Haitian Earthquake

There has just been a powerful earthquake in Haiti. Having had connections to people who have worked and lived in Haiti over the years, I know a little bit more about this challenged little nation than most Americans do. Here are the first two paragraphs from the AP report:

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The largest earthquake ever recorded in the area shook Haiti on Tuesday, collapsing a hospital where people screamed for help. Other buildings also were damaged and scientists said they expected "substantial damage and casualties."

With communications disrupted there were no reports of deaths or injuries soon after the quake, as powerful aftershocks shook the country.

Natural disasters are great reminders of how small each of us is in the grand scheme of things. We come from the earth, and the earth can take us away in a matter of moments. Below is a darani that is found in the chant books of many Zen communities. It's often chanted for those in danger, those who are seriously ill, or who are having great troubles. My guess is that there will be people in all three of these categories in Haiti. If you feel compelled, please chant this darani for the many who are now suffering in Haiti, and elsewhere in the world.


SHO SAI MYO KICHIJO DARANI


"Marvelously Beneficial Disaster Preventing Darani"


NO MO SAN MAN DA MOTO NAN

OHA RA CHI KOTO SHA SONO NAN

TO JI TO EN GYA GYA GYA KI GYA KI UN NUN

SHIFU RA SHIFU RA HARA SHIFU RA HARA SHIFU RA

CHISHU SA CHISHU SA SHUSHI RI SHUSHI RI

SOHA JA SOHA JA SEN CHIRI GYA SHIRI EI SOMO KO