With the seven part offering
From the [Prayer of] Noble Conduct
With the thought never to turn back
Till you gain ultimate enlightenment,
And with strong faith in the Three Jewels,
Kneeling with one knee on the ground
And your hands pressed together,
First of all take refuge three times.
There are two verses this time because the meaning of the two verses runs together. The first two lines say to first recite the seven limbed prayer. This prayer was first spoken by Samantabhadra in the Avatamsaka Sutra. ("Noble Conduct" is how this translation gives his name.) This prayer is very often used in Tibetan Buddhism, so you may be familiar with it. If not, here is a simple version.
ReplyDeleteAfter reciting this prayer, one then takes the refuge vow. This vow can be taken for a single life, which is how a bodhisattva takes it, or it can be taken until one attains Buddhahood (ultimate enlightenment), which is how bodhisattvas take it.
The second verse describes the posture for taking the refuge vow. One takes refuge in the Three Jewels, the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. You are probably familiar with the refuge vow. If not, here is the explanation on Wikipedia.
This vow can be taken for a single life, which is how a bodhisattva takes it, or it can be taken until one attains Buddhahood (ultimate enlightenment), which is how bodhisattvas take it.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to have repeated yourself here. Could you clarify the distinction between those who take it for one lifetime and those who take it for ultimate enlightenment?