Recital

Mindfulness Recitation

For Free Distribution

Dedication

Honor to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One.

Three Refuge

I go to the Buddha for my refuge.

I go to the Dhamma for my refuge.

I go to the Shangha for my refuge.

A second time I go to the Buddha for my refuge.

A second time I go to the Dhamma for my refuge.

A second time I go to the Shangha for my refuge.

A third time I go to the Buddha as for refuge.

A third time I go to the Dhamma as for refuge.

A third time I go to the Shangha as for refuge.

Five Precepts

I take the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.

I take the precept to abstain from taking things not given.

I take the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.

I take the precept to abstain from false speech.

I take the precept to abstain from taking anything that causes intoxication or heedlessness.

Eight Precepts

I take the precept to abstain from destroying living beings.

I take the precept to abstain from taking things not given.

I take the precept to abstain from sexual indulgence.

I take the precept to abstain from false speech.

I take the precept to abstain from taking anything that causes intoxication or heedlessness.

I take the precept to abstain from taking food at inappropriate times.

I take the precept to abstain from dancing, singing, music and unseemly shows; from use of garlands, perfumes and unguents; from things that tend to beautify and adorn the body.

I take the precept to abstain from using high and luxurious seats.

Salutation to the Buddha

Such, indeed, is the Exalted One: worthy, perfectly enlightened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well-gone, knower of the worlds, supreme trainer of persons to be tamed, teacher of gods and humans, enlightened and exalted.

Salutation to the Dhamma

Well-expounded is the Dhamma by the Exalted One, directly visible, immediately effective, calling one to come and see, leading onwards to be personally realized by the wise.

Salutation to the Sangha

The Order of the Exalted One’s disciples is practicing well;

The Order of the Exalted One’s disciples is of upright conduct;

The Order of the Exalted One’s disciples has entered the right path;

The Order of the Exalted One’s disciples is practicing correctly, that is, the Four Pairs of Persons, the Eight Kinds of individuals,

This Order of the Exalted One’s disciples – worthy of offerings and hospitality, worthy of gifts and salutation, supreme field of merit for the world.

Offering of Light

With light brightly shining, abolishing this gloom, I admire the Enlightened One who dispels the darkness (of ignorance).

Offering of Incense

With perfumed incense, made from fragrant substances, I honor the Exalted One, worthy of respect, who dispels the darkness (or ignorance).

Offering of Flowers

This mass of flowers, fresh hued, fragrant and choice, I offer at the sacred lotus-like feet of the Noble Sage.

I offer Thee, Venerable Buddha, these flowers. May this virtue aid in my emancipation. Our bodies undergo decay, even as these flowers must fade.

Nine Virtues of the Buddha

By name He is Arahant as He is worthy. Even in secret He does no evil. He attained the fruit of Arahantship. To Thee, the Worthy One, my homage be.

By name He is Samma Sambuddha. The teaching is of the Samma Sambuddha. A fully Enlightened One is He in the world. To Thee, the Fully Enlightened One, my homage be.

He is endowed with wisdom and knowledge His wisdom is made known. The past and the future He knows. To The who is endowed with wisdom and courage, my homage be.

He is Sugata, being self-disciplined. Being good He is sugata. He has gone to the good state of Nibbana. To Thee the Sugata, my homage be.

By name He is Lokavidu. He knows the past and the future. Things, beings an space He knows. To Thee the knower of worlds, my homage be.

By wisdom and conduct He is unrivalled. An unrivalled One is He in the world. In this world He is revered as an Incomparable One. That Incomparable One, I salute.

A charioteer, a charioteer is He of devas. He is charioteer t the world. He is a respectful charioteer in this world. That charioteer I salute.

To devas, yakkhas and men in this world, He gives the highest fruits, And they subdue (their defilements). To the knower of humans, my homage be.

The Bhagava is replete with fortune. He has destroyed all passions. He has crossed the ocean of samsara. To that Bhagava, my homage be.

Discourse on Blessings

Thus I have heard:

On one occasion the Blessed One, was dwelling at the monastery of Anathapindika in Jeta’s Grove near Savatthi. When the night was far spent, a certain deity whose surpassing splendor illuminated the entire Jeta Grove, came to the presence of the Blessed One, and drawing near, respectfully saluted and stood at on side.

Standing thus, he addressed the Blessed One in verse:

Many deities and men, yearning after good, have pondered on Blessings. Pray, tell me the Supreme Blessing.

Not to follow or associate with fools, to associate with the wise, and honor those who are worthy of honor. This is the Supreme Blessing.

To reside in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past, and to have set oneself on the right course (towards emancipation). This is the Supreme Blessing.

Vast-learning, perfect handicraft, a highly trained discipline and pleasant speech. This is the Supreme Blessing.

The support of father and mother, the cherishing of wife and children and peaceful occupations. This is the Supreme Blessing.

Liberality, righteous conduct, the helping of relatives and blameless actions. This is the Supreme Blessing.

