HYMN TO THE PERFECTION OF WISDOM
OF OUR GREAT MATRIARCHS
Homage to the Perfection of Wisdom,
Prajnaparamita, the Mother of the Buddhas.
The lovely and the holy Perfection of Wisdom gives light.
Unstained the entire world cannot stain her.
She is a source of light and removes suffering
from everyone in the triple world.
She brings light so that all fear and distress may be forsaken.
She disperses the gloom and darkness of delusion.
She herself is the eye of vision and wisdom.
She has clear knowledge of her own being in all Dharmas.
The Perfection of Wisdom of the Buddhas
The Mother of All Buddhas.
And the first nuns Honored Ones:
Homage to our women ancestors of the Eastern lands:
The seven-year old dragon girl who preached the lotus sutra, and The Honored nuns:
Soji, Mo-shan, Miao-hsin, Iron Brush Liu.
Homage to the women disciples of Great Master Dogen,
The Honored nuns:
Egi, Eshin, Shogaku, Ryonen
Homage to the women disciples of Great Master Keizan,
The Honored nuns:
Sonin Myoshin
Shozen Shinmyo
En’i Shinsho
Myosho Jonin
Ekyu Ninkai
Homage to all other direct Soto women ancestors, The Honored nuns:
Shune Honsho
Joa Soki
Shue Zensho
Somyo Ryoso
Soitsu Myoko
Myojun Mugai Nyodai
Myozen Kojima Kendo
Genshu and Jishu Angyo Holmes.
We recognize all laywomen who carried the Dharma:
Queen Srimala and Antoku Inden Kasho Myokei Zenni,
And all the Women Honored Ones whose names have been forgotten and left u n s a i d.
All Buddhas throughout space and time,
All Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas,
Wisdom beyond Wisdom
Maha Prajna Paramita
.
May all the women who have held us, nourished us, comforted us, consoled us, and in all ways brought us to into life
Be honoured this day.
May it be so!