The Guardian Spell (goshin) is practised as follows:

The ministrant holds the palms of his hands together with middle fingers touching and extended, first fingers separated and bent, tips of thumbs and little fingers bunched together, and third fingers in line with middle fingers so as to be invisible from in front. With hands in this sacred pose (mudrā) he touches the worshipper on forehead, left and right shoulder, heart and throat. At each contact he utters the spell ON · BASARA GONJI HARAJŪBATA · SOHAKA which is corrupt Sanskrit and means ‘I invoke thee, thou diamond-fiery very majestic Star.’ The deity here invoked is Vairocana, favourite Buddha of the Mystic Sect.

A Chinese instrument; often translated ‘mouth-organ.’

A song the words of which were used as a first writing lesson.

There is here a pun, and a reference to poem 3807 in the Manyōshū.

To Lady Rokujō.

Arises out of some connection in a previous existence.