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Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County Order of Service “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” Fifth Edition April 2018 Dedicated to: our loving teachers, all bodhisattvas, past, present & future BSBC members, visitors and guests, dedicated practitioners, all sentient beings. Table of Contents Introduction . 2 Gatha On Impermanence ............ 17 Protocol . 3 Four Bodhisattva Vows . 17 Order of Service . 4 Sharing the Merit ................... 17 Section 1 – Regular Weekly Readings . 5 Evening Gatha ......................17 Incense Offering . 6 Section 2 – Readings for Occasional Use 18 The Four Dharmas of Gampopa . 6 The Heart Sutra (Longer Version) . 19 The Insight that Brings Us to the Other Homage to the Buddha . 6 Shore . ..... 20 The Three Refuges (in English) . 7 Tonglen – (Guided Meditation) . 21 The Four Immeasurables . 7 Eight Verses for Training the Mind . 22 Short Refuge Prayer . 8 Section 3 – Ceremonies .............. 23 Long Refuge Prayer . 8 Welcoming New Members . 24 Cultivating the Mind of Enlightenment . .8 Ceremony for Our Deceased Loved Ones . ............... 25 Altruistic Motivation . 9 Green Tara . ............. 27 Long Life Prayer . 9 (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama) Section 4 – Chants and Music . 28 Action Bodhicitta Prayer . 9 Om Ah Hum . ............ 29 Shantideva's Dedication Prayer . 10 Three Refuges (in Pali) . 30 A Prayer to Recognize My Own Faults . 11 Om Mani Padme Hum . 30 Metta Sutta . 12 Evening Chants (in Pali) . ........... 31 The Five Precepts .................... 13 And When I Rise . .... 32 The Noble Eight-Fold Path . 14 Breathing Song . .... 32 Sharing Loving Kindness . 15 Glossary of Terms ................... 33 Choices . 16 References and Resources . 34 Four Great Vows for All . 16 Information about BSBC . 3 7 Page 1 Introduction The Buddhist Sangha of Bucks County was orga- nized in June 2000 with the idea that we would present, teach and practice Buddhism . As a Sangha we would provide meditation instruction and community services in a manner consistent with the teaching of the Buddha . Our order of service and readings are intended to capture the teach- ings of the Buddha from the major traditions or schools . Buddhism has many outstanding and meaningful schools, and our selection of readings, traditions, and rituals are taken from these various traditions . We do not aspire to just one tradition The two Major Schools of Buddhism* are: The Theravada but attempt to learn from all the traditions . School (The Way of the Elders) and The Mahayana School (The Great Vehicle). In early Buddhist history, all sermons and teach- ings were spoken and committed to memory . It was disagreement concerning the Dharma (the teach- only later that t hose scriptures were written down ings of the Buddha) as contained in the sacred texts on leaves and then paper . Variation in interpreta- - Tipitaka . Also, it must be emphasized that tion by different people of the same principle could Buddhism teaches tolerance, and it would be arise . Furthermore, it was also highly possible that counter-productive to discriminate one tradition/ the Buddha gave a variety of teachings to different sect against another . Diversity in tradition should people to suit individual aptitude, ability and inter- not be the issue here; the application of the est . He also instructed his followers not to accept Buddha’s teachings for the common good of all his teachings or for that matter, others’ teachings beings should be the key . What good does it do if without thoroughly investigating them and coming one keeps saying that “I’m of a certain tradition to one’s own acceptance of what is true . which is superior to another tradition” per se? At The different schools of Buddhism reflect the end of the day, it pays to remember that the different cultural attributes, which were influenced Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught by the route where Buddhism propagated Dharma - the way to liberation - which is universal . geographically, e .g . the Theravada tradition spread Aart Van Der Leeuw (a Dutch poet and novelist south to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, etc .; as well as a spiritualist) said, “The mystery of life the Mahayana tradition went northwards to is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be Vietnam, China, Japan, etc . experienced ”. We each have our own path to take The two major schools of Buddhism, Theravada in life and the choices we make along that path are and Mahayana, are to be understood as different either a help or a hindrance to our awareness of expressions of the same teaching of the historical the true reality of being . Buddha . *Buddha Dharma Education Association and BuddhaNet; Buddhist Despite the differences in traditions, it must be Studies @ http://www .buddhanet .net/e-learning/buddhistworld/ stressed that doctrinally, there is absolutely no schools2 htm. Page 2 Protocol Meditation Hall Guidelines Advice for Meditation