Gatha is an ancient poetic style in which many Buddhist scriptures are written. In contemporary times, some Buddhists compose short gathas to serve as “practice poems” reminding them to bring mindfulness, concentration, and insight into their daily activities. They typically facilitate mindful breathing, with each verse meant to be recited silently on an in-breath or out-breath. I’ve recently started writing them for myself.
My own requirements for a gatha, which I made up just now and bind only myself, are as follows:
Short
Simple wording that is easy to remember
Each line capable of being recited on a single in-breath or out-breath
Relevant to daily life
I was first exposed to gathas at Magnolia Grove Monastery. They had gathas posted everywhere on the grounds, such as in the bathrooms. They had gathas for washing their hands, gathas for brushing their teeth, gathas for everything. That inspired me to examine my own life for moments where I could benefit from stronger adherence to the Buddha’s teaching. I’ve started writing gathas for myself to recite in my lowest moments, when I am besieged by negative emotion. However, I imagine I will also write gathas for when I am happy in order to remind myself to fully appreciate the joy I’ve been given.
I’ve decided to begin publishing some of my gathas on Substack, because why not? I’ll try to post one each month. We’ll see how long that lasts.
Below is the first gatha I ever wrote. It’s meant to be recited when overcome with feelings of regret.
If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time wallowing in regret. You often suspect that you spend more time regretting than you do anything else. Sometimes, your regret becomes so overwhelming as to paralyze you. You can’t move or think—you can hardly breathe—because it feels like every single neuron in your brain is drowning in a lake of regret. But at the same time, you know that regret is a very destructive emotion, serving nothing and nobody. Like a sinkhole, it swallows human potential. It’s an unhealthy nutriment, and certainly not something you want to base yourself on. So while you can’t help but be trapped in regret now, you’re searching for a way out of its grip. You’re trying to wrest back control of your thoughts so that you can concentrate on being better in the present, which is what you really want to do.
If that describes you, then give this gatha a try. The next time you feel a wave of regret crashing over you, use this poem to return to yourself. Recite each couplet in pace with your breathing. Feel free to make any changes to better suit your needs. Or you can write an entirely new gatha along the same theme. What’s important is that you do what works for you.
Gatha for the Regretful For recitation when overcome with regret. I am remembering the past, And the past is full of pain. Pain fueled by regret, And pain fueled by failure. But doing better is not possible in the past. Doing better is only possible in the present. So I will let go of the past, That I can take hold of the present. Breathing in, I know I am capable. Breathing out, I know I am free.