Lay Buddhist Practice

　　The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence

　　by

　　Bhikkhu Khantipalo

　　© 1995

　　Contents

　　Preface

　　Introduction

　　Daily Practice:

　　The Shrine Room

　　The Offerings

　　Gestures of Respect

　　The Preliminary Formula for Revering the Buddha

　　The Three Refuges

　　The Five Precepts

　　Recollections:

　　Recollection of the Three Treasures

　　Affirmation of Refuge in the Three Treasures

　　The Five Subjects for Daily Recollection

　　The Development of Loving-Kindness

　　Meditation

　　Anumodana

　　Chanting

　　The Laity”s Practice of Dhamma

　　Uposatha

　　The Eight Precepts

　　The Rains Residence

　　The Purpose of These Practices

　　The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices

　　Appendix of Pali Passages

　　Preface

　　In the following pages I have tried to write about those things that a lay Buddhist can do even though his home is far away from Buddhist lands, or even from Buddhist temples and societies. I have had to consider the various daily and periodic events of the Buddhist calendar and retain here only those items which can be practiced by lay Buddhists without access to bhikkhus, monasteries, temples, stupas, and so on. Out of the rich traditions found in Buddhist countries, only three subjects have been dealt with: the daily service chanted in homage of the Three Treasures with some recollections and meditation; the Uposatha days with the Eight Precepts; and the Rains-residence of three months. Most has been here about the first of these as it is very important to have some regular daily Dhamma-practice.

　　Even where isolated Buddhists are fortunate enough to be near some Buddhist center, they will still benefit from these Buddhist practices, all of which are based on similar methods used in the East.

Bhikkhu Khantipalo

　　Sydney, Australia