Homa Ritual Honoring Sakyamuni Buddha

1. Getting Permission from the Goddess of the Earth

Visualize the Goddess of the Earth with a yellow body as suddenly appearing from the earth and accepting the blessing of the Master who is no different from the Yidam, Sakyamuni Buddha. After she offers her approbation, she disappears. The Master wields the Vajra toward the center of the borrowed place where the fire altar is situated to create there a Vajra-cross foundation. Repeat the incantation of Sakyamuni Buddha and the following half-stanza:

Abiding in the limitless oneness of Dharmadhatu,

The palace of Sakyamuni Buddha appears within.

2. Generating Bodhicitta

Stanza:

Your holy Karma is based on the four vows,

Likewise, I'll spread the Dharma to save all beings!

3. Blessing the Bell, Vajra and Drum

(a) Visualization:

Visualize that Father and Mother Steadfast Buddha become lights that go into the Vajra and Bell, respectively. Visualize the moon on the right palm and the sun on the left one. With the right hand holding the Vajra and the left one holding the Bell, recite: "Ma Ha, Ban Zha, Hong" and "Ban Zha, Ga Za, A." (All incantations written in Pin Yin in accordance with Guru Chen's pronunciation.) Use the Vajra to touch the heart chakra three times, simultaneously ring the Bell three times.

(b) Stanza:

    The Five Wisdoms may conquer all evils,
    The Five Elements produce the Lion's roar.
    The Ewam of pleasure and Sunyata,
    Brings Peace to the whole world forever!

(c) Incantation of Blessing the Bell and Vajra:

Weng, Sha Wa Da Ta Ga Da, Xi Di Ban Zha, San Ma Ya, Di Cha, Ei Qia Si Dang, Da La Ya Mi, Ban Zha Sa Duo, Hei Hei Hei Hei Hei, Hong Hong Hong Pei, Suo Ha.

(d) Incantation of Requesting the Blessing of All Buddhas:

Then, while reciting the incantation of Requesting the Blessing of All Buddhas, use the Vajra to touch the heart chakra to awake all the Buddhas that are in one's own Buddha-nature and with the opening of the Bell facing the top of the Master's head, turn the Bell around three times counter-clockwise, then three times clockwise, thus all Buddhas in the ten directions are requested to give blessing.

Weng, Ban Zha, Geng Zha La Li Da, Zhua La Li Da, Shuang Zhua La Li Da, Sha Wa Bu Da Ken Zha, Zhua Zha Li Lei, Zhua Zha Ba Li Mi, Geng Zha Da Na Ya, Shuang Ha Bi Da, Ban Zha Da Ma Xi Da Ya, Sha Wa Qia Li, Hong Hong Hong, Ho Ho Ho, A Kang Suo Ha.

4. Protection

Two pieces of food, prepared in advance, are offered. One is white in color for vegetarian Gods and the other is red for carnivorous Gods.

(a) The Incantation to offer food to the Protectors:

Weng A Hong, Ka Ka, Ka Xi, Ka Xi.

(b) Prayer Stanza to the Protectors:

    All the eight departments of protectors,
    And all the Yaksas and your family,
    Please take all this blessed and delicious food.
    Protect all the Yogis and their families.
    Let all of them be free and have long life!
    Gather all merits and sow all best seeds!
    And may you inspire all special enjoyments!
    Especially help this pacifying fire sacrifice,
    And let me get all the accomplishments!
    Please remember all your excellent vows,
    Help me to gain all the attainments.
    Get rid of all bad conditions and death,
    Destroy all my obstacles and demons.
    Pacify all terrible dreams and bad omens.
    Protect us from all dangerous risks.
    Help to make peace and rich harvests for all,
    May plenty of all kinds of corn and Dharma,
    And all good pleasures be helped by you.
    Do help me to fulfill all my best wishes!
    Those who have been divined to darkness
    And cannot understand all the Tantras,
    Not able to hear and see this secrecy,
    Please leave here and go to the places where you belong.
    If you don't take my advice right now,
    I shall use the powerful and fiery Vajra
    To destroy your head into many pieces!

The Karma Vajra throws the two pieces of food in two different directions.

(c) Repeat the Four-Hong Incantation while throwing the mustard seeds:

    Repeat the Four-Hong Incantation to send the black deities away.
    Weng, Song Ba Li, Song Ba Li, Hong Hong Pei!
    Weng, Ge Li Ha Na, Ge Li Ha Na, Hong Hong Pei!
    Weng, Ge Li Ha Na Ba Ya, Ge Li Ha Na Ba Ya, Hong Hong Pei!
    Weng, A Na Ya Ho, Ba Ga Wen, Bi Ya Lan Zha, Hong Hong Pei!

Then the Master visualizes the Vajra Net that covers all ten directions and is formed with the Vajra Net Mudra. Thus from the beginning of the Homa performance until its end, the altar and the Master and his family and followers are protected.

5. Blessing the Offerings

The Master holds the Vajra dippers together, repeats the incantation given below and visualizes much nectar falling down from Father and Mother Yidam upon all the offerings. Thus all worldly offerings become Vajra Nectar of boundless supply.

Weng, Cha Cha Cha Cha Cha!

6. Arranging the Seat of the God of Fire and that of the Yidam

Place auspicious grasses around the fire altar. Then arrange seats for the God of Fire and the Yidam.

A. Praising and Welcoming the White God of Fire

(a) Praise:

    Shine upon the dark becoming the bright.
    Drive away the demons with big fire!
    Your kind smile sends away the sorrows.
    Please sit on this good seat and admire!

(b) Visualize the White God of Fire:

    "Lang" appears on the moon that is on a lotus.
    From this "Lang" arises the white God of Fire!
    He has one face and two arms.
    The right hand holds the stove.
    The left hand holds a fairy bottle.
    His hair is very long; his belly big.
    He has a white Brahmin thread around his belly!

(c) Welcome the Fire God:

    The Master raises a bunch of auspicious grass up to the sky to welcome the Wisdom God of Fire and repeats the following incantation:
    Zha Ge Hong Zha

(d) Praise:

    You are the victorious Prince of Dharma.
    You have got the initiation of good Karma!
    Your wisdom fire can get rid of obstacles!
    I, now, beg you to help this Homa!

B. Arranging the Auspicious Seat for the Yidam

(a) Arrange the seat for Sakyamuni Buddha with the following stanza:

    The four pillars of vows support the outer seat;
    The four bodies of the four Wisdoms form the inner seat;
    The lotus of pleasure and Sunyata in one is the secret seat;
    The pleasure of Chan is the most secret seat!

(b) Visualization of Sakyamuni Buddha:

    Majestic Buddha, teacher of men and heavenly beings,
    The successor of ancient Buddhas and the model for all times to come,
    Right hand pacifying the Earth, left one in the gesture of Samadhi,
    Before you, all evils confess their sins, while believers do prostrate!

(c) The Seven-branch Prayer:

    We prostrate on the foundation of Hinayana Purity,
    We praise through the inconceivable mystic gates of Mahayana,
    We take delight in the unity of pleasure and Sunyata,
    We repent by staying in the Chan-joy free from pretensions.
    We plead with you to turn the Great Dharma Wheel to convert the outsiders.
    We beg you to stay in the non-born and non-death of Tathata,
    We are grateful for your tireless salvation of all sentient beings!

(d) Repeat the Grateful Commemoration Stanza to Sakyamuni Buddha:

    Like thunders waking up beings in the hibernation of Ignorance,
    As moonlight shining through barred windows upon jailbirds,
    Buddha expounded the Tathagata-garbha luminously and fully;
    Remembering such grace of Sakyamuni Buddha makes our tears flow!

    Like a silkworm imprisoned by its cocoon of self-fabrication, we are caught in the illusive net of our Karmic threads;
    The more our efforts to untangle it, the deeper our entanglement therein;
    Buddha's transcendental wisdom clarified the non-existence of such inherent sufferers;
    Remembering such grace of Sakyamuni Buddha makes our tears flow!

    Buddha secretly realized the Bliss of Nirvana,
    Not arising through practices, but existing innately to be enjoyed;
    Buddha unconditionally presented the complete collection of His treasures to us;
    Remembering such grace of Sakyamuni Buddha makes our tears flow!

    The Light of Victorious Significance is continuously omnipresent;
    Silently holding a flower to hint at the indescribable Truth,
    Buddha showed us the meaning of the oneness of Samsara and Nirvana;
    Remembering such grace of Sakyamuni Buddha makes our tears flow!

(e) Pleading for Blessings:

    Bless me to renounce thoroughly and be free from pollutions!
    Bless me to remember Impermanence and be diligent!
    Bless me to attain the supernatural powers of Buddha!
    Bless me to have the power to debate and convert others!
    To know the thoughts of sentient beings without doubts;
    To see the views of sentient beings without veils;
    To open the mind of sentient beings without blocks;
    Do bless me with such Holy Karmas!
    In this Kali Age the perversive views are getting wilder;
    The outsiders' perversive views are mixed with the right Dharma;
    The holy land gradually loses the Buddhist tradition;
    The New World has young sprouts that are mixed with weeds;
    Thus it is even more difficult to preach the right and pure Dharma!
    May Your Holiness bless me to attain Buddhahood soon:
    Building Mahayana on the foundation of Hinayana,
    Comprehending the Exoteric teachings while honoring the Pureland School,
    Realizing the essence of Chan and applying the teachings of Tantras,
    How could there be a more direct and all-round approach than this!
    Bless me with the supernatural powers to convert all!
    Bless me with the task of Buddhist Renaissance!

7. Blessing the Wood and Oil

Stanza:

    With the calamity-like firewood,
    Start up the wisdom fire.
    After offering them,
    All the Sages, beings, do have the Pleasure!
    The pure and clean butter helps the wisdom fire,
    May all sufferings in the six realms be burned out!

8. Starting the Fire

(a) Start the fire:

With the fire mudra turn around clockwise thrice on top of the fire altar while repeating, "Lang Lang Lang." Use a fan with the Tibetan syllable "Yang" to fan the fire thrice while repeating, "Yang, Yang, Yang." Then repeat:

    Wisdom Wisdom Great Wisdom!
    Wisdom Wisdom Constant Wisdom!
    Wisdom Wisdom Samadhi Wisdom!
    Wisdom Wisdom Tranquility Wisdom!

(b) Offering to the God of Fire:

Incantation:

Weng, A Na Ye, Sha Ba Li Wa La, Ka Ka, Ka Xi, Ka Xi.

Praise:

    You are the sovereign Prince of Dharma.
    You have been blessed as King of Karma!
    With special wisdom burn up the sorrow,
    Help us to fulfill the good wishes through Homa!

(c) Prayer to the God of Fire:

Stanza:

    I, the Acarya, and all the followers
    Do have learned Dharma and done good Karma.
    Any kind of obstacles before the Homa is done
    Please send away from this Mandala!
    Weng, A Na Ye, Sha Ba Li Wa La, Weng, Sha Wa Ba Bang, Xin Deng Gu Lu Ye, Suo Ha.

9. Offering to Sakyamuni Buddha

(a) Offer Bodhi-branches:

Stanza:

    Like the Bodhi-tree that shades you on the Vajra Seat,
    This offering will bring the attainment of Buddhahood!

Incantation (repeat thrice):

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Po Ti Zhi Qia Ye, Suo Ha.

(b) Offer black sesame:

Stanza:

    The master of all sins is the perversive view,
    May this offering bring the unlimited powers of debate.

Incantation (repeat thrice):

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa Ba Bang, Xin Deng Gu Lu Ye, Suo Ha.

(c) Offer mustard seeds:

Stanza:

    Perversive views and violence are promoted by the evils,
    May this offering convert the evils to become our protectors!

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, A Qia, Xi Da Ye, Suo Ha.

(d) Offer five kinds of grain:

Stanza:

    People of this Kali age lack the two kinds of merits.
    May this offering bring abundance of Wisdom and Compassion!

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, Sang Ba Dou, Suo Ha.

(e) Offer three whites and three sweets:

Stanza:

    All things white and pure contain the joy of Chan;
    After offering these may all beings dine on form born of Sunyata.
    Wondrous flavor of pleasant sweetness, free from impurities,
    Would inspire Dharma nectar to imbue the countless worlds!

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, Sang Ba Dou, Suo Ha.

(f) Offer one coconut:

Stanza:

    Sincerely and whole-heartedly dedicate oneself to the Dharma,
    Receiving from above the merciful initiations of Bodhicitta,
    Pouring to suffering beings below the compassionate rain of teachings,
    Benefiting all through constant and enduring aspirations and activities.

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Po Ti Qi Da, Suo Ha.

(g) Offer walnuts:

Stanza:

    Wondrous joy of Chan, who attained its marrows?
    Four joys of Tantric practice, who arrived at the ultimate sphere?
    Matching outer form and inner sense through this concord offering,
    May we obtain realization that completely harmonizes the two truths.

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Ke Ba Ya, Suo Ha.

(h) Offer herbs for the five chakras:

Stanza:

    Hundreds of illness as suffered by beings are indeed hard to bear.
    All physicians have no treatments and effective prescriptions unavailable.
    Relying solely on the great compassionate power of Sakyamuni Buddha,
    Karmic hindrances dispersed invisibly so that recovery will arrive sooner.

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa Ba Bang, Xin Deng Gu Lu Ye, Suo Ha.

(i) Offer yellow and red flowers:

Stanza:

    Just like this offering of half-open beautiful flowers,
    May we obtain the young and beautiful Vajra partner!

