Refuge

(Leader)

Handa mayaṁ buddhassa bhagavato pubba-bhāga-nama-kāraṁ karomase:

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

(All)

[Namo tassa] bhagavato arahato sammā-

sambuddhassa. (three times)

Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One,

the Rightly Self-awakened One.

(Leader)

Handa mayaṁ saraṇa-gamana-pāṭhaṁ bhaṇāmase:

(All)

Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

I go to the Buddha for refuge.

Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

I go to the Dhamma for refuge.

Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.

Dutiyam-pi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

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

Dutiyam-pi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

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

Dutiyam-pi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

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

Tatiyam-pi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

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

Tatiyam-pi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

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

Tatiyam-pi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

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

(Leader)

Handa mayaṁ sacca-kiriyā gāthāyo bhaṇāmase:

(All)

N’atthi me saraṇaṁ aññaṁ

Buddho me saraṇaṁ varaṁ

Etena sacca-vajjena

Sotthi te [me] hotu sabbadā.

I have no other refuge,

The Buddha is my foremost refuge.

Through the speaking of this truth, may they [I] be blessed always.

N’atthi me saraṇaṁ aññaṁ

Dhammo me saraṇaṁ varaṁ

Etena sacca-vajjena

Sotthi te [me] hotu sabbadā.

I have no other refuge,

The Dhamma is my foremost refuge.

Through the speaking of this truth, may they [I] be blessed always.

N’atthi me saraṇaṁ aññaṁ

Saṅgho me saraṇaṁ varaṁ

Etena sacca-vajjena

Sotthi te [me] hotu sabbadā.

I have no other refuge,

The Saṅgha is my foremost refuge.

Through the speaking of this truth, may they [I] be blessed always.

* * *

Mahā-kāruṇiko nātho

Atthāya sabba-pāṇinaṁ

Pūretvā pāramī sabbā

Patto sambodhim-uttamaṁ.

Etena sacca-vajjena

Mā hontu sabbupaddavā.

(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.

Mahā-kāruṇiko nātho

Hitāya sabba-pāṇinaṁ

Pūretvā pāramī sabbā

Patto sambodhim-uttamaṁ.

Etena sacca-vajjena

Mā hontu sabbupaddavā.

(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.

Mahā-kāruṇiko nātho

Sukhāya sabba-pāṇinaṁ

Pūretvā pāramī sabbā

Patto sambodhim-uttamaṁ.

Etena sacca-vajjena

Mā hontu sabbupaddavā.

(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.

* * *

Bahuṁ ve saraṇaṁ yanti

Pabbatāni vanāni ca,

Ārāma-rukkha-cetyāni

Manussā bhaya-tajjitā.

Many are those who go for refuge to mountains, forests,

parks, trees, & shrines: People threatened with danger.

N’etaṁ kho saraṇaṁ khemaṁ

N’etaṁ saraṇam-uttamaṁ,

N’etaṁ saraṇam-āgamma,

Sabba-dukkhā 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 & stress.

Yo ca buddhañ-ca dhammañ-ca

Saṅghañ-ca saraṇaṁ gato,

Cattāri ariya-saccāni

Sammappaññāya passati:

But a person who, having gone to the Buddha,

Dhamma, & Saṅgha for refuge,

sees the four noble truths with right discernment:

Dukkhaṁ dukkha-samuppādaṁ,

Dukkhassa ca atikkamaṁ,

Ariyañ-c’aṭṭhaṅgikaṁ maggaṁ,

Dukkhūpasama-gāminaṁ.

Stress, the cause of stress, the transcending of stress,

and the Noble Eightfold Path, the way to the stilling of stress.

Etaṁ kho saraṇaṁ khemaṁ

Etaṁ saraṇam-uttamaṁ,

Etaṁ saraṇam-āgamma,

Sabba-dukkhā 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.