Below is an example of a daily practice. Idealy we should seek out a teacher to help and guide us in our practice, however the below serves is a good place to start;
Before beginning, wash your hands and rinse out your mouth. Wear clean comfortable clothing that appropriately covers the body. Light candles and incense (there is no set number of incense sticks).
Recite the incense offering gatha:
“May the smoke of this incense I now offer spread throughout the Ten Directions,
and reach the various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and all the sentient beings in the universe,
so they may benefit from this Puja”
Place rosary on the left hand, pick up the liturgy book, and bring it to your head as a mark of respect to the Dharma.
Open the liturgy book and begin chanting. The voice should be gentle, but firm, and slightly louder than everyday conversation. Recite clearly and in a gentle rhythm. Don’t rush. If you have the liturgy memorised, hold the hands in gassho (prayer mudra) in front of the heart.
If you have a bell or gong, ring it twice before starting, once between each chant, and thrice to finish.
When finished chanting, gently close the liturgy book, bring it to the head as a mark of respect, and place it back on the table/desk/stand.
After chanting it is advised to sit in meditation for 20, 30, or 40 minutes, depending on time constraints.
Example liturgy;
- SANRAI – Three Forms of Reverence [x3]
ISSHIN CHŌRAI JIPPŌ HŌKAI JŌJŪ SANBŌ. - SANGEMON – Admitting our misdeeds [x1]
GA SHAKU SHO ZŌ SHO AKU GŌ
KAI YU MU SHI TON JIN CHI
JŪ SHIN GU I SHI SHO SHŌ
I SSAI GA KON KAI SAN GE. - KAIKYOGE – Opening Sutra Gatha [ x1]
MU JŌ JIN JIN MI MYŌ HŌ
HYAKU SEN MAN GŌ NAN SŌ GU
GA KON KEN MON TOKU JU JI
GAN GE NYO RAI SHIN JITSU GI. - HANNYA SHIN GYŌ – Heart Sutra [x1]
MAKA HANNYA HARAMITTA SHIN GYŌ
KAN JI ZAI BO SATSU GYŌ JIN HAN NYA HA RA MI TTA JI SHŌ KEN GO UN KAI KŪ DO I SSAI KU YAKU SHA RI SHI
SHIKI FU I KŪ KŪ FU I SHIKI SHIKI SOKU ZE KŪ KŪ SOKU ZE SHIKI JU SŌ GYŌ SHIKI YAKU BU NYO ZE SHA RI SHI ZE SHO HŌ KŪ SŌ FU SHŌ FU METSU FU KU FU JŌ FU ZŌ FU GEN ZE KO KŪ CHŪ MU SHIKI MU JU SŌ GYŌ SHIKI MU GEN NI BI ZE SSHIN NI MU SHIKI SHŌ KŌ MI SOKU HŌ MU GEN KAI NAI SHI MU I SHIKI KAI MU MU MYŌ YAKU MU
MU MYŌ JIN NAI SHI MU RŌ SHI
YAKU MU RŌ SHI JIN MU KU SHŪ METSU DŌ MU CHI YAKU MU TOKU I MU SHO TOK KO BO DAI SA TTA
E HAN NYA HA RA MI TTA KO
SHIN MU KE GE MU KE GE KO MU U KUFU ON RI I SSAI TEN DŌ MU SŌ KU GYŌ NE HAN SAN ZE SHO BUTSU E HAN NYA HA RA MI TTA KO TOKU
A NOKU TA RA SAN MYAKU SAN BO DAI
KO CHI HAN NYA HA RA MI TTA
ZE DAI JIN SHU ZE DAI MYŌ SHU ZE MU JŌ SHU
ZE MU TŌ DŌ SHU
NO JO I SSAI KU SHIN JITSU FU KO KO SETSU HAN NYA HA RA MI TTA SHU SOKU SE SHU WATSU
GYA TEI GYA TEI HA RA GYA TEI HARA SŌ GYA TEI
BOJI SOWA KA
HAN NYA SHIN GYŌ. - HOKKE JŌBUTSU GE Attaining Buddhahood through the Lotus [x1]
GAN NI SHI KU DOKU
FU GYŪ O I SSAI
GA TŌ YO SHU JŌ
KAI GU JŌ BUTSU DŌ
For an English translation, please see here: https://tendaiuk.com/tendai-morning-gongyo-english/
Tendai Buddhism UK 