BEGINNING ANEW CHANT ( p. 71)

Dharani to put an end to the results of wrong action. (3 times)

REPENTANCE GATHA

I have committed numberless mistakes

Of infatuation, anger and foolishness.

In speech, deed and thought

So I bow my head and beg to repent.

Wholeheartedly I ask Buddha to witness

my vow from today to begin anew,

to live day and night in mindfulness

and not to repeat my mistakes of before.

Homage to the bodhisattva of repentance. (3 times) Bell

All wrongdoing arises from the mind.

When the mind is purified what trace of wrong is left?

After repentance my heart is light

The white clouds have always floated in freedom. (B)

THE FOUR RECOLLECTIONS

I bow down before the blessed one, our teacher who guides our path.

Above all else you are worthy of respect and offerings,

You, the one whose understanding is true and perfect. (B)

RECOLLECTION OF THE BUDDHA

The nature of the Tathagata is to come from suchness and be our teacher.

The one who is most worthy of respect and offerings.

The one whose understanding is true and perfect.

The one in whom action and understanding are fulfilled together.

The one who has gone over in a wonderful way.

The one who understands deeply the world.

The flower of humanity who is able to tame men.

The teacher of gods and men.

The one who is fully awakened.

The one who is honoured and respected most in the world. (B)

RECOLLECTION OF DHARMA

The wonderful teachings of the blessed one.

The path which we aspire to tread.

The teachings which are proclaimed in a wonderful way.

The teachings which can be experience right now in this moment.

The teachings which are not caught in time.

The teachings which anyone can come and experience for themselves.

The teachings which can take us on an upward path.

The teachings which are able to extinguish our afflictions.

The teachings which, when intelligently used, can bring someone to realise the path for themselves.

RECOLLECTION OF SANGHA

The sangha body of the blessed one.

The community to which we go for refuge.

The community which follows a clear path.

The community which follows an upright path.

The community which follows a path in accordance with the truth.

The community which follows a noble path.

The community which includes those who have realised the four fruits and are on the path to realise these fruits.

The community which is worthy of offerings.

The community which is worthy to receive respect.

The community which is worthy to be honoured.

The community which is worthy to be looked up to.

That which is the highest field of merit in this world. (B)

RECOLLECTION OF PRECEPTS

The vinaya of the blessed one.

Those mindfulness trainings which we are now observing.

The precepts body which is intact,

The precepts body which has no flaw,

The precepts body which is never defiled,

The precepts body which has no trace of wrongdoing,

The precepts body whose motivation is always pure,

Is the precepts body which is praised and desired,

The precepts body whose function is to protect freedom,

The precepts body which leads to fearlessness,

The precepts body which leads to right concentration,

The precepts body which leads to insight,

Which leads to liberation and happiness from life to life. (BBB)

MAY THE DAY BE WELL

May the day be well and the night be well,

May the midday hour bring happiness too.

May the day and night always be well

By the blessing of the Triple Gem

May all things be protected and safe.

May all beings born in the four ways live in a pure land.

May the three worlds become lotus thrones.

May countless pretas realise the three goodnesses.

May the one hundred thousand species ascend the bodhisattva levels.

The countenance of the blessed one is like the bright moon

or like the orb of the sun sending out the light of clarity.

The halo of wisdom shines in ten thousand directions

impregnating all with love, compassion, joy and equanimity.

Namo Sakyamunaye Buddhaya

(stand up and practise circumambulation while recollecting the Buddha)

PROSTRATIONS

The Buddha Vipasyin, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Buddha Sikhin, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Buddha Visvabhu, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Buddha Krakucchanda, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Buddha Konakamuni, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Buddha Kasyapa, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Buddha Sakyamuni, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The bodhisattva Manjusri, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The bodhisattva Samantabhadra, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Venerable Mahakasyapa, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Elder Sariputra, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Venerable Mahamaudgalyana of great filial piety, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Venerable vinaya master Upali, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Venerable recorder of the teachings Ananda, to whom we bow in gratitude. (B)

The Venerable leader of the bhiksuni sangha Gautami, to whom we bow in gratitude. (BB)

TO PROTECT AND TRANSFORM

We your disciples who from beginningless time

have made ourselves unhappy out of confusion and ignorance,

being born and dying with no direction,

have now found confidence in the highest awakening.

We have seen clearly that there is a beautiful path.

However much we may have drifted on the ocean of suffering,

there is now a light of loving-kindness which can direct us.

We bow deeply to the Buddha and spiritual ancestors,

who can light the path and guide our steps.

The wrongdoing and suffering which has imprisoned us

has resulted from greed, hatred, ignorance and pride.

Today we sincerely begin anew to purify and free our hearts.

Awakened wisdom bright like the sun and moon,

immeasurable compassion rescuing mankind,

we are resolved to live well,

throughout our life going for refuge for the Three Jewels.

We shall take the boat of loving-kindness to go over the ocean of troubles.

We shall hold the torch of understanding to come out of the forest of confusion.

With determination we shall realise learning, reflecting and practice.

Right view will be the basis of actions of body, speech and mind.

Right mindfulness will determine our walking, standing, lying down and sitting,

the form of our speaking, smiling, coming in and going out.

Whenever anger and anxiety enter our heart,

we are determined to come back to ourselves with conscious breathing.

With every step we shall enter the Pure Land.

With every look we shall see the Dharmakaya.

When our sense organs touch sense objects we shall always use careful attention,

so habit energies can be transformed.

May our heart's garden of awakening bloom with one hundred flowers.

May we bring the feeling of peace and joy to every house.

May we plant wholesome seeds on ten thousand paths.

May we never leave the sangha body.

May we never try to escape the world where there are beings to be rescued.

May mountains and rivers be our witness

as we bow our heads and request the lord of Compassion to encompass us all.

TAKING REFUGE.

I take refuge in the Buddha, the one who shows me the way in this life.

I take refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and love.

I take refuge in the Sangha, the community which lives in harmony and awareness. (B)

Since I have taken refuge in Buddha,

I see clearly a path of beauty in the world.

Since I have taken refuge in Dharma,

I am learning and practising ways of transformation.

Since I have taken refuge in Sangha

I have the Sangha to shine light on my practice

And support me on the path of practice.(B)

Taking refuge in the Buddha in myself,

I aspire that all people

May recognise the awakened nature

And quickly realise bodhicitta

Taking refuge in the Dharma in myself,

I aspire that all people

Can grasp firmly the ways of practice

and together go on the path of transformation.

Taking refuge in the Sangha in myself

I aspire that all people

May build four-part sanghas to transform

The suffering of numerous people. (BBB)