The word dhāraṇī derives from a Sanskrit root √dhṛ meaning "to hold or maintain".This root is likely derived from the historical Vedic religion of ancient India, where chants and melodious sounds were believed to have innate spiritual and healing powers even if the sound cannot be translated and has no meaning (as in a music). In Buddhism, sutras, also known as suttas, are canonical scriptures, many of which are regarded as records of the oral teachings of The Buddha. 

Zen Songs; Sutras and Dharanis

Cover Songs

Sad Folk Songs

Maka Hannya Haramita Shingyo


Kan ji zai bo za tsu
Gyo jin han ya ha ra mi ta
Ji sho ken go on kai ku
Do i sai ku
Yaku sha ri shi
Shiki fu i ku
Ku fu i shiki
Shiki soku ze ku
Ku soku ze shiki
Ju so gyo shiki
Yaku bu nyo ze
Sha ri shi
Ze sho ho ku so
Fu sho fu metsu
Fu ku fu jo
Fu zo fu gen
Ze ko ku chu
Mu shiki mu ju so gyo shiki
Mu gen ni bi ze shin i
Mu shiki sho ko mi soku ho
Mu gen kai nai shi mu i shiki kai
Mu mu myo yaku mu mu myo jin
Nai shi mu ro shi yaku mu ro shi jin
Mu ku shu metsu do mu chi yaku mu toku i
Mu sho toku ko bo dai sa ta e
Han ya ha ra mi ta ko
Shin mu ke ge mu ke ge ko
Mu u ku fu on ri i sai ten do mu so ku gyo ne
Han san ze sho butso e
Han ya ha ra mi ta ko
Toku a noku ta ra san myaku san bo dai
Ko chi han ya ha ra mi ta
Ze dai jin shu ze dai myo shu
Ze mu jo shu ze mu to do shu
No jo i sai ku shin jitsu fu ko
Ko setsu han ya ha ra mi ta shu
Soku setsu shu watsu
Gya tei gya tei
Ha ra gya tei
Hara so gya tei
Bo ji so wa ka
Hannya Shingyo

Makka Hannya Haramita Shingyo

Featuring Tenkei Coppens on accordion.
Inspired by Tuareg Rock and a melody from Kel Asouff

Maka Hannya Haramita Shingyo

Kan ji zai bo za tsu
Gyo jin han ya ha ra mi ta
Ji sho ken go on kai ku
Do i sai ku
Yaku sha ri shi
Shiki fu i ku
Ku fu i shiki
Shiki soku ze ku
Ku soku ze shiki
Ju so gyo shiki
Yaku bu nyo ze
Sha ri shi
Ze sho ho ku so
Fu sho fu metsu
Fu ku fu jo
Fu zo fu gen
Ze ko ku chu
Mu shiki mu ju so gyo shiki
Mu gen ni bi ze shin i
Mu shiki sho ko mi soku ho
Mu gen kai nai shi mu i shiki kai
Mu mu myo yaku mu mu myo jin
Nai shi mu ro shi yaku mu ro shi jin
Mu ku shu metsu do mu chi yaku mu toku i
Mu sho toku ko bo dai sa ta e
Han ya ha ra mi ta ko
Shin mu ke ge mu ke ge ko
Mu u ku fu on ri i sai ten do mu so ku gyo ne
Han san ze sho butso e
Han ya ha ra mi ta ko
Toku a noku ta ra san myaku san bo dai
Ko chi han ya ha ra mi ta
Ze dai jin shu ze dai myo shu
Ze mu jo shu ze mu to do shu
No jo i sai ku shin jitsu fu ko
Ko setsu han ya ha ra mi ta shu
Soku setsu shu watsu
Gya tei gya tei
Ha ra gya tei
Hara so gya tei
Bo ji so wa ka
Hannya Shingyo

Hannya Shingyo feat. Drum and Accordion

This song is also featured on this video clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvoHUTqReKw

