Gathas reloaded :)

[Entai]

When I feel that sitting is difficult,
I vow with all beings to see the ease in which my cat sits and to follow her lead.

[Nindo]

Wow great stuff everybody! Kokuu, you have a real talent for these!

[Kyonin]

Yes!

Gathas are a fantastic way to realize every moment and to focus the mind in what we do or eat.

Thank you Mongen!

Gassho,

Kyonin

[Khalil Bodhi]

Work Gatha


May this work be done in the spirit of generosity

Realizing that merit is the only wage we should seek.

May this work not be motivated by greed, hatred or delusion


May kindness sustain us and prevail in conflict,

May compassion guide us and lead us to understanding,

May we rejoice in the successes of others

May we remain unshaken by praise and blame.

[pinoybuddhist]

This morning while brewing coffee and preparing breakfast I came up some gathas for each activity. I don't remember the exact words as they just came to me in the moment, and I didn't want to over-think or memorize them, so what I'm posting here are pretty much the gist of what I recited in as much as I can recall them.

Sipping Coffee Gatha
Sipping this coffee,
may I awaken to Buddhanature like Bodhidharma

Slicing Orange Gatha
Slicing this orange
May I cut through the inexhaustible delusions

Washing Dishes Gatha (Here I was riffing on my previous Changing Diaper gatha)
Washing the dishes,
May we all realize the un-soilable Buddhanature: not one, not two.


Raffy

[Nengyo]

Some very nice gathas here. I will try to use a few tomorrow.

[Josan]

When angry, things have to be even simpler IMHO, as thinking is impeded then.
This is totally non-Buddhist though.
I take a deep breath, smile to myself and just think "F**k it!". Then I breathe out slowly.
May be primitive, but it works. (Sometimes adding "It does not matter that much." can be useful).

Gassho,

Daitetsu

Great suggestion My goaless goal has been to eliminate anger (which may be impossible ) although my Plan B goaless goal is to create enough time between feeling anger and reacting to it. This "gatha" is fast and somehow makes the feeling of anger laughable
Gassho Daitetsu,
David

[Kokuu]

Good morning!

A couple that have come to mind this morning:

Running the bath water
my body is the buddha’s body
I wash away greed, anger and ignorance
and vow to benefit all of life.

Putting on my clothes
I give thanks for the fibres that keep me warm
Each garment is a precious reminder
of the kindness of all beings.


Gassho
Kokuu

[Daiyo]

Sitting with the storm
I seek shelter in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
As the rain falls down,
May it clean our mind from the three poisons.
May all sentient beings have pure water to drink.

[Jishin]

Gathas reloaded

Meal ghatta:

This food is a gift from the universe

May it nourish my practice

Simple enough that even I can remember it.

Gassho, Jishin

[RichardH]

Stories are for books
Melodrama is for movies

Sitting there is no story or melodrama
every day is a new day. every face is a fresh face


Gassho

[jeff_u]

Thank you all for these treasures.

Gassho,
Jeff

[Matt]

Thanks for sharing this gatha practice, Hans. Going to try some of these out. Gassho, Matt J

[Nameless]

Wonderful Gathas! Sometimes we encounter difficulty and difficult personae, here's one to say silently during those moments:

Though there is irritation
It is anicca and anatta
And the irritant also is
Buddha Nature

Gassho, John

[Risho]

Stories are for books
Melodrama is for movies

Sitting there is no story or melodrama
every day is a new day. every face is a fresh face


Gassho

Nice!!!!

Gassho,

Risho