Morning Puja and Meditation

We begin each day with a recitation of the Morning Puja (see below). This takes about ten minutes, and is followed by an open sit of one's own choice, for those who can stay on. We end with the verses again and close the Zoom at 8.45am.  Feel free to leave as and when you need to.  

Open to everyone who has attended (or is attending) either a course or meditation with York Buddhist Centre. 

Email scarboroughtriratnagroup@gmail.com  for the Zoom joining link.

The Morning Puja beautifully condenses the essentials of why we make the effort to practice the Dharma. 

It is based on the verses of the The Four Reminders:

[1] This human life is precious,
An opportunity to awaken,

[2] But this body is impermanent; 
Ready or not, one day I shall die. 
So this life I must know 
As the tiny splash of a raindrop, 
A thing of beauty that disappears 
Even as it comes into being.

[3] The karma I create 
Shapes the course of my life, 
But however I act 
[4] Life always has difficulties;
No-one can control it all. 
Only the Dharma 
Can free me and others 
From suffering forever.

Therefore I recall 
My heart’s longing for freedom, 
And resolve to make use 
Of every day and night 
To realise it

We follow this with the Refuges and Precepts and the Four Brahma Viharas, which are a short set of Buddhist verses expressing love, compassion, joy, and equanimity.