{"id":4794,"date":"2022-08-12T03:52:55","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T20:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/?p=4794"},"modified":"2024-04-04T09:56:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T02:56:12","slug":"daily-chanting-practicing-the-buddha-dharma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phapnhan.org\/en\/daily-chanting-practicing-the-buddha-dharma\/","title":{"rendered":"Daily Chanting & Practicing the Buddha Dharma"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daily Chanting &\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Practicing the BUDDHA DHARMA\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vietnamese & English<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Compiled by Bhikkhu<\/em> Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BRIEF INTRODUCTIONS<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Daily Chanting Rites in Vietnamese and English compiled by Venerable Master Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9 are collected from the Buddha\u2019s teachings which are very useful and practical accord with children and indigenous people living and working in the United States of America.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

These Daily Chanting Rites are not only indispensably spiritual foods for practitioners, but also very effective approaches and contemplation of the Buddha’s teachings into their everyday lives. To recite, chant, and practice the Buddha Dharma<\/em> from these Daily Chanting Rites, practitioners can enjoy the flowers and fruits of peacefulness, especially Dharma learning, Dharma practice, Dharma joy, and Dharma happiness right here and right now in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May you all be well and happy in the Dharma.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Facebook: Phap Nhan Temple<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Website: phapnhan.org<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Email: phapnhantemple@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

512-366-2686<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TABLE OF CONTENTS AND PAGES NUMBER<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on the Summary, Essential, and Ultimate Teachings of the Buddha Before Entering Nirvana <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on the Historical Buddha\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on the Greatest Blessings\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on Loving-Kindness \/ Metta Sutta\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on Practicing Spreading Loving-Kindness and Compassion Daily to all Directions <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on the Buddha\u2019s Devotees<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Buddha Jewels<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Dharma Jewels<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Sangha Jewels<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Dharma Precepts\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Five Ethical Trainings Chanting\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Watering Seeds of Joy\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thi\u1ec7n Sinh Sutra<\/em> Chanting\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on the Right Confidences\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Three Refuges\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Happy Vesak<\/em> Rites\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rite of Having Mindfulness Lunch\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rite of Memorial Prayers for the Enlightened Soul<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rite of Memorial Prayers for the Dead\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma SamBuddhassa<\/em><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Respectfully pay homage to the Buddha: the World-Honored One, the Worthy One, the Exalted One, the Fully Awakened or Enlightened One (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Incense Offering<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As wonderful as the lotus flower,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

as bright as the northern star,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

let us come back and take refuge in<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the Teacher of gods and human beings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The precious lotus blossoms on the enlightened pedestal<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the halo shines in all directions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wisdom goes beyond the dharma realms,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Loving-kindness and compassion permeate all the mountains and rivers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I have just seen the Buddha\u2019s perfect countenance,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I respectfully offer the Buddha my whole sincere heart,<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n
I forward wholeheartedly to praise for the Noble Triple Gem<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

Diligence in the Dharma path is well cultivated.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As the incense is lit,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

sandalwood perfumes the air,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

making an auspicious rainbow cloud.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I, your disciple, with all my respect<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

offer it to the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we practice the precepts seriously at all times<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we practice concentration diligently,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we offer the precious fruit of insight as our offering of incense of the heart.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to respectfully offer the incense of ethics, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, harmonious and noble Sangha, Dharma guardians, good gods, proving our sincere minds. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Touching the earth in deep gratitude to the Triple Gem<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Praising the Buddha Jewel<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha Jewel shines infinitely.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He has realized perfect understanding for countless lifetimes.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The beauty and stability of a Buddha sitting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

can be in the mountains and rivers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

How splendid the Vulture Peak is!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

How beautiful the light that shines forth from Buddha’s third eye,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Illuminate the six dark paths.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Nagapushpa[1]<\/a><\/em> Assembly will be our next appointment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

for the continuation of the true teachings of practices.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We take refuge in the Buddha ever-present.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions (Bell, one prostration<\/em>).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Praising the Dharma Jewel<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Dharma Jewel is infinitely lovely.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is the precious words spoken by the Buddha himself,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like fragrant flowers floating down from the heavens.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The wonderful Dharma is plain to see.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is recorded luminously in three transparent baskets.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

handed down from generation to generation in the Ten Directions,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

so that today we can see our way.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We vow to study it with all our hearts.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We take refuge in the Dharma ever-present.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, wholeheartedly pay homage to the Dharma forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions (Bell, one prostration<\/em>).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Praising the Sangha Jewel<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sangha Jewel is infinitely precious,<\/strong><\/span>
\n a field of merit where good seeds can be sown.<\/strong><\/span>
\n The three robes and the bowl are symbols of freedom.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Mindfulness trainings,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>concentration, and insight support each other.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sangha dwells in mindfulness day and night,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>providing the foundation for us to realize the fruit of meditation.<\/strong><\/span>
\n With one heart, we come home to the Sangha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and take refuge in the Sangha ever-present.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, wholeheartedly pay homage to the Sangha forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions (Bell, one prostration<\/em>).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Meditation practice around 15 minutes)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Open Verse<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Dharma is deep and lovely,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

we now have a chance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0to see, study, and to practice,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

we vow to realize its true meaning. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

THE BEQUEATHED TEACHINGS SUTRA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on the summary, essential, and ultimate Teachings of the Buddha before entering Nirvana<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus have I heard. On one occasion when the Shakyamuni<\/em> Buddha set the Dharma Wheel in motion, for the first time, he taught and instructed A\u00f1\u00f1a Ko\u1e47\u1e0da\u00f1\u00f1a<\/em> to become Venerable enlightened monk and for the last Dharma preaching, he taught and instructed Subhadra <\/em>to become Venerable awakened monk.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who deserved to be taught were taught all by the Buddha. On the final night before passing away, in the forest, the Buddha lay between the twin Sala<\/em> trees in the middle of a quiet night, the space was completely still without a sound, the Buddha briefly talked about the essentials of the Dhamma to his disciples as follows:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, after the Tathagata <\/em>passes away, you should revere and honor the precepts, as a poor person who obtains a treasure, as a person walking in the dark night meets light, as a blind person whose eyes get brightened.\u00a0Be aware that the precepts are the best teachers for you, cultivation, application, and practice of the precepts into your daily lives are practical, valuable, and helpful works for you;\u00a0even though having lived many years in the world any longer, the Tathagata<\/em> also is not beyond the purpose of only teaching the precepts to you.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMonastic people, who uphold the pure precepts, should not purchase, sell, exchange, trade in houses, invest forestry, agriculture, seafood, fisheries, not accumulate servants, attendants or raise animals, in a secular way, and should not cut down trees, burn, and destroy mountains and forests, consider fortune-telling, see astronomy, consult good and bad hours and days, observe the constellations of stars, resolve someone\u2019s bad luck, and use feng shui. All of the above stated things are not suitable for you, keep far away from them like avoiding a pit of fire.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, you should live moderately in body, eat and drink with moderation, maintain a noble lifestyle and deliverance, do not participate in politics, lead the mission of political communication, do not train magical spells and create unethical elixirs, do not associate with unwholesome people, and not make friends with arrogant people.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Living diligently, assiduously, mindfully, attentively, stably, and calmly in every second and every minute in order to attain the path and fruition of liberation, you should not conceal your faults and show the charm to fascinate the masses. When receiving offerings from almsgivers, you must measure your virtue and merit, have little desire, know how to live just enough to practice, and should not hoard possessions to arouse the greedy mind.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tathagata<\/em> has just said a summary of the precepts; the precepts are the fundamental foundations of liberation called P\u0101timokkha<\/em>. People who observe the precepts can lead their peaceful and happy lives and benefit both themselves and other people right in the present life. Thanks to observing the precepts, meditation arises, thanks to practicing meditation, wisdom arises, and thanks to wisdom arising, you have the ability to recognize and transform suffering well.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, keeping the pure precepts is very important and necessary for your lives; those who keep the pure precepts diligent and perfect have merit and wholesome things, vice versa, those who keep the pure precepts non-diligent and imperfect, their merit and wholesome things do not easily arise. Therefore, you should know that the pure precepts are the most stable dwelling place of making a safe haven for all kinds of merit and wholesome things in you to arise.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, when keeping the precepts, you must cleverly control the five senses. Do not let them run after the five sensual pleasures: Greed for wealth, greed for sexual desire, greed for fame, greed for eating, and greed for sleeping, as a buffalo herder holding a whip or stick does not let buffaloes trample and eat rice seedlings of other people. Once you live loosely in the five senses, the five sensual pleasures will overpower and dominate your lives. Like a wild horse, if it is not controlled by the bridle, it will carry people plunging into a pit. Bandits only make people suffer for one life while the aggressors of the senses make people suffer for many lifetimes. Therefore, you should be careful of the harmful effects of the senses. Those who have wisdom guard the senses like guarding the enemies from letting them be free and loose.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, in the five human senses, the mind plays the most important role. Wholesome mind will lead you to wholesome deeds and thoughts. Unwholesome mind will lead you to unwholesome deeds and thoughts. The wholesome mind will benefit you and other people, vice versa, the unwholesome mind will lead to harmfulness for you and other people. Therefore, you have to try to develop your wholesome mind to benefit living beings, be careful to control your wrong mind. The wrong mind is very dangerous and more frightening than wild animals and poisonous snakes, like a person passionately holding a bowl of honey in his hand without paying attention to the abyss and pit by the roadside, like a crazy elephant without an iron hook and shackles, as a monkey or a gibbon meeting the forest trees freely jump up and down. To tame them is so difficult. Therefore, you try your best to subdue your neglectful and unwholesome minds. In order to keep and develop wholesome things, you constantly reflect on your mind by practicing meditation and following the in-breaths and out-breaths mindfully and consciously. When your mind gets calm, relaxed, and clear, at that time, you can resolve everything easily, well, properly, and quickly.\u201d (Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, when receiving edibles and drinkables from almsgivers, you should regard them as medicine. Delicious things you are not greedy for and bad tasting things you do not disparage and refuse. Eating and drinking are just enough to support and maintain the body from hunger and thirst. As a bee looks for a flower to suck the nectar, it finishes sucking the pollen, and then flies away, but it does not harm the scent and beauty of the flower. Likewise, when receiving various kinds of food and drinks from almsgivers, monastics are only enough for health to cultivate and do not get greedy and accumulate offerings too much, you will reduce the confidence of almsgivers\u2019 Dharma protection. When receiving offerings from almsgivers, you strive to cultivate to create more merit and confidence for almsgivers, vice versa, if receiving donations from almsgivers, you are not diligent to cultivate, the merit of the receiver will decrease, and the merit of the giver will not increase. As wise people, you should constantly contemplate like that skillfully in receiving donations from almsgivers to benefit yourselves and other people right in the present life.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, in the daytime, you should make efforts to practice the right Dharma. Do not let time pass in vain. At the beginning of the night, at the end of the night, you should diligently chant and recite the Suttas to help yourselves be more lucid, in the middle of the night, you should practice meditation to recharge your spiritual batteries. Sleeping too much will make life useless. Be aware that the fire of impermanence is burning away human life. Try more effort to save yourselves. The sleepy greedy ghost and laziness are fiercer than enemies that always lurk and kill life. Be wary of afflictions tacitly sleeping in the mind is like being wary of a poisonous snake lying in a corner of a house. Use the iron hooks of virtuous conduct, meditation, diligence, mindfulness, and awareness to pull it out. When the poisonous snake is pulled out, you can be safe to sleep. If the poisonous snake is not yet out, you keep passionately sleeping, you are likened to shameless people.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be aware to practice the senses of shame. The clothing of shame is number one and the finest adornment of all adornments.\u00a0 Those who know the senses of shame have the ability to control the unwholesome deeds. Therefore, you never forget and lose the senses of shame; the senses of shame are both the good virtues, and the useful, valuable amulets for life. To lose the senses of shame is to lose all good dharmas. People who have the senses of shame can create many merits and wholesome dharmas. People who have no a sense of shame are not different than people of lacking wisdom and cultivation, and cannot create any merits and wholesome dharmas in life at all.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, if someone offends your fame, honor, and prestige, you must skillfully follow mindful breaths by maintaining the constructive, harmonious, and reconcilable speech, remember to control yourselves, do not let your minds rise up into anger and resentment, it will burn up all forests of your merits, cultivation career, and Dharma path. Those who control their angry tempers can practice the virtues of patience. Those who practice the virtues of good patience are not only called wise people, but also called people with unrivaled strength. As people who drink cool and fresh water can help them reduce thirst. People do not practice the virtues of patience, their angry fire not only burns them, but also burns up all their merits and wholesome things. Anger is fiercer than wildfire. Be careful to control your angry minds. Of all the kinds of robbers of merit, the angry fire is the most dangerous enemy in life.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWorldly people, who live, remain jostling, scrambling, enjoying sensual pleasures, lack the methods of practicing and controlling their angry tempers. If they get angry, they can be forgiven. However, you are monastic people, who learn and practice the Dharma, have good practice methods, and can eliminate lust and sensual pleasures in the world. If you do not transform anger, you are truly blameworthy people. It is just like the clear sky, but there is thunder rising, it is not the appropriate thing for you.\u201d\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, when becoming Monastics, shaving off your beard and hair, you yourselves should rub your heads and remember: Do not use secular cosmetics and adornments. You should put on monastic saffron robes over your shoulders, hold the bowls to go for alms, and use alms-food, meditation, mindfulness, and awakening to nourish and control your bodies and minds. When your arrogant mind arises, you are aware to recognize and control it, because arrogance is one of the negative psychologies, those having the thoughts of arrogance and conceit, which will burn you. Aware of that, as Monastics who vow to live their lives of peacefulness, freedom, and liberation, you should practice the Buddha Dharma<\/em> well to recognize and transform them.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, you should watch out for the mentality of adulation and flattery which can cause obstacles for your cultivation, liberation, and Buddhist affairs. To prevent the mentality of adulation and flattery, you should regularly practice humility, modesty, righteousness, and integrity, which are the best way to develop the ability and level of your cultivation, and contribute to propagating the Dharma and benefiting for the many right in this world.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, you should know the more the cravings and nutritional needs arise, the more suffering and lust increase, vice versa, once the less the cravings and nutritional needs are, the more suffering and lust decrease. Those who do not have lusts and desires will not be controlled and dominated by the mentality of adulation and flattery, live their light and peaceful lives, and can lead to peacefulness and happiness in the present life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who practice the virtues of knowing contentment can create a lot of merits and control the mind of greed and suffering, their minds and bodies are not dominated by the senses and the external scenes. Practicing the virtue of little desire and knowing contentment, you can obtain happiness right in the present life.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, if you want to recognize and transform suffering effectively, you have to regularly learn the virtues of knowing contentment; learning the\u00a0virtues of knowing contentment\u00a0has the ability to help you lead your light, calm, and stable lives.\u00a0Those who know contentment sleep on the ground feel free, joyful, and happy, vice versa, those who do not know contentment even though abiding in heavens, still feel poor, anxious, and melancholy. People who know contentment live their peaceful, light, free, and comfortable lives, are not dragged externally and materially, vice versa, people who do not know contentment are full of intrigue, anxiety, sorrow, and suffering, are always dragged and dominated by the five sensual pleasures: Greed for wealth, greed for sexual desire, greed for fame, greed for eating, and greed for sleeping. Therefore, in order to live your lives of freedom, peacefulness, and happiness, you try to live your lives of knowing contentment and less desire.\u201d\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, in order to live your calm and peaceful lives, you should keep far away from the noisy, boisterous places, and crowded assemblies. People who lead their quiet lives by meditation practice are revered and respected by gods and human beings. Living alone in secluded places where you can control your bodies and minds with mindfulness and awareness, you have the ability to recognize and transform suffering. Living together with crowded assemblies, and in noisy boisterous places, you are easily bothered and harassed by them. It is like a big tree with many birds gathering, they will damage its branches. Those who indulge in worldly pleasures will be bound and dominated by the world. Just as an old and weak elephant has fallen into the mud, so it is difficult for him to get out of the mud. Be clearly aware that, in order to eliminate afflictions, you should stay far away from the crowded, noisy, and boisterous assemblies by living in tranquil and quiet places to master the body and mind in mindfulness and awareness.\u201d\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, in the process of cultivation, you try to practice right effort to achieve peacefulness and happiness right in life. If you do not practice right effort, you will encounter difficulties and obstacles for your practice. Cultivated people have right effort, just like a small stream constantly trickling on a rock for a long time, the rock may be worn and punctured, vice versa, cultivating people who do not have right effort are regularly lazy, just like people rubbing a tree to get fire, the tree is not hot yet, the fire does not yet start, but they have stopped. Although they wish for the fire, the fire is never found. Therefore, you should diligently practice the right effort to benefit many people.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, on the path of cultivation, knowledgeable people and effective Dharma protectors are good people with the ability to help you achieve well in life. Although relying on them to learn beautiful things, good ideas, and good life experiences from them, you should never forget to practice mindfulness daily. If you forget to practice mindfulness every day, defilements will easily infiltrate and overpower your body and mind, and you will lose all merits and good dharmas. Be well aware of that, you regularly practice mindfulness and awareness every day to recognize and transform your body and mind. Those who practice mindfulness stably and diligently will be never afraid of the five kinds of sensual pleasures: wealth, sexual desire, fame, eating, and sleeping, which overpower and dominate them, just as warriors entering a battle wearing armor to cover their bodies no longer fear the enemies\u2019 bows and arrows. That is the virtue of practicing mindfulness and awareness.\u201d\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, thanks to practicing and maintaining mindfulness and awareness, it is very easy for you to lead your minds to meditative concentration and single-pointedness. Diligence in meditation practice, you can master the mind and comprehend the arising and passing away of the mind, impermanence, and the changing of the world. At this time, the fluctuations, distractions, and distractions of the mind will be recognized and transformed, and insight will be reflected. Those who practice meditation well, their wisdom develops as quickly as those who keep a firm dike, the water in the dike overflows up easily. That is the practice of meditative concentration.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dear disciples, when you\u00a0practice meditative concentration masterfully, the defilements are transformed and eradicated, liberated minds and liberated wisdom in yourselves become brightened, and insight gets arisen right away. Wisdom is likened to the strongest raft capable of ferrying you across the ocean of birth, death, and samsara. It is like the light of wisdom that dispels the darkness of ignorance, like a good medicine for healing all who are ill, like a diamond ax for cutting down the trees of afflictions. Wanting to have the true insight, you need to experience the process of practicing and obtaining \u201cwisdom from hearing, wisdom from cultivation, and wisdom from thinking\u201d to benefit yourselves and other people right in the present life. People with wisdom always have right view, clearly see the truth of everything brightening like daylight. That is the virtue of wisdom.\u201d\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, in the life of daily cultivation, if you indulge in idle and useless joke discussions and debates, your mind will be scattered. You are monastic people, if you lead your lives of idle, aimless, and useless joke discussions and debates, you will be ridiculed and criticized by the world, and you will not attain wisdom and liberation. Abandoning your lives of idle joke discussions and debates, you will attain tranquility, peacefulness, and happiness right in the present life. This is the virtue of practicing not using idle and frivolous joke discussions and debates.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, regularly do good things, say good things, and think about good things to create more wholesome merit, practice right effort and right patience to avoid distractions and laziness like avoiding enemies. Showing great compassion, great wisdom, and great courage, the Tathagata<\/em> has proclaimed the Dharma very practically, presently, and usefully to benefit all living beings. Therefore, you live in your suitable place to diligently cultivate, practice the Dharma, contemplate life, do not let your life pass in vain, later on, you repent and regret that it has been too late. The Tathagata<\/em> is the good Physician who knows how to diagnose the sickness of each person and prescribes medicine, but whether you drink it or not is not the fault of the Physician. The Tathagata<\/em> is the spiritual Master who guides the best path to you; if you have already listened, but you do not go, it is not the guide\u2019s fault.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, to the Four Noble Truths,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you have anything not clear yet, you should ask about them at once. Do not harbor your doubts in your heart without clarifying them. The Tathagata<\/em> will teach you the unknown matters.\u201d After the World-Honored One repeated this three times, but his disciples were silent, no one asked him a question at all. At that time, Venerable Anuruddha<\/em> contemplated the minds of the assembly and respectfully addressed the Buddha thus:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRespectfully, dear the World-Honored One, even though the moon may grow hot, the sun may become cold, the Four Noble Truths well proclaimed by the Buddha himself never change.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Four Noble\u00a0Truths\u00a0consist of the Truth of Suffering (dukkha<\/em>), the Truth of the Origin of Suffering (samud\u0101ya<\/em>), the Truth of the Cessation of Suffering (nirodha<\/em>), and the Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering (magga<\/em>).\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Truth of Suffering\u00a0(dukkha<\/em>) is the reality of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering, what one wants but does not get is suffering, hating each other but meeting together is suffering, to love each other but to be separated is suffering, clinging to the five aggregates of the body and mind is suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Truth of the Origin\u00a0of\u00a0Suffering\u00a0(samud\u0101ya<\/em>) is the cause of suffering, including greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, doubt, ignorance, wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, and wrong concentration.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering\u00a0(nirodha<\/em>) is Nirvana<\/em>, the state of peacefulness and supreme happiness, ending all the causes of suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering\u00a0(magga<\/em>) is both\u00a0the Middle Way\u00a0of avoiding two extremes: sensual indulgence and extreme asceticism, and\u00a0the Noble Eightfold Path\u00a0including ethics, meditation, and wisdom interconnected very closely with right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. This path is very practical, present, and effective, capable of leading people to peacefulness and happiness right here and right now in the present life.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRespectfully, dear the World-Honored One, to the Four Noble Truths, the Tathagata<\/em> has finished teaching, among his disciples, no one has doubts about the Four Truths at all.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At that time, those who did not have enough wholesome conditions yet to learn and practice the Buddha Dharma <\/em>and heard the Buddha being about to enter Nirvana<\/em>, their hearts were filled with sorrow. There were people who newly entered the Dharma to have enough wholesome conditions and heard the essential teachings of the Buddha, their minds were filled with joy and understood the Dharma lucidly, as a person walking in the dark night met light and clearly saw the way and the way home. There were also those who had realized the right Dharma eliminated afflictions, kept far away from the ocean of suffering, felt grieved, and uttered out: \u201cHow did the World-Honored One pass away so quickly?\u201d Understanding the minds of everyone, out of great love and compassion, the Buddha advised his disciples additionally:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, do not feel grieved, do not feel sorrowful. According to the law of impermanence, although the Tathagata<\/em> lives in the world more than a lifetime, the Tathagata<\/em> eventually must enter Nirvana<\/em>. Meeting each other, there must be separation. Combining without disintegrating, converging without breaking up, is impossible. After the Tathagata<\/em> passes away, take the Dharma as the best teacher for you, use the Dharma as the best refuge for yourselves, practice the Dharma to benefit yourselves and other people right in the present life. If the Tathagata<\/em> lives long in the world, you do not practice the Dharma, then it will not bring any benefit to you at all. Up to this time, those who have enough wholesome conditions, the Tathagata<\/em> has helped them all. Those who do not have enough wholesome conditions yet, the Tathagata<\/em> has created favorable conditions for them to be helped. From now on, diligently practice the Dharma, you can see that the dharma body<\/em> of the Tathagata<\/em> has existed forever in the world.\u201d\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, you should contemplate that all phenomena and things in this world are changing and impermanent. There is a combination, then there is disintegration. That is the natural law. Do not be grieved at all. Such is life. You must strive to study the Buddha Dharma<\/em> more diligently to attain enlightenment and liberation, and use the light of perfect wisdom to destroy the darkness of ignorance. All living things and living beings are fragile and unstable. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are present in this physical body. There is arising, then there is ending. There is life, then there is death. It is the law of impermanence. Abandoning this old physical body is like putting a burden on the ground. Keep your minds still. Now it is the time for the Tathagata<\/em> to pass away. Try to diligently practice the Dharma more and more to benefit all living beings. These are my practical, essential, and ultimate teachings for you all.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo The Original Master Sakyamuni<\/em> Buddhaya.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell, Bell, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

