Draft:Gokan No Ge - Verse of the Five Contemplations

Hanazono University Gokan-No-Ge in the cafeteria, also used in education

Gokan No Ge is a chant that is recited before meals, mainly in Zen Buddhism.This is a translation by Huang Tingjian in the Song dynasty (960-1279) for the benefit of monks and laymen of the Nanshan Risshu of the Tang dynasty (918-907). It became widely known in Japan through a quotation in Dogen's work, "Fushuku Hanpo" (The Way of Porridge and Rice)..It is one of the dietary practices of monks, but because it is a text of high moral universality, it is cited not only in Zen but in many other fields. It is also called "Gokanmon" or "Shokuji Gokanmon" or "Shokujikun".

Chant

• Hitotsu ni wa, kō no tashō wo hakari, kano raisho wo hakaru
• Futatsu ni wa, onore ga tokugyō no zenketsu wo hakatte, ku ni ōzu
• Mitsu ni wa, shin wo fusegi, toga wo hanaruru koto wa tontō wo shū to su
• Yotsu ni wa, masa ni ryōyaku wo koto to suru wa gyōko wo ryōzen ga tame nari
• Itsutsu ni wa, jōdō no tame no yue ni, ima kono jiki wo uku

Translation

• First, we consider how this meal came to be and appreciate the work of the many people who worked until it was served.
• Second, we reflect on whether our own behavior is worthy of this food.
• Third, in order to keep our minds clean and avoid doing wrong, we pledge not to commit the three mistakes of Ton (greed), etc.
• Fourth, food is good medicine, and we eat it to nourish our bodies and achieve proper health.
• Fifth, we receive this meal now in order to accomplish our own enlightenment.

Interpretation

There are some differences in the reading of the chants among the different schools of Buddhism. In the Rinzai and Obaku schools, the third verse reads, "Mitsu ni wa, shin wo fusegi, toga tontō wo hanaruru wo shū to su (Third, to keep our minds clean, we pledge to let go of excesses and greed, etc.)". The term "tontō (greed, etc.)" refers to the so-called "three poisons" of Ton (greed), Jin (hatred), and Chi (delusion), which are the three kinds of afflictions.These are "greed," "anger and hatred," and "ignorance and stupidity," respectively. In the area of food, they warn against greed, which leads to excessive eating and binge eating, against narrow-mindedness, which leads to aversion and dissatisfaction with food, and against stupidity, which does not respect the significance of food and its manners.

There are many interpretations of the Gokan No Ge, but the official Sōtō School sources include the commentary in "Sōtō Shū Seinen Seiten", published by the Sotoshu Shumucho, and the mid-Edo period book "Jushoku Gokan Kummō", by Menzan Zuihō, which explains in plain words how the Gokan No Ge was established and the intent of the chants.

Another version of the Gokan No Ge is found in the Shōji 2 (1200 A.D.) "Shukke Taikō" written by Eisai, who was Dogen's mentor.

• Hitotsu ni wa, mono no kō no tashō kanzeyo (First, consider how valuable it is.)
• Futatsu ni wa, onore no toku no kōhaku wo kanzeyo (Second, consider your own virtues.)
• Mitsu ni wa, ryōyaku naru koto wo kanzeyo (Third, consider it is good medicine.)
• Yotsu ni wa, seshu wa sore zenchishiki nari to kanzeyo (Fourth, consider the donor is a good mentor.)
• Itsutsu ni wa, dō wo enga tame naru koto wo kanzeyo (Fifth, consider it is to accomplish our own enlightenment.)

Reference

• Menzan Zuihō, "Jushoku Gokan Kummō," Volume 1, Kyōho 20 (1735). Included in "Sōtō Zensho", Annotations Vol. 4.
• Dogen, "Tenza Kyōkun, Fushoku Hampo," Kodansha Gakujutsu Bunko, July 1991. ISBN 4-06-158980-6