Introduction to Tai Chi

Yo so bhagavaa araha”m sammaasambuddho
Svaakkhaato yena bhagavataa dhammo

Supa.tipanno yassa bhagavato saavakasa”ngho
Tammaya”m bhagavanta”m sadhamma”m sasa”ngha”m
Imehi sakkaarehi yathaaraha”m aaropitehi abhipuujayaama

Saadhu no bhante bhagavaa suciraparinibbutopi
Pacchimaa-janataa-nukampamaanasaa
Ime sakkaare duggata-pannaakaara-bhuute pa.tigga.nhaatu
Amhaaka”m diigharatta”m hitaaya sukhaaya

To the Blessed One, the Lord who fully attained perfect enlightenment,
To the Teaching which he expounded so well,
And to the Blessed One’s disciples, who have practised well,
To these - the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha -
We render with offerings our rightful homage.
It is well for us, Blessed One, that having attained liberation,
You still had compassion for later generations.
Deign to accept these simple offerings
For our long-lasting benefit and for the happiness it gives us.

Araha”m sammaasambuddho bhagavaa
Buddha”m bhagavanta”m abhivaademi

-(bow)-

Svaakkhaato bhagavataa dhammo
Dhamma”m namassaami

-(bow)-

Supatipanno bhagavato saavakasa”ngho
Sa”ngha”m namaami

-(bow)-

The Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened and Blessed One -
I render homage to the Buddha, the Blessed One.

-(bow)-

The Teaching so completely explained by him -
I bow to the Dhamma.

-(bow)-

The Blessed One’s disciples who have practised well
- I bow to to the Sangha.

-(bow)-

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaasambuddhassa
(Three times)

Itipi so bhagavaa araha”m sammaa-sambuddho
Vijjaa-cara.na-sampanno sugato lokaviduu
Anuttaro purisa-damma-saarathi satthaa deva-manussaana”m buddho bhagavaa

Tamaha”m bhagavanta”m abhipuujayaami
Tamaha”m bhagavanta”m sirasaa namaami

-(bow)-

He, the Blessed One, is indeed the Noble Lord, the Perfectly Enlightened
One;
He is impeccable in conduct and understanding, the Serene One, the Knower
of the Worlds;
He trains perfectly those who wish to be trained; he is Teacher of gods
and men; he is Awake and Holy.

I chant my praise to the Blessed One,
I bow my head to the Blessed One.

-(bow)-

Svaakkhaato bhagavataa dhammo
Sandi.t.thiko akaaliko ehipassiko
Opanayiko paccatta”m veditabbo vi~n~nuuhii

Tamaha”m dhamma”m abhipuujayaami
Tamaha”m dhamma”m sirasaa namaami

-(bow)-

The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
Apparent here and now, timeless, encouraging investigation,
Leading to liberation, to be experienced individually by the wise.

I chant my praise to this Teaching,
I bow my head to this Truth.

-(bow)-

Supa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa”ngho
Uju-pa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa”ngho
~Naaya-pa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa”ngho

Saamiici-pa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa”ngho
Yadida”m cattaari purisa-yugaani a.t.tha purisa-puggalaa
Esa bhagavato saavaka-sa”ngho
Aahuneyyo paahuneyyo dakkhi.neyyo añjali-kara.niiyo
Anuttara”m puññakkhetta”m lokassa

Tamaha”m sa”ngha”m abhipuujayaami
Tamaha”m sa”ngha”m sirasaa namaami

-(bow)-

They are the Blessed One’s disciples who have practised well,
Who have practised directly,
Who have practised insightfully,
Those who are accomplished in the practice;
That is the four pairs, the eight kinds of noble beings,
These are the Blessed One’s disciples.
Such ones are worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings,
worthy of respect;
They give occasion for incomparable goodness to arise in the world

I chant my praise to this Sangha,
I bow my head to this Sangha

-(bow)-

3. METTA SUTTA - The Buddha’s Words on Loving-Kindness

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in saftey,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.

4. THE REFUGES AND PRECEPTS

The “Going for Refuge” and taking the Precepts define a person
as a practising Buddhist.

Going for Refuge gives a continual perspective on life by referring one’s
conduct and understanding to the qualities of Buddha (wisdom), Dhamma
(truth) and Sangha (virtue). The Precepts are also for reflection and
to define one’s actions as a responsible human being.

There is a formal means of requesting the Refuges and Precepts from a
bhikkhu, which is as follows:

After bowing three times, with hands joined in Anjali,
recite the following:

Maya”m bhante, ti-sara.nena saha pa~nca siilaani yaacaama

Dutiyampi maya”m bhante, ti-sara.nena saha pa~nca siilaani yaacaama

Tatiyampi maya”m bhante, ti-sara.nena saha pa~nca siilaani yaacaama

(Note: When requesting individually, change Maya”m to Aha”m,
and Yaacaama to Yaacaami)

We, Venerable Sir, request the three Refuges and the Five Precepts.

For the second time, we, Venerable Sir, request the three Refuges and
the Five Precepts.

For the third time, we, Venerable Sir, request the three Refuges and
the Five Precepts.

Buddha”m sara.na”m gacchaami
Dhamma”m sara.na”m gacchaami

Sa”ngha”m sara.na”m gacchaami

Dutiyampi buddha”m sara.na”m gacchaami
Dutiyampi dhamma”m sara.na”m gacchaami
Dutiyampi sa”ngha”m sara.na”m gacchaami

Tatiyampi buddha”m sara.na”m gacchaami
Tatiyampi dhamma”m sara.na”m gacchaami
Tatiyampi sa”ngha”m sara.na”m gacchaami

To the Buddha I go for refuge.
To the Dhamma I go for refuge.
To the Sangha I go for refuge.

For the second time, to the Buddha I go for refuge.
For the second time, to the Dhamma I go for refuge.
For the second time, to the Sangha I go for refuge.

For the third time, to the Buddha I go for refuge.
For the third time, to the Dhamma 1 go for refuge.
For the third time, to the Sangha I go for refuge.

Leader:
Tisara.na-gamana”m ni.t.thita”m

Response:
— Aama bhante

Leader:
This completes the going to the Three Refuges.

Response:
— Yes, Venerable Sir.

4.2 THE FIVE PRECEPTS

To undertake the precepts, repeat each precept after the
leader:

1. Paa.naatipaataa verama.nii sikkhaa-pada”m samaadiyaami

2. Adinnaadaanaa verama.nii sikkhaa-pada”m samaadiyaami

3. Kaamesu micchaacaaraa verama.nii sikkhaa-pada”m samaadiyaami

4. Musaavaadaa verama.nii sikkhaa-pada”m samaadiyaami

5. Suraa-meraya-majja-pamaada.t.thaanaa verama.nii sikkhaa-pada”m
samaadiyaami

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.

5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating liquors and drugs
which lead to carelessness.

Leader:
Imaani pañca sikkhaa-padaani
Siilena sugati”m yanti

Siilena bhoga-sampadaa

Siilena nibbuti”m yanti

Tasmaa siila”m visodhaye

Response:
— Saadhu, saadhu, saadhu

-(bow three times)-

Leader:
These Five Precepts
Have morality as a vehicle for happiness,
Have morality as a vehicle for good fortune,
Have morality as a vehicle for liberation.

Let morality therefore be purified.

Response:
— Well said, well said, well said!

-(bow three times)-