DISCOURSE ON THE HISTORICAL BUDDHA <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus have I known. Once the Sakyamuni<\/em> Buddha, the historical person in the flesh and bone, ever lived on this earth for over twenty-six centuries ago, was born beneath an Ashoka tree, in Lumbini garden, a part of Nepal today, on the Full Moon Day of Vesak month, equivalently to May in 624 B.C.E. The Agama Sutra stated that:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cA Unique being, an extraordinary human, appears in this world, out of peacefulness for the many, out of happiness for the many, out of compassion and benefits for gods and human beings. It is mainly the Shakyamuni Buddha, who founded Buddhism, the path of awareness, loving kindness, compassion, wisdom, equality, and peace for all living things and living beings all over the planet.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With the powerful vows to save living beings, the Buddha was born in the world very rarely. According to the honored Monk Anan\u2019s telling words, first the Buddha lived in Tusita heaven until his longevity ended, and then, from the Tusia heaven to this world, he entered into the fetus of his holy mother Maya\u2019s right hip. At that time, the halos illuminated brilliantly strangely, shone more than the Sunlight and the Moonlight, the world got in motion to welcome the Tathagata. When he entered into his mother\u2019s fetus, there were the four gods guarding four directions without anyone causing a bother. His mother was ten full months pregnant. From when pregnant, she had the exalted virtue and conduct, generous loving kindness and compassion without the greedy mind with anyone.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

While pregnant, she was delighted at ease, joy, with more health, without a little bit of sickness. She felt that she was carrying her holy fetus, as a precious pearl was no a bit of defect, perfect in the world. When he was born, his mother stood to give a birth. His birth did not touch the ground yet, gods went to welcome and receive him, and then lifted him to his mother with their praising words: \u201cShe gave the world a newborn Buddha perfectly and peacefully. His body when just born was not polluted by amniotic fluid, blood, was fully pure and clean, like bright and beautiful Mani gem. From space, there were two cool and warm water streams spraying and bathing him and his mother. Upon just being born, he himself stood steadily on his feet. Directing his face to the North, walking seven steps with a white parasol covering, he proclaimed that \u201cI am the topmost in the world. This is my last life. I am not reborn in the world any longer, for seven full days later, my mother passes away and was immediately reborn up to a Tusita heaven[2]<\/a> (Bell).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prophet guesses Physiognomy and astrology<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt that time, there was a sage named Asita, right in mid-daytime, seeing gods in the realm of joyful thirty-third heaven, praising, starting to play celestial music, singing with melodious dances, and informing happy words: In Lumbini garden, there was a Shakyamuni Bodhisattva, no one surpassed him, just descended on earth to bring happiness to the world. He is the uppermost and topmost, stands foremost in human beings. Later on, renouncing royal family, becoming a monastic man, he set the Wheel of the Dharma in motion, roared the voice of the Dharma sound, and helped life. Hearing the event, the sage Asita immediately went to royal family of Kapilavastu, expected to visit a newborn prince. Just seeing respectful countenance of the newborn prince\u2019s thirty-two good signs, the sage uttered out that: \u201cPrince Siddhartha is the topmost person of double-legged living beings.\u201d Finishing saying, he cried, felt sad about his longevity, now grew old, did not remain a chance to meet and witness the prince\u2019s full enlightenment. The sage affirmed that, reaching the age of growing up, the prince left his secular life for monastic life, got perfect enlightenment in the world, set the Dharma wheel in motion, and the topmost purification, out of loving-kindness and compassion, loving living beings, and helping life have more benefits.[3]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

No being interested in Enjoyment<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When living in his royal palace, the prince was nurtured extremely specially. King Suddhodana, the prince\u2019s father, built the prince three ponds of green, pink, and white lotuses. What the prince needed was severed wholeheartedly and thoroughly. Kinds of sandalwoods, high-grade aromas, and previous Kasi silk the prince used. Both whole day and night always had a parasol shielding him from heat, cold, dust, and fog. About material conveniences, his father king built the prince three beautiful, luxurious, and noble palaces, one for the winter, one for summer, and one for the rainy season. During four months in summer, whenever there were also female musicians turning around the prince to serve to sing, dance, and intone. Despite living in the wealthiest and happiest scenes in the world, finally, everyone got old, sick, and dead. When aware of this, the prince thought that he also grew old, sick, and dead, could not escape aging, sickness, and death. At that time, arrogance in him was immediately ended. He did not remain clinging to temporarily physical body, gave up worldly material things, was determined to leave secular life for monastic life, find out enlightenment, bring peace, joy, and happiness to the many right in the present life.[4]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Renunciation of his Royal Palace <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The prince was clearly aware that family life always got tied, while monastic life was spacious like an immense sky. Therefore, he let go of his throne, beautiful wife, young child, abandoned a secular karma with many entanglements. He went to R\u0101jagaha City of Magadha for living a monastic life. Bimbisara king, seeing the prince\u2019s tall, nice, brilliant, leisurely, relaxed, mindful body, immediately gave a messenger to observe and follow the prince, and then came back to royal palace for report. When hearing this event, the king hurried to board a carriage, and paid a visit to him. He told the king that the cause of his royal family renunciation was because he did not desire to enjoy sexual pleasure. He saw very clearly craving to enjoy sexual pleasure is a big obstacle for his cultivation, so he made an effort to renounce it, was determined to leave his secular life for monastic life to find out the Dharma, live out of peacefulness and happiness for living beings.[5]<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Searching Teachers for Dharma Learning<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At the age of youth, abundant health, vigorous body, although prince Siddhartha\u2019s father king did not agree with the prince leaving his secular life for monastic life,\u00a0 the prince who was determined to renounce royal family, shaved and gave up beard and hair, put a monastic robe on his shoulder, renounced his secular life to search teachers for Dharma learning, sought the truth, led to enlightenment, and transformed suffering. First, Siddhartha sought to see teacher Alara kalama<\/em> and requested that: \u201cDear teacher, What the Dharma do you cultivate, obtain, and teach?\u201d Alara kalama<\/em> replied he attained The Third meditation – the Abode in which nothing exists at all. With determination to cultivate effort, mindfulness, awareness, meditation, wisdom, shortly afterward, Siddhartha reached enlightenment like teacher Alara<\/em> and affirmed that: \u201cMeditation of the abode in which nothing exists at all teacher Alara<\/em> obtained has no the ability to lead to quietness, topmost wisdom, enlightenment, deliverance, and Nirvana. Confirmed like that, Siddhartha bravely left his teacher and kept going on the way to seek spirituality.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The second teacher Siddharta<\/em> met was Uddaka Ramaputta<\/em>, obtained the fourth meditation – the Abode of Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought.\u201d With determination to cultivate effort, mindfulness, awareness, meditation, concentration, wisdom, shortly afterward, Siddhartha reached enlightenment like teacher Uddaka<\/em>. Recognizing Bodhisattva Siddharta<\/em>\u2019s outstanding talent, teacher Uddaka<\/em> was happy to invite Bodhisattva to keep living there for looking after students together.\u201d At that time, Bodhisattva perceived clearly that: \u201cMeditation of the Abode of Neither Thought nor non-thought\u201d teacher Uddaka<\/em> obtained has no the ability to lead to calmness, topmost wisdom, enlightenment, liberation, Nirvana<\/em>. Confirmed like that, Siddhartha<\/em> bravely left his second teacher and kept going on the way to seek spirituality.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Six Years of Asceticism<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After saying goodbye to the two Brahmanical teachers, Bodhisattva<\/em> practiced asceticism for six years, no one could compare with him. Because he ate so few, his legs and hands got as thin as blades of grass, dry and withered creeper. His feet were like the toenails of a camel. His spine exposed as a string of ball. His skinny ribs were like rafters of a decayed house. His eyes did not remain glistening and lay very deeply. His head skin got wrinkled as bitter melons changed white gray. Gusts of hot wind made it dry. His belly skin clinging closely to the spine was black and ugly. When going to the restroom, he fell down and faced down to the ground. His hair decayed and left out of his body. He himself massaged his body, whole legs and hands ached and pained a lot. Recognizing this, He was determined to give up the cultivation way of Brahmanical asceticism. He left out of Uruvela<\/em> forest for going straight to Bodhgaya to focus his mind on meditation throughout forty-nine days and nights.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith his mind of concentration, he entered meditation in the shade of Bodhi tree, transformed sexual desire, left the unwholesome things, purified my mind, attained the first meditation; a state of the delight and joy, born by the detachment of desire, with applied thought, with sustained thought. He attained the second meditation; a state of joy and pleasure born by concentration without applied thought, without sustained thought, inner tranquillization, and single-pointed mind. He attained the third meditation; a state of joyfully abided equanimity, mindfulness, awareness, feeling of happiness he did not cling to. He attained the fourth meditation; a state of letting go of all concepts, neither suffering nor pleasure, absolute entirely purification in him grew. He realized that it was the way leading to enlightenment, peacefulness, and nirvana (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With his mind of concentration, clearly purified tranquility, there was no longer pollution. The Buddha forwarded his mind to perfect wisdom and knew as it was true: \u201cThis is suffering belonging to body and mind; the body consists of four kinds: Birth, aging, sickness, and death; the mind consists of four kinds: \u00a0Loving together has to be separated, angering together has to meet, desiring something but cannot achieve, the mind gets disappointed.\u201d He knew as it was true: \u201cThis is the cause of suffering consisting of cravings, anger, delusion, wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong concentration, and kinds of clinging.\u201d He knew as it was true: \u201cThis is Nirvana\u2013absolute peacefulness, topmost happiness\u2013suffering and defilements are fully transformed.\u201d He knew as it was true: \u201cThis is the right path consisting of morality, meditation, and wisdom interrelated very closely with Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.\u201d He knew as it was true: \u201cThis is suffering, this is the cause of suffering, this is true happiness, this is the way of cultivation leading to the end of suffering.\u201d By recognizing so, his mind was freed from leakage, cravings, leaky ignorance. He knew very clearly: \u201cRebirth is ended, holy conduct gets achieved, what should be done has been done, there is no remaining to turn back the states of this birth and death any longer.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Proclaiming the Truth<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

