Practice Poems
These "gathas" are short verses to recite silently as we go about our daily activities. Memorising these poems can help us cultivate the energy of mindfulness and arrive in the present moment, whatever we are doing. When we can touch the present moment deeply, we can touch the ultimate.
Thich Nhat Hanh suggests we breathe in mindfully with the first line of each poem, and breathe out mindfully with the second; breathe in with the third line and breathe out with the fourth. You may also like to smile.
Waking Up
Waking up this morning, I smile.
Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
and to look at beings with eyes of compassion.
Taking the First Steps of the Day
Walking on the Earth
is a miracle!
Each mindful step
reveals the wondrous Dharmakaya.
Stepping out of Bed
If today I inadvertently step on a small insect,
may it not suffer too much.
May it be liberated.
Homage to the Bodhisattva of the Land of Great Happiness.
Opening the Window
Opening the window, I look out onto the Dharmakaya.
How wondrous is life!
Attentive to each moment,
my mind is clear like a calm river.
Turning on the Water
Water comes from high mountain sources.
Water runs deep in the Earth.
Miraculously, water comes to us and sustains all life.
My gratitude is filled to the brim.
Washing Your Hands
Water flows over these hands.
May I use them skillfully
to preserve our precious planet.
Brushing Your Teeth
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 my heart.
Rinsing Your Mouth
Rinsing my mouth, my heart is cleansed.
The universe is perfumed by flowers.
Actions of body, speech, and mind are calmed.
Hand in hand with the Buddha, I walk in the Pure Land.
Using the Toilet
Defiled or immaculate,
increasing or decreasing -
these concepts exist only in our mind.
The reality of interbeing is unsurpassed.
Bathing
Unborn and indestructible,
beyond time and space -
both transmission and inheritance
lie in the wonderful nature of Dharmadhatu.
Looking in the Mirror
Awareness is a mirror
reflecting the four elements.
Beauty is a heart that generates love
and a mind that is open.
Washing Your Feet
The peace and joy
of one toe
is peace and joy
for my whole body.
Entering the Meditation Hall
Entering the meditation hall,
I see my true self.
As I sit down,
I vow to cut off all disturbances.
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.
Sitting Down
Sitting here
is like sitting under a Bodhi tree.
My body is mindfulness itself,
free from all distraction.
Finding a Stable Posture
In the lotus posture,
the human flower blooms.
The udumbara flower* is here,
offering its true fragrance.
*the udumbara flower blooms just once every three thousand years. But it can bloom in us at any moment, when the practice is stable.
Calming the Breath
Breathing in, I calm my body.
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment,
I know this is a wonderful moment!
Adjusting Posture
Feelings come and go
like clouds in a windy sky.
Conscious breathing
is my anchor.
Greeting Someone
A lotus for you
a Buddha to be.
Holding an Empty Bowl
Looking at this bowl,
I see how fortunate I am
to have enough to eat to continue the practice.
Serving Food
In this food,
I see clearly
the entire universe
supporting my existence.
Before Eating
Beings all over the Earth
are struggling to live.
I aspire to practice deeply
so all may have enough to eat.
Beginning to Eat
With the first taste, I offer joy.
With the second, I help relieve the suffering of others.
With the third, I see others’ joy as my own.
With the fourth, I learn the way of letting go.
Looking at Your Plate or Bowl after Eating
The meal is finished,
and I am statisfied.
The four gratitudes*
are deeply in my mind
*Four gratitudes- gratitude to parents, teachers, friends and all beings.
Impermanence
The day is ending and our life is one day shorter.
Let us look carefully at what we have done.
Let us practice diligently, putting our whole heart into the path of meditation.
Let us live deeply each moment and in freedom, so the time doesn’t slip away meaninglessly.
Smiling at Your Anger
Breathing in, I know that anger makes me not beautiful.
Breathing out, I smile.
I stay with my breathing
so I won’t lose myself.
Turning on the Computer
Turning on the computer,
my mind gets in touch with the store*.
I vow to transform habit energies
to help love and understanding grow.
*The store refers to alayavijñana, the consciousness where all seeds potentials are stored.
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.
Making a Short Journey Safely
Two-thirds of accidents
take place near home.
Knowing this, I am very careful
Even on a short trip.
Drinking Tea
This cup of tea in my two hands,
mindfulness held perfectly.
My mind and body dwell
in the very here and now.
Watering the Plants
Don’t think you are cut off, dear plant.
This water comes to you from the Earth and sky.
You and I have been together
since beginningless time.
Looking at My Hand
Whose hand is this
that has never died?
Has anyone been born?
Will anyone die?
Using the Telephone
Words can travel thousands of miles.
May my words create mutual understanding and love.
May they be as beautiful as gems,
as lovely as flowers.
Watering the Garden
The sunshine and the water
have brought about this luxurious vegetation.
The rain of compassion and understanding
can transform the dry desert into a vast fertile plain.
Walking Meditation
The mind can go in a thousand directions,
but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace.
With each step, a cool wind blows.
With each step, a flower blooms.
Turning on the Light
Forgetfulness is the darkness,
mindfulness is the light.
I bring awareness
to shine upon all life.
Washing Vegetables
In these vegetables,
I see a green sun.
All dharmas join together
to make life possible.
Gardening
Earth brings us to life and nourishes us.
Earth takes us back again.
We are born and we die with every breath.
Planting a Tree
I entrust myself to Earth;
Earth entrusts herself to me.
I entrust myself to Buddha;
Buddha entrusts herself to me.
Cleaning the Bathroom
How wonderful
to scrub and clean.
Day by day,
my heart and mind grow clearer.
Sweeping
As I carefully sweep
the ground of enlightenment,
a tree of understanding
springs up from the Earth.
Cleaning the Meditation Hall
As I clean
this fresh, calm room,
boundless joy
and energy arise!
Throwing Out the Garbage
In the garbage, I see a rose.
In the rose, I see compost.
Everything is in transformation.
Impermanence is life.
Cutting a Flower
May I cut you, little flower,
gift of Earth and sky?
Thank you, dear bodhisattva,
for making life so beautiful.
Arranging Flowers
Arranging these flowers
in the saha world*,
the ground of my mind
is calm and pure.
*The saha world is the "world of dust", where we need to practice patience.
Changing Water in a Vase
Water keeps the flower fresh.
The flower and I are one.
When the flower breathes, I breathe.
When the flower smiles, I smile.