Cross the parking lot and pass between the stone lions; you are on the Bodhisattva Path. Climb the stairs, cross another parking lot, and climb another set of stairs to the Front Porch of the Bodhisattva Hall. Turn right and approach Wei Tuo P'u Sa, the figure on the far right end of the front of the Bodhisattva Hall.

As you go, you may wish to repeat a Mantra or Intention, OR
Continue to repeat the Four Universal Vows:

Sentient beings are numberless; I vow to save them.
Desires are inexhaustible; I vow to put an end to them.
The Buddha's teachings are boundless; I vow to master them.
The Buddha Way is endless; I vow to follow it.

At the right end of the porch, offer incense to Wei Tuo Bodhisattva.

Wei Tuo, Protector of the Buddha's teachings and Guardian of all who would learn them:

Help me to learn and live by the teachings, and let me be an example that I might teach others.

Consider ways in which you might improve your study, and take a moment to be grateful for what you have learned so far.

At the left end of the porch, offer incense to Chien Lan Bodhisattva.

Chien Lan, Protector of monasteries and Guardian of all who live in them: Teach me to support and defend the Temple and its residents, and let me lead others to this place.

Consider the ways in which you can support the Temple's programs, and take a moment to be grateful for what the Temple has done for you.

Stand before the central door of the Bodhisattva Hall and, concentrating on both Wei Tuo and Chien Lan, offer a Confession.

O Guardians of the Dharma and the Sangha: Before I approach the Buddha, help me to leave behind any anger, fear, desire, or other passions that would prevent me from benefiting from this exercise. Especially, let me be free from [state here any specific intentions].

Enter the Bodhisattva Hall. If your Offering is cash, place it in the Donation Box, or hand it to the monastic seated at the right side of the Hall. If your Offering is flowers, food, tea, or other tangibles, walk forward and place it carefully on the "altar" table at the far side of the Hall. Step back, make a profound bow, and then recite one of these sentences, depending on which gift is presented:

In front of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

O Samantabhadra, Bodhisattva of Great Practice!

I ask you to help me gain control over my body and destroy all unwholesome appetites.

Through your great discipline, you have brought your body and mind under control.

Through physical posture and controlled breathing, you have shown us that the dangerous elephant of the mind can be tamed.

Let me also, by disciplining my body, attain this excellence.

Help me to conquer bad habits.

Help me to practice right eating, right breathing, right sexual conduct, right exercise, right posture, and all other aspects of physical activity, and to develop right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration,

that I may dedicate further merit to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

O great One of Universal Virtue, hear my prayer!

O great Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, hear my prayer!

In front of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

O Ksitigarbha, Bodhisattva of the Great Vow!

I ask you to help me gain control over my will and destroy all unwholesome intentions.

Through your great promise to save all sentient beings from the six hells, you have demonstrated extraordinary willpower, and you have delayed your own Buddhahood until all afflicted beings are free.

Through this great act of will, you have shown us how much merit the intentions of one person can create.

Let me also, by cultivating my will, attain this excellence.

Help me to conquer wrong intentions.

Help me to practice right decision-making, right speech, and right action,

that I may dedicate further merit to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

O great Earth Store, hear my prayer!

O great Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, hear my prayer!

In front of Maitreya Bodhisattva

O Maitreya, Bodhisattva of Great Benevolence!

I ask you to help me gain control over my feelings and destroy all unwholesome emotions.

Through your great generosity to all, you have conquered your emotions and you have become known as The Happy Buddha.

Through your great goodwill, you have shown us that happiness can be attained through giving, and you have secured your place as the Buddha-to-come.

Let me also, by cultivating benevolence, attain this excellence.

Help me to conquer greed, fear, anger, jealousy, and other destructive emotions.

Help me to practice right giving and open-heartedness, 

that I, too, may become a Buddha,
and that I may dedicate further merit to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

O great One Who Possesses Loving-Kindness, hear my prayer!

O great Maitreya Bodhisattva, hear my prayer!

Avalokitesvara,
Who Hears the Cries of the World
(background)
The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion

In front of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

O Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of Great Compassion!

I ask you to help me gain control over my heart and destroy all apathy.

Through your great mercy, you have heard the cries of the world, and you have never failed to respond to the sincere requests of the unfortunate.

Through your willingness to help others, you have shown us the importance of caring for others.

Let me also, by cultivating compassion, attain this excellence.

Help me to conquer my indifference and laziness.

Help me to be attentive to the needs of those around me, and emulate your heart of compassion by bringing aid to those in trouble,

that I may dedicate further merit to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

O great One Who Hears the World's Cries, hear my prayer!

O great Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, hear my prayer!

In front of Manjusri Bodhisattva

O Manjusri, Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom!

I ask you to help me gain control over my mind and destroy all unwholesome thoughts.

Through your great wisdom, you have ensured that the Lion's Roar of the Buddha's teaching is heard throughout the world.

Through destroying ignorance you have shown us that we can overcome delusion.

Let me also, by cultivating my mind, attain this excellence.

Help me to conquer ignorance and delusion.

Help me to practice right view and right understanding, learning to see things as they truly are,

that I may dedicate further merit to the enlightenment of all sentient beings.

O great One of the Marvelous Gentle Power, hear my prayer!

O great Manjusri Bodhisattva, hear my prayer!

Now focus on the Chinese characters under the Bodhisattvas, as you move slowly toward the left end of the room. This is the Diamond Sutra. Contemplate the idea of emptiness, and recite these words:

This world is empty, and all things change,

Impermanent as a shooting star, or the Morning Star at Dawn;
Like a bubble in a stream, or a fleeting night's dream,
Like a candle-flame that sputters and is gone.

As you walk toward the Arhat Garden, you may choose to set your mind on the Perfection of Wisdom. You may do this by contemplating the "Six Perfections" as you walk:

You may choose to spend more time on a particular Arhat and his trait; or you may recite all of the following brief Intentions, covering the range.

Find the first Arhat, Vanavasin, "The Arhat Under the Banana Tree," in the left foreground area of the Garden. He is an extremely old man, with his elbow leaning on two golden blocks. He is seated on a banana leaf:

O Vanavasin, you were born and achieved enlightenment under a banana tree; let me gain Wisdom from nature, and be informed by its power.

Find the next Arhat, Angaja, "The Arhat with a Sack," to the left of the previous one, holding a sack:

O Angaja, you caught snakes in your sack and removed their power to harm; let me have the Wisdom to eradicate evil wherever I find it, and turn it to good.

Find the next Arhat, Rahula, "The Arhat in Deep Concentration," behind the previous one, with his hand under his chin:

O Rahula, you learned the Path to Enlightenment from your own father; let me gain Wisdom from my parents, teachers, and other elders, and pass it on to my juniors.

Find the next Arhat, Panthaka, "The Arhat with Stretched Arms," to the right of the previous one, with his hands raised above his head:

O Panthaka, you have sought Wisdom through meditation; let me too reach for the highest.

Find the next Arhat, Pindola, "The Arhat with Long Eyebrows," to the right and in front of the previous one, holding a gnarled stick:

O Pindola, your great age symbolizes your leadership of the Eighteen Arhats; let me, too, as I grow older, develop the Wisdom to lead others to Enlightenment.

Find the next Arhat, Maitreya, "The Tiger Taming Arhat," far to the right of the previous one, seated on a tiger and holding a golden ring in the air:

O Maitreya, you have tamed the tiger and attained the prize; let me tame my passions and attain Wisdom.

Find the next Arhat, Kanakavatsa, "The Jolly Arhat," to the left and in front of the previous one and playing cymbals, the left raised high in the air:

O Kanakavatsa, you have found inner Joy through the Dharma; let Wisdom lead me to such Bliss.

Find the next Arhat, Ajita, "The Arhat Riding a Deer," to the left of the previous one, seated on a deer:

O Ajita, you ride the deer, symbol of longevity; let me live long that I may attain the greatest store of Wisdom in this very life.

Find the next Arhat, Nakula, "The Silently Seated Arhat," to the left of and behind the previous one, with bronzed skin and a hood over his head:

O Nakula, you sit silently in meditation; let me also attain Wisdom through stillness and listening to my inner voice.

Find the next Arhat, Bhadra, "The Arhat Who Crossed the River," to the right of and behind the previous one, standing straight and holding a staff:

O Bhadra, you have crossed the river and transcended the ocean of suffering; let me attain the Wisdom to cross over from Samsara to Nirvana.

Find the next Arhat, Kalika, "The Dust Cleaning Arhat," to the right of the previous one, seated, with a dusting implement in his right hand:

O Kalika, you have cleaned the dust from the mirror; let me attain the Wisdom to see things as they really are.

Find the next Arhat, Cudapanthaka, "The Door Watching Arhat," to the right of the previous one, standing with both hands stretched forward in a warding off gesture:

O Cudapanthaka, in your innocence you destroyed a door, but later learned to act with care; let me attain the Wisdom to curb destructive tendencies and learn that even the simplest acts can accomplish good.

Find the next Arhat, Jivaka, "The Heart Exposing Arhat," to the right of the previous one, with a face emerging from his chest:

O Jivaka, as your heart is open to the words of the Buddha, let me also open my heart that I may attain Wisdom.

Find the next Arhat, Vajraputra, "The Persuading Arhat," to the right of the previous one, holding a censer:

O Vajraputra, as you persuaded Venerable Ananda to balance Learning and Practice, let me develop the Wisdom to persuade others of the virtues of a balanced life.

Find the next Arhat, Subinda, "The Pagoda Holding Arhat," to the right of the previous one, holding a small pagoda in his right hand:

O Subinda, you knew the Buddha on the earth for only a short time, but cherished his memory all your life by carrying a pagoda; let me never forget the Buddha and his teachings, the I may attain Wisdom.

Find the next Arhat, Mahakassapa, "The Dragon Subduing Arhat," to the right and in front of the previous one, seated on a dragon, and with his arms in a banishing gesture:

O Mahakassapa, you have controlled your deepest impulses; let me through Wisdom master my inner dragon.

Find the next Arhat, Kanakabharavaja, "The Alms Holding Arhat," to the right and in front of the previous one, with an alms bowl upraised:

O Kanakabharavaja, you accept alms from all; let me gain the Wisdom to graciously accept gifts as tokens of the interdependence of all beings.

Find the next Arhat, Nagasena, "The Ear Cleaning Arhat," to the right and in front of the previous one, at the far right front of the Garden, with his left hand up to his ear:

O Nagasena, you clean your ears to ensure proper hearing of the Dharma; let me be ever-attentive to the teachings, that I may gain Wisdom.

When you are finished, turn to your right, and proceed to the other end of the transverse corridor, where you will find the Avalokitesvara Garden.

Face the figure of Kuan Yin and say:

O Kuan Yin! From your place on Mount Potala, hear the cries of all sentient beings.

Now turn your attention to each of the figures in turn, starting with the Dragon Maiden Lung Nu and the Virtuous Talent Shan Ts'ai:

O Lung Nu, Grand-daughter of the Great Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean:

You have dedicated your life to serving others through serving Kuan Yin;

Let me do the same.

You have presented Great Jewels to the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas;

Let me present my most precious things to these Great Ones.

You have grasped Enlightenment despite the doubts of others;

Let me also persevere in my progress.

O Shan Ts'ai, diligent monk who traveled far and wide to learn the Dharma:

You were willing to serve others through serving Kuan Yin even unto death;

Let me do the same.

You have sought out Kuan Yin not only for her Compassion but for her Wisdom;

Let me also keep these in balance.

You stand before Kuan Yin in reverence, with palms joined and hands upraised;

Let me also maintain my devotion.

Now turn your attention to each of the Deva Kings, starting at the front left and moving clockwise to the front right:

O Virudhaka, Great Heavenly King of the South Who Defends Truth and Controls Evil!

O Dhrtarastra, Great Heavenly King of the East Who Brings Ease and Creates Harmony!

O Vaisravana, Great Heavenly King of the North Who Knows All and Protects Everyone!

O Virupaksa, Great Heavenly King of the West Who Sees All and Brings the Serpent-Power!

Now consider the Four Dragon Emperors in the ponds:

O Dragon Emperors of the Four Great Oceans!