At that time, Brahma Shampati<\/em> said respectfully to the Buddha: \u201cDear sir, would you please be happy to stay in this world in order to preach the Dharma to living beings, who are very lucky to hear your wonderful Dharma? Accepting the request of the Brahma, the Buddha contemplated and brought out vivid and specific examples as follows: \u201cThere are living beings with much defilement dust in mind, with less defilement dust in mind, and without defilement dust in mind. Thanks to hearing and practicing the wonderful Dharma, gradually they cultivate, transform bad karmas, lead minds to peacefulness and happiness right in the present life. Then, the Buddha thought that: \u201cI will preach the Dharma to who is the first person?\u201d I immediately think about teacher Alara<\/em>, but he died seven days before. I keep thinking about the teacher Uddaka<\/em>, but he just departed yesterday.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha immediately thought about a group of five monks, who were ever fellow friends with him, cultivating asceticism in the Deer Park of Banaras. He set out to meet them there. In the First Sutta of Setting the Dharma Wheel in motion, he affirmed: \u201cDear disciples, those who do not obtain enlightenment, do not master the four Noble Truths, so they drift in the cycle of birth and death. When cultivating maturely, obtaining enlightenment, they will master the essence of suffering, the cause of suffering, true happiness, the path leading to the transformation of suffering.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha’s Enlightenment Fruition <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha attained perfect enlightenment in the world. This was his last life. From this time onward, he was not pushed by karma. Dear disciples, there is only the fully enlightened person appearing in the world, there is no peer and similar. I am the Tathagata<\/em>, fully Enlightened One, and the perfect awakened One among two-leg species.\u201d The following event cannot happen: In a world, there are not two Buddhas appearing at the same time. In a world, there is only the Buddha attaining the fully perfect enlightenment.\u201d\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDear disciples, for example, in a lotus pond, there are kinds of green, pink, and white lotuses being born in water, growing up in the water, reaching across the surface of the water, and reaching beyond the surface of the water, but through the process of growing and living in a water pond, all kinds of lotuses gradually bloom freshly. Likewise, born in the world, growing up in the world, I conquer the world, I am not dominated by lifestream. I am the Buddha, the perfect enlightened or awakened One. I become the person not controlled by greed, anger, delusion, and ignorance. I was born in the world, out of loving-kindness, compassion, peace, joy, and happiness for the many all over the planet\u201d (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Transmitting the Dharma and following the truth lamp<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After accepting the request of Brahma Sahampati, the Buddha set out to instruct Anna Kondanna, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama, Assaji, Dasa, Dasa\u2019s family, and friends, A total of 60 Arhats are first present in this world. He kept instructing three Vedic hermit heads of fire worship religion: Urivilia Kashyapa, Nada Kashyapa, Gaya Kashyapa, along with a thousand of their disciples. Most of the kings, religious and secular leaders at that time were instructed by the Buddha. They had a right and bright direction and took refuge firmly in the light of the Buddha\u2019s enlightenment and awakening.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha and his disciples, who mainly depend on meditation and donors\u2019 almsgiving and donation to nurture their minds and bodies, rely on the natural environment, their own enlightenment, joy, and happiness to instruct other people. Living their familyless lives, they who spend much time cultivating and serving living beings depend on sentiments of teacher and students, Dharma friends and fellow monastics, sentiments of protecting and spreading the Dharma to build the sisterhood and brotherhood and benefit living things and living beings (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Among them, the most virtuous, talented, and famous disciples of the Buddha are listed below:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Ten Most Virtuous and Renowned MONKS include<\/span>:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The honored Venerable S\u0101riputta<\/em> \u2013 an outstanding wise Teacher with the spirit of building Brotherhood and Sisterhood and bringing the best harmony to the Sangha. He has great wisdom debating without any hindrance, responding, and solving all problems supremely intelligently, skillfully, flexibly, and quickly.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As the closest friend of the honored Venerable Moggall\u0101na<\/em>, when listening to and clearly understanding Venerable Assaji<\/em>, one of the first five disciples of the Buddha, preached the dharmas of dependent origination, dependent arising, and impermanence, which the honored Venerable Sariputra<\/em> fully understood. When entrusted by the Buddha to the construction of Jetavana<\/em> Monastery, together with male lay devotee Sudatta Anathapindika<\/em>, he was the one who directly managed the complete construction work.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As the Dharma Teacher who transmitted the novice monk\u2019s ten mindfulness trainings and directly taught the Buddha Dharma to Rahula<\/em>, Teacher S\u0101riputta<\/em> has the virtues of humility, modesty, forgiveness, and joy in sharing what he has understood for other people to understand together happily.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. The honored Venerable Moggallana<\/em> \u2013 the closest friend of Venerable S\u0101riputta<\/em>, has the supremely psychic power, using the psychic power to subdue many people. Venerable Moggallana<\/em>, who was filial to his mother supremely and skillfully invited and made offerings to the largest Sangha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. The honored Venerable Mah\u0101kassapa<\/em> \u2013 The supremely exemplary, virtuous, and austere Patriarch, capable of collecting, persuading, and leading the Sangha, and presided over the period of reciting the first Buddhist Council in the Suttas<\/em> and the Vinaya<\/em> – virtuous trainings after three months the Buddha entered Nirvana.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. The honored Venerable Subhuti<\/em> – the younger full brother of Sudata Anathapindika<\/em>, had the virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, purity, and no argument, penetrated the nature of full emptiness, and applied contemplative meditation in daily life to benefit oneself and other people right in the present life.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

5. The honored Venerable Pu\u1e47\u1e47a Mant\u0101n\u012bputta<\/em> \u2013 A talented Preacher, who\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>considered the Dharma as the foremost, preached the Dharma supremely persuasively and eloquently, diligently propagated the Dharma in all towns and villages, regardless of rich or poor families, considering everyone as his Bodhi relatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When going to a new region, he played the role in visiting the sick and taking care of the sick, learning the local language to teach the Buddha Dharma and benefit many people. The Dharma talks that he skillfully shared were always suitable for everyone’s abilities, levels, and knowledge.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

He lived humbly, modestly, and rejoiced in the success of other people, lived with brotherhood of Dharma fellow friends, had the deep, right, and strong confidence in the Three Jewels without shaking and wavering.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. The honored Venerable Mah\u0101kacc\u0101yana<\/em> – the talented, intelligent, and outstanding commenter, explained, annotated, and interpreted the Buddha Dharma eminently.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Venerable Mah\u0101kacc\u0101yana<\/em>, having an uncle named Asita<\/em>, the famous hermit in the region was invited by King Suddhodana<\/em> to go to the royal family of Kapilavastu<\/em> to see signs for newborn prince Siddhartha<\/em>, a future Buddha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Under the attentive, enthusiastic, and skillful guidance of his uncle Asita<\/em>, the Venerable Mah\u0101kacc\u0101yana<\/em> learned and absorbed very quickly all that his uncle taught. After his uncle Asita<\/em> passed away, remembering his uncle’s right encouragement, the Venerable had enough wholesome conditions to leave home for monastic life and become one of the ten chief disciples of the Buddha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

7. The honored Venerable Anuruddha<\/em> – A cousin younger brother of the Buddha, one of his chief disciples, dedicated himself to meditation practice, and eventually attained divine eye power (dibba-cakkhu<\/em>).<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

8. The honored Venerable Upali<\/em> – The talented and virtuous attorney who practiced \u200bthe most exemplary Vinaya <\/em>precepts had the ability to bring harmony and reconciliation to the Sangha, and recited the Vinaya<\/em> – virtuous disciplines during the first Buddhist Council under the presiding of the honored Venerable Maha Kassapa<\/em>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

9. The honored Venerable Ananda<\/em> – the Dharma teacher had the ability to listen deeply, absorb, thoroughly remember the Buddha Dharma in detail, had the merit to recite the Buddha’s teachings in the period of reciting the Sutta Pitaka<\/em> in the first Council.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Buddha was 55 years old, Venerable Ananda<\/em> was officially elected by the Sangha to be a 25 -year attendant regularly beside the Buddha. The Venerable was very good, loyal, dedicated, thoughtful, skillful, and successful in the three times of inviting the Buddha to allow women to leave their secular lives for monastic lives.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Buddha happily agreed, accepted, and established an order of the first Buddhist nuns in the city of Vaishali<\/em> in the world’s first Buddhist nun in human history.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. The honored Venerable Rahula<\/em> – The person who was the youngest one to renounce his secular for monastic life at the age of six in the Buddha’s time, had the ability to listen to and absorb the Buddha Dharma directly under the guidance of enthusiasm, dedication, and thoughtfulness from the two honored Venerable Sariputra<\/em> and Venerable Moggall\u0101na<\/em>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

After learning and practicing the Buddha Dharma diligently, the Venerable Rahula transformed the body and mind very effectively and made the vow to practice the virtues of right, fine, and mindful patience and manners.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ten Most Virtuous and Renowned NUNS include<\/span>:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. The honored elder Nun Pa-j\u0101-pa-ti Gotami<\/em> \u2013 The One who had the highest Dharma age guided, established, led the Bhikkhuni Sangha<\/em>, practiced ascetic cultivation supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. The honored elder Nun Khem\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The One who had perfect wisdom.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. The honored elder Nun Uppalavanna<\/em> \u2013 The One who attained supreme psychic power.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. The honored elder Nun Nand\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The One who practiced meditation supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

5. The honored elder Nun Sakul\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The One who had a supremely clairvoyant vision.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. The honored elder Nun Dhammadinn\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The One who preached the Dharma supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

7. The honored elder Nun Bhadd\u0101 Kacc\u0101n\u0101 <\/em>or Bimbadevi<\/em>\u00a0known as Yasodhar\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The One who attained supreme mind stillness.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

8. The honored elder Nun Patac\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The One who was good at Vinaya Pitaka<\/em> \u2013 the Basket of virtuous principles supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

9. The honored elder Nun Kisa Gotami<\/em> \u2013 The One who practiced ascetic cultivation supremely, understood impermanence clearly.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. The honored elder Nun Sig\u0101lakam\u0101t\u0101<\/em> \u2013 the One who had the stable and right confidence supremely (Bell).\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ten Most Virtuous and Renowned Male Lay Disciples include<\/span>:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Sudatta An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika<\/em> \u2013 The male lay businessman who was rich in almsgiving made offerings of Jetavana<\/em> Monastery to the Buddha and the Sangha<\/em>, and protected the Triple Gem supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. His holiness, King Bimbis\u0101ra<\/em>\u2013 The devout donor who expressed his heart to make offerings of the first Venuvana<\/em> Bamboo Grove monastery to the Buddha and the Sangha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. His holiness, King Pasenadi<\/em> \u2013 The devout donor who had the courage to prevent, abolish the custom of killing creatures to sacrifice to Brahminical idols solved and clarified the case of Ms. Sundar\u00ec<\/em> who was killed by jealous religious leaders to slander the Buddha and the Sangha.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Herbalist J\u012bvaka<\/em> \u2013 The good physician who was rich in compassion devoted to caring for the health of the Buddha, the Sangha, and everyone, including King Bimbis\u0101ra<\/em>, King Aj\u0101tasattu<\/em>, etc.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Citta<\/em> \u2013 Male lay preacher who preached the Dharma fluently.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Hatthaka<\/em> \u2013 The male lay practitioner who was good at mastering the Assembly diligently practiced the Four Most Effective Methods including almsgivings, loving speech, beneficial action, and cooperation.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

7. Uggata<\/em> \u2013 The male lay devotee who had the sincere heart to protect and uphold the Sangha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

8. S\u016bra-Amba\u1e6d\u1e6dha<\/em> \u2013 The male lay devotee who had strong confidence in the true Dharma with his immovable mind.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

9 & 10. Tapusa<\/em> and Balika<\/em> \u2013 The two male lay devotees who made offerings of the first meal to the Buddha after he attained enlightenment in the seventh week. They were the first two people to take refuge in the Buddha and take refuge in the Dharma. At that time, the Sangha<\/em> was not established in Bodhgaya yet.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Ten Most Virtuous and Renowned Female Lay Disciples include<\/span>:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Suj\u0101ta<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who made offerings of a bowl of milk porridge to the Buddha before he got enlightenment was the first woman to take refuge in the Buddha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Vis\u0101kha<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who wholeheartedly made offerings of Mig\u0101ram\u0101tup\u0101s\u0101da<\/em> hall to the Buddha and the Sangha protected, and upheld the Triple Gem supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Khujjuttar\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who had the ability to accurately hear and remember the Buddha Dharma<\/em> clearly.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Uttar\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who was good at meditation practice.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

5. S\u0101m\u0101vat\u012b<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who had immense loving-kindness and compassion.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

6. K\u0101tiy\u0101n\u012b<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who had strong confidence in the Dharma deeply.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

7. Suppiy\u0101<\/em>. \u2013 The female lay devotee who was the first nurse was devoted to caring for sick people considerately and thoughtfully.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

8. Nakulam\u0101t\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who wholeheartedly practiced saying loving speech supremely.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

9. Suppav\u0101s\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who made offerings of high-grade dishes to the Buddha and the Sangha.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

10. K\u0101li Kulagharik\u0101<\/em> \u2013 The female lay devotee who had a wise and true heart heard and clearly understood what other people reported. (Bell)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