Sandōkai

Chikudo daisen no shin, tōzai mitsu ni aifu su. Ninkon ni ridon ari, dō ni namboku no so nashi. Reigen myō ni kō ket-tari, shiha an ni ruchū su. Ji o shū suru mo moto kore mayoi, ri ni kanō mo mata satori ni arazu. Mon mon is-sai no kyō, ego to fu ego to. Eshite sarani ai wataru, 

shikarazareba kurai ni yot-te jū su. Shiki moto shitsu zō o kotoni shi, shō moto rak-ku o koto ni su. An wa jōchū no koto ni kanai, mei wa seidaku no ku o wakatsu. Shidai no shō onozukara fukusu, kono sono haha o uru ga gotoshi. Hi wa nes-shi, kaze wa dōyō, mizu wa uru oi, chi wa kengo. Manako wa iro, mimi wa 

onjō, hana wa ka, shita wa kanso. Shikamo ichi ichi no hō ni oite, ne ni yot-te habunpu su. Honmatsu subekaraku shū ni kisubeshi, sompi sono go o mochiyu. Meichū ni atat-te an ari, ansō o mot-te ō koto nakare. Anchū ni atat-te mei ari, meisō o mot-te miru koto nakare.

Meian ono ono aitai shite, hisuru ni zengo no ayumi no gotoshi. Banmotsu onozukara kō ari, masani yō to sho to o iu beshi. Jison sureba kangai gas-shi, riōzureba sempo sasō. Koto o ukete wa subekaraku shū o e subeshi, mizukara kiku o ris-suru koto nakare. Sokumoku dō o e 

sezumba, ashi o hakobu mo izukunzo michi o shiran. Ayumi o susumureba gonnon ni arazu, mayōte senga no ko o hedas-. Tsutsushinde san gen no hito ni mōsu, kōin munashiku wataru koto nakare.

Sandokai

A Dharani (mantra) for removing obstructions

No mo san man da moto nan oha ra chi koto sha sono nan to ji to en gya gya gya ki gya ki un nun shiu ra shiu ra hara shiu ra hara shiu ra chisu sa chisu sa chisu ri chisu ri sowa ja sowa ja sen chi gya shiri ei somo ko.

No mo san man da moto nan oha ra chi koto sha sono nan to ji to en gya gya gya ki gya ki un nun shiu ra shiu ra hara shiu ra hara shiu ra chisu sa chisu sa chisu ri chisu ri sowa ja sowa ja sen chi gya shiri ei somo ko.


No mo san man da moto nan oha ra chi koto sha sono nan to ji to en gya gya gya ki gya ki un nun shiu ra shiu ra hara shiu ra hara shiu ra chisu sa chisu sa chisu ri chisu ri sowa ja sowa ja sen chi gya shiri ei somo ko.

Included in this video clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvoHUTqReKw

Shosaimyo

A great song from Peter Gabriel. Accompanied with steel-string acoustic parlour guitar. (Alvarez)

Mercy Street -acoustic version (Peter Gabriel)

Dharani for invoking the Precious Names of the Five Tathagatas (Buddhas and Bodhisattvas). Chinese text with Japanese pronunciation.

(The power of this dharani is to help release lost souls and hungry ghosts from their distress.)

Go nyorai hōgō chōshō darani* 五如来宝号招請陀羅尼

◎ Namu tahō nyorai.
No bo
bagya batei
hara bota
ara tan no ya
tatā gyataya.
Joken ton go fuku chi en man.
◎ Namu myo shiki shin nyorai.
No bo
bagya batei
soro baya
tatā gyataya.
Hashi yu rogyō en man so ko.
◎Namu kanro o nyorai.
No bo
bagya batei
ami ritei
aran jaya
tatā gyataya.
Kan po shin jin ryo juke raku.
◎Namu ko haku shin nyorai.
No bo
bagya batei
biho ragya
taraya
tatā gyataya.
In ko ko dai on jiki ju bo.
◎Namu rifui nyorai.
No bo
bagya batei
aba en
gyaraya
tatā gyataya
Kufu shitsu jori gakishu.

Music composed by Myora. 
Produced by Brad Stock @https://www.instagram.com/paintedsky.studios/?igsh=MW03MWRyZWEycXRubw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Kanromon 5 Buddhas

