Prayer for the Tế Ngu 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 Tế Ngu 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! On the seat of the Southern Pole, the stars are sparse and few; (when mourning a father, or change to Bắc vụ when mourning a mother). Before the place of the Jade Pond, the clouds are vague and locked. Why has the workings of creation become so awry, casting shadows so swiftly, A praiseworthy act of teasing humankind? We think on the moral order — our hearts ache, The filial heart not yet at peace. The kindness of clothes thick and meals heavy — sea and sky cannot count the great labor; We think morning and night of warm and cold care, slender as hair, we resented that it had not yet been repaid; Who knew! The Thung house (if father, or Huyên if mother) departed beyond the mountain, the heaven-clouds are separated by ten thousand miles; The Tử sapling fades in fog, yin and yang two distant ways. Looking at the crane-cart faintly hidden, mournful that the floating life has not been many, the immortal-traveler's footprint has left the mortal realm. Then the silkworm thread aches in our hearts, mourning the immortal spirit — where will it go? The Buddha's salvation, who can rely on for transformation? The Yellow Spring is deep, deep — the bright father (or mother) alone leaves the open sea, Jade tears fall heavily — the band of children and grandchildren in two flowing rows. The Sơ Ngu rite (or Tái Ngu, Tam Ngu) by old custom, we present: This humble household, what shall we use to make it grand? We already know: the earth is just and Heaven is upright, not just three rounds of rite, are enough to repay We also call: a bowl of rice and a cup of water, perhaps the Nine Springs holy spirit, may be at peace Alas! Our grief is great! We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts, with sincere heart performing the rite, humbly asking to be sheltered and supported. Respectfully reported! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha!