Puja

the triratna book of buddhist devotional texts

The Sevenfold Puja
Refuges and Precepts
The Heart Sutra
Mantras
The Threefold Puja
Dedication Ceremony
Tiratana Vandana
Blessings
Dhammapalam Gatha
The Sevenfold Puja

i. worship
With mandarava, blue lotus and jasmine,
With all flowers, pleasing and fragrant,
And with garlands skillfully woven,
I pay honour to the princes of the sages,
So worthy of veneration.
I envelop them in clouds of incense,
Sweet and penetrating;
I make them offerings of food, hard and soft,
And pleasing kinds of liquids to drink.
I offer them lamps encrusted with jewels,
Festooned with golden lotus,
On the paving, sprinkled with perfume,
I scatter handfuls of beautiful flowers.

avalokiteśvara mantra
om mani padme hūm

ii. salutation
As many atoms as there are,
In the thousand million worlds,
So many times I make reverent salutation
To all the Buddhas of the three eras,
To the Saddharma,
And to the excellent Community.
I pay homage to all the shrines
And places in which the Bodhisattvas have been.
I make profound obeisance to the teachers
And those to whom respectful salutation is due.

iii. going for refuge

This very day,
I go for my refuge
To the powerful Protectors,
Whose purpose is to guard the universe,
The mighty conquerors who overcome suffering everywhere.
Wholeheartedly also I take my refuge
In the Dharma they have ascertained,
Which is the abode of security against the rounds of rebirth;
Likewise in the host of Bodhisattvas
I take my refuge.

refuges and precepts

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammāsambuddhassa
Buddham Saranam Gacchāmi
Dhammam Saranam Gacchāmi
Sangham Saranam Gacchāmi
Dutiyampi Buddham Saranam Gacchāmi
Dutiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gacchāmi
Dutiyampi Sangham Saranam Gacchāmi
Tatiyampi Buddham Saranam Gacchāmi
Tatiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gacchāmi
Tatiyampi Sangham Saranam Gacchāmi

translation
Homage to Him, the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One!
To the Buddha for refuge I go.
To the Dharma for refuge I go.
To the Sangha for refuge I go.
For the second time to the Buddha for refuge I go.
For the second time to the Dharma for refuge I go.
For the second time to the Sangha for refuge I go.
For the third time to the Buddha for refuge I go.
For the third time to the Dharma for refuge I go.
For the third time to the Sangha for refuge I go.

five precepts
Pānātipātā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Adinnādānā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Kāmesu Micchācārā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Musāvādā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Surāmeraya Majja Pamādatthānā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samadiyami
sadhu sadhu sadhu

translation
I undertake to abstain from taking life.
I undertake to abstain from taking the not-given.
I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct.
I undertake to abstain from false speech.
I undertake to abstain from taking intoxicants.
the positive precepts
With deeds of loving kindness, I purify my body.
With open-handed generosity, I purify my body.
With stillness, simplicity, and contentment, I purify my body.
With truthful communication, I purify my speech.
With mindfulness clear and radiant, I purify my mind.

dhammacari/dhammacarini precepts (for members of the triratna buddhist order)

Pānātipātā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Adinnādānā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Kāmesu Micchācārā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Musāvādā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Pharusavācā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Samphappalāpavācā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Pisunavācā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Abhijjhā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Byāpādā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
Micchadāssanā Veramanī Sikkhāpadam Samādiyāmi
sadhu sadhu sadhu

translation
I undertake to abstain from taking life.
I undertake to abstain from taking the not-given.
I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct.
I undertake to abstain from false speech.
I undertake to abstain from harsh speech.
I undertake to abstain from useless speech.
I undertake to abstain from slanderous speech.
I undertake to abstain from covetousness.
I undertake to abstain from animosity.
I undertake to abstain from false views.

the ten positive precepts

With deeds of loving kindness, I purify my body.
With open-handed generosity, I purify my body.
With stillness, simplicity, and contentment, I purify my body.
With truthful communication, I purify my speech.
With kindly communication, I purify my speech.
With helpful communication, I purify my speech.
With harmonious communication, I purify my speech.
Abandoning covetousness for tranquillity, I purify my mind.
Changing hatred into compassion, I purify my mind.
Transforming ignorance into wisdom, I purify my mind.

iv. confession of faults

The evil which I have heaped up
Through my ignorance and foolishness -
Evil in the world of everyday experience,
As well as evil in understanding and intelligence -
All that I acknowledge to the Protectors.
Standing before them
With hands raised in reverence,
And terrified of suffering,
I pay salutations again and again.
May the leaders receive this kindly,
Just as it is, with its many faults!
What is not good, O Protectors,
I shall not do again.

v. rejoicing in merit
I rejoice with delight
In the good done by all beings,
Through which they obtain rest
With the end of suffering.
May those who have suffered be happy!
I rejoice in the release of beings
From the sufferings of the rounds of existence;
I rejoice in the nature of the Bodhisattva
And the Buddha,
Who are Protectors.
I rejoice in the arising of the Will to Enlightenment,
And the Teaching:
Those oceans which bring happiness to all beings,
And are the abode of welfare of all beings.

vi. entreaty and supplication

Saluting them with folded hands
I entreat the Buddhas in all the quarters:
May they make shine the lamp of the Dharma
For those wandering in the suffering of delusion!
With hands folded in reverence
I implore the conquerors desiring to enter Nirvana:
May they remain here for endless ages,
So that life in this world does not grow dark.

the heart sutra

The Bodhisattva of Compassion,
When he meditated deeply,
Saw the emptiness of all five skandhas
And sundered the bonds that caused him suffering.
Here then,
Form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness no other than form.
Form is only emptiness,
Emptiness only form.
Feeling, thought, and choice,
Consciousness itself,
Are the same as this.
All things are by nature void
They are not born or destroyed
Nor are they stained or pure
Nor do they wax or wane.
So, in emptiness, no form,
No feeling, thought, or choice,
Nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, mind;
No colour, sound, smell, taste, touch,
Or what the mind takes hold of,
Nor even act of sensing.
No ignorance or end of it,
Nor all that comes of ignorance;
No withering, no death,
No end of them.
Nor is there pain, or cause of pain,
Or cease in pain, or noble path
To lead from pain;
Not even wisdom to attain!
Attainment too is emptiness.
So know that the Bodhisattva
Holding to nothing whatever,
But dwelling in Prajna wisdom,
Is freed of delusive hindrance,
Rid of the fear bred by it,
And reaches clearest Nirvana.
All Buddhas of past and present,
Buddhas of future time,
Using this Prajna wisdom,
Come to full and perfect vision.
Hear then the great dhārani,
The radiant peerless mantra,
The Prajñāpāramitā
Whose words allay all pain;
Hear and believe its truth!
gate gate parāgate pārasamgate bodhi svāhā

transference of merit and self-surrender

May the merit gained
In my acting thus
Go to the alleviation of the suffering of all beings.
My personality throughout my existences,
My possessions,
And my merit in all three ways,
I give up without regard to myself
For the benefit of all beings.
Just as the earth and other elements
Are serviceable in many ways
To the infinite number of beings,
Inhabiting limitless space,
So may I become
That which maintains all beings
Situated throughout space,
So long as all have not attained
To peace.

om mani padme hūm

Avalokiteśvara

om a ra pa ca na dhīh
Mañjuśrī

om vajrapāni hūm
Vajrapanī

om tare tuttare ture svaha

Tārā

om amideva hrīh
Amitābha

om muni muni mahā muni śakyamuni svāhā

Śakyamuni Buddha

om ah hum vajra guru padma siddhi hūm

Padmasambhava

gate gate parāgate pārasamgate bodhi svāhā

Prajñāpāramitā

om santi santi santi

The Refuges and Precepts

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa

Buddham Saranam Gacchami

Dhammam Saranam Gacchami
Sangham Saranam Gacchami

Dutiyampi Buddham Saranam Gacchami

Dutiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gacchami
Dutiyampi Sangham Saranam Gacchami

Tatiyampi Buddham Saranam Gacchami

Tatiyampi Dhammam Saranam Gacchami
Tatiyampi Sangham Saranam Gacchami

translation
Homage to Him, the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One!

To the Buddha for refuge I go.

To the Dharma for refuge I go.
To the Sangha for refuge I go.

For the second time to the Buddha for refuge I go.

For the second time to the Dharma for refuge I go.
For the second time to the Sangha for refuge I go.

For the third time to the Buddha for refuge I go.

For the third time to the Dharma for refuge I go.
For the third time to the Sangha for refuge I go.

The Five Precepts

Panatipata Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami
Adinnadana Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami
Kamesu Micchacara Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami
Musavada Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami
Surameraya Majja Pamadatthana Veramani Sikkhapadam Samadiyami

sadhu sadhu sadhu

translation
I undertake to abstain from taking life.
I undertake to abstain from taking the not-given.
I undertake to abstain from sexual misconduct.
I undertake to abstain from false speech.
I undertake to abstain from taking intoxicants.

The Positive Precepts

With deeds of loving kindness, I purify my body.
With open-handed generosity, I purify my body.
With stillness, simplicity, and contentment, I purify my body.
With truthful communication, I purify my speech.
With mindfulness clear and radiant, I purify my mind.
The Heart Sutra
as recited in FWBO Centres

The Bodhisattva of Compassion,

When he meditated deeply,
Saw the emptiness of all five
skandhas
And sundered the bonds that caused
him suffering.

Here then,
Form is no other than emptiness,
Emptiness no other than form.
Form is only emptiness,
Emptiness only form.

Feeling, thought, and choice,

Consciousness itself,
Are the same as this.

All things are by nature void

They are not born or destroyed
Nor are they stained or pure
Nor do they wax or wane

So, in emptiness, no form,

No feeling, thought, or choice,
Nor is there consciousness.
No eye, ear, nose, tongue, body,
mind;
No colour, sound, smell, taste,
touch,
Or what the mind takes hold of,
Nor even act of sensing.

No ignorance or end of it,

Nor all that comes of ignorance;
No withering, no death,
No end of them.

Nor is there pain, or cause of pain,

Or cease in pain, or noble path
To lead from pain;
Not even wisdom to attain!
Attainment too is emptiness.

So know that the Bodhisattva

Holding to nothing whatever,
But dwelling in Prajna wisdom,
Is freed of delusive hindrance,
Rid of the fear bred by it,
And reaches clearest Nirvana.

All Buddhas of past and present,

Buddhas of future time,
Using this Prajna wisdom,
Come to full and perfect vision.

Hear then the great dharani,

The radiant peerless mantra,
The Prajnaparamita
Whose words allay all pain;
Hear and believe its truth!

Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate

Bodhi Svaha
MANTRAS

om ah hum jetsun guru Padma siddhi hum

(Padmasambhava mantra)
om mani padme hum (Avalokitesvara)
om a ra pa ca na dhih (Manjusri)
om vajrapani hum (Vajrapani)
om tare tuttare ture svaha (Tara)
om amideva hrih (Amitabha)
om muni muni maha muni sakyamuni
svaha (Sakyamuni Buddha)
om ah hum vajra guru padma siddhi hum
(Padmasambhava)
gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi
svaha (Prajnaparamita/blue sky)
om santi santi santi
Three-fold Puja

Opening Reverence
We reverence the Buddha, the Perfectly Enlightened One, the Shower of the Way.
We reverence the Dharma, the Teaching of the Buddha, which leads from darkness to
Light.
We reverence the Sangha, the fellowship of the Buddha's disciples, that inspires and
guides.

Reverence to the Three Jewels

We reverence the Buddha, and aspire to follow Him.
The Buddha was born, as we are born.
What the Buddha overcame, we too can overcome;
What the Buddha attained, we too can attain.

We reverence the Dharma, and aspire to follow it,

With body, speech and mind, until the end.
The Truth in all its aspects, the Path in all its stages,
We aspire to study, practise, realise.

We reverence the Sangha, and aspire to follow it:

The fellowship of those who tread the Way.
As, one by one, we make our own commitment,
An ever-widening circle, the Sangha grows.

Offerings to the Buddha

Reverencing the Buddha, we offer flowers -
Flowers that today are fresh and sweetly blooming,
Flowers that tomorrow are faded and fallen.
Our bodies too, like flowers, will pass away.

Reverencing the Buddha, we offer candles.

To Him, who is the Light, we offer light.
From His greater lamp a lesser lamp we light within us:
The lamp of Bodhi shining within our hearts.

Reverencing the Buddha, we offer incense,

Incense whose fragrance pervades the air.
The fragrance of the perfect life, sweeter than incense,
Spreads in all directions throughout the world.
The Dedication Ceremony
As used in FWBO Centres

We dedicate this place to the Three Jewels:

To the Buddha, the Ideal of Enlightenment to which we aspire;
To the Dharma, the Path of the Teaching which we follow;
To the Sangha, the spiritual fellowship with one another which we enjoy.

Here may no idle word be spoken;

Here may no unquiet thought disturb our minds.

To the observance of the Five Precepts

We dedicate this place;
To the practice of meditation
We dedicate this place;
To the development of wisdom
We dedicate this place;
To the attainment of Enlightenment
We dedicate this place.

Though in the world outside there is strife

Here may there be peace;
Though in the world outside there is hate
Here may there be love;
Though in the world outside there is grief
Here may there be joy.

Not by the chanting of the sacred Scriptures,

Not by the sprinkling of holy water,
But by own efforts towards Enlightenment
We dedicate this place.

Around this Mandala, this sacred spot,

May the lotus petals of purity open;
Around this Mandala, this sacred spot,
May the vajra-wall of determination extend;
Around this Mandala, this sacred spot,
May the flames that transmute Samsara into Nirvana arise.

Here seated, here practising,

May our mind become Buddha,
May our thought become Dharma,
May our communication with one another be Sangha.

For the happiness of all beings,

For the benefit of all beings,
With body, speech, and mind,
We dedicate this place.
The Tiratana Vandana
(Salutation to the Three Jewels)

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhassa

Iti'pi so bhagava araham sammasambuddho vijjacaranasampanno sugato

lokavidu, anuttaro purisadammasarathi
sattha devamanussanam
buddho bhagava'ti

Buddham jivitapariyantam saranam gacchami

Ye ca Buddha atita ca
Ye ca Buddha anagata Paccuppanna ca ye Buddha
Aham vandami sabbada
N'atthi me saranam annam
Buddho me saranam varam
Etena saccavajjena
Hotu me jayamangalam

translation
Such indeed is He, the Richly Endowed: the Free, the Fully and Perfectly Awake,
Equipped with Knowledge and Practice, the Happily Attained, Knower of the Worlds,
Guide Unsurpassed of Men to Be Tamed, the Teacher of Gods and Men, the Awakened
One Richly Endowed.

All my life I go for Refuge to the Awakened One.

To all the Awakened of the past,
To all the Awakened yet to be,
To all the Awakened that now are,
My worship flows unceasingly.
No other refuge than the Wake, Refuge supreme, is there for me.
O by the virtue of this truth,
May grace abound, and victory!

Svakkhato bhagavata Dhammo sanditthiko akaliko ehipassiko opanayiko paccatam

veditabbo vinnuhi'ti
Dhamman jivitapariyantam saranam gacchami
Ye ca Dhamma atita ca
Ye ca Dhamma anagata
Paccuppanna ca ye Dhamma Aham vandami sabbada
N'atthi me saranam annam
Dhammo me saranam varam
Etena saccavajjena
Hotu me jayamangalam

Well communicated is the teaching of the Richly Endowed One, Immediately Apparent,
Perennial, of the Nature of a Personal Invitation, Progressive, to be understood
individually, by the wise.
All my life I go for Refuge to the Truth.
To all the Truth-Teachings of the past,
To all the Truth-Teachings yet to be,
To all the Truth-Teachings that now are,
My worship flows unceasingly.
No other refuge than the Truth, Refuge supreme, is there for me.
O by the virtue of this truth,
May grace abound, and victory!

