SALUTATION TO THE BUDDHA
It is the duty of every Buddhist to pay homage to the Buddha before the commencement of any Buddhist recital. The following sentence in Pall should be recited thrice, and only after that may one take refuge in the Triple Gem. This is done only as a mark of respect by devotees in gratitude and in praise of the Buddha.

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma-sambuddhassa
(Repeated Thrice)

Honour to Him, the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the fully Enlightened One.

TI-SARANA - THREE REFUGES
To be a Buddhist one must take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha for his guidance. All those who are already Buddhists are encouraged to recite the acceptance of this Holy Triple Gem in their daily life. Buddha was the holiest, virtuous and wisest personality who ever lived in this world His Dhamma (doctrine) is the ultimate truth of the Universe which explains the real nature of this world and of life as well. Sangha is the holy order of the Buddha, whose members lead a religious life as taught by the Buddha and who are also responsible for preserving his original teachings. By declaring the acceptance of guidance in the Holy Triple Gem one should not be led to think that he will thereby have to become a slave to anybody. Everyone must have some guidance for his own spiritual development. Every religion has certain sacred objects of veneration in which its followers are expected to have confidence It is the fervent belief in these sacred tenets which awaken the religious impulse in man and which in turn inspire him to lead a religious life. They give concrete shape as it were to abstract principles round which the followers of a religion rally. The three refuges in Buddhism are the sacred objects of veneration for its followers.

Buddham saranam gacchami
Dhammam saranam gacchami
Sangham saranam gacchami

Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami

Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami
Tatiyampl Sangham saranam gacchami

I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

For the second time I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
For the second time I go to the Dhamma as my refuge
For the second time I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

For the third time I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
For the third time I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
For the third time I go to the Sangha as my refuge.

PANCA SILA ¨C FIVE PRECEPTS
The following five precepts are recited and observed in Buddhist homes first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. These precepts are also recited before the commencement of all Buddhist meetings. By reciting these precepts before the commencement of any meeting or festival, Buddhists are reminded not to go against these principles and at the same time to purify themselves in order to better perform the tasks on religious activities before them. These precepts are not Commandments hence Buddhists observe them voluntarily. Every Buddhist must remember these precepts in their daily life and try to keep up to such principles. If Buddhists adjust their lives according to these five principles they could on the one hand live happily and peacefully in this world, and on the other help others also to live happily and peacefully. To observe precepts is like putting up a fence to protect ones own house against robbers. These precepts indicate the five arterial directions in which a Buddhist has to exercise his self-control. Thus the first rule calls upon him to control the passion of anger, the second the desire for material possessions, the third the lust of the flesh, the fourth cowardice and malevolence (the causes of untruthfulness) and the fifth the craving for unwholesome excitement. Every Buddhist must observe these five precepts in order to elevate himself morally and to be in conformity with the results of his right thinking.

PANCA SILA
Panati-pata veramani sikkha padam samadiyami
Adinna-dana veramani sikkha padam samadiyami
Kamesu micca cara veramani sikkha padam samadityami
Musavada veranani sikkha padam samadiyami
Sura meraya-majja-pama-datthana veramani sikkha padam samadiyami

I take the precept to abstain from destroying of beings.
I take the precept to abstain from taking things not given.
I take the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.
I take the precept to abstain from false speech.
I take the precept to abstain from distilled and fermented liquors that cause intoxication and heedlessness.

Paying Homage To The Temple Gem- Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha
These verses are to be recited in order to pay homage to the Triple Gem. These words explain the various great qualities or virtues attaching to the Triple Gem. By reciting these words one can understand the high qualities of the Triple Gem and so have confidence in them. These explanations of high qualities were given by the Buddha himself in one of his Suttas. He also advised the devotees to recite these words and to remember the ¡°Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha¡± in times of fear whether arising from external sources or through internal provocation, and such fear would vanish. This is because the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha are free from all kinds of defilements and hindrances such as greed, anger and ignorance. Further according to the Buddha there are some people who pray to Gods or Devas in times of fear for their own protection not realising that the same gods are themselves not free from greed, anger and ignorance. It has to be remembered that even gods themselves are subject to fear. Therefore for our protection it is more advisable to remember the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha (here Sangha means community of arya sangha) who are free from all fear.

SALUTATION TO THE BUDDHA
lti pi so Bhagava Araham
Samma sambuddho vijja carana-sampanno
Sugato Lokavidu Anuttaro
Purisa damma-sarathi
Sattha Deva-manussanam
Buddho Bhagava ti

Such indeed is the Blessed One, Exalted, Omniscient, endowed with
knowledge and virtue,
Well-gone, knower of the worlds,
A Guide incomparable for the training of individuals,
Teacher of gods and men,
Enlightened and Holy.

SALUTATION TO THE DHAMMA
Svakkhato Bhagavata Dhammo
Sanditthiko Akaliko Ehi-passiko Opanayiko
Paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi ti

Well-expounded is the Dhamma by the Blessed One to be self-realized; with immediate fruit; to be but approached to be seen; capable of being entered upon; to be attained by the wise, each for himself.

SALUTATION TO THE SANGHA
Supatipanno Bhagavato savaka sangho
Uju patipanno Bhagavato savaka sangho
Naya patipanno Bhagavato savaka sangho
Samici patipanno Bhagavato savaka sangho
Yadidam cattari purisa yugani
Attha purisa puggala
Esa Bhagavato savaka sangho
Ahuneyyo Pahuneyyo Dakkhineyyo Anjali karaniyo
Anuttaram punnak-khettam lokassa ti

Of good conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
Of upright conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
Of wise conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
Of dutiful conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
This Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One namely, these Four Pairs of Person.

is worthy of offerings,
is worthy of hospitality,
is worthy of gifts,
is worthy of reverential salutation,
is an incomparable field of merits to the World.

TRANSFERENCE OF MERIT TO THE DEPARTED
ldam me natinam hotu Sukhita hontu natayo Let this (merit) accrue to our departed relatives and may they be happy. (change "Idam me" to ¡°ldam vo" if repeating for others)

ASPIRATION OR WISH
A wish takes the place of prayer in Buddhism. According to the Buddha the strong aspiration of a man is bound to achieve its desired result. Firm determination and a strong will could therefore always fulfill a man's wish. Wish is more a function of contemplation and meditation rather than a petition. A wish may take the form of some intense desire, such as the aspiration for purity, but the psychological machinery will not operate unless the idea permeates the mind. It is customary among Buddhists after performing a meritorious deed to have an aspiration for their own benefit and also for the welfare of others. By doing this they will be able to continue their spiritual well-being and development in the right direction. They can thus prepare the ground for their future rebirth to take effect in a more congenial place. The following stanza is intended for the above mentioned purpose:

Imina punna kammena,
Mame bala samagamo,
Satam samagamo hotu,
Yava nibbana pattiya.

By the grace of this merit that I have acquired,
may I never follow the foolish;
but only the wise up to the time I
attain final happiness