(adapted from a Liturgy by Buddhist Priest Doug Corpolongo)
(Usage notation: L is leader of the service, C is congregation, and A is all)
(The congregation should be seated in the Lotus position or in some other comfortable meditative position. The Leader, facing an altar on which is contained a figurine or picture of a Buddha, a candle, an incense bowl, fresh flowers, an offering of dried rice or dried lentils, and a bell or gong, bows with hands together. He/She lights the candle and a stick of incense the rings the bell or strikes the gong, turning to the people and saying:)
L: To know all
the Buddhas
Of past, present and future
Only perceive that all worlds of experience
Are totally created by the mind
A: Namo the Flower is in the Lotus
Commencement of Liturgy
Homage
(The bell is rung three times)
A: Homage to the Eternal Buddha, Homage to Guatama
Buddha, Homage to all Buddhas past present and future,
Homage to all Bodhisattvas, Homage to all Arhats,
Homage to all Monastic Disciples, Homage to all Lay
Disciples, Homage to all who seek the truth, Homage to
all Sentient Beings.
Tao Te Ching
l: The Tao that can be told is not the Eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the Eternal Name
The Nameless is the beginning of Heaven and Earth.
The Three Refuges
(The bell is rung three times)
A:We take refuge in the Buddha, and wish all sentient
beings, will awaken to the Great Path, and make the
Supreme Resolution.
We take refuge in
the Dharma, and wish all sentient
beings, will penetrate the Sutras, their wisdom as
deep as the ocean.
We take refuge in
Sangha, and wish all sentient beings
will be brought together in Great Harmony, without any
obstructions at all.
L: May we always
be free from the taints of ignorance and
delusion.
A: We repent
of our misdeeds and evil committed
under ignorance and delusion. May they expiated at
once and may they never rise again.
L:May we always be
free from the taints of arrogance and
dishonesty.
A: We
repent of our arrogant behavior and
dishonest dealing in the past. May they be expiated at
once and they never rise again.
L: May we always
be free from the taints of envy and
jealousy.
C: We repent
of our misdeeds and evil committed
in an envious and jealous spirit. May they expiated at
once and may they never rise again.
The
Five Precepts
(The bell is rung three times)
L: We take to ourselves the Precept,
A: Do No Harm.
L: We take to ourselves the Precept,
A: Do
Not Steal.
L: We take to ourselves the Precept,
A:
Abstain from Promiscuity.
L: We take to ourselves the Precept,
A: Do Not
Deceive.
L: We take to ourselves the Precept,
A: Abstain from Intoxication.
L: When our mind is in delusion the Sutras turn us around.
C: With an
enlightened mind we turn the Sutras instead.
L: To recite the Sutras for a considerable time without
knowing their principal object Indicates that you are a stranger to their
meaning.
C: The correct way to recite them is without holding any arbitrary
belief;
Otherwise it is wrong.
A: He who is above affirmative and negative Rides the Vehicle of the
Buddha.
The Heart Sutra
L: Homage to Perfect Wisdom, the lovely, the holy. The Bodhisattva
Avalokita, while moving in the deep course of Perfect Wisdom, shed light on the
five aggregates and found them equally empty. After this penetration, he
overcame all pain. Listen, Sariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form, form
does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. The same is
true with feeling,
perception, mental functioning, and consciousness. Hear, Sariputra, all
Dharmas are marked with emptiness; they are neither produced nor destroyed;
neither defiled or immaculate, neither increasing or decreasing.
Therefore, in emptiness there is neither form, nor feeling, nor perception, nor
mental functioning; no eye, or ear, or nose, or tongue, or body, or mind; no
form, no sound, no smell elements, no interdependent origins, no extinction of
death and decay, no suffering, no origination of suffering, no extinction, no
path, no wisdom, no attainment. Because there is no attainment, the
Bodhisattva, basing upon Perfect Wisdom, finds no obstacles for his mind. Having
no obstacles, he overcomes fear, liberating himself forever from illusion and
assault and realizing Perfect Nirvana. All Buddhas past, present and
future, thanks to this Perfect Wisdom, arrive to full, right, and Universal
Enlightenment. Therefore we should know that Perfect Wisdom is the Great
Mantra, is the highest mantra, the destroyer of all suffering, the incorruptible
truth. A mantra of
Prajnaparamita should therefore be proclaimed. It is this:
A: Gone, gone, gone to the other shore, gone together to the other
shore. O Awakening! All Hail!
