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.