Ulūko maṇḍalakkhiko,
Vediyake ciradīghavāsiko;
Sukhito vata kosiyo ayaṃ,
Kāluṭṭhitaṃ passati buddhavaraṃ.
Mayi cittaṃ pasādetvā, bhikkhusaṅghe anuttare;
Kappānaṃ satasahassāni, duggatiṃ so na gacchati.
Devalokā cavitvāna, kusalakammena codito;
Bhavissati anantañāṇo, somanassoti vissutoti.
(ma. ni. aṭṭha. 1.144; khu. pā. aṭṭha. 5.10)
(Very rough retelling, explanation, and translation of the background story and stanza said by Lord Buddha, may you forgive us for the limitations)
Once,
An owl see Lord Buddha,
Then,
he come in front of Buddha’s feet and spread his wings,
Using his feathers to pay respect to Lord Buddha.
Buddha smile,
And bright white light illuminate His head area,
Venerable Ananda think that,
“Buddha will never smile without a reason”,
Then He ask Buddha the reason of the smile.
(Need to understand,
because of the 32 Great Man Auspicious Body Sign of Lord Buddha,
The shape of the jaw,
Buddha face is look like always a bit smiling, never stern,
Buddha reknown as mihita-pubba-puggala,
A Person With Smile.
But sometimes arise wider smile.)
Buddha later mention the stanza above.
The owl, the round-eyed one,
The long-time-dweller of the cornice,
With happiness, indeed, this owl,
When having risen, sees The Great Buddha.
Having pleased mind toward Me,
In Bhikkhu Sangha, The Unsurpassable One,
For hundred thousand kappa,
To bad rebirth, he will not go.
After passed from Deva Realm,
Reminded by beneficial kamma,
Immeasurable Wisdom will arise,
Widely famed as Somanassa.
(The owl will become a Paccekabuddha)
That is the benefit that will be enjoyed by an owl,
After pay respect to Lord Buddha.
How can one imagine the range of Benefit,
For a human,
Even without virtue, but
Willing to pay respect to Buddha and Sangha?
Therefore,
for your welfare and happiness in long time,
We encourage you,
O, Blessed Beings,
To do a simple habit,
From now on until your last day,
Day by day,
May you willing to,
At least pay respect to Buddha,
or even Sangha
3 times Vandana,
Bowing with 5 point touching earth,
2 knee, 2 elbow, and forehead.
Whether physically or through visualization.
And if possible,
Gently, encourage, inspire other to do so.
And, instead of “Hello”, as best as you can,
use “Namo Buddhaya” to greet each other.
Akkhi puja (Indonesian)
If you want even greater benefit and protection,
you can if you want, recite a phrase that can remind you
to Lord Buddha, or Dhamma, or Sangha.
for Example: Buddhā, Buddhā, Buddhā,
Samma Sambuddha, Lokaguru, Araham,…
Dhamma, Sanditthika, Akalika,….
Sanghā, Ahuneyya, Añjalikaraniya,…
or,
to recollect Triple Jewel all together,
with Paccekabuddha also,
one can recite:
Saranam, Saranam, Saranam…(Protection, Refuge)
Ratanam, Ratanam, Ratanam…(Jewel, Gem)
Paramam, Paramam, Paramam…(The Highest)
Lokasaranam, Mahasaranam…
in every activity, in heart or out loud.
Unthinkable are the benefits,
when you do it alone,
far more unthinkable if,
you able to inspire others.
If you ever done mistakes and evil, and
afraid about reborn in bad rebirth,
After having sincere intention to be better,
ask forgiveness from all beings in front of Triple Jewel,
(you can imagine Lord Buddha, with Dhammacakkapavattana hand gesture,
behind Him Sangha, bhikkhu and bhikkhuni)
and then everyday,
at least pay respect 3 times, recite praise to Triple Gem
as much as possible,
and try your best to avoid evil.
we’re not asking you to be perfect,
simply try your best,
if evil still happen,
don’t give up,
just continue pay respect, recite, and
declare Aspiration, the Main Prayer below.
Then, you will enjoy Great Safety.
of course, it is far better if
you practice Dana, Sila, Samadhi, Pañña, and
enjoy Arahantship.
but what we’re talking here is
simply about the most basic things, to
keep your Journey as safe as possible.
And then make aspiration like this,
To secure your Merit Power,
To multiply it power even far, far more unthinkably,
to bestow Immeasurable Blessings for you and All beings,
All Blessings are automatically included into this Prayer,
Good Life-span, beauty of body and heart, happiness of body and heart,
Power of body and heart, Wisdom, Freedom, Peace,
this Great Prayer is truly,
A Great Blessings. A Magical Boon. An Auspicious Gift.
May you recite it again and again,
at least once a day, even better day and night,
no evil inhuman beings dare to come close to those,
who recite it with sincere heart, everyday:
“By the power of All Merit, All Parami,
All Buddha, All Dhamma, All Paccekabuddha, All Sangha,
By the power of All Beneficial Niyama,
May I, may you, may all beings
In the entire Universe,
Enjoy Ultimate Liberation,
Arahantship,
As soon as possible, as comfort as possible,
As effective, as efficient as possible,
In this very moment,
Now.”
This is a great Blessing,
that a good father can grant to a daughter,
This is a great Boon,
that a kind mother can bestow to a son,
This is a great Gift,
that a loyal friend can give to a friend,
This is a great Fortune,
that a wise man can shine onto himself.
May All 38 Blessings, eternally, Be.