A Chanting Guide

Just as rivers full of water
	fill the ocean full,
Even so does that here given
	benefit the dead (the hungry shades).
May whatever you wish or want quickly come to be,
May all your aspirations be fulfilled,
	as the moon on the fifteenth (full moon) day,
	or as a radiant, bright gem.

May all distresses be averted,
	may every disease be destroyed,
May there be no dangers for you,
May you be happy & live long.
For one of respectful nature who
	constantly honors the worthy,
Four qualities increase:
	long life, beauty, happiness, strength.

May you be:
	freed from all disease,
	safe from all torment,
	beyond all animosity,
		& unbound.

"He gave to me, he acted on my behalf,
	and he was my relative, companion, friend."
Offerings should be given for the dead
	when one reflects (thus) on what was done in the past.
For no weeping or sorrowing or any kind of lamentation
	benefit the dead whose relatives keep acting in that way.
* But when this offering is given, well-placed in the Sangha,
It works for their long-term benefit
	And they profit immediately.
	In this way the proper duty to relatives has been shown
	And great honor has been done to the dead
	And the monks have been given strength:
		You've acquired merit that's not small.

For one with confidence,
	realizing the supreme Dhamma to be supreme,
With confidence in the supreme Buddha,
	unsurpassed in deserving offerings,
With confidence in the supreme Dhamma,
	the happiness of dispassion & calm,
With confidence in the supreme Sangha,
	unsurpassed as a field of merit,
Having given gifts to the supreme,
	one develops supreme merit,
	supreme long life & beauty,
	status, honor, happiness, strength.
Having given to the supreme,
	the intelligent person, firm in the supreme Dhamma,
Whether becoming a deva or a human being,
	rejoices, having attained the supreme.

	The enlightened person, having given life, strength,
		beauty, quick-wittedness  —  
	The intelligent person, a giver of happiness  —  
		attains happiness himself.
	Having given life, strength, beauty,
		happiness,& quick-wittedness,
	He has long life & status
		wherever he arises.

Long life, beauty, status, honor,
	heaven, high birth:
To those who delight
	in aspiring for these things
	in great measure, continuously,
the wise praise non-complacency
	in the making of merit.
The wise person, uncomplacent,
	acquires a two-fold welfare:
	welfare in this life
	& welfare in the next.
By breaking through to his welfare
	he is called "enlightened, wise."

"My wealth has been enjoyed,
My dependents supported,
	protected from calamities by me.
I have given lofty offerings,
	and performed the five oblations.
I have provided for the virtuous,
	the restrained, leaders of the holy life.
For whatever aim a wise householder
	would desire wealth,
	that aim I have attained.
I have done what will not lead to future distress."
When this is recollected by a mortal,
	a person established in the Dhamma of the Noble Ones,
He is praised in this life
	and, after death, rejoices in heaven.

Generosity, kind words, beneficial action,
And treating all consistently,
	in line with what each deserves:
These bonds of fellowship (function) in the world
	like the linchpin in a moving cart.
Now, if these bonds of fellowship were lacking,
A mother would not receive
	the honor & respect owed by her child,
Nor would a father receive
	what his child owes him.
But because the wise
	show regard for these bonds of fellowship,
They achieve greatness and are praised.

Those with discernment,
	responsive, free from stinginess,
	give in the proper season.
Having given in the proper season
With hearts inspired by the Noble Ones
	—  straightened, Such  —  
Their offering bears an abundance.
Those who rejoice in that gift,
	or give assistance,
They too have a share of the merit,
	and the offering is not depleted by that.
Therefore, with an unhesitant mind,
	one should give where the gift bears great fruit.
Merit is what establishes
	living beings in the next life.

Through the power of the Triple Gem,
	through the radiant energy of the Triple Gem,
May suffering, disease, danger, animosity,
	sorrow, adversity, misfortune
	—  obstacles without number  —  
	vanish without a trace.
Triumph, success, wealth, & gain,
Safety, luck, happiness, strength,
Glory, long life, & beauty,
Fortune, increase, & status,
A lifespan of 100 years,
And success in your livelihood:
	May they be yours.

Through the power of all the Buddhas, the power of all the Dhamma, the power of all the Sangha, the power of the Triple Gem — the gem of the Buddha, the gem of the Dhamma, the gem of the Sangha — the power of the 84,000 Dhamma aggregates, the power of the Tripitaka, the power of the Victor's disciples:

May all your diseases, all your fears, all your obstacles, all your dangers, all your bad visions, all your bad omens be destroyed.

May there always be an increase of long life, wealth, glory, status, strength, beauty, & happiness.

May suffering, disease, danger, animosity,
	sorrow, adversity, misfortune
	—  obstacles without number  —  
	vanish through (the Triple Gem's) radiant energy.
Triumph, success, wealth, & gain,
Safety, luck, happiness, strength,
Glory,long life, & beauty,
Fortune, increase, & status,
A lifespan of 100 years,
And success in your livelihood:
May they be yours.

May there be every good blessing,
	may the devas protect you,
Through the power of all the Buddhas (Dhamma, Sangha)
	may you always be well.

May he gain his aims, be happy,
	and flourish in the Buddha's teachings.
May you, together with all your relatives,
	be happy and free from disease.
May she gain her aims, be happy...
May they gain their aims, be happy...

In whatever place a wise person makes his dwelling,
	—  there providing food for the virtuous,
	the restrained,
	leaders of the holy life  —  
He should dedicate that offering to the devas there.
They, receiving honor, will honor him;
	Being respected, will show him respect.
As a result, they will feel sympathy for him,
	like that of a mother for her child.
A person with whom the devas sympathize
	always sees things go auspiciously.

May there be every good blessing,
	may the devas protect you,
Through the power of all the Buddhas (Dhamma, Sangha)
	may you always be well.