Prayer for releasing snails (repentance verse, taking refuge in the Three Jewels, dedication of merit)

Lễ phóng sinh (animal release ceremony). All year round; many households do it on the full moon of the first lunar month, the full moon of the seventh lunar month, and the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Buddhist

Culture and belief A record of custom.

What this prayer says

Prayer text for releasing snails, including a verse repenting the karma caused by greed, anger and delusion, the taking of refuge in the Three Jewels on behalf of the sentient beings, recitation of the rebirth mantra or the name of Amitabha Buddha while releasing them, and then dedication of the merit so that all sentient beings may soon attain Buddhahood.

The prayer below is kept in Vietnamese, the language it is read aloud in during the rite.

Fill in before the rite

The prayer below is ready to read.

Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

Tiếp theo, đọc bài kệ Sám hối:

Sau khi niệm như vậy 3 lần, rồi lại vì chúng sinh mà niệm 3 lần bài Quy y Tam Bảo

Sau đó niệm Chú Vãng Sinh (3 lần, nếu thuộc) hoặc niệm danh hiệu Phật A DI ĐÀ (NAM MÔ A DI ĐÀ PHẬT) cho đến khi thả hết. Hồi hướng Sau khi thả xong, người phóng sinh chấp tay đọc bài Kinh Bát nhã (nếu thuộc, nếu không nhớ thì có thể bỏ qua) rồi Hồi hướng như sau:

How it differs from the common version

No addressing the Buddha with one's name: chant A Di Đà, recite a four-line repentance verse, take refuge in the Three Jewels on behalf of the animals, chant the rebirth mantra or the Buddha's name until all are released, then dedicate the merit and recite the four great vows.

The common version: Ritual for phóng sinh at home (addressing the Buddha, dedication of merit, three refuges, words recited when releasing)

Offerings and how the rite is done

Offerings, steps and things to avoid for Lễ phóng sinh (animal release ceremony)

Other texts for Lễ phóng sinh (animal release ceremony)

The wording is kept exactly as published by the source. The dotted italic words are blanks for you to fill in.

Sources

  • Văn khấn phóng sinh, bài khấn trước khi phóng sanh (hoatieu.vn)

Part of the open dataset Vietnamese offering prayers (văn cúng), licensed CC BY 4.0.

More prayer textsDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, life-cycle rites and regional rites.