Gathas
Inviting the Bell to Sound
First Variation:
Body, speech and mind held in perfect oneness.
I send my heart along with the sound of the bell.
May the hearers awaken from forgetfulness
and transcend all anxiety and sorrow.
Second Variation:
May the sound of this bell penetrate deeply into the cosmos.
In even the darkest places, may living beings hear it clearly
so their suffering will cease,
understanding arises in their hearts,
and they can transcend the path of anxiety and sorrow.
Listening to the Bell
First Variation:
Listening to the bell,
I feel the afflictions in me begin to dissolve.
My mind becomes calm, my body relaxed
A smile is born on my lips.
Following the sound of the bell,
my breath guides me back to the
safe island of mindfulness.
In the garden of my heart,
the flower of peace blooms beautifully.
Second variation:
Listen, listen,
this wonderful sound
brings me back to my true home.
Calming the Breath
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment.
Breathing
Going back to the island of self,
I see Buddha is my mindfulness
shining near, shining far.
Dharma is my breathing
guarding body and mind.
Sangha is my Five Skandhas
working in harmony.
Breathing in, breathing out.
Flower, fresh.
Mountain, solid.
Water, reflecting.
Space, free.
Entering the Meditation Hall
Entering the meditation hall,
I see my true self.
As I sit down,
I vow to cut off all disturbances.
Sitting Down
Sitting here
is like sitting
under a Bodhi tree.
My body is mindfulness itself,
free from all distraction.
Adjusting Posture
Feelings come and go
like clouds in a windy sky.
Conscious breathing
is my anchor.
Drinking Tea
This cup of tea in my two hands,
mindfulness held perfectly.
My mind and body dwell
in the very here and now.
Turning on the Light
Forgetfulness is the darkness,
Mindfulness is the light.
I bring awareness
to shine upon all life.
Turning on the Water
Water flows from high in the mountains.
Water runs deep in the Earth.
Miraculously, water comes to us,
and sustains all life.
Brushing Your Teeth
Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,
I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
When my mouth is fragrant with right speech,
a flower blooms in the garden of my heart.
Bathing
Rinsing my body,
my heart is cleansed.
The universe is perfumed with flowers.
Actions of body, speech, and mind are calmed.
Getting dressed
Putting on these clothes,
I am grateful to those who made them
and to the materials from which they were made.
I wish everyone could have enough to wear.
Cleaning the Bathroom
How wonderful it is
to scrub and clean.
Day by day,
the heart and mind grow clearer.
Sweeping
As I carefully sweep
the ground of enlightenment,
a tree of understanding
springs up from the Earth.
Washing the Dishes
Washing the dishes
is like bathing a baby Buddha.
The profane is sacred.
Everyday mind is Buddha’s mind.
Using the Telephone
Words can travel thousands of miles.
May my words create mutual understanding and love.
May they be as beautiful as gems,
as lovely as flowers.
Turning on the Television
The mind is a television
with thousands of channels.
I choose a world that is tranquil and calm
so that my joy will always be fresh.
Turning on the Computer
Turning on the computer,
my mind gets in touch with the store.
I vow to transform habit energies
to help love and understanding grow.
Arranging Flowers
Arranging these flowers
in the Saha World,
the ground of my mind
is pure and calm.
Recycling
In the garbage I see a rose.
In the rose, I see the garbage.
Everything is in transformation.
Even permanence is impermanent.
Smiling at Your Anger
Breathing in,
I know that anger makes me not beautiful.
Breathing out, I smile.
I stay with my breathing
so I won’t lose myself.
