Chanting Text

Opening Verse

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa (3x) (B)

The Dharma is deep and lovely.
We now have a chance to see, study, and practice it.
We vow to realize its true meaning. (B)

Mastering Anger

I bow my head and touch the Earth
before The Highest Charioteer Who
Trains Humankind.

Stretch out your arms of compassion;
bring me to the shore of peace and
solidity.

For so long, confusion has inhabited me
so that I have not had the chance to
learn,
and I have often acted foolishly,
allowing seeds of anger and violence
to be watered deep in my consciousness.

Whenever seeds of irritation or fury
arise and operate in my mind,
they always cause wounds and
resentment
in myself and in so many others.

Listening to the teaching of
the Compassionate One,
I begin right now with a deep aspiration:

Whenever anger arises,
I shall come back to myself,
taking refuge in my mindful breathing and
steps
so as to look after and embrace,
to protect and recognize
the painful mental formations in me.

I shall remember to look deeply
to see the true nature and source
of hatred and anger.

Heeding the Buddha’s teachings,
I shall know how to guard my mind.

When anger arises in me
I shall not do or say anything
until I have mastered it.

I shall look deeply to see
the real nature of my pain. (B)

The seed of ignorance
is the cause of my suffering,
and the reason why the seed of
anger in me has grown so strong.

The person who makes me angry
has so much suffering within.

Such a person has had no chance
to learn how to come home
to protect oneself,
to take care and to transform
the deep-seated habit energies within.

Contemplating in this way,
I will be able to bring about understanding
and acceptance,
and help the other person
to practice and to transform
the suffering within.

The Blessed One has said,
“When we are capable of conquering our
anger,
we bring a double victory to ourselves
and to the other person.”

I want to practice with all my heart
in order to respond to the great
compassion of the Buddha.

May the Three Jewels give us energy and
blessings
so that we can all reach promptly
the shore of peace and happiness. (BB)

Discourse on Taking Refuge in Oneself

Samyukta Āgama 639, also: Ukkacela Sutta, SN 47.14

I heard these words of the Buddha one time when the Lord was staying in the Mango Grove in the cool shade of the mango trees along the bank of the river Bhadra in the land of Magadha. The elders Shariputra and Maudgalyayana had recently passed away. It was the full-moon day of the Uposatha Ceremony and the precepts were recited.

The Buddha spread out his sitting mat and sat facing the community. After looking out at those gathered, he said, “As I look at our community, I see a large space left by the Venerables Shariputra and Maudgalyayana who have passed into nirvana. In our Sangha, these venerables were the monks who were the most eloquent in giving Dharma talks, encouraging and instructing all the other monks, nuns, and laypeople.

“O monks, people seek two kinds of riches—material riches and the riches of the Dharma. In their search for material riches, they can go to worldly people. In their search for the riches of the Dharma, they could always go to the Venerables Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. The Tathagata is someone who is not searching for anything, whether it is material or the Dharma.

“O monks, do not be sad or anxious because Shariputra and Maudgalyayana have passed into nirvana. On large trees, filled with leaves, sumptuous fruits and flowers, the largest branches also have to break. On jeweled mountains, the highest peaks also have to erode. In the Sangha of the Tathagata, the Venerables Shariputra and Maudgalyayana were the greatest students. So it is natural that these venerables would enter nirvana before you. Do not give rise to feelings of sorrow or anguish.

“All phenomena that are born, exist, and are subject to the influence of other phenomena, in other words, all phenomena that are composite, must abide by the law of impermanence and eventually cease to exist. They cannot exist eternally, without some day being destroyed. I have reminded you many times that everything we cherish and hold dear today, we will have to let go of and be separated from. In not too long a time, I will also pass away. Therefore, I urge you to practice being an island unto yourself, knowing how to take refuge in yourself, and not taking refuge in anyone or anything else.

“Practice taking refuge in the island of the Dharma. Know how to take refuge in the Dharma, and do not take refuge in any other island or person. This means to practice dwelling in the contemplation of the body in the body. Using the exercises diligently to nourish Right Understanding and Right Mindfulness to master and transform craving and anxiety that belong to the world. Contemplate the body outside the body, Using the exercises diligently to nourish Right Understanding and Right Mindfulness to master and transform craving and anxiety that belong to the world. That is what is meant by returning to the island of oneself in order to take refuge in the island of oneself. Returning to the island of the Right Dharma in order to take refuge in the island of the Right Dharma and not taking refuge in any other island or any other thing.”

When the bhikshus heard the Buddha offer this teaching, they were all very happy to put it into practice.

Translated by Thich Nhat Hanh from Samyukta Āgama 639, in consultation with Taishō Revised Tripiṭaka 99 and Ukkacela Sutta, Samyutta Nikāya 47.14.

In Praise of Mother Earth

Homage to the Refreshing Mother Earth Bodhisattva,
Mother of this world, of all species.
We turn to you with profound respect,
the beautiful green planet in the midst of the sky,
you who have given birth to countless species,
produced infinite wonders of life,
loved in the ultimate sense of non-discrimination,
embraced all species, not barring a single one,
loyal and reliable, inclusive and stable,
the Mother who sustains all species.

Countless Bodhisattvas have sprung up
from your fresh green lap.
Mother, you embrace and transform,
healing human's hatred,
creating new life day and night,
blooming with heavenly flowers.

Your heart is open to thousands of other galaxies,
sharing your joy with the three thousand worlds.

Your true nature is interdependence,
conserving and protecting all that is,
no being, no non-being,
not eternal, not annihilated,
neither the same nor different,
no coming, no going.

Your love knows no limits,
your virtues are perfect in every sense.
Your Four Immeasurable Minds of Love
are like the four great oceans that never dry up. (B)

Whenever Spring arrives, you wear a new robe.
The red roses and the green willow are so beautiful and fresh.
When Summer comes, your vegetation displays bright colors,
wholesome seeds and sweet fruits are everywhere.
How brilliant are the Autumn forests!
Then Winter comes, snowflakes fill the sky.

The afternoon tides are like thunderous chants.
The morning sunrise is picturesque,
making visible all the splendors of the universe.

You are the most beautiful flower of the solar system,
the wisdom that lights up the ten directions,
the mind that is open to all.

Mother, you are the Paradise of the Present,
making possible the future for all species.

We come back to take refuge in you,
no longer seeking, but accepting the favorable as well as the unfavorable.
We see that you have always been there in us
and that we have always been there in you.

May we follow your good example
and live every moment with true peace and joy.

Homage to the Refreshing Mother Earth Bodhisattva (3x) (BB)

Sharing the Merit

Reciting the sutras, practicing the way of awareness,
gives rise to benefits without limit.
We vow to share the fruit with all beings.
We vow to offer tribute to parents, teachers, friends, and numerous beings
who give guidance and support along the path. (BBB)