Kanromon: Five Buddhas Dharani

The Four Buddhist Vows

The Outlandish (elfin) Knight

Namu kara tan no tora ya ya namu ori ya boryo ki chi shiu ra ya fuji sato bo ya moko sato bo ya mo ko kya runi kya ya en  sa hara ha ei shu tan no ton sha namu shiki ri toi mo ori ya boryo ki chi shiu ra ri to bo na mu no ra kin ji ki ri mo ko ho do sha mi sa bo o to jo shu ben o shu in sa bo sa to no mo bo gya mo ha de cho to ji to en o bo ryo ki ryo gya chi kya rya chi i kiri mo ko fuji sa to sa bo sa bo mo ra mo ra mo ki mo ki ri to in ku ryo ku ryo ke mo to ryo to ryo ho ja ya chi mo ko ho ja ya chi to ra to ra chiri ni shiu ra ya sha ro sha ro mo mo ha mo ra ho chi ri yu ki yu ki shi no shi no ora san fura sha ri ha za ha za fura sha ya ku ryo ku ryo mo ra ku ryo ku ryo ki ri sha ro sha ro shi ri shi ri su ryo su ryo fuji ya fuji ya fudo ya fudo ya mi chiri ya  nora  kin ji chiri shuni no hoya mono somo ko shido ya somo ko moko shido ya somo ko shido yu ki shiu ra ya somo ko  nora kin ji somo ko mo ra no ra somo ko shira su omo gya ya somo ko sobo moko shido ya somo  ko  shaki  ra  oshi  do  ya  somo  ko  hodo  mogya  shido ya somo ko nora kin ji ha gyara ya somo ko mo hori shin gyara ya somo ko namu kara tan no tora ya ya l namu ori ya boryo ki chi shiu ra ya somo ko l shite do modo ra hodo ya so mo ko

Daihishin Dharani ('Great Compassion Mantra' Buddhist Sutra)

Zen Master Hakuin [1689 -1769]
"Give this work to those who are seriously ill or who have met with some unexpected disaster, and have them examine it for their consolation. If it is recited with sincerity, awe-inspiring miracles will without fail be accomplished. Its first advantage is that the person who recites it will be completely free from disease and will attain to long life. This applies to anyone at all. . . ."

Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo

Kan ze on na mu butsu yo butsu u en yo butsu u
En bup po so en jo raku ga jo cho nen
Kan ze on bo nen kan ze on nen
Nen ju shin ki nen nen fu ri shin

English translation by Maezumi Roshi

Kanzeon! At one with the Buddha, related to all Buddhas in cause and effect,
And to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, joyful pure eternal being.
Morning mind is Kanzeon, evening mind is Kanzeon.
This very moment arises from mind, this very moment is not separate from mind.

Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo - Kannon Sutra

A cover song from the great Mr Cohen - one of the last songs he recorded.

What Happens To The Heart - unplugged (Leonard Cohen)

Jizo Shingon Dharani

OM KA KA KABI SON MA E SOWA KA
Jizo Bodhisattva is known for making a vow to be present with and benefit all suffering beings until every single one awakens. Jizo is also the protector of women, children, and travellers. 

Jizo is known to specifically help children who have died too soon to navigate the transition between birth and death. Zen monasteries in Japan offer Jizo ceremonies to help ease the grief of women who have lost their babies during pregnancy or childbirth.

Jizo Shingon Dharani -  for lost children

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

The title of The Lotus Sutra is one of Buddhism's most loved and well-known sutras.

"The practice of prolonged chanting is referred to as Shōdai (唱題). Believers claim that the purpose of chanting is to reduce suffering by eradicating negative karma and reducing karmic punishments both from previous and present lifetimes,[6] to attain perfect and complete awakening.[7]"


Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō. (2023, December 8). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namu_My%C5%8Dh%C5%8D_Renge_Ky%C5%8D

Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo

This is a second recording of "No Mo San" - however the original files were lost on my old hard drive, so I decided to record it again, replacing mo with maku.

NO MAKU SAN MAN DA BOTA NAN BAN
Birushana ichiji shin suirin kan darani 毘盧舎那一字心水輪観陀羅尼 is taken from the Kanromon /  Gate of Sweet Nectar

WIKIPEDIA ON DHARANIS

Dharanis (IAST: dhāraṇī), also known as Parittas, are Buddhist chants, mnemonic codes, incantations, or recitations, usually the mantras consisting of Sanskrit or Pali phrases. Believed to be protective and with powers to generate merit for the Buddhist devotee, they constitute a major part of historic Buddhist literature. Many of these chants are in Sanskrit and Pali, written in scripts such as Siddhaṃ as well as transliterated into Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Sinhala, Thai and other regional scripts. They are similar to and reflect a continuity of the Vedic chants and mantras.
Dharanis are found in the ancient texts of all major traditions of Buddhism.

NO MAKU SAN

Translation by Taizan Maezumi Roshi. 

Kanzeon! At one with the Buddha, related to all Buddhas in cause and effect,
And to Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, joyful pure eternal being.
Morning mind is Kanzeon, evening mind is Kanzeon.
This very moment arises from mind, this very moment is not separate from mind. Kanzeon!

Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo

Kan ze on na mu butsu yo butsu u en yo butsu u
En bup po so en jo raku ga jo cho nen
Kan ze on bo nen kan ze on nen
Nen ju shin ki nen nen fu ri shin

10 Line Avalokiteshvara Sutra

Hotel California, a cover song from the Eagles.

Hotel California (The Eagles) Unplugged

Tutte, tutte- vutte, vutte- patte, patte- katte katte- amale, amale- vimale vimale- nime, nime- hime, hime- vame, vame- kale, kale, kale, kale- atte, matte- vatte, tutte- jnette, sputte- katte, katte- latte, patte- dime, dime- cale, cale- pace, pace- badhe, bandhe- ance, mance- dutare, dutare- patare, patare- arkke, arkke- sarkke, sarkke- cakre, cakre- dime, dime- hime hime- tu tu tu tu- (x4) du du du du (x4)- ru ru ru ru (x4)- phu phu phu phu (x4)- svaha.

From the Lankavatara Mahayana Sutra.


"These are the magical phrases of the Lankavatara Mahayana Sutra. If any misfortune should befall, let him recite the magical phrases for one hundred and eight times, and [the evil ones] will, wailing and crying, turn away and go in another direction."


Lankavatara Sutra Dharani

Sad Lisa was originally written and performed by Cat Stevens

Sad Lisa (original: Cat Stevens)

A short song with a Buddhist mantra adapted from the Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani

SHO SAI MYO KICHJO DHARANI

NO MO SAN MAN DA MOTO NAN
OHA RA CHI KOTO SHA SONO NAN
TO JI TO EN GYA GYA GYA KI GYA KI UN NUN
SHIFU RA SHIFURA HARA SHIFU RA HARA SHIFU RA
CHISHU SA CHISHU SA SHUSHI RI SHUSHI RI
SOHA JA SOHA JA SEN CHIRI GYA SHIRI EI SOMO KO

Veneration to all Buddhas!
The incomparable Buddha-power that banishes suffering.
Om! The Buddha of reality, wisdom, Nirvana!
Light! Light! Great light! Great light!
With no categories, this mysterious power
Saves all beings; suffering goes, happiness comes, Swaha!

Myoho

No Mo San

A sad song about the uprising in the Scottish Highlands.

Hush Hush (Folk Song)

A song was originally written and performed by the great Leonard Cohen.

134

Here It Is (Leonard Cohen)

A rendition of a classic song written and originally performed by Lou Reed.

My guitar that plays on these tracks is almost forty years old...still going strong even with lots of dents and cracks! Hope it will last a few more years.

65

A Perfect Day (original by Lou Reed)

Composed and originally performed by the late great Leonard Cohen

A Thousand Kisses Deep (Leonard Cohen)

Hats off to the great Leonard Cohen. His song featured on the soundtrack of Natural Born Killers filmed in the early 90s. Loved this song the moment I heard it.

Waiting For A Miracle - unplugged (Leonard Cohen)

Originally composed and performed by ABBA. This was one of my favourite songs long ago, thank you ABBA

The Winner Takes It All (Original by ABBA)

A Perfect Day, originally composed and performed by the great Lou Reed.

A Perfect Day (Lou Reed)

The song of a hapless pirate who lost his treasure immediately,

Henry Martin

The Russian original composed by Boris Foman.  English lyrics were written later by Gene Raskin. 
I remember first hearing this song in 1968 when Mary Hopkin sang it on the TV. Those were the days!

Those were the days my friend (Mary Hopkin cover)

An old sad folk song of unrequited love, from England,

Lady Mary

The story of a soldier who fought against the Ottoman Turks at Gallipoli.

Originally composed and performed by Eric Bogle

And The Band Played Waltzing Maltida (original by Eric Bogle)

I love to sing with my guitar. Love to play my guitar and sing.

I practice Zen too, so sometimes I combine traditional Zen Buddhist chants with guitar instrumentals that I have composed, other times just sing a folk song or a popular song that resonates with me.

Myōra

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