Heart Sutra Fire Song | Hannya Shingyo

The Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra) is traditionally chanted in Japan using Sino-Japanese, also known as On'yomi.

In Japanese Buddhism, Idasonten is the Bodhisattva who protects temples and all beings from fire. The Idasonten altar is traditionally located just outside the temple kitchen, where monks and nuns gather each morning to chant the Hannya Shingyo.

As wildfires continue to burn in many parts of the world, I find myself thinking not only of the people affected, but also of the countless small animals that must flee or are unable to escape—the ones who are so rarely mentioned.

For that reason, I also think of this chant as The Fire Song.

This rendition is dedicated to them.