Online Morning Services
David Johnson leads the students on retreat in reciting these precepts each morning on retreat (and in daily life) as a reminder of the basic ethical rules as given by the Buddha. Also included is the Dhammapada verses. 6 min. You can print this page as a help to follow along.
David Johnson leads the students on retreat in reciting these precepts each morning on retreat (and in daily life) as a reminder of the basic ethical rules as given by the Buddha. Also included is the Dhammapada verses. 6 min. You can print this page as a help to follow along.
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Video on Precepts with Bhante
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ONLINE MORNING SERVICES
Morning Refuges, Basic Precepts, and Verses
Recording starts:
Please sit with your backs straight, and calm your mind. Now repeat after me:
I now take refuge in the Buddha.
I now take refuge in the Dhamma.
I now take refuge in the Sangha.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Dhamma.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Sangha.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Dhamma.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Sangha.
The Basic Precepts:
Bhante: "Please clear your mind and pay close attention, and repeat after me:"
1. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from killing or harming living beings, on purpose.
2. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from taking what is not given.
3. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from wrong sexual activity.
4. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from telling lies and using harsh speech.
5. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from taking drugs and alcohol.
6. I undertake to keep the precept to be loving and kind to myself, and all beings.
Bhante: "Now you have taken the Three Refuges and the Precepts, taking these leads to happiness and peace."
Sadhu... Sadhu... Sadhu...
"Now let us read the verses of the Dhammapada together."
1] Mind is the forerunner of all evil states. Mind is
chief; mind made are they. If one speaks or acts with
an unwholesome mind, because of that, suffering
follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoof of the
draft-ox.
2] Mind is the forerunner of all good states. Mind is
chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with
a pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one,
even as one’s shadow that never leaves.
3] "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me", in those who harbor such thoughts
hatred is not appeased.
4] "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me", in those who do not harbor such
thoughts hatred is appeased.
5] Hatred is never overcome by hatred in this world.
Hatred is only overcome by love. This is an eternal
law.
11] In the unessential we imagine the essential, in
the essential we see the unessential, anyone who
entertains such wrong thoughts never will realize the
truth.
12] What is essential we regard as essential, what is
unessential we regard as unessential, anyone who
entertains such right thoughts will realize the truth.
16] Here one develops a mind that rejoices now, and
in the future one rejoices. In both states the well-doer
rejoices. One who rejoices a lot will be able to see the
purity of their own deeds, speech and thoughts.
18] When one is happy now, they will be happy in the
future. In both states the well-doer is happy. Thinking
"I have done good in the past" one becomes happy
and will easily experience a blissful state of mind.
19] Though a person recites sacred texts, but doesn’t
act accordingly, that heedless person is like a
cowherd who counts others’ cows. They have no
share in the fruits of the holy life.
20] Though a person recites the sacred texts very
little, but acts in accordance with the teaching, they
give up lust, hatred and delusion. They truly know
what is good and this leads to a mind that is free
from suffering. They cling to nothing here and in the
future. In this way, one shares the fruits of the holy
life.
******************
Notes: These verses were translated by Venerable Narada.
The full set along with brief stories and the verses in
Pali is at: http://home.nethere.net/dsparks/Narada/index.htm
Notes: Taking the Refuges reminds us each day to
keep them as part of our meditation practice. We do
things three times so that we never forget there are
three parts to Buddhism: The Buddha, The Dhamma,
and The Sangha (The word ‘Sangha’ here has the
meaning of the monks and nuns of all the various
Buddhist traditions.)
Taking the Refuges means that you are paying
respect to the Buddha for teaching you, paying
respect to the Dhamma which is the teachings that
can set you free from suffering, and paying respect to
the Monastics who dedicate their lives to preserving
these teaching so others might learn and practice it
producing Peace in this world.
Morning Refuges, Basic Precepts, and Verses
Recording starts:
Please sit with your backs straight, and calm your mind. Now repeat after me:
I now take refuge in the Buddha.
I now take refuge in the Dhamma.
I now take refuge in the Sangha.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Dhamma.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Sangha.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Dhamma.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Sangha.
The Basic Precepts:
Bhante: "Please clear your mind and pay close attention, and repeat after me:"
1. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from killing or harming living beings, on purpose.
2. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from taking what is not given.
3. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from wrong sexual activity.
4. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from telling lies and using harsh speech.
5. I undertake to keep the precept to abstain from taking drugs and alcohol.
6. I undertake to keep the precept to be loving and kind to myself, and all beings.
Bhante: "Now you have taken the Three Refuges and the Precepts, taking these leads to happiness and peace."
Sadhu... Sadhu... Sadhu...
"Now let us read the verses of the Dhammapada together."
1] Mind is the forerunner of all evil states. Mind is
chief; mind made are they. If one speaks or acts with
an unwholesome mind, because of that, suffering
follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoof of the
draft-ox.
2] Mind is the forerunner of all good states. Mind is
chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with
a pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one,
even as one’s shadow that never leaves.
3] "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me", in those who harbor such thoughts
hatred is not appeased.
4] "He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he
robbed me", in those who do not harbor such
thoughts hatred is appeased.
5] Hatred is never overcome by hatred in this world.
Hatred is only overcome by love. This is an eternal
law.
11] In the unessential we imagine the essential, in
the essential we see the unessential, anyone who
entertains such wrong thoughts never will realize the
truth.
12] What is essential we regard as essential, what is
unessential we regard as unessential, anyone who
entertains such right thoughts will realize the truth.
16] Here one develops a mind that rejoices now, and
in the future one rejoices. In both states the well-doer
rejoices. One who rejoices a lot will be able to see the
purity of their own deeds, speech and thoughts.
18] When one is happy now, they will be happy in the
future. In both states the well-doer is happy. Thinking
"I have done good in the past" one becomes happy
and will easily experience a blissful state of mind.
19] Though a person recites sacred texts, but doesn’t
act accordingly, that heedless person is like a
cowherd who counts others’ cows. They have no
share in the fruits of the holy life.
20] Though a person recites the sacred texts very
little, but acts in accordance with the teaching, they
give up lust, hatred and delusion. They truly know
what is good and this leads to a mind that is free
from suffering. They cling to nothing here and in the
future. In this way, one shares the fruits of the holy
life.
******************
Notes: These verses were translated by Venerable Narada.
The full set along with brief stories and the verses in
Pali is at: http://home.nethere.net/dsparks/Narada/index.htm
Notes: Taking the Refuges reminds us each day to
keep them as part of our meditation practice. We do
things three times so that we never forget there are
three parts to Buddhism: The Buddha, The Dhamma,
and The Sangha (The word ‘Sangha’ here has the
meaning of the monks and nuns of all the various
Buddhist traditions.)
Taking the Refuges means that you are paying
respect to the Buddha for teaching you, paying
respect to the Dhamma which is the teachings that
can set you free from suffering, and paying respect to
the Monastics who dedicate their lives to preserving
these teaching so others might learn and practice it
producing Peace in this world.