As his disciples became more and more crowded, the Buddha encouraged and advised them as follows:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cListen, disciples. Be diligent in your journeys. Out of peacefulness for the many, out of happiness for the many, out of compassion and benefits for life, you all do not go on the same way. Go forth to many different directions to propagate the Dharma and save living beings. Bring your own cultivation, peacefulness, and happiness to teach other people. The Tath\u0101gata\u2019s teachings are perfect in the beginning, perfect in the middle, perfect in the end, both in the meanings and in the letter. Proclaim your holy and peaceful lives to the many all over the planet. The Tath\u0101gata will go to the direction of Uruvela to spread the truth.\u201d[6]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cListen, disciples, anciently as well as today, the Tath\u0101gata only speaks of two main goals, that is, to identify suffering and transform suffering by applying and practicing the Noble Eightfold Path right here and right now in the present life. Listen, disciples, the Tath\u0101gata does not dispute anything with life, only life disputes with the Tath\u0101gata. To practice this well, wherever you preach the Dharma, you should nurture loving-kindness and compassion, and should not dispute anyone in life.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha as the Teacher showing the Right Way<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cListen, disciples, as the Teacher, what I do is out of compassion, brings peace and happiness to living things and living beings all over the planet. This is a tree stump, this is a quiet place, be diligent in your meditation practice, do not be distracted, do not regret it later. These are my teachings. Try to practice them well. Listen, disciples, the spiritual tradition established by The Tath\u0101gata is extremely beautiful, has great values, please keep maintaining.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe World-Honored One is the fully enlightened One, preaching the way to be enlightened. He mastered and preached the method to be mastered. He who obtains noble silence preaches the method to obtain noble silence. He who overcomes preaches the method to be overcome. He who attains Nirvana preaches the method to attain Nirvana.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cListen, disciples, there is the Noble Eightfold Path leading to Nirvana; The Tath\u0101gata<\/em> is present as the Teacher showing the way of peace for living things and living beings. What is taught, he has taught. What needs to be done, he has done. In this congregation, there are people who have attained holy fruition, some who are and will try to practice the Buddha Dharma<\/em>. The Tath\u0101gata<\/em> is the Teacher who points at the right way to them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Afterward, the Buddha taught very many different kinds of people, in all walks of society, such as kings, mandarins, merchants, servants, even cow feces pickers, murderers, and courtesans. His Dharma and Sangha have the capability to accept people coming from different castes, religions, skin colors, races, etc. Those who have enough wholesome conditions to cultivate, learn, understand, practice, and apply the Buddha Dharma<\/em> in their daily lives mindfully and awakeningly can bring peacefulness and authentic happiness to themselves and to others right here and now in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha\u2019s disciples mainly include two big assemblies: Monastics and lay people. Both of these assemblies that support one another as an image and its shadow make the key factors bring Buddhism into life, and help life add joy and lessen suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Propagating the Dharma for 45 years, all that the Buddha has taught is like a handful of tree leaves in the palm of his hand, is to help people recognize suffering and transform it, and to help them live their lives of peace and happiness right in the present world. (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Testaments<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cListen, disciples, for forty five years, here and there, I have spread this Dharma, with thousands of nobly valuable sermons, for many different classes of people, from kings to the people, from high class to low class, from Buddhists to non-Buddhists. Those who have a good opportunity to learn, understand, apply, and practice the Buddha Dharma into their daily lives, have the ability to give up bad karmas, to develop good minds, to purify minds, to lead them to peacefulness, happiness, deliverance, and Nirvana right in the present life.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Now was the time for his body to be sick. On the last day, the Buddha was in the Sala forest, and taught the following: \u201cMy body gets old and sick, my back is bent forward, my limbs are exhausted, my senses get gradually weakened, my skins are wrinkled, and my eyes are no longer clear as before. Listen, disciples, the truth is like that. The nature of old age lies in young age. The nature of death lies in life.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cListen, disciples, The Tath\u0101gata who preaches the Dharma without distinction, never concealing anything in his hands at all. He thinks that: \u201cMorality, meditation, and wisdom will be the perfect teachers and also the key teachings for the Sangha.\u201d He does not think that he is the leader of the whole Sangha. The Sangha is subject to his guidance. He has announced the path of enlightenment. Now he is old and eighty years old, about to come to the time to abandon his life. His body is like an old carriage, within a short time being decayed. Then his mind will no longer cling to the aging sign, the feelings of anxiety and fear in him will not arise. He attains and dwells in the signless concentration. His body and mind are extremely comfortable and free.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

O disciples, in the great ocean of birth, death, and Samsara,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be yourself<\/span> swimming to the shore of liberation,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be yourself lighting the torch to go,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be yourself taking refuge in yourself<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be yourself taking refuge in your own island<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be yourself making the island for your own refuge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be yourself taking refuge in your own stable cultivation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do not take refuge in anyone or anything else.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Use the Dharma<\/span> as the lamp<\/span> to illuminate yourself<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Use the Dharma as the island<\/span> for yourself<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Use the Dharma as the best refuge<\/span> for yourself\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Use the Dharma to practice and benefit yourself and other people right in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, you are determined to take refuge in the right Dharma<\/span>, not to take refuge in the wrong dharma<\/span>, or anything else.[7]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To take refuge in the Dharma<\/span> means to take refuge in the cultivation of your own ethics, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not to take refuge in the wrong dharma <\/span>means not to take refuge in Brahma, gods, devils, monsters, heresies, wrong dharma, wrong teachings, wrong teachers, and bad friends.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In D\u012bgha Nik\u0101ya<\/em>, Maha-parinibbana Sutta<\/em> 16, before entering Nibbana<\/em>, the Buddha has advised his disciples: \u201cDear disciples, everything is impermanent and changing. Make great effort to cultivate and practice the Buddha Dharma<\/em> more and more, to bring joy and happiness for yourselves and for other people right here and right now in the present life. These are my essential, practical, and key teachings for you all.\u201d [8]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As well-cultivated people who are skillful in learning, understanding, applying, and practicing the Buddha Dharma<\/em> in the daily life in a flexible, regular, and proper manner, like <\/span>strong lions, you are not afraid of any sound and noise in life,<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like the winds blowing, you are not afraid to get stuck in the net,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like fresh lotuses growing out of the mud and muddy water, but they are not polluted by the mud and muddy water; in the similar way, you live in the world, but you are not polluted by the world,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like the firmest islands of ourselves, you are not afraid of all the obstacles and storms of life,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like the mighty rhinos, you take the most stable and strongest steps forward in life.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As well-cultivated people who are skillful in learning, understanding, applying, and practicing the Buddha Dharma<\/em> in the daily life in a flexible, regular, and proper manner, like the birds with full two wings soaring high in the sky to enjoy the vast space, you can live a life of freedom, lightness, serenity, and nobility<\/span><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When clearly understanding and practicing so, you are the most peaceful and happiest people in the world. From applying and practicing the Buddha Dharma<\/em> into the daily life maturely and fluently, you have the ability to contribute to bringing flowers and fruits of authentic peace and happiness to the many right in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Abandonment of Life \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWhen hearing the Buddha have entered Nirvana, the Malla<\/em> people in Kushinagar<\/em>, monastics and lay people were heartbroken, in agony and sadness, some cried with messy hair, others lamented themselves, and fell down to the ground. Standing in front of the scene of bidding farewell to the Buddha, monastics did not attain holy fruition yet, they could not stop the tears of mercies. Why the Buddha passed away so soon. He has gone, the Dharma eyes disappeared from this life. What a pity it was. For those who attained holy fruition dwelt in mindfulness and inner thoughts. \u201cEverything in the world is impermanent. No one can avoid this separation moment.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo one told anyone, many people that gathered incense, flowers, musical instruments, precious silk, etc., brought them to the Sala<\/em> forest, revered, commemorated, made cremation ceremony of the Buddha\u2019s physical body for seven continuous days. Before sending off his body to the pyre, everyone made offerings to his relics with dances, lyrics of meditative flavors, garlands, and aromas. His body wrapped in precious silk consisted of five hundred layers, placed in a golden coffin. The burning pyre impregnated with precious aromas lifted his golden body. Hundreds of garlands of flowers were well decorated. The elder Monk Maha Kassapa<\/em> and five hundred Bhikkhu disciples immediately coming back home from Pava place for exactly one week just arrived there.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When the Honored elder Monk Maha Kassapa<\/em> and all people paid homage to the World-Honored One, the fire started to burn. Fragrance radiates, the sky is upset, human minds got very sad. After the cremation ceremony, the Buddha\u2019s golden body left many extremely precious relics. His relics divided into eight parts, contained in caskets of stone, dedicated to eight devout Buddhist kings, built worship Stupas<\/em> in their countries, helped people have the opportunity to pay homage to his relics.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Existing on this earth for eighty years, about 544 B.C.E., at the age of 80, the Buddha who passed away peacefully lay on his right hip, left leg stretched out on right leg, his head turned to the Northern direction beneath two longevity trees in the Sala<\/em> forest in Kushinagar<\/em> District, India today.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To pay homage and profound gratitude to the World-Honored One, whose disciples themselves must live correctly with the Dharma by vowing not to do evil, to do good, to keep bodies and minds purified. All of us have to be gifts of cultivation, peace, joy, and true happiness to be dedicated to ourselves and other people right here and right now in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When chanting here, we disciples wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha, the wonderful Dharma, and the harmonious Sangha.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

DISCOURSE ON THE GREATEST HAPPINESS<\/span>[9]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

MAHA MANGALA SUTTA<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I heard these words of the Buddha one time when the World-Honored One was living in the vicinity of Savatthi<\/em> at the Anathapindika<\/em> Monastery in the Jeta Grove. Late at night, a deva appeared whose light and beauty made the whole Jeta Grove shine radiantly. After paying respects to the Buddha, the deva asked him a question in the form of a versa:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Many gods and human beings are eager to know<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

what is the greatest happiness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

which bring about a peaceful and happy life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Please, Tathagata, will you teach us?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

These are the Buddha\u2019s teachings. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1\/Keeping far away from bad and evil people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Always close to good and virtuous people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Honoring those who are worth honoring<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2\/ Knowing to choose a good environment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To do good things<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Walking on the path of true goodness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3\/\u00a0\u00a0 Diligently learning good jobs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing to live a life of virtue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing to speak loving speech<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4\/\u00a0\u00a0 Knowing to support and serve parents<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Loving to take care of family<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing to do a proper occupation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5\/\u00a0\u00a0 Living happily in almsgiving<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Helping relatives and friends<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Treating them flawlessly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

6\/\u00a0\u00a0 To avoid not doing evil<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not drunk and addicted<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently doing good<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

7\/ Knowing humbly and politely in a manner<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To learn about good things<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To be grateful and know enough<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

8\/ Knowing perseverance and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

improvement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Contact with talented and virtuous people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently studying together<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

9\/\u00a0\u00a0 Living in diligence and awakening<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Perceiving the Noble Truths,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Enjoying the Dharma joy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

10\/ Living in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The mind never wavered<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ending defilements at ease<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the greatest happiness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who accomplish so<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wherever they go is safe,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wherever they come is strong<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Happiness for themselves and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Happiness for other people. (Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Day be Well<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the day be well and the night be well.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The day and night whose six times are auspicious.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All the periods are peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Buddha and Bodhisattva bless and protect us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The countenance of the World-Honored One,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like the full moon or like the orb of the sun,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

shines with the light of clarity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A halo of wisdom spreads in every direction,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

enveloping all with love and compassion,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

joy and equanimity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya<\/span>. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Repeat x 3, Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practicing wholesome things daily<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning, say something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, say something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the evening, say something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have a joyful day and night.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning, think about something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, think about something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the evening, think about something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have a joyful day and night.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning, do something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, do something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the evening, do something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have a joyful day and night,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We have a joyful year and life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Fully Enlightened Buddhaya<\/span> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Four Practitioner\u2019s Vows<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them all.<\/strong><\/span>
\n Defilements are endless, I vow to end them all.<\/strong><\/span>
\n Dharma cultivation is limitless, I vow to practice it.<\/strong><\/span>
\n The Buddha\u2019s way is supreme, I vow to attain it.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo The Fully Awakened Buddhaya<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on Loving-Kindness<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Metta Sutta<\/span>[10]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is what should be done\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n By one who is skilled in goodness,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n And who knows the path of peace:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Let them be able and upright,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Straightforward and gentle in speech.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Humble and not conceited,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Contented and easily satisfied.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Peaceful and calm, wise and skillful,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not proud and demanding in nature.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Let them not do the slightest thing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That the wise would later reprove.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Wishing: In gladness and in safety,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n May all beings be at ease.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Whatever living beings there may be;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The seen and the unseen,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Those living near and far away,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Those born and to-be-born,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n May all beings be at ease!\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Let none deceive another,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Or despise any being in any state.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Let none through anger or ill-will\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Wish harm upon another.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Even as a mother protects her life<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Her child, her only child,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n So with a boundless heart\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Should one cherish all living beings:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Radiating kindness over the entire world:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Spreading upwards to the skies,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n And downwards to the depths;\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Outwards and unbounded,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Freed from hatred and ill-will.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Free from drowsiness,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One should sustain this recollection.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n This is said to be the sublime abiding.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n By not holding to fixed views,\u00a0practitioners do not fall into wrong view, wrong thought, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong effort, wrong mindfulness, wrong concentration,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Being freed from all sense desires,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>
\n Is not born again into this world. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo The Original Master\u00a0<\/span>Sakyamuni Buddhaya<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse on Practicing Spreading Loving-Kindness and Compassion Daily to all Directions<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Metta Sutta & Pubba\u1e47ha Sutta<\/em><\/span>)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May I be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May I be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May I take care of myself happily, freely, and calmly.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the eastern direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the western direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the southern direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the northern direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the southeast directio<\/span>n be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the southwest direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the northeast direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the northwest direction<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the direction above<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the direction below<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the left side<\/span>\u00a0be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in the right side<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings in front of me<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings behind me<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings around me<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings who love me<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings who hate me<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings who are friendly to me<\/span> be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all beings who are unfriendly to me<\/span>\u00a0be safe, well, happy, and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they be free from enmity, disease, grief, and suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May they take care of themselves happily, freely, and calmly. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May I be free from enmity to anyone, neither physical suffering, nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my parents and siblings<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my children<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my relatives and lineages<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my patriarchs, teachers, sisters, and brothers in the Dharma<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my disciples<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my fellow practitioners and colleagues<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May my friends and intellectuals<\/span> be free from enmity to one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May all\u00a0donors and almsgivers<\/span> be free from enmity one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May living things and living beings all over the planet<\/span> be free from enmity one another, neither physical suffering nor mental suffering, keep the body and mind always peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo The Original Master\u00a0<\/span>Sakyamuni Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>(Repeat x 3, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Great Compassion Chanting Daily<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practicing Spreading the Daily Compassion Heart to All Directions<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the Morning I wake up, I smile and recognize that my eyes are still bright and I can see everything clearly around me, my ears can hear everything clearly around me, my nose breathes in and breathes out mindfully and consciously, my tongue enjoys the Dharma happiness, my body feels peaceful, healthy, and well. I forward my mind to the eastern direction, the western direction, the southern direction, the northern direction, both the direction above, and the direction below, I pray for all sentient beings and insentient beings living there in peace, joy, love, and understanding together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When I practice so regularly anywhere and anytime, my mind permeates the substances of loving-kindness, compassion, wisdom, peace, and happiness to myself and to other people right here and right now in the present life. May all living things and living beings on earth be well and happy and freed from suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Compassion Mother Buddhaya<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Compassion Father Buddhaya.<\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Day be Well<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the day be well and the night be well.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The day and night whose six times are auspicious.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All the periods are peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Buddha and Bodhisattva bless and protect us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The countenance of the World-Honored One,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

like the full moon or like the orb of the sun,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

shines with the light of clarity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A halo of wisdom spreads in every direction,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

enveloping all with love and compassion,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

joy and equanimity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya<\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Repeat x 3, Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Four Practitioner\u2019s Vows<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sentient beings are immeasurable, I vow to save them all.<\/strong><\/span>
\n Defilements are endless, I vow to end them all.<\/strong><\/span>
\n Dharma cultivation is limitless, I vow to practice it.<\/strong><\/span>
\n The Buddha\u2019s way is supreme, I vow to attain it.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Fully Awakened Buddhaya\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Repeat x 3, Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

