What is 仰惟三宝偈 (Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge)?: A Declaration to Transform Every Action into the Way of Buddha

仰惟三宝偈 (Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge): a declaration by practitioners to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas

What is 仰惟三宝偈 (Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge)?: A verse recited before a meal

Key Point: Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge is a verse recited before a meal. I read this verse as a declaration to make this action a Buddhist practice.

仰惟三宝偈 (Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge) is a verse recited before a meal. After everyone chants 展鉢の偈 (Tenpatsu-no-Ge), only 維那 (ino/the chant leader) recites this verse. Then everyone chants 十仏名(Ju-Butsumyo)  together.

I previously published a rare version of 十仏名 (Ju-Butsumyo) with a melody. This time, I have included a version without a melody. In fact, this verse has no traditional title. For convenience, I call it “仰惟三宝偈 (Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge).”

You may think it is strange that 仰 is read as “nyan.” This is because the pronunciation of Chinese characters was different in different dynasties in ancient China.

Glossary

• 仰惟 (Nyanni): It means “to look up with respect and to think.” 仰 (Gyo) means to look up with respect. 惟 (I) means to think or consider.
• 三宝 (Sanpo): It means the Three Treasures of Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. 仏 (Butsu) means the Buddha, the Awakened One. 法 (Po) means truth or teaching. 僧 (So) means the community of practitioners.
• 咸賜 (Ansu): 咸 (An) means all or entirely. 賜 (Su) means to give.
• 印知 (Insi): 印 (In) means proof or confirmation. 知 (si) means to know.
• 仰憑 (Nyanpin): 仰 (Nyan) means to look up with respect. 憑 (Pin) means to rely on or take as support.
• 尊衆念 (Sonshu-Nyan): 尊衆 (Sonshu) means the noble assembly of holy beings. 念 (Nyan) means to keep in mind, watch over, or protect with mindful care. Therefore, 尊衆念 (Sonshu-Nyan) refers to the mindful protection of the Buddhas, Patriarchs, and holy beings.

In this article, I have included a common translation of this verse.

Three Treasures

—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—

please accept and confirm this vow. We rely deeply on all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

However, I wondered whether expressions such as “please accept” and “we rely deeply” fit well with Zen, which places great importance on personal practice and responsibility.

Therefore, I read this verse as a declaration to make this action a part of Buddhist practice.

The Core

• I read Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge as a declaration to make this action a part of Buddhist practice.
• In Zen, eating is an important practice.
• Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge is a verse recited before a meal.

My Experience: A Declaration Can Be Made Anywhere

Key point: Nyanni-Sanpo-Ge is recited before a meal as a ritual verse. However, I believe that its meaning is not limited to one specific situation.

Long ago, a person came to the Zen training hall where I practiced and asked for a memorial service for a cat that had died.

The person who responded was still in the first year of training and did not know much about such matters. Since he did not know what to do, he simply recited this verse because “nyan” sounds like the cry of a cat.

At the training hall where I practiced, this story is told as a joke because this verse is traditionally understood as a verse for mealtime. However, based on the meaning explained above, I think that this verse is not limited to meals and can be used in many situations.

For this reason, I do not think it is completely unreasonable to chant this verse after reciting a sutra for a deceased cat. It may not be only a joke after all.