FRAGRANCE OF DHARMA FAITH

[David Brazier]

There is a verse called Koge in Japanese that is used regularly in Jodo Shu services.

A loose translation goes as follows:

FRAGRANCE GATHA
My body the pure censer
my heart afire with Dharma
to Buddhas of the three times
throughout the ten directions
mentally and physically
my thoughts and deeds I dedicate.
They burn like holy incense
of practice and samadhi.

ORIGINAL JAPANESE, CHINESE AND LINE BY LINE LITERAL TRANSLATION

香偈

願我身浄如香炉

願我心如智慧火

念念焚焼戒定香

供養十方三世仏

Koge

xiāng jì

香偈

The Fragrant Verse

Gan ga shin jo nyo koro

yuàn wǒ shēn jìng rú xiāng lú

願我身浄如香炉

I pray my body be pure as an incense censer

Gan ga shin nyo chi e ka

yuàn wǒ xīn rú zhì huì huǒ

願我心如智慧火

I pray that my heart be a fire of wisdom

Nen nen bon jo kai jo ko

niàn niàn fén shāo jiè dìng xiāng

念念焚焼戒定香

My every thought burns with the incense of practice and samadhi

Nen nen bon jo kai jo ko

gòng yǎng shí fāng sān shì fó

供養十方三世仏

Dedicated to the Buddhas of the ten direction and the three times

.