THE WHITE-CLAD DISCIPLE SUTRA<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus have I heard. On the occasion the World-Honored One was staying at the Jetavana<\/em> Monastery wholeheartedly offered by Suddata\u00a0Anathapindika <\/em>and prince Jeta<\/em>. One beautiful day, this businessman along with five hundred devotees paid a visit and homage to Venerable Sariputta<\/em> and other monastics. At that time, Venerable Sariputta<\/em> used many skillful teachings to preach the Dharma to them, bring many joyful feelings of the Dharma practice, and help them arouse their confident hearts of thirsting for the Triple Gem.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Then, Venerable Sariputta <\/em>led them all to a hut of the Buddha, prostrated at his feet, and sat down respectfully to one side in mindfulness and awakening postures. The World-Honored One considerately taught them the key things that devotees[11]<\/a> should be diligent to practice the Buddha Dharma daily to bring peacefulness and happiness to themselves and to others right in the present life. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The key things, namely, are the five ethical trainings and four noble contemplative minds. If devotees lead their devotional and exalted lives, and regularly practice them, right in the present life, they can obtain perfect peacefulness and happiness, contribute to bringing authentic peace to the many all over the planet. Coming at the time of death, they certainly know that they will not fall into the evil realms of hells, hungry ghosts, and animals. Upon understanding and practicing so, devotees have the ability to cultivate, transform their bodies and minds, attain the stream of holy fruition right in life, and have no fear of descending into dark ways.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The first ethical trainings<\/span>:\u00a0 Devotees who are determined to keep far away from all forms of killing living beings, including creatures. Be aware to nurture and arouse our loving-kindness and compassion hearts by protecting our and others\u2019 lives. Not killing ourselves, not killing living beings by ourselves, not telling others to kill living beings, not inciting others to kill living beings, and not seeing others killing sentient beings, we rejoice to follow them. Aware to protect the natural environment, give up weapons and violence, practice loving-kindness and compassion, transform anger and hatred, know to repent, correct, and be ashamed of wrongdoings. Thanks to practicing so, devotees have the ability to eradicate the roots of the intention of killing, lead their lives of peacefulness and happiness right in the world (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The second ethical trainings: Devotees who are determined to keep far away from all forms of stealing, not to take what is not given, respect the possessions of others, cherish almsgiving, help people go beyond needy circumstances, find joy before almsgiving, during almsgiving, and after almsgiving; almsgiving without regretting and almsgiving without expecting anything in return. Thanks to practicing so, devotees have the ability to transform and let go of their greedy and stingy hearts, lead their lives of integrity and altruism. (Bell)\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The third ethical trainings: Devotees who are determined to keep far away from sexual misconduct and adultery, live faithfully with a legal spouse, stay away from kids\u2019 sexuality, spend an appropriate time looking after descendants, do not allow them to play violent games, limit them to play online electronic games, allow them to school, spend time helping them do homework, and teach understanding and love to them. Thanks to practicing so, devotees have the ability to build happiness for their families and contribute to bringing peacefulness to schools and to societies. (Bell) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The fourth ethical trainings: Devotees who are determined to keep far away from telling lies \u2013 only tell the truth, do not say anything deceitful and false \u2013 only say reliable and confident words, do not say anything separate and disharmonious \u2013 only say words of construction and suggestions, do not say anything rude and evil \u2013 only say polite and elegant words, do not say anything useless and meaningless\u2013 only say useful and meaningful words, do not say anything despicable, contemptuous, and reproachful \u2013 only say commendable, appreciative, and solidarity words, do not say anything critical, hasty, stressful, and angry \u2013 only say loving, affable, pleasant, harmonious, reconciling words. Thanks to practicing so, devotees are worthy to get confident, have the ability to bring prestige and peace to many people. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The fifth ethical trainings: Devotees are determined to keep far away from alcohol, intoxicants, smoking, and gambling, especially narcotics, to give up the depraved and violent enjoyment habits, such as movies, newspapers, radio, television, not to buy, sell, product, and stockpile weapons and poisons, not to plant cannabis and opium, not to broker and trade in people and rare wildlife.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be aware that the consumption and use of four kinds of daily nutriments comprise edible foods, feeling foods, volitional foods, and conscious foods in mindfulness and awareness, devotees can abandon and let go of those toxins. Thanks to understanding and practicing so, they can live their healthy and lucid lives and contribute to bringing true peacefulness and happiness to themselves and to others right in the present life.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The five ethical trainings have been taught by the Tathagata<\/em>, next are the four noble contemplative minds.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The first noble contemplative mind: Devotees should contemplate that \u201c<\/strong>The World-Honored Buddha; t<\/strong><\/span>he Teacher is our peaceful, noble, and spiritual Leader, <\/strong><\/span>the Teacher is the most worthy to be made offerings to, <\/strong><\/span>the Teacher is endowed with boundless love, perfect wisdom and virtue, t<\/strong><\/span>he Teacher has skillfully crossed over to the other shore of liberation, <\/strong><\/span>the Teacher knows the world thoroughly, t<\/strong><\/span>he Teacher has the ability to train and teach all living things and living beings on earth, <\/strong><\/span>the Teacher of both gods and human beings, <\/strong><\/span>the Teacher is the fully enlightened and awakened One, <\/strong><\/span>the Teacher deserves to be best honored and respected in the world.<\/strong><\/span>\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The second noble contemplative mind: Devotees should contemplate that: \u201cThe Dharma of the World-Honored One that has been well proclaimed by the Buddha himself is very practical in the present, has value beyond time, has the ability to transform one\u2019s body and mind, has the ability to extinguish defilements of greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, doubt, wrong view, etc. Taking refuge in the Dharma, wise people who can cultivate themselves master the Dharma, come and see, come and hear, come and understand, come and learn, come and practice, come and enjoy the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and happiness right here and right now in the present life.\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The third noble contemplative mind: Devotees should contemplate that: \u201cThe Sangha of the World-Honored One is the Community traveling on the really good, true, honest, beautiful, and appropriate path; the Community following the Buddha Dharma practices the Buddha Dharma and lives correctly with the Buddha Dharma. In the noble Community, there are those who have attained and are attaining the first holy fruition – the stream-enterers, the second holy fruition – the once-returners, the third holy fruition – the non-returners, \u00a0and the fourth holy fruition – Arahant<\/em>s, comprise four pairs and eight fruitions of holy people,[12]<\/a> accomplish all aspects of ethics, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding. This Community, deserving to be taken refuge in, served, respected, honored, admired, and made offerings to, is the good field of merit for the world to sow and to plant.\u201d[13]<\/a> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The fourth noble contemplative mind: Devotees should contemplate that: \u201cThe Dharma Precepts of the World-Honored One \u2013 the Disciplines (Vinaya) and right mindfulness the Sangha receiving, practicing, spreading, and observing are the perfect precepts’ (S\u012bla) bodies, are the never broken precepts’ bodies, are the never polluted precepts’ bodies, are the never spotted precepts bodies, are the never mingled precepts’ bodies, are the precepts’ bodies praised and admired by wise people, are the precepts’ bodies with the ability to protect freedom, are the precepts’ bodies leading us to fearlessness, are the precepts’ bodies leading us to virtue, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding, are the precepts’ bodies leading us to peacefulness and happiness forever.\u201d[14]<\/a> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dear devotees, thanks to contemplating and practicing the four noble contemplative minds entirely, you have the ability to put an end to cravings, ignorance, unhappiness, sorrow, and suffering, transform afflictions of greed, anger, delusion, etc., go beyond the three evil realms of hells, hungry ghosts, and animals, obtain happiness and great joy, build a Paradise or a Pure Land right on earth, and open up many stable and bright directions for life (Bell).\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After having proclaimed the five ethical trainings and four noble contemplative minds\u00a0to devotees, the World-Honored One considerately summarizes a verse of easy-understanding example as follows:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You who should be bright<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Know fear of the evil realms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently practice the Dharma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To transform all sufferings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Observing the Five Ethical Trainings:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not killing living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nourishing the compassion heart<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Leading lives of little sickness and sorrow<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your longevity always increases.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not taking what is not given<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Letting go of your stingy hearts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Knowing to make offerings and almsgiving<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bringing benefits to yourselves and to others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not doing sexual misconduct and adultery<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not abusing children\u2019s sexuality<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Faithful to a spouse<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Living peacefully and happily.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Not saying deceptive words<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Only telling the truth<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Right conviction and prestige<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Are always trusted.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Determined not to use<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Alcohol and drugs<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Gambling and smoking<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Your minds become lucid and calm.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You frequently contemplate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Virtues of the Buddha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Dharma and Sangha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ethics and meditation,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wisdom and deliverance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joy in almsgiving<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joy in making offerings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Skillfully sowing and planting the field of merit<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Skillfully cultivating good faculties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently practicing right mindfulness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Enlightenment and happiness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Appear right in the present. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Devotees hear clearly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Tathagata<\/em> set the examples:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Observe a flock of cows<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With the yellow, white ones<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With the red, black ones<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The brown ones with yellow spots<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Or the pigeon gray color.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

whether they bring any color<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Or where they come from<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But their true values<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Depend on their transportable strength.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those that are healthy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are well trained<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pull the carts strongly and quickly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Transport many trips<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Are the useful oxen.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All over the world<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Many kinds of different people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Kings or civilians<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Monastics or lay followers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Females or males<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The young or the old<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who observe the precepts<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Live peacefully and calmly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Become people of ethics<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Become people of paragons<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For oneself and for others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Making offerings to people like this<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Will obtain great virtuous blessings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Tathagata never discriminates<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Between castes and origins<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who lack talent, virtue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wisdom, and cultivation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do not enlighten anyone,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do not make benefit for anyone.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Making offerings to those people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Without great virtuous blessings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Tathagata\u2019s disciples<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Always cultivate wisdom and virtue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Their hearts direct to the World-Honored One<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently practice the Buddha Dharma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently support the Sangha<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cultivate the good faculties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sow the field of merit<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Attain Nibbana \u2013 true happiness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Right in the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After letting go of the physical bodies<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You are born up to a peaceful realm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Continue vowing to save living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the worlds of gods and human beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

practice the Dharma together<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To bring benefits to themselves and to others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After having listened to the Buddha\u2019s teachings, Venerable\u00a0 Sariputta<\/em>, Monastics, the businessman Anathapindika<\/em>, and the five hundred devotees feel delighted and excited, understand the Buddha\u2019s teachings thoroughly, vow to practice, and propagate the Buddha Dharma<\/em> to bring benefits and happiness to living beings together. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Three Jewels\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Buddha Jewels<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The World-Honored Buddha;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is our peaceful, noble, and spiritual Leader,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is the most worthy to be made offerings to,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is endowed with boundless love, perfect wisdom and virtue,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher has skillfully crossed over to the other shore of liberation,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher knows the world thoroughly,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher has the ability to train and teach all living things and living beings on earth,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher of both gods and human beings,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is the fully enlightened and awakened One,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher deserves to be best honored and respected in the world. <\/span><\/span><\/strong>(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Dharma Jewel<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Dharma Jewel of the World-Honored One that has been well proclaimed by the Buddha himself is very practical in the present,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

has value beyond time,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

has the ability to transform one\u2019s body and mind,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

has the ability to extinguish defilements of greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, doubt, wrong view, etc.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Taking refuge in the Dharma, wise people who can cultivate themselves master the Dharma,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

come and see,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

come and hear,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

come and understand,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

come and learn<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

come and practice,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

come and enjoy the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and deliverance right here and right now in the present life. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Sangha Jewel<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sangha Jewel of the World-Honored One means the Community is traveling on the really good, true, honest, beautiful, and appropriate path;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the Community following the Buddha Dharma practices the Buddha Dharma, and lives correctly with the Buddha Dharma.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the noble Community, there are those who have attained and are attaining the first holy fruition – the stream-enterers, the second holy fruition – the once-returners, the third holy fruition – the non-returners, and the fourth holy fruition – Arahants, comprise four pairs and eight fruitions of holy people,[15]<\/a> accomplish all aspects of ethics, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This Community, deserving to be taken refuge in, served, respected, honored, admired, and made offerings to, is the good field of merit for the world to sow and to plant.[16]<\/a> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recollection of Gratitude to the Dharma Precepts<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Dharma Precepts of the World-Honored One;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the Disciplines (Vinaya) – right mindfulness the Sangha receiving, practicing, spreading, and observing,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the perfect precepts’ (S\u012bla) bodies,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the never broken precepts’ bodies,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the never polluted precepts’ bodies,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the never spotted precepts’ bodies,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the never mingled precepts’ bodies,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the precepts’ bodies praised and admired by wise people,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the precepts’ bodies with the ability to protect freedom,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the precepts’ bodies leading us to fearlessness,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the precepts’ bodies leading us to virtue, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are the precepts body leading us to peacefulness and happiness forever.[17]<\/a> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Heart Sutra of Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Avalokiteshvara<\/em>, while practicing deeply with the insight that brings us to the other shore, suddenly discovered that all of the five Skandhas are equally empty. After this penetration, he overcame all ill-being. \u201cListen, Sariputra, this body itself is emptiness, and emptiness itself is this body. This body is not other than emptiness, and emptiness is not other than this body. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Sariputra, all phenomena bear the mark of emptiness\u037e their true nature is the nature of no Birth no Death, no Being no Non-being, no Defilement no Immaculacy, no Increasing no Decreasing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That is why in emptiness, body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness are not separate self-entities. The Eighteen Realms of Phenomena which are the six Sense Organs, the six Sense Objects, and the six kinds of Consciousness are also not separate self-entities.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising and their extinction are also not separate self-entities. Ill-being, the Causes of Ill-being, the End of Ill-being, the Path, insight and attainment, are also not separate self-entities. Whoever can see this no longer needs anything to attain. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bodhisattvas who practice the Insight that brings us to the other shore see no more obstacles in their mind, and because there are no more obstacles in their mind, they can overcome all fear, destroy all wrong perceptions and realize Perfect Nirvana.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All Buddhas in the past, present, and future by practicing the insight that brings us to the other shore are all capable of attaining authentic and perfect enlightenment. Therefore, Sariputra, it should be known that the insight that brings us to the other shore is a Great Mantra, the most illuminating mantra, the highest mantra, a mantra beyond compare, the true wisdom that has the power to put an end to all kinds of suffering. Therefore, let us proclaim a mantra to praise the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGate, gate, p\u0101ragate, p\u0101rasamgate, bodhi, svaha.<\/em>\u201d Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGone, gone, well gone, gone beyond the other shore, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

got enlightenment so happily.\u201d\u00a0(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Contemplation of Body, Mind, and Karma<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am of the nature to grow old, I cannot escape growing old;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am of the nature to have ill health, I cannot escape having ill health;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am of the nature to die, I cannot escape death;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All things are created and caused by my bodily action, verbal action, and mental action, I cannot let go of them, whether it is good karma or non-good karma; Aware of\u00a0 this, good karma I continue upholding and developing; non-good karma I try to recognize and transform;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All relatives, loved ones, and things I cherish today are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Freedom of Body and Mind<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This body is not mine,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am not limited by this body.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am an infinite life,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I have never been born,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and also have never died.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Look! Sea is wide and the sky is high,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

densely innumerable stars.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All are together manifested in me<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

from the spiritual source of consciousness mind,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

from all lives I am free.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Birth and death are the gateways in and out,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

they are the hide-and-seek games.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Smile together with me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Breathe together with me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Recite the Buddhas\u2019names together with me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practice meditation together with me.<\/em>[18]<\/a> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Discourse in Person Knows the Best Way to Live Alone\u00a0<\/span>[19]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha has taught:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do not pursue the past,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do not lose yourself in the future<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The past is not any longer,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The future has not yet come.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Looking deeply at life as it is<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the very here and now<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practitioner dwells<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

