In the gentle awakening of the morning light, we begin our day bathed in serenity. The wise words of the Dhammapada guide our path, reminding us of the virtue in control, in action, speech, and thought.

In the silence of our hearts, we recite:

Breathe in wisdom, breathe out folly,
Controlled in body, calm and holy.
Let not our actions born of anger be,
But acts of love and compassion we decree.

Breathe in peace, breathe out discord,
Controlled in speech, in tune with the Lord.
Let not our words breed strife or pain,
But sow seeds of harmony in every lane.

Breathe in mindfulness, breathe out illusion,
Controlled in thought, free from confusion.
Let our minds not be swayed by fleeting desires,
But remain steadfast, doused in wisdom's fires.

In this morning stillness, we are reminded,
Of the path to enlightenment, to which we're guided.
Controlled in body, speech, and mind,
A haven of peace in ourselves we find.

We embody wisdom, we embody light,
In our every action, we bring forth what's right.
May we walk in mindfulness throughout our day,
In the wisdom of the Dhammapada, we find our way.

And we end our prayer with a simple mantra,
To carry with us, in our hearts' tantra:

"Bodily controlled, verbally controlled, mentally controlled,
In wisdom and mindfulness, I am enfolded."

Repeat this mantra, as your day unfurls,
Spreading peace and wisdom, in this transient world.