Mindfulness by Amaravati - HTML preview

The Refuges and Precepts

The ‘Going for Refuge’ and taking the precepts define a person as a practising Buddhist. Going for Refuge gives a continual perspective on life by referring one’s conduct and understanding to the qualities of Buddha (wisdom), Dhamma (truth) and Sangha (virtue). The Precepts are also for reflection and to define one’s actions as a responsible human being.

There is a formal means of requesting the Refuges and precepts from a bhikkhu or nun, which is as follows:

The lay person should bow three times and, with hands in añjali* recite the following:

MAYAMAHAM BHANTE (AYYE) TI SARANENA SAHA PANCA SlLANI YACAMA/YACAMI

We/I, Venerable Sir (Sister), request the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts

DUTIYAMPI MAYAM/AHAM BHANTE (AYYE) .....

For the second time we/I...

TATIYAMPI MAYAM/AHAM BHANTE (AYYE) .....

For the third time we/I...

The bhikkhu or nun will then recite the following three times, after which the lay person should repeat three times.

NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO ARAHATO SAMMASAM BUD DHASSA

Homage to the Blessed One, the Noble One, and Perfectly Enlightened One.

The bhikkhu or nun will then recite the following line by line, which the lay person should repeat line by line:

BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI : To the Buddha I go for Refuge.

DHAMMAM SARANAM GACCHAMI : To the Dhamma I go for Refuge.

SANGHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI : To the Sangha I go for Refuge

DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

For the second time...

DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

For the second time...

DUTIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

For the second time...

TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

For the third time...

TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

For the third time...

TATIYAMPI BUDDHAM SARANAM GACCHAMI

For the third time...

The bhikkhu or nun then says:

TISARANA GAMANAM NITTHITAM

This completes the going to the three Refuges. The lay person responds:

AMABHANTE (AYYF) Yes, Venerable Sir (sister)

The bhikkhu or nun then recites the Precepts singly, and the lay person repeats line by line:

1. PANATIPATA VERAMANI SIKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI

I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. ADINNADANA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI

I underake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. KAMESU MICCHACARA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI

I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4. MUSAVADA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI

I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.

5. SURA-MERAYA-MAHA-PAMADATTHANA VERAMANI SIKKHAPADAM SAMADIYAMI

I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating liquors and drugs which lead to carelessness. After the Five Precepts have been taken, the bhikkhu or nun will conclude with the following:

IMANI PANCA SIKKHAPADANI

These Five Precepts

SILENA SUGATIM YANTI

have morality as a vehicle for happiness,

SILENA BHOGASAMPADA

have morality as a vehicle for good fortune,

SILENA NIBBUTIM YANTI

Have morality as a vehicle for liberation.

TASMA SILAM VISODHAYE

let morality therefore be purified. After taking the Precepts, the lay person then bows three times to the bhikkhu or nun.

Pronunciation:

a as in father

u as in good

a as in about

e as in say

i as in hit

c, cc as in church

I as in machine

n as in canyon

o as in flow

m as in hang

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* Añjali: the hands are held vertically, with palms together, close to the chest.

The Text

The material in this book has been edited from talks given at Chithurst Forest Monastery in January 1984, with the exception of two sections. These are ‘Effort and Relaxation; Kindness (Mettā)’ and ‘The Hindrances and Their Cessation; Which were taken from talks given at the International Forest Monastery, Ubon, N. E. Thailand in December 1982.

The Photographs

The photographs are of slabs from the ruins of the ancient stupa at Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh, India; they are reproduced by kind permission of the Trustees of the British Museum, London.

Investigation: the stupa; a monumental reliquary, contains the relics of a saint. As the object of pilgrimages, it symbolizes the universal quest for spiritual truth.

Instruction : the iconographical footprints of the Buddha! They represent the path that a teacher has taken, to be followed by his disciples.

Reflection : the lotus of wisdom in a scene of everyday human activity.