A Prayer for Our Parents, Relatives,

and Friends
By Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Oh great, compassionate Buddha! You also once travel afar in order to teach
It is said, Dharma to your mother.
"Trees wish for stillness As disciples of yours
Yet fierce winds do not cease; We regretfully did not follow your teaching and
Children wish to render support to parents, admonitions after all.
Yet their parents are no longer around." Please grant us faith and strength;
We wish to bring honor to our deceased
Of the senior members of my family, ancestors,
Some have departed from this world, We wish to guide our living relatives;
Some are still in completely good health; Please bless and protect our parents and
However, we feel ashamed and repentant relatives;
That we have not rendered enough devotion and May they enjoy happiness, longevity, good
support, health and peaceful lives,
Nor repayment, to them May they be safe and at ease.
If we have honor, we wish to share it with them;
Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
If we have wealth, we wish them also to be free
Since we emerged from the womb,
from need.
Our parents have raised and educated us,
Our relatives have supported us; Buddha, we pray to you:
We have received so much from them Allow us to offer repayment to our relatives in this
But seldom repay their kindness lifetime;
When we cried, they gave us joy Allow the sincere gratitude in our hearts to gain
When we were disappointed, they gave us approval from our elders.
encouragement;
In each requirement of livelihood, they gave us Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
provision; The virtuous ancients were so grateful
Through hardships and setbacks, they gave us That they repaid the favor of mere drops of water
comfort. with a spurting spring;
They have given us so many expressions of All that we have in this world
loving-kindness Came from our parents, relatives, and friends.
They have given us so much tenderness and Therefore, we pray to you even more:
thoughtfulness, Allow us to be able to share the burdens of our
And we hardly ever repay them. parents and teachers;
Our parents, especially, Allow us to be able to endure the sufferings of
Have taught and admonished us with patience, our close relatives and friends for them.
Have raised us through many hardships.
Even ravens and lambs know how to repay their Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
parents; Please gratify your disciples' humble sincerity!
Are we not as good as these creatures at Oh great, compassionate Buddha!
showing filial piety to our parents? Please gratify your disciples' humble sincerity!

Oh Buddha! Namo Shakyamuni Buddha.

You once carried the coffin for your father,