The Prajnaparamita Sutra
L: From the beginning there is nothing to be sought already within is the
complete solution. There is no sense in traveling, no sense in seeking to
get from a learned teacher the wisdom you already posses. No sense in
austerity, mindlessly sitting sifting and searching for another's insights.
No sense in adopting ceremonies, rituals, oblations, doing good just to feel
good trying to reach a destination hidden in your heart. No sense in
walking to reach a goal that isn't there. No sense in thinking to solve a
problem that doesn't exist. All you have to do this minute is stop - turn
the mind upon itself, draw your sense within, turn yourself inside out:
Gazing into the lake of awareness, let what is there emerge from its lair, let
what is there invade you breathing, let what is there pulsate your heart, let
what is there warm your loins, spin you skull. What is this anguish of
seeking in the future that, which is already lying in the palms of your hands?
Right now - You have it. Hold it close - look directly behind your own
face. Grasping the monster firm, let him be or he'll ride
you out again along the paths of time. And let it all go.
A: Gone, gone, altogether gone. See within - the Universe ringing
in my ears. Time and space are simply the ring through which the Tiger
jumps.
(A warning is read by the Leader to the Assembly prior to meditation. The bell is rung three times.)
L:This day has passed, our lives too, are closing. Like fish with too
little water, joy will not last. Let us work with pure effort, Work as if
our heads were aflame. Be mindful of impermanence. Be careful
of idleness.
Meditation
(A period of 10-15 minutes of meditation commences.)
The
Four Great Vows
(The bell is rung three times to conclude meditation.)
A: We vow to deliver innumerable sentient beings
We vow to cut off endless vexations
We vow to master limitless approaches to the Dharma
We vow to attain supreme Buddhahood.
Transfer of Merit
A:
We wish all merits, Deriving now or in the future,
From these practices, To be distributed everywhere,
For the good of all.
We pray for the flourishing of the Buddha's Dharma.
For Peace in the World,
For the joy and contentment of all people,
For reedom and ease of Body and mind of all people,
May all sentient beings depart from suffering.
May the vows of the donors be fulfilled.
Lotus Sutra
L:
Any among the living creatures; who have come into
contact with former Buddhas, have learned the Dharma and practiced charity. or have
undergone discipline and endured forbearance and
humility, or have made serious efforts at concentration and understanding;
All these people have attained the Buddha way. Those people who for the sake of the Buddha installed images or had them carved; All these people have attained the Buddha way. Those with a happy mind; have sung glory to the Buddha; even with a small sound, or have worshipped, or have merely folded their hands, or have uttered once, "Homage to the Buddha"; All these people have attained the Buddha way. Past Buddhas after they passed away from this world; those that preach the Dharma; All these people have attained the Buddha way. Future Buddhas, their number will be infinite; All these Tathagatas will preach Dharma by suitable means. All these Buddhas will save all sentient beings; And enable them to dwell in the Puree Wisdom of the Buddha. Among all who have heard the Dharma, none will fail to become the Buddha.
Diamond Sutra
L:
Think shall ye of all this fleeting world;
A star at dawn, a bubble in the stream;
A flash of lightening in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream.
Homage
(The bell is rung three times)
A:
Homage to the Eternal Buddha, Homage to Guatama
Buddha, Homage to all Buddhas past present and future,
Homage to all Bodhisattvas, Homage to all Arhats,
Homage to all Monastic Disciples, Homage to all Lay
Disciples, Homage to all who seek the truth, Homage to
all Sentient Beings.
Conclusion of Liturgy
(The bell is rung three times and the candle is extinguished)