PZI Teacher Archives

Dedication: Funeral Service

Description

The bare bones structure of a PZI Funeral Service begins with the koan, “Where do we go when we die?” and includes the Heart Sutra and the Kanzeon Sutra of Endless Life.


PZI Funeral Service 

THE KOAN:  Where do we go when we die?

Introduction

Purification

Refuge

Heart Sutra 

Dedication

Sunlight and moonlight and rain,

dawn and noon and dusk and deepest night

reveal the Buddha heart at peace

each being perfect in your  time.

each creature perfect in its time—

vivid in the light.

As waves come home to sea

now you return

you move beyond this earth and our concerns

we bless you, we wish you well,

[name of deceased]

Thank you for your time with us,

Go on with thanks and sweetest love.

Refrain 

All Buddhas throughout space and time

All awakened beings, great beings

The heart of perfect wisdom

Words from friends

Music (if any)

The Kanzeon Sutra of Endless Life

Kanzeon is the one who hears the sounds of the world—the embodiment of mercy: the grandmothers, mothers and daughters of countless generations. Also countless fathers and uncles and brothers. This is the crucial sutra for crossing over.

ENMEI JIKKU KANNON GYO

KAN ZE ON

NAMU BUTSU

YO BUTSU U IN

YO BUTSU U EN

BUP-PO SO EN

JO RAKU GA JO

CHO NEN KAN ZE ON

BO NEN KAN ZE ON

NEN  NEN JU SHIN KI

NEN NEN FU RI SHIN                             

Kanzeon Praise Awakening    

We are born with awakening

We grow with awakening

We grow with awakening, the Way, and our companions

Eternity is full of joy, the self is pure       

Morning’s thought is Kanzeon      

Evening’s thought is Kanzeon

Thought after thought rises in the mind 

Thought after thought is the mind

Incense Offering

Dedication

All living things are one seamless body

and pass quickly from dark to dark.

We remember you who cared for us and are gone, may you find safe passage and all the gifts of welcome as you go.

Four Boundless Vows

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