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Thread: About the Gatha

  1. #1

    About the Gatha

    "Gatha" (a Sanskrit term for "song" or "verse") are little verses, often recited right before or after a daily activity, which help keep us mindful of its sacred nature ... even if the action is most mundane, reminding us how miraculous they are, and how all support our life and practice ... from eating to work to going to the toilet to washing the face.

    Some that we recite about Treeleaf, especially during our Rohatsu Retreat, are these:


    VERSE ON ENTERING BATH
    Bathing the body,
    may all living beings
    be clean in body and mind,
    pure and shining within and without.

    VERSE FOR TOOTH BRUSHING
    Brushing my teeth and rinsing my mouth,
    I vow to speak purely and lovingly.
    When my mouth is fragrant with
    right speech,
    A flower blooms in the garden of the heart.

    VERSE FOR FACE/HAND WASHING
    Washing the face/hands,
    I vow with all beings
    To pierce the pure Dharma gate
    Forever undefiled

    VERSE ON ENTERING TOILET
    Defiled or immaculate,
    increasing or decreasing--
    these concepts exist only in our mind.
    The reality of interbeing is unsurpassed.

    VERSE AFTER EACH OF THE FOREGOING
    Using the (bath / tooth brush/
    wash basin / toilet)
    I vow with all beings
    To pierce defilement
    clearing greed, anger and ignorance.

    We also have a Meal Gatha, before eating, to remind us of the sacredness of all that went into our food, both in the growing and the consuming and all in between:


    (Hands in Gassho) This food comes from the efforts
    of all sentient beings past and present,
    and is medicine for nourishment of our Practice-Life.
    We offer this meal of many virtues and tastes
    to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,
    and to all life in every realm of existence.
    May all sentient beings in the universe
    be sufficiently nourished.

    That is an abbreviated version of a portion of our Meal Chants for Oryoki eating ritual.

    Each can be recited out loud or silently within, with hands in Gassho or just Gasshoing within.

    Reciting Gatha is one of our "Recommended 'At Home' Liturgies' (LINK)" for those folks who wish to add such lovely practices to their daily life.

    In fact ... one can make their own Gatha for ANYTHING, and they can have a bit of good humor in doing so ... which is exactly what Treeleafers have done for fun and personal inspiration:


    Gassho, J

    stlah
    Last edited by Jundo; 09-04-2022 at 07:59 AM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

  2. #2
    As part of my Ango commitments this year I decided to practice with some extra gathas. They are gathas composed by Thich Nhat Hanh that I thought would bring some mindfulness in other everyday activities. Here are five of them that might benefit others too:

    Washing the Dishes
    Washing the dishes
    is like bathing a baby Buddha.
    The profane is the sacred.
    Everyday mind is Buddha mind.

    Driving the Car
    Before starting the car,
    I know where I’m going.
    The car and I are one.
    If the car goes fast, I go fast.

    Turning on the Computer
    Turning on the computer,
    I know why I am using it.
    I vow to transform habit energies
    to help love and understanding grow.

    Sweeping
    As I carefully sweep
    the ground of enlightenment,
    a tree of understanding
    springs up from the Earth.

    Lighting a candle
    Lighting this candle,
    Offering the light to countless Buddhas,
    the peace and the joy I feel
    brighten the face of the Earth.

    Gassho, Kiri
    Sat/Lah
    希 rare
    理 principle
    (Nikolas)

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