"Nourishing Happiness"

A text from the daily practice section of 'Chanting from the Heart - Buddhist Ceremonies and Daily Practice'

In this teaching, we are invited to nourish our happiness for our ancestors, our family, the future generations, and the whole of humanity. By using the energies of mindfulness, concentration, and insight we can gain an understanding about the nature of our suffering and, by recognising the conditions for happiness available in the present moment, by expressing gratitude for the Three Jewels, The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha and by using their power, we can continue to commit to look around us with eyes of love and a heart of understanding, listen with a clear mind and ears of compassion, bring peace and joy unto the lives of others. Thus, by practicing the art of mindful living and by nourishing our happiness, we can walk upon the path of transformation and honour life in its whole splendor.

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“Sitting here in this moment, protected by the Sangha,

my happiness is clear and alive.

What a great fortune to be born a human,

to encounter the Dharma,

to be in harmony of others,

and to water the Mind of Love

in this beautiful garden of practice.

The energies of the Sangha and mindfulness trainings

are protecting and helping me not make mistakes

or be swept along in darkness by unwholesome seeds.

With kind spiritual friends, I am on the path of goodness,

illuminated by the light of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

Although seeds of suffering are still in me

in the form of afflictions and habit energies,

mindfulness is also there, helping me touch

what is most wonderful within and around me.

I can still enjoy mindfulness of the six senses:

my eyes look peacefully upon the clear blue sky,

my ears listen with wonder to the songs of birds,

my nose smells the rich scent of sandalwood,

my tongue tastes the nectar of the Dharma,

my posture is upright, stable and relaxed,

and my mind is one with my body.

If there were not a World-Honored One,

if there were not the wonderful Dharma,

if there were not a harmonious Sangha,

I would not be so fortunate

to enjoy this Dharma happiness today.

My resources for practice are my own peace and joy.

I vow to cultivate and nourish them with daily mindfulness.

For my ancestors, family, future generations,

and the whole of humanity, I vow to practice well.

In my society I know that there are countless people suffering,

drowned in sensual pleasure, jealousy, and hatred.

I am determined to take care of my own mental formations,

to learn the art of deep listening and using loving speech

in order to encourage communication and understanding

and to be able to accept and love.

Practicing the actions of a bodhisattva,

I vow to look with eyes of love and a heart of understanding.

I vow to listen with a clear mind and ears of compassion,

bringing peace and joy unto the lives of others,

to lighten and alleviate the suffering of living beings.

I am aware that ignorance and wrong perceptions

can turn this world into a fiery hell. I vow to walk always upon the path of transformation,

producing understanding and loving kindness.

I will be able to cultivate a garden of awakening.

Although there is birth, sickness, old age, and death,

now I have a path of practice, I have nothing more to fear.

It is a great happiness to be alive in the Sangha

with the practice of mindfulness trainings and concentration,

to live every moment in stability and freedom

to take part in the work of relieving others’ suffering,

the career of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

In each precious moment, I am filled with deep gratitude.

I bow before the World-Honored One.

Please bear witness to my wholehearted gratitude,

embracing all beings with arms of great compassion.”