Please observe silence in the meditation hall . One way to meditate is by counting the breath . Feel the breath at some specific point in the body . Please leave your shoes outside the meditation hall . Some schools (such as Zen) focus on the hara, the Please silence cell phones . point within the abdomen a few inches below the navel . Others, (such as the Theravadan) recom- If you would like, please bow to the altar in respect mend that you focus your attention on the feeling for the Buddha’s teaching before sitting . of the breath at the rim of the nostrils . It’s OK to If you would like, please bow toward your cushion experiment and find the most comfortable point in respect for your practice and towards others in of focus . When you have chosen a focus, stick with respect for their practice . it, and don’t let the point wander aimlessly . When you are able to consistently count to ten If you arrive during a meditation period, observe without losing the count, you might want to move silence and take a seat at the rear of the hall . on to following the breath . Just notice the stages of If you arrive during walking meditation, please the breath and the pause at the end of each inhala- take a seat outside the hall and wait until the tion or exhalation . Let your breath move at its walking meditation is over . Join us for the last own pace and rhythm . Do not try to make it faster sitting meditation . or slower or try to regulate it in any other way . The thing that you are trying to do is to be mindfully Please remain still during sitting meditation . If aware, not to control . you need to move, please do so quietly . When thoughts and other distractions arise, During sitting meditation, your eyes can be open you must decide how to deal with them . The impor- or closed . If open, let your gaze fall at a 45-degree tant thing is to just notice what is happening and angle with the floor . continue to meditate . Some schools advise that the meditator emphasize concentration and move back During walking meditation, keep your hands to the subject of meditation as soon as possible . folded at the waist and your eyes gazing at a Other sects believe that the distractions themselves 45-degree angle with the floor . When walking, are just as good a subject of meditation as the concentrate on moving your legs and feet and primary object, so you should be mindful of the keep your mind in the present moment . Because distraction until it disappears . When your mind is we move differently in walking meditation, it may really scattered you may find that an emphasis on feel odd at first . Just be careful and keep your concentration makes you calmer . concentration on your movement, so you can At other times you may feel a need to mindfully continue to see the mind-body process . examine the distractions that come up . The most important thing is to be sure that you maintain a clear awareness of something at all times and don’t let your mind drift off to where you have neither mindfulness nor concentration . Page 3 Order of Service 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Welcoming and Opening Words First Readings 40-Minute Sitting Meditation Note: After the first set of readings, a bell will be rung 3 times to indicate the beginning of the meditation period. After 20 minutes, a bell will be struck once to signal an optional 5 minute walking meditation. We ask those who are walking to return quietly to their seats (cushions) and resume sitting for the remainder of the 40 minutes. A bell will be rung two times to indicate the end of the meditation period. Second Readings Closing After the first hour, we adjourn to the social hall for an hour of Dharma discussion and refreshments . Page 4 SECTION 1 Regular Weekly Readings Page 5 Incense Offering In gratitude we offer this incense to all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time . May it be as fragrant as earth herself, reflecting our careful efforts, our wholehearted awareness, and the fruit of understanding slowly ripening. May we and all beings be companions of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas . May we awaken from forgetfulness and realize our true home . The Four Dharmas of Gampopa Grant your blessings so that my mind may be one with the dharma. Grant your blessings so that dharma may progress along the path. Grant your blessings so that the path may clarify confusion. Grant your blessings so that confusion may dawn as wisdom. Homage to the Buddha Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato, samma sambuddhasa Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato, samma sambuddhasa Namo tassa, bhagavato, arahato, samma sambuddhasa Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The supremely Enlightened One Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The supremely Enlightened One Homage to Him, the Exalted One, the Worthy One, The supremely Enlightened One Page 6 The Three Refuges I take refuge in the Buddha, the one who shows me the way in this life .
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