Preliminaries
NOW I WILL EXPLAIN how to go about the practice of centering the mind. Before starting out, kneel down with your hands palm-to-palm in front of your heart and sincerely pay respect to the Triple Gem, saying as follows:
Arahaṁ sammā-sambuddho bhagavā:
Buddhaṁ bhagavantaṁ abhivādemi. (bow down)
Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo:
Dhammaṁ namassāmi. (bow down)
Supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho:
Saṅghaṁ namāmi. (bow down)
Then, showing respect with your thoughts, words, and deeds, pay homage to the Buddha:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammā-sambuddhasa. (three times)
And take refuge in the Triple Gem:
Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Dutiyampi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Dutiyampi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Dutiyampi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Tatiyampi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Tatiyampi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Tatiyampi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Then make the following resolution: ‘I take refuge in the Buddha—the Pure One, completely free from defilement; and in his Dhamma—doctrine, practice, and attainment; and in the Sangha—the four levels of his noble disciples—from now to the end of my life.’
Buddhaṁ jīvitaṁ yāva nibbānaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Dhammaṁ jīvitaṁ yāva nibbānaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Saṅghaṁ jīvitaṁ yāva nibbānaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
Then formulate the intention to observe the five, eight, ten, or 227 precepts according to how many you are normally able to observe, expressing them in a single vow:
Imāni pañca sikkhāpadāni samādiyāmi. (three times)
(This is for the observing the five precepts, and means, ‘I undertake the five training rules: to refrain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from lying, and from taking intoxicants.’)
Imāni aṭṭha sikkhāpadāni samādiyāmi. (three times)
(This is for those observing the eight precepts, and means, ‘I undertake the eight training rules: to refrain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual intercourse, from lying, from taking intoxicants, from eating food after noon and before dawn, from watching shows and from adorning the body for the purpose of beautifying it, and from using high and luxurious beds and seats.’)
Imāni dasa sikkhāpadāni samādiyāmi. (three times)
(This is for those observing the ten precepts, and means, ‘I undertake the ten training rules: to refrain from taking life, from stealing, from sexual intercourse, from lying, from taking intoxicants, from eating food after noon and before dawn, from watching shows, from adorning the body for the purpose of beautifying it, from using high and luxurious beds and seats, and from receiving money.’)
Parisuddho ahaṁ bhante. Parisuddhoti maṁ buddho dhammo saṅgho dhāretu.
(This is for those observing the 227 precepts.)
Now that you have professed the purity of your thoughts, words, and deeds toward the qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, bow down three times. Sit down, place your hands palm-to-palm in front of your heart, steady your thoughts, and develop the four sublime attitudes: goodwill, compassion, empathetic joy, and equanimity. To spread these thoughts to all living beings without exception is called the immeasurable Sublime Attitude. A short Pali formula for those who have trouble memorizing is:
“Mettā” (goodwill and benevolence, hoping for your own welfare and that of all other living beings.)
“Karuṇā” (compassion for yourself and others.)
“Muditā” (empathetic joy, taking delight in your own goodness and that of others.)
“Upekkhā” (equanimity in the face of things that should be let be.)
