The Kujo Shakujo, The Nine-Branched Mystic's Staff

In the fall of 2010 Ajari Tanaka introduced his North American students to a short sutra called the "Kujo Shakujo". Ajari explained that this sutra is traditionally recited as part of the preparations for Shingon's Fire Ceremony or "Goma". As is his habit, he introduced the recitation of the sutra using a romaji text, leaving us to explore its meaning. We had a rough translation that we found on the internet, but we knew it left a lot to be desired. Recently a new friend of ours shared the English rendering below. Please take a few minutes to read it as it is quite wonderful.

The Kujo Shakujo

1: Holding the Shakujo, I wish for the sake of all sentient beings, may I gather together a great assembly, show the Buddha's true path, and offer the Three Treasures. May I gather together a great assembly, show the Buddha's true path and offer the Three Treasures.

2: From a pure heart in the past, I gave the Three Treasures. Now emanating a pure heart I give the Three Treasures. In the future I will purify my heart and give the Three Treasures.

3: I pray that all beings become holy teachers with vows filling the universe, to the extent that all the suffering of everyone is assuaged in the Dharmakaya. I offer the Three Treasures that they meet the Buddhas and suddenly awaken to Bodhi.

4: I pray that all beings cultivate the Absolute Truth with great mercy and compassion, that they cultivate the Provisional Truth with great mercy and compassion, and that they cultivate the One Vehicle with great mercy and compassion. I respectfully offer the Three Jewels of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the three jewels within one body.

5: I pray that all beings perfect their generosity with great mercy and compassion; perfecting their morality with great mercy and compassion; perfect their patience with great mercy and compassion; perfect their energy with great mercy and compassion; perfect their meditation with great mercy and compassion; perfect their wisdom with great mercy and compassion.

6: I pray that all beings everywhere hear the sound of the Shakujo; that the lazy become energetic; that precept breakers become virtuous; that the untrustworthy become reliable; that the stingy become generous; that the angry become merciful; that the foolish become wise; that the arrogant become humble; and that once free from obstacles they take heart, practice 10,000 times and quickly attain enlightenment.

7: For the benefit of all beings, I wish for a change of heart in the harmful beings of the world: the cruel and wicked people; the devils and evil spirits; the fierce animals, poisonous snakes and insects. I wish that all these beings hear the sound of the Shakujo, abandon all harm, emanate the Bodhi Heart, practice 10,000 times, and quickly attain enlightenment.

8: For the benefit of all beings, I wish that all people everywhere come to the aid of those suffering in the hells, the hungry ghosts, those in the animal realms, and people in the midst of the eight difficulties of life. I wish that everyone takes upon himself the suffering of others, hears the sound of the Shakujo, and soon attains deliverance. To those fallen to temptations, gone astray, foolish, with divided minds, hindered, facing the 108 worries, I wish they all emanate Bodhi Heart, practice 10,000 times, and quickly attain enlightenment.

9: All Buddhas of the past have abandoned errors and taken hold of the Shakujo. Buddhas of the present and those now becoming Buddhas take hold of the Shakujo. Those who become Buddhas in a life yet to come will take hold of the Shakujo. Forever I bow to them, carry the Shakujo and give the Three Treasures. Forever I bow to them, carry the Shakujo and give the Three Treasures.