Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Great purification of the six faculties

六根清淨太祓ろくこんしやうじやうのおほはらひ

A text in the 1911 Shintō Ōharai Zenshū anthology. It is presented as a historical reading, not the current ritual of every shrine or temple.

English meaning and source text

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English meaning

About this English rendering

This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.

Amaterasu Sume Ōkami declares:

‘A human being is a sacred presence in this world.

Maintain a still and peaceful state.

The heart is the precious foundation in which sacred activity dwells.

Do not injure your own heart or spirit.

Therefore, though the eyes see many impurities, do not let the heart be stained by them.

Though the ears hear many impurities, do not let the heart be stained by them.

Though the nose smells many impurities, do not let the heart be stained by them.

Though the mouth speaks many impurities, do not let the heart be stained by them.

Though the body touches many impurities, do not let the heart be stained by them.

Though impurities arise in consciousness, do not let the depths of the heart be bound by them.’

Here follows a short verse teaching purity.

All things are like shadows and reflected images.

When clear and pure, they cannot be defiled in the slightest.

Trying to grasp verbal explanation alone cannot attain it.

It is as every fruit comes to ripeness from a flower.

The six faculties of my body—eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind—are pure.

Because these six are pure, the spirits guarding the five organs are at peace.

Because those spirits are at peace, one joins the same root as the kami of heaven and earth.

Because one joins that root, one is one with the spirits of all things.

Being one with those spirits, no wish one holds will fail to be accomplished: so this text teaches.

Protect us through the power of the way of the kami, the supremely precious spiritual treasure.

Source text and reading aid

Roman letters are provided for 14 of 22 lines. Readings not fully supplied in the source are left without Roman letters.

How to use the Roman letters

Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.

You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.

天照皇太神(あまてらしますすめおほんかみ)の宣(のたま)はく

amaterashimasusumeohonkamino notamahaku

人(ひと)は則(すなは)ち天下(あめがした)の神物(みたまもの)なり

hitoha sunahachi amegashitano mitamamononari

須(すべから)く靜謐(しづまること)を掌(つかさど)るべし

subekaraku shizumarukotowo tsukasadorubeshi

心(こゝろ)は則(すなは)ち神明(かみとかみと)の本主(もとのあるじ)たり

心神(わがたましひ)を傷(いた)ましむること莫(なか)れ

wagatamashihiwo itamashimurukoto nakare

是(こ)の故(ゆゑ)に目(め)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を見(み)て心(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を見(み)ず

耳(みゝ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を聞(き)いて心(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を聞(き)かず

鼻(はな)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を嗅(か)いで心(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を嗅(か)がず

口(くち)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を言(い)ひて心(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を言(い)はず

身(み)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を觸(ふ)れて心(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を觸(ふ)れず

意(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を思(おも)ひて心(こゝろ)に諸(もろ〳〵)の不淨(ふじやう)を想(おも)はず

此(こ)の時(とき)に清(きよ)く潔(いさぎよ)き偈(こと)あり

kono tokini kiyoku isagiyoki kotoari

諸(もろ〳〵)の法(のり)は影(かげ)と像(かたち)の如(ごと)し

moro〳〵no noriha kageto katachino gotoshi

清(きよ)く淨(きよ)ければ假(かり)にも穢(けが)るゝこと無(な)し

說(こと)を取(と)らば得(う)べからず

kotowo toraba ubekarazu

皆(みな)花(はな)よりぞ木實(このみ)とは生(な)る

mina hanayorizo konomitoha naru

我身(わがみ)は則(すなは)ち六根清淨(ろくこんしやうじやう)なり

wagamiha sunahachi rokukonshiyaujiyaunari

六根清淨(ろくこんしやうじやう)なるが故(ゆゑ)に五臟(ござう)の神君(しんくん)安寧(あんねい)なり

rokukonshiyaujiyaunaruga yuweni gozauno shinkun anneinari

五臟(ござう)の神君(しんくん)安寧(あんねい)なるが故(ゆゑ)に天地(てんち)の神(かみ)と同根(どうこん)なり

gozauno shinkun anneinaruga yuweni tenchino kamito doukonnari

天地(てんち)の神(かみ)と同根(どうこん)なるが故(ゆゑ)に萬物(ばんぶつ)の靈(れい)と同躰(どうたい)なり

tenchino kamito doukonnaruga yuweni banbutsuno reito doutainari

萬物(ばんぶつ)の靈(れい)と同躰(どうたい)なるが故(ゆゑ)に爲(な)す所(ところ)の願(ねがひ)として成就(じやうじゆ)せずといふこと無(な)し

banbutsuno reito doutainaruga yuweni nasu tokorono negahitoshite jiyaujiyusezutoifukoto nashi

无上靈寶神道加持(むじやうれいほうしんだうかぢ)

mujiyaureihoushindaukaji

Connected kami and buddhas

These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.

Sources and edition (1)

English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.

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