Metta Sutta - The Buddha's Words on Loving-Kindness

This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech.
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied.
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,
Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born,
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings:
Radiating kindness over the entire world
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.

이아립 - 누구도 일러주지 않았네

홀로 버려진 길 위에서
견딜 수 없이 울고 싶은 이유를
나도 몰래 사랑하는 까닭을
그누구도 내게 일러주지 않았네

왜 사랑은 이렇게 두려운지
그런데 왜 하늘은 맑고 높은지
왜 하루도 그댈 잊을 수 없는건지
그 누구도 내게 일러주지 않았네

조금 더 가까이 다가갈까
그냥 또 이렇게 기다리네
왜 하필 그대를 만난걸까
이제는 나는 또 어디를 울면서 가야할까

왜 사랑은 이렇게 두려운지
그런데 왜 하늘은 맑고 높은지
왜 하루도 그댈 잊을 수 없는건지
그 누구도 내게 일러주지 않았네
그 누구도 내게 일러주지 않았네
–

스웨터 - 봄날은 간다

연분홍 치마가 봄바람에 휘날리더라
오늘도 옷고름 씹어가며
산제비 넘나드는 성황당 길에
꽃이 피면 같이 웃고 꽃이 지면 같이 울던
알뜰한 그 맹세에 봄날은 간다

새파란 풀잎이 물에 떠서 흘러가더라
오늘도 꽃편지 내던지며
청노새 짤랑대는 역마차 길에
별이 뜨면 서로 웃고 별이 지면 서로 울던
실없는 그 기약에 봄날은 간다

열아홉 시절은 황혼 속에 슬퍼지더라
오늘도 앙가슴 두드리며
뜬구름 흘러가는 신작로 길에
새가 날면 따라 웃고 새가 울면 따라 울던
얄궂은 그 노래에 봄날은 간다
–

김추자 - 님은 먼곳에

사랑한다고 말할걸 그랬지 님이 아니면 못산다할것을
사랑한다고 말할걸 그랬지 망설이다가 가버린 사람

마음주고 눈물주고 꿈도 주고 멀어져갔네
님은 먼곳에 영원히 먼곳에 망설이다가 님은 먼곳에

사랑한다고 말할걸 그랬지 망설이다가 가버린 사람
마음주고 눈물주고 꿈도 주고 멀어져갔네 님은 먼곳에
영원히 먼곳에 망설이다가 님은 먼곳에
–

장현 - 미련

내 마음이 가는 그곳에 너무나도 그리운 사람
갈 수 없는 먼 곳이기에 그리움만 더하는 사람

코스모스 길을 따라서 끝이 없이 생각할 때에
보고 싶어 가고 싶어서 슬퍼지는 내 마음이여

미련 없이 잊으려 해도 너무 나도 그리운 사람
가을 하늘 드높은 곳에 내 사연을 전해 볼까나

기약한 날 우리 없는데 지나간 날 그리워 하네
먼 훗날에 돌아온다면 변함없이 다정하리라
–

김건모 - 미련

그대가 나를 떠나고 혼자라는 사실때문에
얼마나 많은 밤을 숨죽여 살아 왔는지
오늘도 비는 내려와 젖어 드는 너의 생각에
아무소용없는 기다림이 부담스러워

보고싶어서 눈을 뜰수가 없어.
살아있는 순간조차 힘겨우니까..
이젠 버릴수도 없어 널 그리는 습관들..
나 그만 지쳐 잠들것 같아..

잊을수 있을것 같다 스스로 위안도 하지만..
버리고 버려도 끝이 없는 너의 그리움~

보고 싶어서 눈을 뜰수가 없어.
살아 있는순간조차 힘겨우니까..
이젠 버릴수도 없어 널 그리는 습관들..
나 그만 지쳐 잠들것 같아.

오오~미워했었어 나를 떠난 그대를..
보고 싶어 미워지는 내맘을 알까
이젠 버릴수도 없어 널 그리는 습관들
나 그만 지쳐 잠들것 같아. 우~~

잊을수 있을것 같다 스스로 위안도 하지만..
버리고 버려도 끝이 없는 너의 그리움~
–

Buddhist Prayers

Universal Love Aspiration


Through the working of Great Compassion
in their hearts,
May all beings have happiness
and the causes of happiness,
May all be free from sorrow
and the causes of sorrow;
May all never be separated from the
sacred happiness, which is sorrowless;
And may all live in equanimity,
Without too much attachment
and too much aversion;
and live believing in the equality of
all that lives. Namo Amida Buddha



Daily Affirmation Prayer


Entrusting in the Primal Vow of Buddha,
Calling out the Buddha-name,
I shall pass through the journey of life with strength and joy.

Revering the Light of Buddha,
Reflecting upon my imperfect self,
I shall proceed to live a life of gratitude.

Following the Teachings of Buddha,
Listening to the Right Path,
I shall share the True Dharma with all.

Rejoicing in the compassion of Buddha,
Respecting and aiding all sentient beings,
I shall work towards the welfare of society and the world.



Golden Chain Prayer


We are a link in Amidas golden chain
of love that stretches around the world.
We will keep our link bright and strong.

