A Shingon Hymn: Eight Petals

Below is my translation of the Shingon Hymn (Wasan), "Eight Petals." Longer vernacular hymns like this and others, along with short songs called Goeika, were and are important teaching tools for sharing Shingon teachings with the public. Recently, these traditional songs have been arranged for choral performance. You can hear a beautiful rendition of the Japanese here.

Eight Petals

The hymn of the vows of Kobo Daishi

I take refuge in the Radiant One

and to him prostrations make.

His heart's eight petals opened form

a perfect lotus lake.

Though there is no water there

the Raft runs across its depths,

its sail the nonduality

of the Six Great Elements.*

His hand of loving mercy takes

the rudder in its grasp,

setting out a steady course

toward Buddhahood at last.

We, who wander on dark paths

confused and crying out

are rescued by the saving grace

of his tremendous vows.

The tears he sheds from love for us

fall eternally.

The lotus pond is never dry

thanks to his great mercy.

I take refuge in the Radiant One

Kobo Daishi

I take Refuge in the Radiant One

Kobo Daishi *The Six Great Elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Space, and Consciousness. In Shingon teaching, these form the constituents of the entire universe, which is itself the enlightened Buddha Dainichi Nyorai. In other words, the elements of our body-mind, of Kobo Daishi's body-mind, of the Buddhas' body-minds, and of the whole universe, are one and the same.