As the dawn breaks, I awaken,
Mindful of the Dharma's teachings,
From the sacred Dhammapada,
Chapter Nine, verse one-seventeen.

I acknowledge the deeds of yesterday,
Understanding the seeds of karma sown.
Though I may have strayed onto paths of unwholesomeness,
With wisdom, I vow to not repeat my wrongs.

In the quiet of this morning,
I reflect upon the Buddha's words,
"Should a person commit evil, let him not do it again and again.
Let him not find pleasure therein, for painful is the accumulation of evil."

I understand that pleasure in evil is but an illusion,
A mirage that leads to suffering and pain.
So, I commit myself to the path of Right Action,
To the cultivation of wholesomeness, again and again.

May I tread lightly on the path of righteousness,
Guided by compassion and loving-kindness.
May I embody the virtues of the Buddha,
In thought, in word, and in action.

I seek refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
May their wisdom illuminate my path,
As I strive to transform my habits of harm,
Into actions of love, compassion, and understanding.

As I go forth into the day,
May I remember this Buddhist prayer,
Repeating my mantra with mindfulness:
"May I refrain from harm, may I cultivate love."

"May I refrain from harm, may I cultivate love."
Let this be my guiding light, my repeated phrase,
Through the trials and triumphs of the day,
"May I refrain from harm, may I cultivate love."