Prayer for the Rite of Escorting the Spirit-Tablet to the Main Altar

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 ……….., at province……district……commune……hamlet………………………………………. The faithful is………………… (if a household-deity rite) or the descendant is……………………(if a family-ancestor rite, addressing oneself to the most senior worshipped figure). Kneeling before the spirit-tablet of……………………………(read the spirit-tablet of the most senior worshipped figure), and all the spirits of the lineage. We respectfully reflect: The carefree footstep, dim and dim, where is the wild crane, where the cloud of the woods? The mortal realm, change and exchange, today the mulberry-dew, tomorrow the seabed. Leaves fall back to roots, the soul descends but the spirit may yet ascend. Water flows back to the source, in death we return, in birth we are but tem­porarily lodged. A person is born from the ancestors; the root must be firm, then the fruit of blessing may be lasting; The filial child serves the parents — "as if they were present" — the heart of humanity dares not neglect. Now we present: Hiển Khảo (or Tỷ)…………………………….. (read the spirit-tablet of father or mother) Who passed away on…………..to date, has reached: The noble Đại Tường; Now the round of Đàm Tế. More than two years removing mourning, we report to the spirits; Three months excess of mourning, by ancient custom. We ask the household deities to bear witness, that the ancestral hall feel the dim presence of the spirit; We pray the ancestors to shelter and support, that the spirit-call may return to the bodily form. On death anniversaries, descendants remember the months and days, performing the offering of incense; Following the steps of the ancestors, fathers and grandfathers continuing the generations, in the order of joint offering. A modest offering, respectfully 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!