in the stability and freedom.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We must be diligent today<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To wait until tomorrow is too late.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Health will get weaker and weaker<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We cannot practice.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Death comes suddenly\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is very difficult for us to know it in advance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A person knows how to dwell in<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Both day and night in mindfulness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha calls him or her as<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The person knows the best way to live alone.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Five Ethical Trainings Chanting<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Words of Opening Reminders<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dear the Sangha, please listen. Today is the day of chanting the Five Ethical Trainings. In the spirits of cultivation, harmony, solidarity, peacefulness, and happiness, we have a wholesome opportunity to gather at this Dharma center. It is the employment of meaning, practicality, and usefulness for oneself and others right in the present life. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Five Mindfulness Trainings<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Five Mindfulness Trainings, the five methods of daily ethical practice, represent the practical and fundamental teachings of the Buddha, namely the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, or the path with the eight lanes interrelates very closely together, have the ability to help us practice right understanding and true love, and have the ability to lead to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Ethical Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all fanaticism, intolerance, discrimination, fear, hatred, and despair. If we live and practice the Five Ethical Trainings well, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. The Five Ethical Trainings symbolize the Buddhist vision of the global spiritual ethics. Knowing we are on that path, we do not remain any reason at all to worry about our lives in the present and fear in the future.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The First Mindfulness Training: Reverence for Life<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, whether in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from fear, anger, hatred, and avarice, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I vow to learn about an attitude of openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to any view, doctrine, or ideology in order to transform the seeds of violence, fanaticism, dogmatism, and intolerance in myself and in the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the past time, do you try to learn and cultivate the First Mindfulness Training?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(In-breath and out-breath, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Second Mindfulness Training: True Happiness<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, stealing, oppression, and social injustice, I am committed to practicing sharing my time, energy, and material resources with the needy in the three aspects of thinking, speaking, and acting in my daily life. I am determined to practicing joy before almsgiving, joy during almsgiving, and joy after almsgiving. I am committed not to taking what is not given, not to taking other people\u2019s possessions to make my own assets, and not to possessing anything that should belong to others. I vow to practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; I know that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion while going a search for happiness by running after power, fame, wealth, and sensual pleasures can bring many ties and despair. I am aware that true happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions. Practicing knowing enough help me live happily in the present moment to recognize the happy conditions I have had. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and stop contributing to climate change.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the past time, do you try to learn and cultivate the Second Mindfulness Training?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(In-breath and out-breath, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Third Mindfulness Training: True Love<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others. I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made known to my family and friends. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving-kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness \u2013 which are the four basic elements of true love \u2013 for making my happiness and other people’s happiness increase. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the past time, do you try to learn and cultivate the Third Mindfulness Training?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(In-breath and out-breath, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Fourth Mindfulness Training:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Loving Speech and Deep Listening\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aware of the suffering caused by a lack of mindful speech and the lack of ability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I am committed to practicing mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in other people. I am committed to speaking and listening in a way that can help myself and others to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I am committed practicing Right Diligence to nourish my capability of understanding, love, joy, happiness, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the past time, do you try to learn and cultivate the Fourth Mindfulness Training?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(In-breath and out-breath, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Fifth Mindfulness Training<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nourishment and Healing\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aware of the suffering caused by a lack of mindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I am committed to practicing looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness to avoid consuming harmful products. I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, including certain violent and debauched websites and electronic games, such as TV programs, films, magazines, books, gambling, and conversations. I am committed to regularly practicing coming back to the present moments to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, neither letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past, nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or another suffering by losing myself in consumption. I am committed to consuming, nourishing, and developing the active seeds in myself and in others. I am determined to look deeply into the interrelations of living things and living beings to learn ways to consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society, and the Earth.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the past time, do you try to learn and cultivate the Fifth Mindfulness Training?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(In-breath and out-breath, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Five Mindfulness Trainings we proclaimed above are the foundations of family happiness and the substance of aspiration to save living beings. To penetrate deeply into the Buddha\u2019s teachings, every mid-month at least once, we have to regularly chant and apply the Five Mindfulness Trainings in our daily lives. Time passes rapidly as the arrow flies. Let us make an effort to bring peacefulness and happiness to ourselves and others right here and right now in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Great Assembly says the diligent vows in unison: \u201cWe try to practice the Buddha\u2019s teachings.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Ceremony Master says recitation out: Wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions (Bell, prostration).\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Heart Sutra of Insight that Bring Us to the Other Shore<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Avalokiteshvara<\/em>, while practicing deeply with the insight that brings us to the other shore, suddenly discovered that all of the five Skandhas are equally empty. After this penetration, he overcame all ill-being. \u201cListen, Sariputra, this body itself is emptiness, and emptiness itself is this body. This body is not other than emptiness, and emptiness is not other than this body. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Sariputra, all phenomena bear the mark of emptiness\u037e their true nature is the nature of no Birth no Death, no Being no Non-being, no Defilement no Immaculacy, no Increasing no Decreasing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That is why in emptiness, body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness are not separate self-entities. The Eighteen Realms of Phenomena which are the six Sense Organs, the six Sense Objects, and the six kinds of Consciousness are also not separate self-entities.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising and their extinction are also not separate self-entities. Ill-being, the Causes of Ill-being, the End of Ill-being, the Path, insight and attainment, are also not separate self-entities. Whoever can see this no longer needs anything to attain. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bodhisattvas who practice the Insight that brings us to the other shore see no more obstacles in their mind, and because there are no more obstacles in their mind, they can overcome all fear, destroy all wrong perceptions and realize Perfect Nirvana.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All Buddhas in the past, present, and future by practicing the insight that brings us to the other shore are all capable of attaining authentic and perfect enlightenment. Therefore, Sariputra, it should be known that the insight that brings us to the other shore is a Great Mantra, the most illuminating mantra, the highest mantra, a mantra beyond compare, the true wisdom that has the power to put an end to all kinds of suffering. Therefore, let us proclaim a mantra to praise the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGate, gate, p\u0101ragate, p\u0101rasamgate, bodhi, svaha.<\/em>\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGone, gone, well gone, gone beyond the other shore, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

got enlightenment so happily.\u201d\u00a0(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Watering Seeds of Joy<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My mother, my father,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

they are in me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When I look,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I see myself in them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha, the patriarchs,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

they are in me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And when I look,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I see myself in them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am a continuation of my mother, my father, and my ancestors.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is my aspiration to preserve<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and continue to nourish<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

seeds of goodness, skill, and happiness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

which I have inherited.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is also my desire to recognize<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the seeds of fear and suffering I have inherited,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and, step by step, to transform them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am a continuation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

of the Buddha and my spiritual teachers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is my deep aspiration<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to preserve, nourish, and develop<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the seeds of understanding, love, and freedom which they have transmitted to me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I desire to continue<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the career of the Buddha and my Ancestral Teachers,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and do my best to realize<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

all that the Buddha and my Ancestral Teachers expect of me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In my daily life,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I also want to sow<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

seeds of love and compassion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

in my own consciousness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and in the heart of other people.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am determined not to water<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

seeds of craving, aversion, and violence<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

in myself and in others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I know that if I practice<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

all this in the right way,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

after only seven days<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I will be able to change the situation,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

establish communication,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

smile and transform some suffering and increase my happiness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I would like to beg the World-Honored One<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to witness what is in my heart.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With mind and body in perfect unity,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I bow my head and prostrate. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Refuge Chant<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Incense perfumes the atmosphere.<\/strong><\/span>
\n A lotus blooms and the Buddha appears.<\/strong><\/span>
\n The world of suffering and discrimination\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

is filled with the light of the Rising Sun.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As the dust of fear and anxiety settles,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

with an open heart and one-pointed mind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I turn to the Three Jewels.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Fully Enlightened One, beautifully seated, peaceful, and smiling a living source of understanding and compassion,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to the Buddha I go for refuge.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The path of mindful living,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

leading to healing, joy, and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

enlightenment, the way of peace,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to the Dharma I go for refuge.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The loving and supportive<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

community of practice,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

realizing harmony, awareness, and liberation,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to the Sangha I go for refuge.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am aware that the Three Gems are within my heart.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to realize them,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

practicing mindful breathing and smiling, looking deeply into things.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to understand living beings and their suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to cultivate compassion and loving kindness, to practice joy and equanimity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to offer joy to one person in the morning to help relieve the grief of one person in the afternoon.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Living simply and sanely with few possessions, keeping my body healthy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to let go of all worries and anxiety<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

in order to be light and free.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am aware that I owe so much\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to my parents, teachers, friends, and all beings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to be worthy of their trust, to practice<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

wholeheartedly so that understanding and compassion will flower,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

helping living beings to be free from their suffering.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha support my efforts. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nourishing Happiness<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sitting here in this moment, protected by the\u00a0Sangha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

my happiness is clear and alive.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What a great fortune to have been born a human,\u00a0to encounter the Dharma,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to be in harmony with others,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and to water the Mind of Love in this beautiful garden of practice.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The energies of the Sangha and mindfulness trainings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

are protecting and helping me not make\u00a0mistakes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

or be swept along in darkness by unwholesome\u00a0seeds.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With kind spiritual friends, I am on the path\u00a0of goodness,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

illumined by the light of Buddhas and\u00a0Bodhisattvas.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Although seeds of suffering are still in me<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

in the form of afflictions and habit energies,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

mindfulness is also there, helping me touch<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

what is most wonderful within and around me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I can still enjoy mindfulness of the six\u00a0senses:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

my eyes look peacefully upon the clear blue\u00a0sky,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

my ears listen with wonder to the songs of\u00a0birds,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

my nose smells the rich scent of sandalwood,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

my tongue tastes the nectar of the Dharma,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

my posture is upright, stable, and relaxed,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and my mind is one with my body.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If there were not a World-Honored One,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

if there were not the wonderful Dharma,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

if there were not a harmonious Sangha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I would not be so fortunate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to enjoy this\u00a0Dharma happiness today.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My resources for practice are my own peace and\u00a0joy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to cultivate and nourish them with daily\u00a0mindfulness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For my ancestors, family, future generations,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and the whole of humanity, I vow to practice well.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In my society, I know that there are countless\u00a0people suffering,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

drowned in sensual pleasure, jealousy, and\u00a0hatred.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am determined to take care of my own mental\u00a0formations,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to learn the art of deep listening and using loving speech\u00a0in order to encourage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

communication and\u00a0understanding\u00a0and to be able to accept and love.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practicing the actions of a bodhisattva,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to look with eyes of love and a heart of understanding.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to listen with a clear mind and ears of compassion,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

bringing peace and joy into the lives of\u00a0others,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to lighten and alleviate the suffering of\u00a0living beings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am aware that ignorance and wrong\u00a0perceptions\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

can turn this world into a fiery hell.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I vow to walk always upon the path of\u00a0transformation,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

producing understanding and loving kindness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I will be able to cultivate a garden of\u00a0awakening.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite impermanent life,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Despite birth, sickness, old age,\u00a0and death,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I have had a path of practice,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There is nothing to fear any longer.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is a great happiness to be alive in the\u00a0Sangha<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

with the practice of mindfulness trainings, concentration, and wisdom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to live every moment in stability and freedom,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to take part in the work of relieving others’\u00a0suffering,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the career of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In each precious moment, I am filled with deep\u00a0gratitude.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I bow before the World-Honored One.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Please bear witness to my wholehearted\u00a0gratitude, embracing all beings with arms of great\u00a0compassion. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

THI\u1ec6N SINH SUTRA CHANTING<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

D\u012brgh\u0101gama, Part II, Sutra 16, and D\u012bgha Nikaya, Sutta 31.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

By Ven. Th\u00edch Tr\u1eebng S\u1ef9<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus have I heard. On occasion, the Buddha was living at the Bamboo Forest Monastery, along with one thousand two hundred and fifty Monastics, put on yellow robes, carried alms bowls, and entered R\u0101jagaha<\/em> City to collect alms. When they saw a young man Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, a householder\u2019s son, every morning, obeying his father\u2019s teachings, taking a shower, dressing neatly, putting his hands together to prostrate to the East, the West, the South, the North, the Zenith, and to the Nadir, the Buddha taught the young man thoughtfully about the meanings of the prostration to the six following directions:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. The Eastern<\/span> direction represents Parents and Children<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I. Children\u2019s duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, to parents, children have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Providing necessary material and spiritual needs for their parents.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Helping parents to do the hard jobs.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Protecting kinship dignity and family tradition. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Maintaining inheritable property.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Having the responsibility to look after funerals in accordance with the right Dharma when parents pass away.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

II. Parents\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To children, parents also have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Teaching their children to do good, not to do evil.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Advising them to be close with experienced teachers, good friends, and wholesome environments.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Choosing the right careers for children.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Suggesting and helping children choose a suitable wife and husband.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Entrusting the inherited possessions and benefits to them in the proper and allotted time.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The prostration to the eastern direction in accordance with the Buddha\u2019s teachings means children have their filial duties to support their parents and parents have the responsibility to bring up and educate their children to become talented and virtuous people. (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. The Western<\/span> direction represents wife and husband<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

III. Wife\u2019s duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, to the husband, whose wife has the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Taking care of neat and tidy housework.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Cordially welcoming friends and relatives of her husband\u2019s family side.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Being faithful to her husband.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Maintaining wealth and properties both she and her husband earned.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Doing the domestic chores skillfully and quickly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

IV. Husband\u2019s duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To the wife, whose husband also has the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Loving his wife.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Learning the way to listen and say loving speech with her.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Having trust in her.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Knowing to buy birthday gifts for her.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Entrusting power and providing the necessary things for her.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The prostration to the western direction in accordance with the Buddha\u2019s teachings means the husband and his wife, who live faithfully, know concessions, and have each other\u2019s confidence to build happiness and warmness for their family. (O)\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. The Southern<\/span> direction represents students and teachers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

V. The Students\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, to the teachers, students have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Being respectful, polite, and willing to help the teachers to do the necessary things.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Knowing to obey the teachers\u2019 teachings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Knowing to listen and learn about the good and new things from the teacher.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Having to have the spirit of eagerly learning with teachers about what you do not know yet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Knowing to practice, apply and create something to have been learned.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

VI. The Teachers\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To the students, the teachers also have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Teaching their students right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Instructing creative and educational methods for students.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Do not hide knowledge, and wholeheartedly transmit knowledge and life experience to students.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Transmitting bodily teachings, verbal teachings, and mental teachings to students.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Expecting students to become talented and virtuous people and be better than teachers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The prostration to the southern direction in accordance with the Buddha\u2019s teachings means both teachers and students are virtuous and exemplary people knowing to transmit, connect, and apply Dharma knowledge as well as secular knowledge into their daily lives to benefit the many right in the present life. (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. The Northern<\/span> direction represents our duties to relatives and friends<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

VII. Our duties to relatives<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, to our relatives including your loved Ones, we have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Advising relatives to do good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Encouraging them to keep far away from evil. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Using the method of watering flowers to praise them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Visiting them when they get sick.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Wholeheartedly helping them when they meet difficult and needy circumstances.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

VIII. Our duties to friends<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To friends, we also have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Helping our friends when meeting difficulties. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Do not leave friends when they are in misfortune.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Playing with good friends who can help us succeed easily in life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Advising them to stop and let go of the unwholesome things.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Communicating with friends in the spirit of dialogue, idea contribution, suggestion, joy, sympathy, and equality.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The prostration to the northern direction in accordance with the Buddha\u2019s teachings means expressing your tolerant, close, lovely, and understanding heart with our relatives and friends. (O)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. The Zenith<\/span> represents lay devotees and monastics<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

IX Lay devotees\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, to monastics, lay devotees have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Choosing the Triple Gem as the most stably spiritual refuge for their lives.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Learning, understanding, practicing, and applying the Five Ethical Trainings into daily life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Skillfully expressing their good hearts to create merit, make offerings, and support the Three Jewels.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Do not idolize any individual monk or nun but consider all talented and virtuous monastics as your own Masters.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Knowing how to observe and select which teachings are good or not good, after bringing out to apply and practice those teachings, appropriate to the teachings of cause and effect and to the many right in the present life, you should practice them, and vice versa, you should keep far away from them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

X. Monastics\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To lay devotees, monastics have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Instructing the Five Ethical Trainings and the Noble Eightfold Path for lay devotees.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Instructing Dharma Learning and Dharma Practice; Dharma Learning includes Virtue, Concentration, and Wisdom; Dharma Practice includes Samatha<\/em> Meditation and Vipassana <\/em>Meditation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Instructing lay devotees to express their hearts joyfully before making offerings, joyfully during making offerings, and joyfully after making offerings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Instructing lay devotees to hold the right and stable confidences in the Three Jewels.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Instructing lay devotees to learn the ways of practicing recollection of gratitude to the Buddha, the Dharma, and to the Sangha.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The prostration to the Zenith in accordance with the Buddha\u2019s teachings means both lay devotees and monastics are determined to learn, understand, cultivate, and apply the Buddha Dharma into their daily lives to bring the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and happiness for the many right in the present life. The Dharma protection and the Dharma propagation between lay devotees and monastics connect together very closely. (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

6. The Nadir<\/span> represents employees and managers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

XI. Employees\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Thi\u1ec7n Sinh, to managers, employees have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Going to work early and punctually.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Having the responsibility to finish employment when assigned.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Doing orderly, neat, tidy, methodical, and mindful employment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Aware to protect general property and not to steal.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Respecting, esteeming, and protecting prestige and dignity for managers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

XII. Managers\u2019 duties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To employees, managers also have the five duties:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Entrusting proper employment with the ability and degree for employees.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Providing suitable salary or food for employees.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. Taking care and greeting thoughtfully when employees get sick.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Rewarding, disciplining, and appreciating the excellent and non-excellent achievements of employees.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

