The Robe Chant
Published July 3rd, 2008
Several of you have asked about the words to the Robe Chant that we chant together at the end of the second period of zazen on weekday mornings. The words to the chant are not in the Brooklyn Zen Center chant book. The Robe Chant is chanted by Zen Buddhist practitioners before putting on their rakusus (symbolic robe of rectangular cloth worn around the neck) or okesas (full robe of priests). Both represent the robe of practice. Though the translation varies depending on where one practices, we are currently using the following translation, which is chanted twice in Japanese and once in English.
Dai zai ge da bu ku
Mu so fu ku den e
Hi bu Nyo rai kyo
Ko do sho shu jo
Dai zai ge da bu ku
Mu so fu ku den e
Hi bu Nyo rai kyo
Ko do sho shu jo
Great robe of liberation
Field beyond form an emptiness
Wearing the Tathagata’s teaching
Saving all beings
Though the Robe Chant refers to the putting on of the lay or priest robe, at BZC all may join in the chanting of it. Enjoy.
