An ''okāsa'' (
Pāli
Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a classical Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pāli Canon'' or '' Tipiṭaka'' as well as the sacred language of '' Therav ...
;
Burmese: ဩကာသ, ''Awgatha''), sometimes known as the ''common Buddhist prayer,'' is a formulaic
Theravada Buddhist
''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' (anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or ''Dhamma'' in th ...
prayer that is recited to initiate acts of
Buddhist devotion
Devotion, a central practice in Buddhism, refers to commitment to religious observances or to an object or person, and may be translated with Sanskrit or Pāli terms like ''saddhā'', ''gārava'' or ''pūjā''. Central to Buddhist devotion is th ...
, including
obeisance to the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),*
*
*
was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
and
Buddhist monks
A ''bhikkhu'' (, ) is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism. Male, and female monastics (''bhikkhunī''), are members of the Sangha (Buddhist community).
The lives of all Buddhist monastics are governed by a set of rules called the prātimo ...
and the
water libation ritual. The term ''okāsa'' literally means "permission" in
Pali
Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...
, and is used to request permission to pay homage, seek forgiveness of any intentional and unintentional offenses, and precedes the undertaking of the
Five Precepts.
Standard prayer
Burmese tradition
Minor variations of this
Burmese language
Burmese (; ) is a Tibeto-Burman languages, Tibeto-Burman language spoken in Myanmar, where it is the official language, lingua franca, and the native language of the Bamar people, Bamar, the country's largest ethnic group. Burmese dialects are a ...
prayer exist from one
Buddhist monastery
A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which may ...
to another. In Burmese, ''okāsa'' (''awgatha'') explicitly references the
''gadaw'' of the Five Infinite Venerables (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha, parents, and teachers).
See also
*
Three Refuges
In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Its object is typically the Three Jewels (also known as the Triple ...
*
Five Precepts
*
Gadaw
Gadaw (, ; also spelt kadaw) is a Burmese language, Burmese verb referring to a Burma, Burmese tradition in which a person, always of lower social standing, pays respect or Homage (feudal), homage to a person of higher standing (including Buddhist ...
*
Paritta
Paritta (Pali), generally translated as "protection" or "safeguard," refers to the specific Buddhist verses and discourses recited in order to ward off misfortune or danger, as well as to the practice of reciting the verses and discourses. T ...
*
Prostration (Buddhism)
A prostration (, , zh, c=禮拜, , ) is a gesture used in Buddhist practice to show reverence to the Triple Gem (comprising the Buddha, his teachings, and the spiritual community) and other objects of veneration.
Among Buddhists prostration is ...
*
Buddhism in Myanmar
Buddhism (), specifically Theravāda Buddhism (), is the official and state religion of Myanmar since 1961, and practiced by nearly 90% of the population. It is the most religious Buddhist country in terms of the proportion of monks in the p ...
References
Buddhism in Myanmar
Buddhist rituals
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