In the last few days I’ve become really interested in the use of gathas to punctuate quotidian existence and help to refocus a wandering mind in the midst of it all. But, what is a gatha? Well, according to Wikipedia it is the following:
Gatha is a type of metered and often rhythmic poetic verse or a phrase in the ancient Indian languages of Prakrit and Sanskrit.[1] The word is originally derived from the Sanskrit/Prakrit root gai , which means, to speak, sing, recite or extol.[2] Hence gatha can mean either speech, verse or a song. The stanzas of the Prakrit dialects of Ardhamagadhi, Sauraseni and Pāliare known as gathas as opposed to shlokas and Sutras of Sanskrit and Dohas of Apabhramsha. Most of the Jain and Buddhist texts written in Prakrit are composed of gathas (or verses/stanzas).
In truth, most of the inspiration for the gathas I am collecting and (in some cases) composing has come from the Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh. Although I generally prefer to stay within the Theravada in terms of doctrine I have no problem using practices fromn a number of Buddhist traditions. So, without further ado, here is a gatha that I will be experimenting with at work as this is the place where I tend to lose mindfulness for hours at a time. Let’s hope it helps to bring the mind back to task and may it be of benefit.
Work Gatha
May this work be done in the spirit of generosity
Realizing that merit is the only wage we should seek.
May this work not be motivated by greed, hatred or delusion,
Lest we earn a greater share of suffering.
May kindness sustain us and prevail in conflict,
May compassion guide us and lead us to understanding,
May we rejoice in the successes of others
May we remain unshaken by praise and blame.
Buddhaṁ Dhammaṁ Sanghaṁ namassāmi
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
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