5. Giving employees a suitable vacation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Prostration to the Nadir in accordance with the Buddha\u2019s teachings means managers and employees always have mutual duties and responsibilities for both material and spirituality to develop their company well. (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Six Directions were taught above, the Buddha thoughtfully advised young man Thi\u1ec7n Sinh the essential things through the summarized versa as follows:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Parents are the East<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Teachers are the South<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wife and husband are the West<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Relatives are the North<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Employees are the Nadir<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Monastics are the Zenith<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Exemplary practitioners<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pay prostration to those directions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When living in happiness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When dying in peacefulness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wise people cultivating so<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Live for themselves and for other people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Always bring benefits<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For all people in the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On the way of cultivation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Relying on wholesome friends<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Learning and following virtuous people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bringing benefits for living beings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Living in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We know to do good<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Advising people to do good<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Peace always increases.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

True Buddhist people<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

do something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

think about something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

say something wholesome,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

their bodies and minds are regularly at peace. (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practitioners go into life<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As flowers blossom everywhere<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Solemnly and freely<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To make life joyful and peaceful.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As bees going to seek flowers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Cling to a flower to suck its nectar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Finish sucking it and flying away,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

but the flower remains undamaged.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently protecting the Dharma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Diligently supporting the Sangha<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Making offerings to the Worthy One<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

being the field of the topmost virtue.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The above-mentioned things<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Practitioners always accomplish,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

their merit and virtue get bigger and bigger<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

as river water flows down into the ocean. (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The six directions above taught by the Buddha are the six ethical and educational relationships interconnecting together very closely between families, schools, and societies, containing the values of humanities, engaged life, cause, effect, duties, and responsibilities so deeply, and helping everyone be aware to live in peace and happiness for oneself and for other people right in the present life. The Buddha\u2019s teachings have many pragmatic and surpassing meanings beyond space and time.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Whether living anywhere, or any country in the world, if all people skillfully apply the Thi\u1ec7n Sinh Sutra in their daily lives in the right place, at the right time, and on the right object, certainly they will bring a lot of the substances of cultivation, peacefulness, and happiness for many people.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

After having listened to the Buddha\u2019s teachings, the young man Thi\u1ec7n Sinh was extremely happy to respectfully pay homage to the Buddha, and spoke out the meaningful, praiseful, reverential, and metaphorical words as follows:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow wonderful it is, respectfully dear the World-Honored One! How marvelous it is, respectfully dear the Exalted One! The Dharma skillfully proclaimed by the Buddha himself is very practical, present, specific, and clear, has penetrated deeply into my heart, makes my mind softer, gentler, and better. The Buddha dharma has opened my mind suddenly brighten up, as a person who erects upright what is fallen down turns face upward what is overturned, opens out what is closed secretly, reveals what is hidden, shows the way to those who are lost, carries light into the darkness so that those who have eyes can see visible objects in detail, as a person who goes in the dark night meets light, as a blind person, whose eyes get brightened. By many skillful methods of teaching, the World-Honored One helps me to see everything clearly like daylight.\u201d (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMay the World-Honored One regard and accept me as the lay devotee. From now until my whole life, I am determined to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and committed to cultivating the five Ethical Trainings fully:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Respecting lives, developing loving-kindness and compassion, protecting the natural environment, and nourishing inner peace by being aware not to kill living beings. 2. Letting go of the stingy and greedy mind, expressing the mind of almsgivings, making offerings to, and protecting the Triple Gem by being aware not to take what is not given. 3. Building happiness for the family, living faithfully with a legal spouse by being aware not to do sexual misconduct, adultery, and not to violate kids\u2019 sexuality. 4. Saying the true, harmonious, and loving speech, bringing mutual trust and prestige by being aware not to tell lies. 5. Protecting vigorous health, lucid mind, bringing peacefulness and happiness for families, schools, and societies by being aware not to take alcohol, drugs, including smoking, gambling, and playing violent video games online.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When aware to keep far away from these toxins, Dharma learning, Dharma practice, Dharma joy, and Dharma happiness have the ability to permeate and cool my body and mind. When officially becoming the Buddha\u2019s well-trained devotee, the young man Thi\u1ec7n Sinh is extremely happy to hold stable confidence in taking refuge in the Triple Gem, applying, and cultivating the Buddha Dharma in his daily life to bring benefits and happiness to living things and living beings all over the planet.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>KALAMA SUTTA<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Stably Holding the Right Confidences<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Thus have I heard. Once the World-Honored One and his Sangha walked calm steps to the Kalamas<\/em>\u2019 Kesaputta District of Kosala country. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When hearing the Buddha\u2019s and his Sangha\u2019s virtue, solemnity, loving-kindness, and compassion energies go to this place, the Kalamas<\/em> were delighted to gather around, pay homage to the Buddha, the Sangha, and beg to ask the Buddha a few questions of the right confidences as follows:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Respectfully dear the World-Honored One, sometimes there were hermits and wanderers of Brahmanism, coming here to spread their religion, entice us into their religion, promote and glorify the doctrines of their religion uppermost. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

They regularly despised, scorned, disparaged, and distorted the doctrines of other religions. This issue made us feel hesitant. Among them, who told the truth and who told the untruth? The doctrines of which religion were right and the doctrines of which religion were not right?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Who should we follow and who should we not follow? The doctrines of which religion should we follow and the doctrines of which religion should we not follow?\u201d <\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Buddha thoughtfully taught: \u201cKalamas<\/em>, what you arouse doubt and hesitation has been already obvious. In this case, you should not hurry to believe in anyone and reject the doctrines of which religion when you yourselves do not understand them clearly yet.\u201d <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There are the ten right confidences you need to understand clearly as follows: (O)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Ten Right Confidences<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is orally transmitted, or it has been acquired by repeated hearing.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is a tradition, legend, habit, or a custom.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is a report, surmise, or a rumor.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is noted in scriptures, or in books.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is a conjecture, or a metaphysical theory. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is an axiom, or a stance to be deduced.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it only relies on the viewpoint of bias, or on ambiguous data.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is a fixed karma, prejudice, view of permanence, or a view of annihilation.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Do not hurry to believe in anything, whether it is the menace and brainwashing, or the threat of a fabricated, imagined, devised, thought, and spoken supreme god. <\/span><\/p>\n

10. Do not hurry to believe in anything whether it is proclaimed by your missionaries, preachers, or teachers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Right Confidences Getting Brightened and Comprehended<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Kalamas<\/em>, when you yourselves know clearly: \u201cThese things are not good, they are blameworthy, they are despised and criticized by wise people, these things if being performed and accepted, would lead to unhappiness and suffering, then you should strongly abandon them; Greed, anger, and delusion are the unwholesome things; Killing living beings, taking what is not given, living in sexual misconduct and adultery, violating kid\u2019s sexuality, telling lies, taking alcohols, drugs, and toxins are the unwholesome things. When you are dominated and controlled by the unwholesome things, you will certainly get unhappy, suffered, scorned, and reproached.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conversely, Kalamas<\/em>, when you yourselves know clearly: These things are good, they are praiseworthy, they are praised and lauded by wise people, these things if being performed and accepted, would lead to peacefulness and happiness, then you should uphold and develop them; non-greed, non-anger, and non-delusion are the wholesome things; Not killing living beings, not taking what is not given, not doing sexual misconduct and adultery, not violating kids\u2019 sexuality, not telling lies, and not taking alcohols, drugs, and toxins are the wholesome things. When you are dominated and controlled by the wholesome things, you will certainly reap the flowers and fruits of peacefulness and happiness, deserve being praised and lauded by wise people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kalamas<\/em>, when the wholesome things are well practiced, greed, anger, and delusion are purified and transformed, Dharma learning, Dharma practice, Dharma understanding, Dharma joy, and Dharma happiness have the ability to permeate and make your bodies and minds cool and gentle. When a holy one dwells stably in right mindfulness and awareness, his loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity have the ability to illuminate anytime and anywhere, embrace all sentient beings and insentient beings. When animosity, bad karma, unhappiness, affliction, and suffering in his mind are ended, right in his present life, he lives very peacefully, and up to when passing away, he will be born in a peaceful realm.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kalamas<\/em>, whenever those who say, think, and do an issue, you should not hurry to believe in it, but you should observe, think, contemplate what do they say, what do they think, and what do they do, go together, coincide together, suit together, and benefit yourselves and other people together? If yes, you should be determined to follow, practice, nourish, and develop them. If not, you should strongly let go of them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kalamas<\/em>, the ten right confidences and the wholesome things were taught above by the Tathagata<\/em>. You should remember and practice them well. Out of peacefulness for the many, out of happiness for the many, you should apply and cultivate the Buddha Dharma in your daily lives to bring the right and stable confidences for yourselves and for other people right here and right now in the present life.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After having heard the Buddha teaching, analyzing, and explaining the right confidences clearly, the Kalamas<\/em> were extremely happy to respectfully pay homage to the Buddha, and spoke out the meaningful, praiseful, reverential, and metaphorical words as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow wonderful it is! Respectfully dear the World-Honored One. How marvelous it is! Respectfully dear the Exalted One, the Dharma skillfully proclaimed by the Buddha himself is very practical, present, specific, and clear, has been penetrated deeply into our hearts, made our minds softer, gentler, and better. The Buddha Dharma has opened our minds suddenly brighten up, as a person who erects upright what is fallen down, turns face upward what is overturned, opens out what is closed secretly, reveals what is concealed, shows the way to those who are lost, carries light into the darkness so that those who have eyes can see visible objects in detail. As a person who goes in the dark night meets light. As a blind person, whose eyes get brightened. By many skillful methods of teaching, the World-Honored One has helped us to see everything clearly like daylight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May the World-Honored One regard and accept us as lay devotees. From now until our whole lives, we are determined to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and committed to practicing the five Ethical Trainings fully: 1. <\/strong>Respecting lives, developing compassion and loving-kindness, protecting natural environment, and nourishing inner peace by being aware not to kill living beings. 2. <\/strong>Letting go of the stingy and greedy mind, expressing the happy mind of almsgivings, making offerings, and protecting the Triple Gem by being aware not to take what is not given. 3. <\/strong>Building happiness for family, living faithfully with a legal spouse by being aware not to do sexual misconduct, adultery, and not to violate kids\u2019 sexuality. 4. <\/strong>Saying the true, harmonious, and loving speech, bringing mutual trust and prestige for the many by being aware not to tell lies. 5. <\/strong>Protecting vigorous health, lucid mind, bringing peacefulness and happiness for families, schools, and societies by being aware not to take alcohols, drugs, toxins, including smoking, gambling, and playing violent video games online.<\/span><\/p>\n

After officially becoming the well-trained lay disciples of the Buddha, the Kalamas were extremely happy to hold the stable and right confidences in taking refuge deeply in the Triple Gem, applying, and cultivating the Buddha Dharma in their daily lives to bring benefits and happiness to living beings all over the planet.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Heart Sutra of Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Avalokiteshvara<\/em>, while practicing deeply with the insight that brings us to the other shore, suddenly discovered that all of the five Skandhas are equally empty. After this penetration, he overcame all ill-being. \u201cListen, Sariputra, this body itself is emptiness, and emptiness itself is this body. This body is not other than emptiness, and emptiness is not other than this body. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, Sariputra<\/em>, all phenomena bear the mark of emptiness\u037e their true nature is the nature of no Birth no Death, no Being no Non-being, no Defilement no Immaculacy, no Increasing no Decreasing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

That is why in emptiness, body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness are not separate self-entities. The Eighteen Realms of Phenomena which are the six Sense Organs, the six Sense Objects, and the six kinds of Consciousness are also not separate self-entities.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising and their extinction are also not separate self-entities. Ill-being, the Causes of Ill-being, the End of Ill-being, the Path, insight, and attainment, are also not separate self-entities. Whoever can see this no longer needs anything to attain. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bodhisattvas who practice the Insight that brings us to the other shore see no more obstacles in their mind, and because there\u00a0 are no more obstacles in their mind, they can overcome all fear, destroy all wrong perceptions and realize Perfect Nirvana<\/em>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

All Buddhas in the past, present and future by practicing the insight that brings us to the other shore are all capable of attaining authentic and perfect enlightenment. Therefore, Sariputra<\/em>, it should be known that the insight that brings us to the other shore is a Great Mantra, the most illuminating mantra, the highest mantra, a mantra beyond compare, the true wisdom that has the power to put an end to all kinds of suffering. Therefore, let us proclaim a mantra to praise the Insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGate, gate, p\u0101ragate, p\u0101rasamgate, bodhi, svaha.<\/em>\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGone, gone, well gone, gone beyond the other shore,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>got enlightenment so happily.\u201d\u00a0(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The Three Refuges<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I take refuge in the Buddha, the One who shows me the way of loving-kindness, compassion, and wisdom in lifetime.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Having taken refuge in the Buddha, I clearly see the path of light and beauty in life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Turning back and taking refuge in the Buddha in myself, I aspire to help all people soon recognize and develop their own enlightened nature.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Buddhaya<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Buddha\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dutiyampi buddha\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tatiyampi buddha\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43\u00a0 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em>\u00a0 (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I take refuge in the Dharma, the way of practicing peace, joy, happiness, understanding, and love for the many right in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Having taken refuge in the Dharma, I am learning and practicing the Noble Eightfold Path including morality, meditation, and wisdom interrelated very closely with right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Turning back and taking refuge in the Dharma in myself, I aspire to help all people fully master the ways of practice and walk together on the path of liberation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Dharmaya<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dhamma\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dutiyampi dhamma\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tatiyampi dhamma\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I take refuge in the Sangha, the Community of cultivated people who vow to lead their lives of ethics, harmony, and awareness to themselves and to others right here and right now in the present life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Having taken refuge in the Sangha, I am enlightened, instructed, and supported by the Sanghabody on the way of practice.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Turning back and taking refuge in the Sangha in myself, I aspire to help all people build fourfold Communities, to embrace all beings and support their transformation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Sanghaya<\/em>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sa\u1e45gha\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Dutiyampi sa\u1e45gha\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tatiyampi sa\u1e45gha\u1e43 sara\u1e47a\u1e43\u00a0 gacch\u0101mi.<\/em> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sharing the Merit<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Reciting the trainings, practicing the way of awareness gives rise to benefits without limit. We vow to share the fruits with all beings. We vow to offer tribute to parents, teachers, friends, and numerous beings who give guidance and support along the path.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the merit of this practice benefit all beings and bring peace. (Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Express diligent vows and pay thankful respects to the Triple Gem<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama<\/em> Buddha, are always aware of ourselves by day and by night, constantly practice and recollect the light of the Buddha.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Buddhaya. <\/em>(Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama<\/em> Buddha, are always aware of ourselves by day and by night, constantly practice and recollect the light of the Dharma.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Dharmaya.<\/em> (Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, are always aware of ourselves by day and by night, constantly practice and recollect the light of the Sangha.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Sanghaya.<\/em> (Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we be well,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we be happy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we be healthy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we be peaceful<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we be free from suffering, desire, anger, delusion, hatred, violence, and ignorance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Buddha and Bodhisattvas bless and protect all anytime and anywhere.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sadhu, Sadhu, Sadhu.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

