Prayer for the Thành Phần Rite (Lowering the Coffin)

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 of the family……… 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) and 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 Thành Phần 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! The clouds on Mount Hỗ are dim and dark, dark and dim (when mourning a father, or Mount Dĩ when mourning a mother). The word "impermanence" weighs upon this floating life; The sea of mulberry change shifts and shifts. Mechanism of the mysterious — how dreadful the wheel of creation! Alas! Our grief is great! A person such as this, with such a fate as this — suddenly the destiny of Heaven willed it, the worlds of yin and yang are forever apart; Fortune comes here, or destiny comes here — already a mound of earth has buried you, on the path of filial love, a hundred years will not bring meeting. With eyes we see deep digging and tight covering, sorrow in our hearts, tossing through nine watches; In ears we faintly hear drums beating and gongs returning, full of tears in two flowing rows. Now we have set the direction and divided the gold; we hope you may rest in peace; We call this a bowl of water and a stick of incense, respectfully presented in farewell. Alas! Please receive! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! (Pause briefly, then read the next two lines) The head of household respectfully presents three cups of wine, as if you were still alive at the high hall; For Thành Phần we light a round of incense, respectfully escorting the spirit back to the precious seat. Text for the Hồi Sinh 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 of the family……… 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) and 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 Hồi Linh 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 grieve to think of father (or mother) The body laid to rest in burial, the soul and spirit at peace. Far from the mortal world, returning to the Nine Springs. Now on the Hồi Linh, we respectfully welcome the spirit-tablet, escorted to the spirit-altar That the descendants may serve morning and evening Until the time of the rite to report to Heaven. Father (or mother), if you have spirit! From now may your spirit and soul be at peace! We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts; we humbly ask to be sheltered and supported. Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha