The Twelve Adorations

( Ju Ni Rai )

This page is designed to show how the Twelve Adorations is chanted. The Sino-Japanese version, the Ju Ni Rai, is done in the same rhythem and tune

The text of the Twelve Adorations without the improvised musical notation can be found here.

Key: do re mi fa so la ti do , with the beat coming on every underlined syllable. There are seven accented syllables in each line, followed by a one-beat rest (represented by the extra underlined period at the end of each line), so each line comes to eight beats.

The complete scale is included in the key, although it is not used here, because if this works out, I want to put up some other things that are traditionally chanted in Buddhist services, and want a consistant system of notation.

The last three lines are done at about half speed, with the last line practically yodeled. Maybe I can record a sound file of that verse and post it. When I finish here, maybe I'll try that.

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The Twelve Adorations

• Be-fore A mida Buddha whom all beings praise .

  I bow down in deepest rever ence. .

  In His realm of tranquil happiness .

  He dwells amid countless Bodhisatt vas. .

• His golden form shines like the king of mounts. .

  His meditation's like an elephant's pace. .

  His two eyes are as pure as lotuses. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• Full, round and perfect like the full moon is His face. .

  His light shines like a thousand suns and moons. .

  His voice resounds like drums yet sweet as nightingales. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• A-valokitesvara wears upon His crown .

  Bu-ddha's im-age and His precious jewels. .

  He subdues the arrogance of those with out the law. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• His peerless light serene shines through the dark, .

  bright and clear as a cloud-less sky .

  His might to save is un bounded and free .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• Sentient beings from every di-rec tion .

  Come to Him to express their grati tude .

  All beings benefit from what the Buddha taught .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• Lotus flowers grow in the golden treasure pond. .

  There stands a throne His merit did cre ate. .

  There sits the Lord like the king of mounts .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• From the ten quar-ters the Buddha's children come .

  reach-ing his land through his won-drous power .

  And, observing Him, worship cease- less-ly. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• Compound things are transient and without self, .

  Like the moon in water, lightning, shad dows or the dew. .

  Bud-dha proclaims truth is not ex pressed by words. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• No words of evil are there in that Buddha's land, .

  No temp-ta-tion, no evil desti ny. .

  Without reservation all beings worship Him. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• In His land are infinite paths to truth. .

  No evil fates, no wicked counsel ors. .

  This is the absolute road to Buddhahood. .

  Thus I place my reliance on Him. .

• Thus have I praised the virtues of the Lord. .

  Bound-less are they like the waters of the sea. .

  B y the grace of Ami da Buddha .

  May all be ings a ta in Pe rfe ct Peace.