景命四齋日祝讚
Four Auspicious Days of Praise
景命好日。月旦。月望。初八。廿三。四齋日。隔宿堂司行者報眾。掛諷經牌。次早鐘絕。後鳴僧堂前鐘。集眾登殿。維那舉楞嚴呪。唱藥師號。嘆佛畢。回向云(某日令辰。某州某寺住持傳法某僧某。謹集合山僧眾。恭趨寶殿。諷誦大佛頂萬行首楞嚴神呪。稱揚聖號。所萃洪因。祝延今上皇帝聖壽萬安。金剛無量壽佛仁王菩薩云云)。
On a designated day—such as the first day of the month, the full moon day, the new moon day, the eighth day, or the twenty-third day, which are the four regular fasting days—the administrative head of the temple, having prepared from the previous evening, will inform the community and place a sign announcing the chanting of sutras. The next morning, after the final bell, the bell in front of the monk’s hall is rung, calling everyone to gather in the Buddha hall. The Liturgy Master begins with the Shurangama Mantra, then chants the Medicine Buddha’s name, and recites praises to the Buddha. Finally, the dedication is spoken, which reads:
“On this fortunate day, the abbot and dharma heir of such-and-such temple in such-and-such prefecture, together with the entire assembly of monks, reverently approach the jeweled hall. We chant the Great Buddha’s Topmost Shurangama Divine Mantra [注：(此处原文“大佛頂萬行首楞嚴神呪”虽有“萬行”及“神呪”等定语，为求译文流畅，将其核心名“Shurangama Mantra”放在前面，并在后面概括译为“divine mantra of the Heroic Walk, the Shurangama”亦通。此处选择写为“Shurangama Divine Mantra”，作为常用英译。括号注非输出部分。)] and praise the sacred name. We dedicate this immense merit to wish for the present Emperor’s boundless longevity, peace, and safety, and to honor the Vajra Immeasurable Life Buddha and the Benevolent King Bodhisattva.”