To cease and abstain from evil, forbearance with respect to intoxicants and steadfastness in virtue. This is the Supreme Blessing.

Reverence, humility, contentment, gratitude and opportune hearing of the Dhamma. This is the Supreme Blessing.

Patience, obedience, sight of the Samanas (holy men) and religious discussions at due season. This is the Supreme Blessing.

Self-control, pure life, perception of the Noble Truths and the realization of Nibbana. This is the Supreme Blessing.

He whose mind does not flutter, by contact with worldly contingencies, sorrowless, stainless and secure. This is the Supreme Blessing.

To them, fulfilling matters such as these, everywhere invincible, in every way moving happily. These are the Supreme Blessings.

Discourse on the Jewels

Whatsoever beings are here assembled, Those of the earth or those of the air, may all of them be happy! Let them all listen attentively to my words!

Listen here, all beings! Show your love to those humans who, day and night bring offerings to you. Therefore, guard them diligently.

Whatever treasure there be, either here or in the world beyond, or whatever precious jewel there be in the heavens; yet there is none comparable to the Accomplished One. In the Buddha is this precious jewel found. May there be happiness.

The tranquil Sage of the Sakyas realized cessation, freedom from passion, immortality, excellence. There is nothing comparable to this Dhamma. In the Dhamma is the precious jewel found. On account of this truth May there be happiness!

That pure path the Supreme Buddha praised is described as ‘concentration without interruption’. There is nothing like that concentration. In the Dhamma is this precious jewel found. On account of this truth May there be happiness!

Those Eight Individuals, praised by the virtuous, they constitute four pairs. They, worthy of offerings, are the disciples of the Enlightened One, Gifts given to these yield abundant fruit. In the Sangha is this precious jewel found. On account of this truth May there be happiness!

With steadfast mind, applying themselves thoroughly in the Dispensation of Gotama, free of passion, they have attained to that which should be attained. And plunging into immortality they enjoy the Peace (Nibbana) in absolute freedom. In the Sangha is this precious jewel found. On account of this truth May there be happiness!

Just as a firm post sunk in the earth cannot be shaken by the four winds; I say that a good person who thoroughly perceives the Noble Truths is similar to that. In the Sangha is this precious jewel found. On account of this truth May there be happiness!

Those who clearly understand the Noble Truths, well taught by Him who has absolute knowledge, do not undergo an eighth birth no matter how exceedingly heedless they may be. In the Sangha is this precious jewel found. On account of this truth May there be happiness.

Discourse on Loving-kindness (goodwill)

One who is skilled doing good and who wishes to attain that state of calm (Nibbana) should act thus. One should be able, straight, upright, obedient, gentle and humble.

One should be content, easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, controlled in senses, discreet, not impudent, unttached to families.

One should not do any slight wrong for which the wise might censure one.

May all beings be happy and secure.

May all beings have happy minds.

Whatever living beings there may be, without exception, weak or strong, long, large, middling, short, subtle or gross,

Those visible or invisible, dwelling near or far, born or coming to birth.

May all beings have happy minds.

Let no one deceive another nor despise any person in any place. Neither in anger nor ill-will should anyone wish harm to another.

Just as a mother would risk her own life to protect her only child, even so, towards all living beings, one should cultivate a boundless heart.

One should cultivate for all the world a heart of boundless loving-kindness, above, below, and all around, unobstructed, without hate or enmity.

Whether standing, walking, sitting, lying down or whenever awake, one should develop this mindfulness.

This is the highest conduct here.

Not falling into erroneous views, virtuous and endowed with vision, one discards attachment to sensuous pleasures and does not come again to birth in a womb.

By the firm determination of this truth May I ever be well.

Meditation on Loving-kindness

Having seen that all beings, like oneself, have a desire for happiness, one should methodically develop loving-kindness towards all beings.

May I be happy and free form suffering. And, always, like myself, may my friends, neutral persons and the hostile be happy too.

May all beings in this village, in this state, in other countries, and in the world systems be ever happy.

May all persons, individuals, beings, creatures in all world systems be ever happy.

So too, may all women, men, noble ones, non-noble ones, gods, humans and beings in the lower worlds be happy. May all being in the ten directions be happy.

May I be free from hatred. May I be free from affliction. May I be free from worry. May I live happily. As I am, so also may my parents, teachers, preceptors, friendly, indifferent and hostile beings be free form hatred. May they be free from affliction. May they be free from worry. May they live happily. May they be released from suffering. May they not be deprived of their fortune, duly acquired. All have kamma as their own.

Transference of Merits to the Departed

By the grace of this merit that I have acquired, May I never follow the foolish; but only the wise until I attain the final goal - Nibbana.

Let this (merit) go to our relatives, and may they be happy!

Share Merits with all Beings

May all beings inhabiting space and earth, Devas and Nagas of mighty power, share this merit and may they long protect the Dispensation.

May all beings share this merit, which we have thus acquired. May it contribute greatly to their happiness.