We will be kind and gentle to every living thing and
protect all who are weaker than ourselves.

We will think pure and beautiful thoughts,
say pure and beautiful words,
and do pure and beautiful deeds.

May every link in Amidas chain of love be bright and strong,
and may we all attain perfect peace. Namo Amida Buddha.



Prayer for Light


O Amida, I enjoin my hands and pray to you,
who resides in every quarter, direction and within my heart.
Let your Primal Vow kindle the Light of Dharma in all beings,
for those who grope bewildered in the gloom of sorrow.
Namo Amida Buddha.



Refuge Prayer


O Amida, I take refuge in you,
Ocean of Oneness, Eternal Life and Light;
Entrusting with my whole heart and mind
In your Primal Vow;
I am empowered by you to live a full, Compassionate and creative life,
I dedicate myself to the service of all beings,
Striving to help others realize,
Their human potential and Enlightenment;
May your Teachings guide me
Throughout the day, in my relationships, work and play. Namo Amida Buddha



Metta Karuna Prayer


O Amida,
Oneness of Life and Light,
Entrusting in your Great Compassion,
May you shed the foolishness in myself,
Transforming me into a conduit of Love.
May I be a medicine for the sick and weary,
Nursing their afflictions until they are cured;
May I become food and drink,
During time of famine,
May I protect the helpless and the poor,
May I be a lamp,
For those who need your Light,
May I be a bed for those who need rest,
and guide all seekers to the Other Shore.
May all find happiness through my actions,
and let no one suffer because of me.
Whether they love or hate me,
Whether they hurt or wrong me,
May they all obtain true entrusting,
Through Other Power,
and realize Supreme Nirvana.
Namo Amida Buddha



Buddhist Mealtime Prayer


This food is the gift of the whole universe,
Each morsel is a sacrifice of life,
May I be worthy to receive it.
May the energy in this food,
Give me the strength,
To transform my unwholesome qualities
into wholesome ones.

I am grateful for this food,
May I realize the Path of Awakening,
For the sake of all beings.
Namo Amida Buddha.


(from http://buddhistfaith.tripod.com/buddhistprayer/id2.html)

Everybody's Free To Wear Sunscreen by Mary Schmich

From a newspaper column written by Mary Schmich, a columnist for The
Chicago Tribune, who said she wrote it "while high on coffee and M&Ms"
on May 31, 1997.


Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.
The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists,
whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own
meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not
understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But
trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall
in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how
fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as
effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed
your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle
Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people
who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes
you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with
yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in
doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.
The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to
do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know
still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when
they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe
you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky
chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't
congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices
are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of
what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever
own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good.
Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the
people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should
hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle,
because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you
when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in
Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will
philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize
that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble
and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund.
Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one
might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look
85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply
it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the
past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and
recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Once there was a giving tree who loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come to play
Swinging from the branches, sleeping in the shade
Laughing all the summer's hours away.
And so they love,
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon the boy grew older and one day he came and said,
"Can you give me some money, tree, to buy something I've found?"
"I have no money," said the tree, "Just apples, twigs and leaves."
"But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon again the boy came back and he said to the tree,
"I'm now a man and I must have a house that's all my home."
"I can't give you a house" he said, "The forest is my house."
"But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home"
And so he did.
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes.
"My life has turned so cold," he says, "and I need sunny days."
"I've nothing but my trunk," he says, "But you can cut it down
And build yourself a boat and sail away."
And so he did and
Oh, the tree was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

And after years the boy came back, both of them were old.
"I really cannot help you if you ask for another gift."
"I'm nothing but an old stump now. I'm sorry but I've nothing more to give"
"I do not need very much now, just a quiet place to rest,"
The boy, he whispered, with a weary smile.
"Well", said the tree, "An old stump is still good for that."
"Come, boy", he said, "Sit down, sit down and rest a while."
And so he did and
Oh, the trees was happy.
Oh, the tree was glad.

Mercedes Sosa - Solo le Pido a Dios

words and music by Leon Gieco

Solo le pido a Dios
Que el dolor no me sea indiferente,
Que la reseca Muerta no me encuentre
Vacio y solo sin haber hecho lo suficiente.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que lo injusto no me sea indiferente,
Que no me abofeteen la otra mejilla
Despues que una garra me ara?o esta suerte.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.

[solo de Armonica]

Solo le pido a Dios
Que el enga?o no me sea indiferente
Si un traidor puede mas que unos cuantos,
Que esos cantos no lo olviden facilmente.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que el futuro no me sea indiferente,
Desahuciado esta el que tiene que marchar
A vivir una cultura diferente.

Solo le pido a Dios
Que la guerra no me sea indiferente,
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.
Es un monstruo grande y pisa fuerte
Toda la pobre inocencia de la gente.

-----

I ask God
Only that I not be indifferent to pain
That it not slap me on the other cheek
After its claws have scarred my future.

I ask God
Only that I not be indifferent to injustice
That the dry shell of death not find me empty
And alone before I have done enough.

I ask God
Only that I not be indifferent to war
The huge monster that crushes
Poor innocents into the ground.

I ask God
Only that I not be indifferent to the future
Hopeless is he who must flee
To live in a strange land.