Supatipanno bhagavato savakasangho

ujupatipanno bhagavato savakasangho nayapatipanno bhagavato savakasangho
samicipatipanno bhagavato savakasangho yadidam cattari purisayugani
atthapurisapuggala
Esa bhagavato savakasangho
ahuneyyo, pahuneyyo, dakkhineyyo anjalikaraniyo anuttaram
punnakkhettam lokassa'ti
Sangham jivitapariyantam saranam gacchami
Ye ca Sangha atita ca
Ye ca Sangha anagata Paccuppanna ca ye Sangha Aham vandami sabbada
N'atthi me saranam annam
Sangho me saranam varam
Etena saccavajjena
Hotu me jayamangalam

Happily proceeding is the fellowship of the Hearers of the Richly Endowed One,
uprightly proceeding ... methodically proceeding ... correctly proceeding,... namely,
these four pairs of Individuals, these eight Persons. This fellowship of Hearers of the
Richly Endowed One is worthy of worship, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings,
worthy of salutation with folded hands, an incomparable source of goodness to the
world.
All my life I go for Refuge to the Fellowship.
To all the Fellowships that were,
To all the Fellowships to be,
To all the Fellowships that are,
My worship flows unceasingly.
No refuge but the Fellowship,
Refuge supreme, is there for me.
O by the virtue of this truth,
May grace abound, and victory!
Blessings

Bhavatu sabbamangalam rakkhantu sabbadevata

Sabbabuddhanu bhavena sada sotthi bhavantu te

Bhavatu sabbamangalam rakkhantu sabbadevata

Sabbadhammanu bhavena sada sotthi bhavantu te

Bhavatu sabbamangalam rakkhantu sabbadevata

Sabbasanghanu bhavena sada sotthi bhavantu te

translation
May all blessings be yours;
May all gods protect you.
By the power of all the Buddhas
May all happiness be yours.

May all blessings be yours;

May all gods protect you.
By the power of all Dharmas
May all happiness be yours.

May all blessings be yours;

May all gods protect you.
By the power of all the Sangha
May all happiness be yours.
Dhammapalam Gatha

Sabbapapassa akaranam,
Kusalassa upasampada,
Sacittapariyodapanam,
Etam Buddhana sasanam.
Dhammam care sucaritam,
Na nam duccaritam care.
Dhammacari sukham seti
Asmim loke paramhi ca.
Na tavata dhammadharo
Yavata bahu bhasati.
Yo ca appam pi sutvana
Dhammam kayena passati,
Sa ve dhammadharo
Hoti
Yo Dhammam nappamajati.

N'atthi me saranam annam

Buddho me saranam varam
Etena saccavajjena
Hotu me jayamangalam

N'atthi me saranam annam

Dhammo me saranam varam
Etena saccavajjena
Hotu me jayamangalam

N'atthi me saranam annam

Sangho me saranam varam
Etena saccavajjena
Hotu me jayamangalam

Namo Buddhaya
Namo Dharmaya
Namo Sanghaya

Sadhu. Sadhu. Sadhu.

Verses that Protect the Truth

Not to do evil;
To cultivate the good;
To purify the mind;
This is the Teaching of the Buddhas.

Lead a righteous life,

Not one that is corrupt.
The righteous live happily,
Both in this world and the next.
He is not versed in Dhamma who merely speaks much.
He who hears
But a little (of the Teaching) but sees the Truth and observes it well
indeed, he is truly called `one versed in Dhamma'.

No other refuge than the Wake, Refuge supreme, is there for me.
O by the virtue of this truth,
May grace abound, and victory!

No other refuge than the Truth, Refuge supreme, is there for me.
O by the virtue of this truth,
May grace abound, and victory!

No other refuge than the Fellowship, Refuge supreme, is there for me.
O by the virtue of this truth,
May grace abound, and victory!

Homage to the Buddha!

Homage to the Dhamma!
Homage to the Sangha!