Prayer for the Đàm Tế (Trừ Phục) Rite

Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! - I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of all Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions. - I bow to the local Tutelary Deities and Great Sovereigns. - I respectfully bow to the Eastern Kitchen Sovereign of Destiny, Lord of the Kitchen Court. - I respectfully bow to the family ancestors, the High Ancestors and Ancestresses. Today is the … day of the ……. month, year ……….. The eldest son (or eldest grandson) is………following the command of the mother (if mourning the mother, or the father if mourning the father), the uncles, together with brothers-in-law, elder sisters, younger brothers and sisters, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, descendants of both paternal and maternal sides, respectfully bow. Now on this Đàm Tế rite according to traditional ceremony, We respectfully present a modest offering to express our sincerity. Before the spirit-tablet of: Hiển……………………..true spirit We respectfully report: Alas! We remember the figure of the father (or mother); Far from the mortal realm Grieving eyes — the Thung house (if father, or Huyền house if mother) locked in clouds, fathomlessly sad and weary. Aching heart — Mount Hỗ (if father, or Mount Dĩ if mother) the stars are dim, our tears flow heavily Counting the years, we have already passed Đại Tường; Counting the months, today we perform Đàm Tế. Though by reason calamity has changed to good fortune; mourning attire is removed; Yet, as filial children we mourn our parents, the filial heart we keep. Though the offering is modest, sincerely presented as a small token, how could we forget the tree's roots and the stream's source, The Yellow Spring — perhaps you can hear, perhaps it is revealed, Heaven's awe and earth's righteousness. We respectfully invite: Hiển………………………………………. Hiển………………………………………. Hiển………………………………………. Together with all the spirits, the great-uncle ancestors, great-uncle ancestors, great-aunt ancestors, and the spirits worshipped following the ancestors, to come and partake. We respectfully report: the venerable deities, the Kitchen Gods, Thổ Công, the Patriarch Saints, the Master Saints, the Five Household Deities, to bear witness and shelter the whole family with peace, ease, and all things good. We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts and humbly ask to be sheltered and supported. Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha!