Chant books and pdfs
Chant books
The book we use for chanting services at Auckland Zen Centre is published by the Rochester Zen Center. Chant books are handed out in the zendo before each chanting service. For home use, you can download a PDF of the RZC chantbook or you can purchase a printed copy from our Centre.
New chants
We have added two chants that are not in the RZC chantbook:
The Metta Sutta (part of Chanting service number 4)
The Pool of Radiance (part of Chanting service number 5). This chant particularly honours the many women ancestors who have contributed to Buddhism through the ages.
The four vows in Te Reo Māori
Recently Associate Professor Tom Roa (Ngati Maniapoto, Waikato), from Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, translated the Four Vows into Te Reo Māori for us. We now use the Māori version on Thursday nights and Sunday mornings. Paper copies of the Māori version are available in the zendo (check under the right hand corner of your mat).
Ko Ngā Oati e Whā (The Four Vows)
Ko ngā koiora katoa, he tataukore, ko taku oati me whakaora. (All beings without number, I vow to liberate)
Ko ngā aurere pohe, he mutunga kore, ko taku oati me ketuketu. (Endless blind passions, I vow to uproot)
Ko ngā kūwaha Rāma, he rūrikore, ko taku oati me tomo. (Dharma gates beyond measure, I vow to penetrate)
Te Ara Whakaharahara a Pūra, ko taku oati me whai. (The Great Way of Buddha, I vow to attain)
In 2021 Roshi Amala Wrightson gave a talk called “Learning from Te Ao Māori”, in recognition of Māori Language Week (Te Wiki o te Reo Māori). Her talk gives some background on our 4 vows translation, Ko ngā Oati e Whā, and explores some key concepts of the Maōri worldview, beginning with a look at whanaungatanga, or right relationship. Text discussed: “In right relationship -- whanaungatanga” by Haylee Kiroi, chapter in Climate Aotearoa ed. Helen Clark.