Dharma & Meditation: Deepening Practice
September 23, 2008
Class One Recitation

Mala Recollection

Center Bead:

This recitation ever deepens my understanding of the three jewels: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.

Marker Bead: I take refuge:

1st bead: Buddham saranam gacchami, dutiyampi, tatiyampi, svaha.

(I turn to the Perfect Nature of Truth for guidance, again, and yet again.)

2nd bead: Dhammam saranam gacchami, dutiyampi, tatiyampi, svaha.

(I turn to the Teachings for guidance, again, and yet again.)

3rd bead: Sangham saranam gacchami, dutiyampi, tatiyampi svaha.

(I turn to the Holy Sangha for guidance, again, and yet again.)

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Bodhi Bead:

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhasa. (Homage to the Blessed, Noble, and Perfectly Enlightened One.) Homage to all buddhas, past, present, and future.

Marker Bead: I remember Buddha, the sage Sakyamuni.

4th bead: Buddha is also the awakened nature inherent in all things. Awakened nature is within me; my mind is the true Buddha.

5th bead: This Buddha mind is inherently free and already liberated. To know this awakened nature and live the awakened life is the balance to which I aspire.

6th bead: Awakened nature is present everywhere. Resting there, all karma is released, yet my mind and body are still accountable.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Dhamma Bead:

Homage to the dhamma, the path that leads to freedom.

Marker Bead: I remember the four noble truths:

7th bead: Dukkha, the noble truth of suffering.

8th bead: Dukkha Samudaya, the noble truth of the origin of suffering.

9th bead: Dukkha Nirodha, the noble truth of the extinction of suffering.

10th bead: Dukkha Nirodha, Gamini, Patipada, the noble truth of the path that leads to the extinction of suffering.

11th bead: As long as the four noble truths are not understood, we will wander in sorrow and ignorance. Liberation begins with understanding.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the Eightfold Path:

12th bead: Compassionate view dissipates delusion.

13th bead: Compassionate aspiration benefits all beings.

14th bead: Compassionate speech supports clarity and lovingkindness.

15th bead: Compassionate action brings no regret.

16th bead: Compassionate livelihood harms no one.

17th bead: Compassionate endeavor results in goodness.

18th bead: Compassionate mindfulness stays the Path.

19th bead: Compassionate awareness leads to Nirvana.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the nature of karma:

20th bead: I am born of karma, I am heir to karma, I abide in karma, and I am supported by karma.

21st bead: When I act with intention, I am the owner of my actions and inherit their results.

22nd bead: My future is born from such actions, and their results will be my home.

23rd bead: All actions with intention, be they skillful or harmful, of such acts will I be the heir.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: The Conditioned is the expression of the Unconditioned. I remember the three characteristics of all conditioned objects:

24th bead: Anicca, all formations are transient.

25th bead: Anatta, all things are without a self.

26th bead: Dukkha, all formations are subject to suffering.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Supports Bead: I remember the supports which lead me to the ever realized mind:

Marker Bead: I remember the four immeasurables, expressions of the open heart:

27th bead: Metta, the practice of lovingkindness.

28th bead: Karuna, the practice of compassion.

29th bead: Mudita, the practice of sympathetic joy.

30th bead: Upekka, the practice of equanimity.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the seven factors of enlightenment which bring balance:

31st bead: Joy

32nd bead: Energy

33rd bead: Investigation

34th bead: Mindfulness

35th bead: Tranquillity

36th bead: Concentration

37th bead: Equanimity

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the five spiritual faculties:

38th bead: Faith

39th bead: Energy

40th bead: Mindfulness

41st bead: Concentration

42nd bead: Wisdom

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker bead: I remember the ten perfections and will practice them well:

43rd bead: Generosity

44th bead: Morality

45th bead: Energy

46th bead: Wisdom

47th bead: Renunciation

48th bead: Lovingkindness

49th bead: Truthfulness

50th bead: Resolution (clarity)

51st bead: Equanimity

52nd bead: Patience

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the practice of sati (presence):

53rd bead: To be present with the breath.

54th bead: To be present with an object as it presents itself.

55th bead To be present with loving attitude: Whatever arises, I will not fixate on it. I will let my mind be free and spacious, resting in pure awareness.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: From Udana:

56th bead: For one who clings, motion exists; but for one who clings not, there is no motion.

