Vesak Ceremony Preparation

Vesak Practices
Seattle Insight Meditation Society
Wednesday, 5/3/2023, 6:30-7:30 PM

We want to offer practices to honor Vesak for both those with limited time and those with more time in their day and week. Please join us in practice on this special day and throughout this week.  –  Tuere and Tim, Guiding Teachers

Here is an article tracing some of the key moments of the Buddha’s life as described in the suttas:  

Practices for those with limited time in their day:
1)    Practice twice today, might be 5 minutes, might be 30 to 60 minutes.  
2)    Pick one precept and one hindrance to focus on today as you engage with your life.

Five Precepts:           

• Refraining from killing and harming. Practice non-harm.
• Refraining from stealing. Practice generosity.
• Refraining from sexual misconduct. Practice caring attention.
• Refraining from lying. Practice speaking the truth with a kind heart.
• Refraining from intoxication. Practice heedfulness.

Five Hindrances: 

• Craving/Desire
• Aversion
• Restlessness and Worry
• Sloth and Torpor
• Doubt

3)    Once an hour, on the hour, pause for 30 seconds or a few minutes. Reflect on the Buddha. Try chanting the homage and refuges:

Homage:

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa 
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa 
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa 

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the supremely Enlightened One! 
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the supremely Enlightened One! 
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the supremely Enlightened One!

Refuges: 

Buddham saranam gacchāmi. 
Dhammam saranam gacchāmi. 
Sangham saranam gacchāmi. 

Dutiyam’pi Buddham saranam gacchāmi. 
Dutiyam’pi Dhammam saranam gacchāmi. 
Dutiyam’pi Sangham saranam gacchāmi. 

Tatiyam’pi Buddham saranam gacchāmi. 
Tatiyam’pi Dhammam saranam gacchāmi. 
Tatiyam’pi Sangham saranam gacchāmi. 

I go for refuge ♦ to the Buddha. 
I go for refuge ♦ to the Dhamma. 
I go for refuge ♦ to the Sangha. 

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

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

Practices for people with more time in their day:

First, decide how long you want to practice an hour, 1/2 day or all day.

Second, formally take the refuges and precepts for your period of practice.  This is to create a container.  

Third, set a schedule of alternating sitting and walking (30 min each or 20 min sit/10 min walk). This is to create structure.  

Keep your focus on the present moment.  Whatever arises is to be practiced with.  It is to be felt and understood.  Do not be swayed by the desire to quit.  Take note of the hindrances of desire, aversion, restlessness, sloth/torpor or doubt. Remind yourself often that you are simply cultivating the continuity of mindfulness.  And remember to connect to gratitude for being able to spend this time practicing.  You are practicing with hundreds of thousands of yogis all over the world.   

At the end of your schedule of practice (or the end of the day) listen to a Dhamma Talk – Here are a couple suggestions from Dharma Seed: