bagya batēi soro baya tatāgyata ya
Destroying disgrace and vileness, fully complete with good marks.
Homage to the King of Sweet Dew Tathagatha,
Nō bo bagya batēi ami ritēi arān jaya tatāgyata ya
Pouring the Dharma into body and mind, granting pleasure.
Homage to the Boundless Body Tathagatha,
Nō bo bagya batēi biho ragya taraya tatāgyata ya
Opening wide all throats, satisfying them with food and drink.
Homage to the Freedom from Fear Tathagatha,
Nō bo bagya batēi aba ēn gyara ya tatāgyata ya
Completely banishing fear, freeing all from rebirths as hungry ghosts.
Dedication (chanted by whole assembly):
By the positive energy of this assembly, we repay the virtue of our parents’ toil and care. May the living be blessed with joy and longevity without misery. May the deceased be freed from suffering and be born into peaceful nurturing. May conscious beings in the three realms, having received the four benefactions, together with those born to suffering in the threefold path and the eight difficult situations, all thoroughly repent their errors, wash away their defects, finally depart the round of samsara, and be born in the pure land.