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa, Bu Bei Ye, Suo Ha.

(j) Offer yellow silk, needles and threads:

Stanza:

    Pure and majestic robe of yellow silk is offered,
    So that we'll have wonderful partners to attain success.

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Sha Wa Nuo Ga, Wa Xiang Gu Lu Huo, Weng, A Ma Na Ni, Jiu Wang Di Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, A Yu Ke, Hong, Suo Ha.

(k) Offer fresh fruits:

Stanza:

    Compassionate aspirations to benefit others is the fruit of Nirmanakaya.
    Completion of merits and wisdom is the fruit of Sambhogakaya.
    Dependence-free light of original purity is the fruit of Dharmakaya.
    The above three indistinguishable is the fruit of Sahajakaya.
    Wisdom rainbow-body born of great pleasure is the fruit of Mahasukhakaya.
    Soon fulfill wisdom and compassion to attain perfect fruit of Buddhahood.

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Ke Ba Ya, Da Ma Ka Ya, Suo Ha.

(l) Offer gold foil:

Stanza:

    Priceless teachings are superior to worldly gold and wealth.
    May this offering inspire compassion that is like the wish-fulfilling gem.
    All resources needed for propagation of Dharma and salvation of beings
    Through pure applications would inspire their flowing in like springs.

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha.

(m) Offer dates:

Ten Soon Stanza:

    Soon break all doubts and be happy!
    Soon meet all dakinis and work together!
    Soon increase all practices and obtain fulfillment!
    Soon apply all mercies and conquer devils!
    Soon grasp supreme teachings and produce miracles!
    Soon attain original Wisdom and have the ten powers!
    Soon turn the wondrous Dharma Wheel by all means!
    Soon purify the worldlings by wonderful speeches!
    Soon illuminate the Dharmadhatu with the light of Dharma!
    Soon show the Buddha realm to all sentient beings!

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, Ban Zha, Ke Ba Ya, Suo Ha.

(n) Offer the eight offerings:

Stanza:

    With offering of water may five sensual desires be purified!
    With offering of flowers may supreme and wondrous joy be attained!
    With offering of incense may all silas be well kept!
    With offering of light may attainment of rainbow body be realized!
    With offering of perfume may all fine features of Buddha be attained!
    With offering of foods may enjoyment of Sambhogakaya be attained!
    With offering of music may everlasting joy be attained!
    Accomplish all five Buddha kayas to save worldly beings!

Incantation:

Weng, Mu Ni, Mu Ni, Ma Ha Mu Ni Ye, Suo Ha, Weng, A Gang, Ba Dang, Bu Bei, Du Bei, A Nu Gei, Gen Deng, Nu Wei Dou, Xia Da, Zhua Di Zha Ye, Suo Ha.

10. Giving thanks to the God of Fire

Stanza:

    Brightness shines, warmth and heat felt.
    As incense smokes float and spread so are the grand Dharma activities.
    Nectars from Sakyamuni Buddha moisten the whole universe,
    While the grace of the God of Fire extends throughout the Dharmadhatu.

Incantation:

Weng, A Na Ye, Sha Ba Li Wa La, Ka Ka, Ka Xi, Ka Xi, Weng A Hong.

11. Dedication of the Merits

Stanza:

    Wisdom life was born of Gurus.
    Corporeal life was born of parents.
    Offerings were born of donors.
    Fire, the fire god; water, Dragon King.
    Place belongs to the country; companions are others.
    In all these there is neither I nor mine.
    Good coming from whatever causes and conditions
    Is the natural fruit of those causes and conditions.
    The great tranquility that all beings possess originally
    Is beyond the sphere of causes and consequences.
    May this Homa that transcends causes and consequences
    Bring about the great fruit of great causes!
    All calamities, sufferings and hindrances to meditation,
    Those arise before attaining the great fruit,
    May they all be pacified in the light of Dharma nature!

12. Amendment

Repeat thrice the 100-Word Incantation of Vajrasattva.

13. Repeat Original Vows

Recite the practitioner's Bodhi Vows to pray for continuous and never ending progress of Dharma activities.

14. Mudra

Hold Sakyamuni Buddha Mudra while reciting his mantra.

15. Circumambulation

Circumambulate clockwise the Homa platform thrice as gesture of reverence, then bow thrice to Sakyamuni Buddha in reverence to express gratitude.

Source

Based on the Chinese Ritual by Guru Chen
Rearranged for Practice and Translated into English by his disciple Dr. Yutang Lin
(With Guru Chen's original English stanzas preserved as many as appropriate)
yogichen.org