Wake Up and Laugh!

I take refuge in one mind,
it guides all life to the bright path,
which is neither longer nor shorter,
sooner nor later.

I take refuge in one mind,
always protecting us,
it enriches us
and gives us the taste of the Dharma.

I take refuge in one mind,
with a single thought
transcending time and space,
it nurtures all.

I take refuge in one mind,
endlessly giving light to all.

If you want, try reciting one verse in the morning, and the other in the afternoon.

I take refuge in one mind,
with all-embracing harmony
it saves all beings everywhere.

I take refuge in one mind,
which completely looks after all beings
throughout the world and universe.

It’s not bad to remind ourselves that it’s not “me” that’s doing things.

I take refuge in one mind, with a thousand hands
it ceaselessly takes care of all things.

I take refuge in one mind, remaining just as it is
it ceaselessly takes care of all things.

This is the Morning Blessing, recited by the senior sunim attending the morning ceremony. It’s very close to the traditional version, so not as “zen” as some might prefer, but it’s still a great text, and its message and the direction are still very good for people.

Lighting candles and offering incense
before the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha,
every morning and evening,
May the heavens and the Earth be peaceful,
may warfare and violence disappear
may the land be calm and stable
and the Dharma Wheel always turning.

In this and all future lives,
wherever they may take place,
let me always reside with the great wisdom, the Prajna wisdom
and never step back from this,
so that I may attain the brave wisdom of Sakyamuni Buddha,
so that I may attain the great enlightenment of Vairocana Buddha,
so that I may attain the great wisdom of Manjusri,
so that I may attain the great ability of Samantabhadra to manifest and act,
so that I may attain the great ability of Ksitigarbha to reach out across the world,
so that I may attain the 32 manifestations of Avalokitesvara.
May I attain all of these abilities
so that, without any thought of doing,
I can manifest across the world
and help lead unenlightened beings out of suffering.
Upon hearing my name, may all those still trapped
in the three evil paths
obtain relief from their suffering,
and may those who see my appearance
attain true freedom.

May I help all beings see the path,
may I free them even though it takes a thousand eons,
so that they can grow and move forward,
and all attain the state of great liberation,
where there are no unenlightened beings,
nor Buddhas to save them.
May our temple be serene and at peace,
may all worry and sadness come to an end here.
May this great place of practice be forever untouched by disasters.
May the infinite ability of one mind protect this place of the Buddha, Dharma,
and Sangha.
May the infinite light of one mind always shine within this place.
May even the lowest worm evolve and reach the other shore.
May we throughout all time fulfill the roles of a Bodhisattva.
May we utterly, completely, thoroughly
attain the essence of the Buddha’s teachings.
May we all attain complete and ultimate wisdom.

Homage to Shakyamuni Buddha
Homage to Shakyamuni Buddha
Homage to to my inherent teacher,
which took the form of Shakyamuni Buddha

I take refuge in Buddha and one mind, which encompasses the endless universe and all things with life and without.

Try to recite these once or twice a day, three times or more. Just let them sink down within you. Reciting them in the morning helps set the course for your day, and reciting them at night sets the course for your dreams! (Probably! Lol.)

Through one mind I take refuge in Buddha, who watches over and takes care of all material and nonmaterial realms.

Should the mind of an animal arise within me, let me learn the truth of non-duality through the deep wisdom of one mind.

When I rely upon my one mind for everything, should the mind of an evil spirit arise within me, it will willingly surrender to my one mind.

This is an interesting verse, in that it doesn’t promise that everything will be taken care of, but rather that should I be taken over by the attitude of a hungry ghost, then my one mind has the capability, should I try to rely upon it, to embrace that attitude and cause it to dissolve.

When my mind acts like a hungry ghost, my one mind can embrace that consciousness and cause it to surrender.
Experiencing oneness, it is truly fulfilled.