Audio Files for Practice

You'll need this document: "Zen Sutras, Chants, and Songs".

This post provides links to audio files for your home sitting practice. The files for the Morn practice (which, of course, can be used at any time of day) provide:

• Han sequence (7 mins)
• Inkin sequence (for offering incense and three prostrations -- 1:40)
• Verse of Kesa (p. 42 -- 2 mins)
• Opening Verse (from pp. 3-5 -- about 1 min)
• Opening Day-of-Week Song (p. 38 or 42 -- 1-2 mins)
• Dedication, including Gatha of Atonement or The Three Refuges (about 3 mins)
• Silence for Zazen (25 mins)
• Kinhin (4-5 mins)
• Sutra Service (7-9 mins)
• Closing Verse (from pp. 39-42 -- about 1 min)
• Closing Day-of-Week Song (p. 38 or 42 -- 1-2 mins)

The Morn practice, from the end of the Han sequence, is about 50 minutes.

The Eve practice consists only of:

• Opening Day-of-Week Song (p. 38 or 42 -- 1-2 mins)
• Silence for Zazen (25 mins)
• Closing Day-of-Week Song (p. 38 or 42 -- 1-2 mins)

The Eve practice takes just under 30 mins.

Morn Practice

For the four weeks, 2024 Mar 25 through Apr 21: Starter Audio.
You may wish to load this audio file into your favorite Alarm Clock app so you can set the time you want to be called to practice.
This Starter audio begins with a Han sequence of 7 mins calling you to get ready for practice. This is followed by a series of inkin bells during which you can offer incense to Buddha and make 3 prostrations. Then be seated and sing the words for the Verse of the Kesa (p. 42) along with the piano accompaniment. Then chant along with the "Opening Verse 1: Prayer for Practice" (p. 3).
(NOTE: The link to the Starter Audio will be updated on Mon Apr 22. The new link will connect to an audio file with a different Opening Verse.)

After chanting the Opening Verse, select the file for the day of the week.
These files include:

• Opening Day-of-Week Song (words on p. 38)
• Dedication (pp. 2-3). Mon-Wed-Fri uses the Dedication for Odd-Numbered Days. Tue-Thu-Weekend uses the Even-Numbered Days Dedication. The Dedication includes a sequence of inkin bells for bowing forward from seated posture and whispering whispering your personal dedications.
• 25 mins of silence for zazen. The zazen time is introduced with 3 bells. At the end of the 25 mins, you'll hear two bells.
• Clappers sound to indicate the beginning of 4-5 mins for kinhin. Clappers sound again for the end of kinhin.

Monday Morn
Tuesday Morn
Wednesday Morn
Thursday Morn
Friday Morn
Weekend Morn

After zazen and kinhin, be seated and select the Sutra Service.
Sutra Service for the 2nd week of spring (2024 Apr 1-7):
Mon-Wed-Fri: Sutra Service 2A (pp. 7-8, 39).
Tue-Thu-Weekend: Sutra Service 2B (pp. 9-10, 39).

Sutra Servce for the 3rd week of spring (2024 Apr 8-14):
Mon-Wed-Fri: Sutra Service 3A (p. 10-11, 39).
Tue-Thu-Weekend: Sutra Service 3B (p. 10, 12-13, 39).

Lastly, select the closing song for the day of the week. Bells at the end prompt you to stand, bow to your altar, then bow to anyone else practicing with you -- or toward the door, symbolizing the world of beings.
Monday Closing Song (p. 38)
Tuesday Closing Song (p. 38)
Wednesday Closing Song (p. 38)
Thursday Closing Song (p. 38)
Friday Closing Song (p. 38)
Weekend Closing Song (p. 42)

Eve Practice

This Han Sequence audio file includes only the 7-min Han sequence. You may wish to load it into your favorite Alarm Clock app so you can set the time you want to be called to evening practice.

• Get settled in seated posture.
• Begin audio for "Eve" (click on the appropriate link below)
• Along with the recording, sing Day-of-the-Week Opening Song (p. 38 for Mon-Fri; p. 42 for Weekend).
• 25-minutes of Zazen. Each Eve audio has 25 minutes of silence. Three bells sound at the beginning of Zazen and two bells when Zazen time is up.
• Sing along with the Day-of-the-Week Closing Song (p. 38 for Mon-Fri; p. 42 for Weekend).
• Inkin bells at the end of the Closing Song will signal you to rise, give one bow to the altar, and then a bow to the (imagined) sangha.

Mon Eve
Tue Eve
Wed Eve
Thu Eve
Fri Eve
Weekend Eve

Directory for all audio files: HERE

CREDITS

Spoken recordings by Meredith Garmon and LoraKim Joyner. "Universal Dedication" includes voice of Allie Freed.
"Jizo Dharani," "Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani," "Shigu Seigan Mon," "Buddha Vandana," "Filled with Loving Kindness," "Dedication of Merit" and "Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo" pulled from Youtube.
"Gate of Sweet Nectar" by Krishna Das, sung by Starry Mountain Singers for Amidon Community Music.
"The Four Bodhisattva Vows" and "Diamond Sutra Gatha": music composed and performed by Meredith Garmon.
"Save All the Beings": piano, guitar, and vocals by Meredith Garmon, music by Boundless Way Zen.
"Verse of the Kesa" and "Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva": music by Soten Lynch; vocals by Soten Lynch, Kosho Ault, Maggie Medlin, and Eric Hertz. Recorded at Great Vow Zen Monastery, Clatskanie, OR, 2020.
For credits for the words/lyrics, see "Zen Sutras, Chants, and Songs".