Refuge Prayer - Thich Nhat Hahn

At the foot of the Bodhi tree,
beautifully seated, peaceful and smiling,
the living source of understanding and compassion,
to the Buddha I go for refuge.

The path of mindful living,
leading to healing, joy, and enlightenment,
the way of peace,
to the Dhamma I go for refuge.

The loving and supportive community of practice,
realizing harmony, awareness, and liberation,
to the Sangha I go for refuge.

I am aware that the Three Gems are within my heart.
I vow to realize them.

I vow to practice mindful breathing and smiling,
looking deeply into things.
I vow to understand living beings and their suffering,
to cultivate compassion and loving kindness,
and to practice joy and equanimity.

I vow to offer joy to one person in the morning
and to help relieve the grief of one person in the afternoon.

I vow to live simply and sanely,
content with just a few possessions,
and to keep my body healthy.

I vow to let go of all worry and anxiety in order to be light and free.
I am aware that I owe so much
to my parents, teachers, friends and all beings.

I vow to be worthy of their trust,
to practice wholeheartedly,
so that understanding and compassion will flower,
and I can help living beings
be free from their suffering.

May the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha support my efforts

The Five Precepts - from Manzanita Village

1 Aware of the violence in the world
and of the power of non-violent resistance
I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations
and vow to cultivate
the compassion that seeks to protect each living being.

2 Aware of the poverty and greed in the world
and of the intrinsic abundance of the earth,
I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations
and vow to cultivate
the simplicity, gratitude, and generosity that have no limits.

3 Aware of the abuse and lovelessness in the world
and of the healing that is made possible when we open to love
I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations
and vow to cultivate
respect for the beauty and erotic power of our bodies.

4 Aware of the falsehood and deception in the world
and of the power of living and speaking the truth
I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations
and vow to cultivate the ability to listen;
and clarity and integrity in all I communicate—by my words and actions.

5 Aware of the contamination and desecration of the world
and of my responsibility for life as it manifests through me
I stand in the presence of the ancestors, the earth, and future generations
and vow to cultivate
discernment and care in what I take into my body and mind.

The Bodhisatta Vow

Delusions are inexhaustible;
I vow to cultivate clearest wisdom.

The number of beings is endless;
I vow to awaken and achieve liberation with them all.

The Truth cannot be told;
I vow to tell it.

The Way which cannot be followed is unattainable;
I vow to attain it.

As long as there is suffering
As long as there are sentient beings in the six realms
May I never Awaken without all sentient beings
And never cross over into Nirvana
until all are ready to cross.