A Chanting Guide

Now let us chant the preliminary passage in homage to the Awakened One, the Blessed One:

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One.

I go to the Buddha for refuge.

I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

I go to the Sa"ngha for refuge.

A second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.

A second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

A second time, I go to the Sa"ngha for refuge.

A third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.

A third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

A third time, I go to the Sa"ngha for refuge.

N'atthi me sara.na.m añña.m
	Buddho me sara.na.m vara.m
Etena sacca-vajjena
	Sotthi me hotu sabbadaa.

I have no other refuge,
	The Buddha is my formeost refuge.
Through the speaking of this truth, may I be blessed always.

N'atthi me sara.na.m añña.m
	Dhammo me sara.na.m vara.m
Etena sacca-vajjena
	Sotthi me hotu sabbadaa.

I have no other refuge,
	The Dhamma is my formeost refuge.
Through the speaking of this truth, may I be blessed always.

N'atthi me sara.na.m añña.m
	Sa"ngho me sara.na.m vara.m
Etena sacca-vajjena
	Sotthi me hotu sabbadaa.

I have no other refuge,
	The Sa"ngha is my formeost refuge.
Through the speaking of this truth, may I be blessed always.

Mahaa-kaaru.niko naatho
	Atthaaya sabba-paa.nina.m
Puuretvaa paaramii sabbaa
	Patto sambodhim-uttama.m.
Etena sacca-vajjena
	Maa hontu sabbupaddavaa.

(The Buddha), our protector, with great compassion,
	For the welfare of all beings,
Having fulfilled all the perfections,
	Attained the highest self-awakening.
Through the speaking of this truth, may all troubles cease to be.

Mahaa-kaaru.niko naatho
	Hitaaya sabba-paa.nina.m
Puuretvaa paaramii sabbaa
	Patto sambodhim-uttama.m.
Etena sacca-vajjena
	Maa hontu sabbupaddavaa.

(The Buddha), our protector, with great compassion,
	For the benefit of all beings,
Having fulfilled all the perfections,
	Attained the highest self-awakening.
Through the power of this truth, may all troubles cease to be.

Mahaa-kaaru.niko naatho
	Sukhaaya sabba-paa.nina.m
Puuretvaa paaramii sabbaa
	Patto sambodhim-uttama.m.
Etena sacca-vajjena
	Maa hontu sabbupaddavaa.

(The Buddha), our protector, with great compassion,
	For the happiness of all beings,
Having fulfilled all the perfections,
	Attained the highest self-awakening.
Through the power of this truth, may all troubles cease to be.

Bahu.m ve sara.na.m yanti
	Pabbataani vanaani ca,
AAraama-rukkha-cetyaani
	Manussaa bhaya-tajjitaa.

Many are those who go for refuge
	to mountains, forests,
Parks, trees, & shrines:
	People threatened with danger.

N'eta.m kho sara.na.m khema.m
	N'eta.m sara.nam-uttama.m,
N'eta.m sara.nam-aagamma,
	Sabba-dukkhaa pamuccati.

That is not the secure refuge,
	That is not the highest refuge,
That is not the refuge, having gone to which,
	One gains release from all suffering.

Yo ca buddhañca dhammañca
	Sa"nghañca sara.na.m gato,
Caattaari ariya-saccaani
	Sammappaññaaya passati:

But a person who, having gone to the Buddha,
	Dhamma, & Sa"ngha for refuge,
Sees the four Noble Truths
	with right discernment:

Dukkha.m dukkha-samuppaada.m,
	Dukkhassa ca atikkama.m,
Ariyañc'a.t.tha"ngika.m magga.m,
	Dukkhuupasama-gaamina.m.

Stress, the cause of stress,
	The transcending of stress,
And the Noble Eightfold Path,
	The way to the stilling of stress.

Eta.m kho sara.na.m khema.m
	Eta.m sara.nam-uttama.m,
Eta.m sara.nam-aagamma,
	Sabba-dukkhaa pamuccati.

That is the secure refuge,
	That is the highest refuge,
That is the refuge, having gone to which,
	One gains release from all suffering.