Read, reflect, pray
Great purification of the six faculties
六根清淨太祓
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
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.
天照皇太神の宣はく
amaterashimasusumeohonkamino notamahaku
人は則ち天下の神物なり
hitoha sunahachi amegashitano mitamamononari
須く靜謐を掌るべし
subekaraku shizumarukotowo tsukasadorubeshi
心は則ち神明の本主たり
心神を傷ましむること莫れ
wagatamashihiwo itamashimurukoto nakare
是の故に目に諸の不淨を見て心に諸の不淨を見ず
耳に諸の不淨を聞いて心に諸の不淨を聞かず
鼻に諸の不淨を嗅いで心に諸の不淨を嗅がず
口に諸の不淨を言ひて心に諸の不淨を言はず
身に諸の不淨を觸れて心に諸の不淨を觸れず
意に諸の不淨を思ひて心に諸の不淨を想はず
此の時に清く潔き偈あり
kono tokini kiyoku isagiyoki kotoari
諸の法は影と像の如し
moro〳〵no noriha kageto katachino gotoshi
清く淨ければ假にも穢るゝこと無し
說を取らば得べからず
kotowo toraba ubekarazu
皆花よりぞ木實とは生る
mina hanayorizo konomitoha naru
我身は則ち六根清淨なり
wagamiha sunahachi rokukonshiyaujiyaunari
六根清淨なるが故に五臟の神君安寧なり
rokukonshiyaujiyaunaruga yuweni gozauno shinkun anneinari
五臟の神君安寧なるが故に天地の神と同根なり
gozauno shinkun anneinaruga yuweni tenchino kamito doukonnari
天地の神と同根なるが故に萬物の靈と同躰なり
tenchino kamito doukonnaruga yuweni banbutsuno reito doutainari
萬物の靈と同躰なるが故に爲す所の願として成就せずといふこと無し
banbutsuno reito doutainaruga yuweni nasu tokorono negahitoshite jiyaujiyusezutoifukoto nashi
无上靈寶神道加持
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.