57th bead: Where no motion is, there is stillness.

58th bead: Where stillness is, there is no craving.

59th bead: Where no craving is, there is neither coming nor going.

60th bead: Where neither coming nor going is, there is neither arising nor passing away.

61st bead: Where neither arising nor passing away is, there is neither this world, nor a world beyond, nor a state in between.

62nd bead: This, verily, is the end of suffering.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker bead: Namo Prajna, Paramita Hridaya. Homage to the wisdom mind.

63rd Bead: Whatever has the nature to arise has the nature to cease and is not me nor mine.

64th bead: When wholesome thoughts arise, cultivate the wholesome. When unwholesome thoughts arise, abandon the unwholesome.

65th bead: Tend the contents of the mind with compassion, as a mindful gardener tends his garden.

66th bead: This is the way to purify the mind and remove the clouds that obscure the vision of ultimate reality.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the teaching of the Heart Sutra:

67th bead: Form is no other than emptiness, emptiness no other than form.

68th bead: Form is emptiness, emptiness form.

69th bead: The same is true of feeling, thought, impulse, and consciousness.

70th bead: All dhammas are empty.

71st bead: They are not born nor annihilated.

72nd bead: They are not defiled nor immaculate.

73rd bead: They do not increase nor decrease.

74th bead: So in emptiness no form, no feeling, no thought, no impulse, no consciousness.

75th bead: No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind;

76th bead: No form, sound, smell, taste, touch or objects of mind.

77th bead: No realm of sight; no realm of consciousness.

78th bead: No ignorance nor extinction of ignorance, no old age and death, nor extinction of them.

79th bead: No suffering, no cause of suffering, no path to lead out of suffering;

80th bead: No knowledge, no attainment, no realization - for there is nothing to attain.

81st bead: Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi, Svaha!

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Sangha Bead:

Homage to the Sangha, the Holy Order of spiritual ancestors and all those who practice the path of liberation based on wisdom and compassion. What I learn, I must live in the world. The sangha and the precepts support my practice.

Marker Bead: I remember the foundations of practice, the three pure precepts:

82nd bead: Do no harm.

83rd bead: Do only good.

84th bead: Do good for all beings.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the five basic precepts:

85thbead: I undertake the precept to refrain from harming living creatures.

86th bead: I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not freely given.

87th bead: I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

88th bead: I undertake the precept to refrain from harmful speech.

89th bead: I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drink and drugs which may lead to carelessness.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember three additional precepts:

90th bead: I undertake the precept not to be proud of myself and devalue others.

91st bead: I undertake the precept not to be mean in giving either Dharma or wealth.

92nd bead: I undertake the precept not to defame the three jewels.

(Not to speak ill of this religion or any other.)

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker Bead: I remember the nine positive precepts of the body, speech, and mind:

93rd bead: With deeds of lovingkindness, I purify my body.

94th bead: With openhanded generosity, I purify my body.

95th bead: With stillness, simplicity and contentment, I purify my body.

96th bead: With truthful communication, I purify my speech.

97th bead: With words kind and gracious, I purify my speech.

98th bead: With words helpful and harmonious, I purify my speech.

99th bead: Abandoning envy for tranquillity, I purify my mind.

100th bead: Changing hatred into compassion, I purify my mind.

101st bead: Transforming ignorance into wisdom, I purify my mind.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Bodhisattva bead:

Homage to those, past, present, and future, who open the doors of wisdom and show the way for all beings to reunite with their awakened Buddha nature.

Marker bead: I remember the great vows of the bodhisattva:

102nd bead: All beings, one body, I vow to liberate.

103rd bead: Endless blind passions I vow to uproot.

104th bead: Dhamma gates without number I vow to penetrate.

105th bead: The great way of Buddha, I vow to attain.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Marker bead: I remember the great prayer:

106th bead: May all beings be free from suffering,

107th bead: May all beings feel joy,

108th bead: May all beings realize their intrinsic perfection and find perfect peace.

Intention bead: In this way will I train myself.

Center Bead (Dedication):

The merit for all good acts I freely offer to all beings. Dutiyampi, tatiyampi, svaha. (Again and yet again, may it be so.)