Let's Pray Daily - Virtual Vihara

[thang]

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammasambuddhasssa !



[Let's pray Tiratana by posting a verse here.]

[thang]

Namami Buddham Gunasagarantam !
Namami Dhammam Sugatena Desitam !
Namami Sangham Munirajasavakam !

[thomaslaw]

Namami Buddham Gunasagarantam !
Namami Dhammam Sugatena Desitam !
Namami Sangham Munirajasavakam !

Could you explain what are the meanings of the Pali words?

[Dhammanando]

Could you explain what are the meanings of the Pali words?

Namāmi buddhaṃ guṇasāgarantaṃ
I salute the Buddha, whose virtues are immeasurable as the ocean.

Namāmi dhammaṃ sugatena desitaṃ
I salute the Dhamma taught by the Sugata.

Namāmi saṅghaṃ munirājasāvakaṃ
I salute the Sangha of disciples of the King of Sages.

[thang]

Glad at heart,
I pay homage to the supreme sage-
the giver of Blissful Peace,
the Great Ocean of virtue,
the physician for the samsaric ills of beings,
the sun that dispels the pitchy darkness of false views.

(Venerable Great Poet of Vidagama -
Translated by:Bhikkhu K. Nanananda)

[thang]

Pleased in mind,
I pay homage to the true Dhamma
proclaimed by the Buddha
with discerning wisdom
to suit the levels of understanding of all beings-
the Dhamma which invites one to come-and-see
and which is comprehensible by each
according to his degree of intelligence.

(Venerable Great Poet of Vidagama -
Translated by:Bhikkhu K. Nanananda)

[dylanj]

Glad at heart,
I pay homage to the supreme sage-
the giver of Blissful Peace,
the Great Ocean of virtue,
the physician for the samsaric ills of beings,
the sun that dispels the pitchy darkness of false views.

(Venerable Great Poet of Vidagama -
Translated by:Bhikkhu K. Nanananda)

Pleased in mind,
I pay homage to the true Dhamma
proclaimed by the Buddha
with discerning wisdom
to suit the levels of understanding of all beings-
the Dhamma which invites one to come-and-see
and which is comprehensible by each
according to his degree of intelligence.

(Venerable Great Poet of Vidagama -
Translated by:Bhikkhu K. Nanananda)

With clasped hands on my forehead
I bow down to the Great Sangha
The worthy order rich in virtue,
coming down from the lineage
of the Venerables Sāriputta and Moggallāna
for whom the heads of illustrious Brahmas
served as a door-mat for rubbing their feet on.

[thang]

Whatever treasure there be
either here or in the world beyond,
whatever precious jewel there be
in the heavenly worlds,
there is nought comparable to the Tathagata.
This precious jewel is the Buddha.
By this truth may there be happiness.

[Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse]

[thomaslaw]

Having read the expressions, I can see how the individual mind consciously develops the words of the devotional faith to the Buddha, his dhammas, and his assembly.

Such a devotional faith to the Buddha seems similar to the faith-faculty (saddhindriya) and power (saddhaabala) in the teachings of the five faculties (pa~nca indriyaani) and the five powers (pa~nca balaani) according to the Indriya Sa.myutta and Bala Sa.myutta of SN.

[thang]

That Cessation, that Detachment,
that Deathlessness supreme,
the calm and collected Sakyan Sage
the Buddha had realized.
There is nought comparable to this Dhamma.
This precious jewel is the Dhamma.
By this of the truth may there be happiness.

[Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse]

[thang]

The eight persons extolled by virtuous men
constitute four pairs.
They are the disciples of the Buddha
and are worthy of offerings.
Gifts given to them yield rich results.
This precious jewel is the Sangha.
By this truth may there be happiness.

[Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse]

[thang]

1. Vipassissa ca namatthu,
cakkhumantassa sirīmato.
Sikhissa pi ca namatthu,
sabbabhūtanukampino.

Homage to Vipassī Buddha, possessed of the eyes of enlightenment and of glory. And homage to Sikhi Buddha, the most compassionate towards all beings.

2. Vessabhussa ca namatthu,
nahātakassa tapassino.
Namatthu Kakusandhassa,
Mārasenāpamaddino.

Homage also to Vesssabhu Buddha, washed clean from all defilements and endowed with ascetic spirit. Homage to Kakusandha Buddha too, the conqueror of the army of Death (Māra).

3. Koṇāgamanassa namatthu,
brāmhaṇassa vusīmato.
Kassapassa ca namatthu,
vippamuttassa sabbadhi.

Homage to Koṇāgamana Buddha, who had abandoned all evils, and lived the holy life. Homage also to Kassapa Buddha, who had been emancipated from all defilements.

4. Aṅgīrasassa namatthu,
Sakyaputtassa sirīmato,
Yo imaṃ dhammaṃ desesi,
sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṃ.

Homage to Buddha Gotama, whose body shone with radiating halo, the son of Sakyan and with splendorous glory, who expounded this doctrine which eradicates all sufferings.

5. Ye cāpi nibbutā loke,
yathābhūtaṃ vipassisuṃ,
Te janā¹ apisunā,
mahantā vītasāradā.

Whosoever have extinguished the flames of passion in this world, they have seen thoroughly the natural phenomena as they really are. These persons never slander, but they are noble, and free from fear.

Atanatiya Sutta

[thomaslaw]

Hi

Ritual worship to Maha Brahma is also part of Theravada Buddhism, particularly in Thai tradition (may be also other Buddhist traditions). How do the Buddhist or religious followers present their prayer to Maha Brahma? Do they have any regulations for the worship?

[thang]

Ritual worship to Maha Brahma is also part of Theravada Buddhism.

No. It is not Theravada. We have never heard of. May be a practice of some ritualistic temples influenced by Hindu culture.
How Mahavihara Theravada tradition saw Maha Brahma is like below.

Lowada Sangarava - A poem of 15th century Sri Lanka by Ven. Vidagama Maithreya Maha Thera:

"With clasped hands on my forehead
I bow down to the Great Sangha
The worthy order rich in virtue,
coming down from the lineage
of the Venerables Sāriputta and Moggallāna
for whom the heads of illustrious Brahmas
served as a door-mat for rubbing their feet on."

[Eko Care]

That Cessation, that Detachment,
that Deathlessness supreme,
the calm and collected Sakyan Sage
the Buddha had realized.
There is nought comparable to this Dhamma.
This precious jewel is the Dhamma.
By this of the truth may there be happiness.

[Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse]