Morning Refuges, Basic Precepts, and Dhammapada 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:

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.

Now you have taken the Three Refuges and the Precepts, taking these leads to happiness and peace. Sadhu... Sadhu... Sadhu...

Recording ends.

Sayings from the Dhammapada

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.

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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 traditions.)
Taking the Refuges means that you are paying respect to the Buddha for figuring all this out, 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 clear Peace in this world.

You are also asking for the protection of the Buddha’s energy while you are taking this retreat. At the retreat center a monk or nun might assist you to take the Precepts during retreats. We are developing a recording for you in the future with Bhante’s doing this.. But also, just like you, each person here takes them everyday privately in the privacy of their own kuti. It is not necessary to have a monk to take the precepts just as it is not necessary have a priest present for you to say the Lord’s prayer if you were a Christian. Learning to do this will help steady and reinforce your practice of the meditation all the time.

Sadhu = well done.

These verses were translated by Venerable Narada. The full set along with brief stories and the verses in Pali is at:

http://www.mettanet.org/english/Narada/index.htm

Text last edited: 29-Apr-08