L\u00e0nh thay, l\u00e0nh thay, l\u00e0nh thay.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well-done, well-done, well-done.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bell, Bell, Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Happy Vesak Rites\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma SamBuddhassa <\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Respectfully pay homage to the Buddha: the World-Honored One, the Worthy One, the Exalted One, the Fully Awakened or Enlightened One (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Incense Offering<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As the incense is lit,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

sandalwood perfumes the air,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

making an auspicious rainbow cloud.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I, your disciple, with all my respect<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

offer it to the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we practice the precepts seriously at all times<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

may we practice concentration diligently,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

may we offer the precious fruit of insight as our offering of incense of the heart.[22]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to respectfully offer incense of ethics, meditation, wisdom, deliverance, and deliverance with right understanding to the Buddha, Bodhisattvas, harmonious and noble Sangha, Dharma guardians, good gods, proving our sincere minds. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Touching the earth in deep gratitude to the Triple Gem<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions. (Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, wholeheartedly pay homage to the Dharma forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions. (Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We, disciples of Gautama Buddha, wholeheartedly pay homage to the Sangha forever present in the three lifetimes and ten directions. (Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As wonderful as the lotus flower,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

as bright as the northern star,\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

let us come back and take refuge in the Teacher of gods and human beings. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Buddha\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The World-Honored Buddha;<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is our peaceful, noble, and spiritual Leader,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is the most worthy to be made offerings to,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is endowed with boundless love, perfect wisdom and virtue,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher has skillfully crossed over to the other shore of liberation,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher knows the world thoroughly,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher has the ability to train and teach all living things and living beings on earth,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher of both gods and human beings,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher is the fully enlightened and awakened One,<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

the Teacher deserves to be best honored and respected in the world. <\/span><\/span><\/strong>(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Touching the earth to deep gratitude to the Buddha:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wholeheartedly pay homage to Siddh\u0101rtha Gautama Bodhisattva,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

starting from Tusita <\/em>heaven,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

foreseeing a wholesome omen to holy Maya <\/em>Queen,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

riding a white elephant with six tusks,[23]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

entering into his mother’s fetus.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo\u00a0 the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0(Bell, one prostration)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wholeheartedly pay homage to Siddh\u0101rtha Gautama Bodhisattva, <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

being born under an Ashoka<\/em> tree,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

being bathed by two currents of warm and cool water,[24]<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

stepping seven steps[25]<\/a> lifted out by seven lotuses,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

confidently stating out that:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Enlightened One is topmost.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wholeheartedly pay homage to Siddh\u0101rtha Gautama Bodhisattva,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

for forty-nine days and nights,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

sitting diligently in deep meditation,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

attaining fruit of full enlightenment,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

under early morning starlight.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha,<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

throughout forty-five years,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

only proclaiming suffering,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

and transforming suffering\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

to bring peace and joy to the world today.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha, <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

at the age of 80,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

entering parinibb\u0101na<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

under between two Sala <\/em>trees<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

leaving his holy bodily relics all over the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo\u00a0 the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bell, one prostration)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Wholeheartedly pay homage to the Buddha, <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the Teacher of spiritual instruction,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the Teacher of gods and human\u00a0 beings,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

the gentle compassion Father in all realms,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

bringing welfare and well-being to all living things and living beings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo\u00a0 the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(Bell, one prostration)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sharing the Merit<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the merit of cultivation today<\/strong><\/span>
\n be directed toward all living things and living beings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We and human beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

can realize the Buddha’s way together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sadhu, <\/strong><\/span> l\u00e0nh thay, <\/strong><\/span>well-done, and excellence.<\/strong><\/span>
\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0(Bell, bell, bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Rites of Having Mindfulness Lunch\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma SamBuddhassa<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Respectfully pay homage to the Buddha: the World-Honored One, the Worthy One, the Exalted One, the Fully Awakened or Enlightened One (Bell).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in making offerings to parents.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in learning, understanding, and practicing the wonderful Dharma.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in making offerings to the Sangha.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in a deep sense of gratitude to good donors contributing to protecting the Triple Gem and making meal offerings to the Community today.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in being grateful to protect the places where we were born, grown up, perfected ourselves in cultivation and learning, lived, and worked.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to express our wholehearted and deferential hearts in contributing to praying and sharing the merit up to all the dharma realms of sentient beings and insentient beings together leading to the right and the good way.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

By the meritorious virtue body,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

by the compassion heart,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

today, we would like to donate and offer this food to the Sangha, and wish the Sangha peacefulness. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The chief person reads out the following practice: The World-Honored One has taught: \u201cWhile having a mindfulness meal, we have to remember to practice the Five Contemplations below. The Community, when you hear the sound of a bell, please keep your minds on reading and reciting together.<\/em>\u201d (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. This food is the gift of the earth, the sky, numerous living beings, and much hard, loving work.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. May we eat with mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive this food.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. May we recognize and transform our unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. May we keep compassion alive by eating in such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet, end the causes making a change of unusual climate.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. We accept this food so that we may nurture our sisterhood and brotherhood, build the Sangha, practice the path of understanding and love, and nourish our ideal of serving all living beings. (Bell) A chief person recites out:<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I would like to invite the Community to have mindfulness meal together. Please chant together. <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Sharing the merit<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Receiving this food<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    praying blessing peace for all<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    disciples and living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    who follow the right path. (Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0Rite of Memorial Prayers for the Enlightened Soul<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite all of you\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Please joyfully come in front of the present altar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All orderly kneel down, and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Wholeheartedly listen to the ceremony of memorial prayers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Offering incense to the altar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Bow down to the Enlightened Soul the three prostrations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All people sit down, please.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Sincerely listen to the ceremonial Master saying memorial prayers.\u00a0(Bell Bell Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Lotus blossoms fully in a wholesome realm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Enlightened Soul understanding the Dharma with the true heart<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Believes deeply in the cause and effect, and right confidence<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Noble Eightfold Path is very deep.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Buddhaya<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Dharmaya<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Namo Sanghaya. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    1) Namo wholeheartedly inviting you to listen to the Budha\u2019s teachings as follows:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Spreading the Dharma all over the directions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Three robes and one bowl on the way of freedom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Being determined to save living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Bodhi of perfect fruition is contentedly full of joyful portion.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, on the occasion of making the memorial ceremony to the Enlightened Soul …………….at the …………..Temple, Monastics and devotees set up edible food and drinkables to make offerings and wholeheartedly pray for the Enlightened Soul compassionately understanding this.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fragrance of flowers is reverentially for the\u00a0Enlightened Soul.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite you all to recite the names of Sakyamuni Buddha together three times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo The Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    2) Namo wholeheartedly inviting you to listen to the Buddha\u2019s teachings as follows:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    A bowl of rice from house to house<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    bodily walking thousands of miles away<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Just because of birth and death<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Teaching living beings in the past days and months.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, on the occasion of making the memorial ceremony to the Enlightened Soul …………….at the …………..Temple, Monastics and devotees set up edible food and drinkables to make offerings and wholeheartedly pray for the Enlightened Soul compassionately understanding this.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fragrance of flowers is reverentially for the Enlightened Soul.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite you all to recite the names of Bodhisattva Quan Th\u1ebf \u00c2m together three times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Compassion Mother Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span>(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    3) Namo wholeheartedly inviting you to listen to the Buddha\u2019s teachings as follows:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Now you has quietly resided<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Right in this place.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    With a tranquil and peaceful mind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Pure Land is here.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, on the occasion of making the memorial ceremony to the Enlightened Soul …………….at the …………..Temple, Monastics and devotees set up edible food and drinkables to make offerings and wholeheartedly pray for the Enlightened Soul compassionately understanding this.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fragrance of flowers is reverentially for the Enlightened Soul.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite you all to recite the names of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha together three times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Compassion Father Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span>(Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Chanting the Heart Sutra of Insight that Bring Us\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span>to the Other Shore<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Avalokiteshvara, while practicing deeply with the insight that brings us to the other shore, suddenly discovered that all of the five aggregates are equally empty. After this penetration, he overcame all ill-being. \u201cListen, Sariputra, this body itself is emptiness, and emptiness itself is this body. This body is not other than emptiness, and emptiness is not other than this body. The same is true of feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Listen, Sariputra<\/em>, all phenomena bear the mark of emptiness\u037e their true nature is the nature of no Birth no Death, no Being no Non-being, no Defilement no Immaculacy, no Increasing no Decreasing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    That is why in emptiness, body, feelings, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness are not separate self-entities. The Eighteen Realms of Phenomena which are the six Sense Organs, the six Sense Objects, and the six kinds of Consciousness are also not separate self-entities.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Twelve Links of Interdependent Arising and their extinction are also not separate self-entities. Ill-being, the Causes of Ill-being, the End of Ill-being, the Path, insight and attainment, are also not separate self-entities. Whoever can see this no longer needs anything to attain. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Bodhisattvas who practice the Insight that brings us to the other shore see no more obstacles in their mind, and because there are no more obstacles in their mind, they can overcome all fear, destroy all wrong perceptions and realize Perfect Nirvana.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All Buddhas in the past, present, and future by practicing the insight that brings us to the other shore are all capable of attaining authentic and perfect enlightenment. Therefore, Sariputra, it should be known that the insight that brings us to the other shore is a Great Mantra, the most illuminating mantra, the highest mantra, a mantra beyond compare, the true wisdom that has the power to put an end to all kinds of suffering. Therefore, let us proclaim a mantra to invite the insight that Brings Us to the Other Shore.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cGate, gate, p\u0101ragate, p\u0101rasamgate, bodhi, svaha.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cGone, gone, well gone, gone beyond the other shore,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Got enlightenment so happily.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Contemplation of Body, Mind, and Karma<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I am of the nature to grow old, I cannot escape growing old;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I am of the nature to have ill health, I cannot escape having ill health;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I am of the nature to die, I cannot escape death;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All things are created and caused by my bodily action, verbal action, and mental action, I cannot let go of them, whether it is good karma or non-good karma; Aware of\u00a0 this, good karma I continue upholding and developing; non-good karma I try to recognize and transform;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All relatives, loved ones, and things I cherish today are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Freedom of Body and Mind<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    This body is not mine,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I am not limited by this body.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I am an infinite life,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I have never been born,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    and also have never died.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Look! Sea is wide and the sky is high,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    densely innumerable stars.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All are together manifested in me<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    from the spiritual source of consciousness mind,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    from all lives I am free.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Birth and death are the gateway in and out,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    they are the hide-and-seek games.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Smile together with me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Breathe together with me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Recite the Buddhas\u2019names together with me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Practice meditation together with me.[1]<\/a> (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0We would like to invite the enlightened Soul<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    to have a mindfulness meal.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today making offerings to this food<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Color, flavor, beauty, and taste are full of every place<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    With the sincere and earnest wish<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The enlightened Soul receives it from his \/ her respectfully wholehearted mind.\u00a0(Bell) <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We would like to invite the enlightened Soul<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    to have a tea<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The body renounces the world,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The mind is at ease.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Going and coming are no obstacles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Escaping from the secular scenery.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We would like to invite the whole Sangha to recite the Buddha\u2019s names together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo the Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (3 times, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    One is to respect the Buddha.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Two is to praise the Tathagata<\/em>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Three is the generous heart to make offerings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Four is repentance of the karma obstacle.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Five is happy to cultivate merit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Six is \u200b\u200bto set the Dharma Wheel in motion<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Seven is to invite the Buddha to be present<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Eight is to frequently practice the Buddha Dharma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Nine is to save living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Ten is to share the merit to all. (Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Ceremony of prayers just finished<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Keeping the whole heart purified<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Dear the Dharma Sisters and Brothers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    please respectfully bow to the Enlightened Soul three prostrations.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Saying prayers again<\/span>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Abandoning the physical body<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Keeping the three karmas completely wholesome<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Enlightened Soul was born up to the Buddha\u2019s realm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    As lightly as smoke and cloud.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    May the Enlightened Soul be back<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    to this Saha world<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Continuing vowing to save living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    going up to the shore of enlightenment together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Dear Dharma Sisters and Brothers, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Please touch the earth in deep gratitude to the Enlightened Soul three prostrations.\u00a0(Bell) <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Sharing the merit\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    May the merit of cultivation today<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    be directed toward all living things and living beings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We and human beings on earth<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    can realize the Buddha Way together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (Bell, Bell, Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Rite of Memorial Prayers for the Dead<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite all of you<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Please joyfully come in front of the present altar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All orderly kneel down, and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Wholeheartedly listen to ceremony of memorial prayers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Offering incense to the altar<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Bow down to her\/ him two \/ four prostrations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All people sit down, please.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Sincerely listen to the Master saying memorial prayers.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Lotus blossoms fully in a wholesome realm<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Her\/ His Soul understanding the Dharma with the true heart<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Believes deeply in the cause and effect, and right confidence<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Noble Eightfold Path is very deep.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Buddhaya.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Dharmaya.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Namo Sanghaya.\u00a0<\/em>(Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    1) Namo wholeheartedly inviting you to listen to the Buddha\u2019s teachings as follows:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Taking refuge in the Triple Gem, practicing the Five Ethical things, not doing evil, diligently doing good, and purifying one\u2019s mind by making vows to practice meditation, vegetarian eating, chanting, and reciting the Buddha\u2019s names.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, making the memorial ceremony to the late Buddhist…………………………….., Dharma name ………………………………………………birth date……………………… ………………….died at ………………………….\u2026\u2026………………. on ………………………….in…………………… at the age of……………..<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Now food and drinks are respectfully offered. For children to show their filial piety, relying on the Triple Gem to prove, the Soul of the Dead is invited to return to the present altar listening to the Buddha Dharma, enjoying the nectar of the Dharma flavor.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fragrance of flowers is reverentially <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    for the Soul of the Dead.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite you all to recite the names of Sakyamuni Buddha together three times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo The Original Master Sakyamuni Buddhaya.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (Bell)\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    2) Namo wholeheartedly inviting you to listen to the Buddha\u2019s teachings as follows:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Knowing the temporal body, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Attaining normally true nature <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Living in awareness, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Dying in peacefulness.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, making the memorial ceremony to the late Buddhist…………………………….., Dharma name ………………………………………………birth date……………………… died at………………………………………………\u2026\u2026………………. on ………………………….in…………………… at the age of……………..<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Listening to the Buddha Dharma, <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Expressing enlightenment to your own mind,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Ending delusion and wrong view\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Being born up to the Pure Land.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fragrance of flowers is reverentially <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    for the Soul of the Dead.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite you all to recite the names of Bodhisattva Quan Th\u1ebf \u00c2m together three times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Namo Compassion Mother Buddhaya.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    3) Namo wholeheartedly inviting you to listen to the Buddha\u2019s teachings as follows:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Noble Eightfold Path is profound<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We study it with single-pointed mind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Dharma learning and Dharma practice are always diligent<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Opening the source of enlightenment to escape delusion and wrong view.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today, making the memorial ceremony to the late Buddhist…………………………….., Dharma name ………………………………………………birth date……………………… died at ……………………………………………………………………. on ………………………….in…………………… at the age of…………….<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Yellow lotus blossoming<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Shines with the halo\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Birds are singing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Pine is ringing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    You are very happy with the wonderful Dharma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today you have wholesome conditions to take refuge in the Buddha,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Right now and right here listening to the Dharma and Sutra,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The soul of the Dead wholeheartedly pays homage to the Three Jewels with his \/ her sincerely respectful mind.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The fragrance of flowers is reverentially for the Soul of the Dead.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    I would like to invite you all to recite the names of Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha together three times.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Compassion Father Buddhaya.\u00a0<\/span>(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We would like to invite the Soul of the Dead\u00a0to have a meal.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Today making offerings to this food<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Color, flavor, beauty, and taste are full of every place<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    With the sincere and earnest wish<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The soul of the dead receives it from his \/ her respectfully wholehearted mind.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    We would like to invite the Soul of the Dead\u00a0to have a tea<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The body renounces the world,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The mind is at ease.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Going and coming are no obstacles<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Escaping from the secular scenery.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Parents\/ loved ones are still in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Making offerings to the Dharma food to him\/ her<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Now the mother \/ the father\/ this person is no more,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    his \/\u00a0 her virtuous conduct we have to follow his\/ her example.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Bow down gratefully to him \/ her two\/ three prostrations.\u00a0(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The ceremony of memorial prayers completed<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The filial piety is perfect<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    All the children and grandchildren<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    wholeheartedly recite the Buddha’s names together.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Namo Amitabha Buddha.\u00a0<\/span>(Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Supportive Prayers:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Dharma rain permeates<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The mind of enlightenment grows greater<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The wholesome clouds are shading<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Defilements of karma are eradicated<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Beg to cultivate the coming blessings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The old and young people rely on<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Three Jewels they take refuge in and<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Five ethical trainings they observe fully.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Saha world shines<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Buddha\u2019s land blossoms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Blessing water washes away the secular heart<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Light of insight illuminates the darkness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The direction of the mind is no regression<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Vow to obtain the fruition of no birth<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The Buddha Way achieves perfectly<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Living beings are saved everywhere.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Saying prayers again:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The country gets peaceful,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The family gets happy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    The world is at peace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Human life is peacefulness.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    (Bell Bell Bell)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Kinh T\u1ee5ng & H\u00e0nh Tr\u00ec Ph\u1eadt Ph\u00e1p H\u1eb1ng Ng\u00e0y<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n