A chant built from the epithets of the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha broken down to their heart syllables.
- When chanted
- Chanted where a condensed form of the whole canon is wanted; printed in the book's roman-script appendix.
A note on this chant. The book prints this chant in Pali only, with no Thai translation. The English here is a working translation prepared for this edition — it is not the book's own, and has not yet been checked by a teacher.
Historical background
The second of the two chants this book prints in ROMAN Pali rather than Thai script, in the appendix at the back. The Thai and ThaiBridge Spelling layers are empty because the printed page has none.
Its title claims a great deal — the peak, or summit, of the Tipitaka — and the chant works by compression: the standard recollections first in full, then progressively reduced.
Meaning and purpose
It opens by taking the familiar formula apart. Such is the Blessed One: worthy indeed is that Blessed One. Then fully enlightened. Then perfect in knowledge and conduct. Each epithet is given a line of its own and turned into its own act of recollection.
Then the refuge, epithet by epithet: to the Worthy One I go for refuge. What is normally one act performed towards a person becomes a series of acts performed towards qualities.
The last verses reduce further still, to syllables — ma-a-u, and the heart syllables that follow — set beside suffering, impermanence and not-self. Whether that compression is illuminating or merely ingenious is a fair question, and the chant belongs to a tradition of Thai esoteric practice that answers it confidently. The book prints it without comment.
The chant
As the book prints it: page 312, page 313, page 314, page 315 and page 316 →
page 312itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: worthy indeed is that Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā sammāsambuddho vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: fully enlightened indeed is that Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā vijjācaraṇasampanno vata so bhagavā
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in knowledge and conduct indeed is that Blessed One
itipi so bhagavā sugato vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: well-gone indeed is that Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā lokavidū vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: knower of worlds indeed is that Blessed One.
arahantaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Worthy One I go for refuge.
arahantaṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Worthy One I bow with my head.
sammāsambuddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Fully Enlightened One I go for refuge.
sammāsambuddhaṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Fully Enlightened One I bow with my head.
vijjācaraṇasampannaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the One Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct I go for refuge.
vijjācaraṇasampannaṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the One Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct I bow with my head.
sugataṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Well-Gone One I go for refuge.
sugataṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Well-Gone One I bow with my head.
lokavidaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Knower of Worlds I go for refuge.
lokavidaṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Knower of Worlds I bow with my head.
itipi so bhagavā anuttaro vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: unsurpassed indeed is that Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā purisadammasārathi vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: trainer of tameable people indeed is that Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā satthā devamanussānaṃ vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: teacher of devas and humans indeed is that Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā buddho vata so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One: awakened indeed is that Blessed One.
anuttaraṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Unsurpassed One I go for refuge.
anuttaraṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Unsurpassed One I bow with my head.
purisadammasārathi saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Trainer of Tameable People I go for refuge.
purisadammasārathi sirasā namāmi.
To the Trainer of Tameable People I bow with my head.
satthā devamanussānaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Teacher of Devas and Humans I go for refuge.
satthā devamanussānaṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Teacher of Devas and Humans I bow with my head.
buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
To the Awakened One I go for refuge.
buddhaṃ sirasā namāmi.
To the Awakened One I bow with my head.
itipi so bhagavā.
Such is the Blessed One.
itipi so bhagavā rūpakhandho aniccalakkhaṇapārami ca sampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: the aggregate of form, perfect in the mark of impermanence and in the perfections.
itipi so bhagavā vedanākhandho aniccalakkhaṇapārami ca sampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: the aggregate of feeling, perfect in the mark of impermanence and in the perfections.
itipi so bhagavā saññākhandho aniccalakkhaṇapārami ca sampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: the aggregate of perception, perfect in the mark of impermanence and in the perfections.
itipi so bhagavā saṅkhārakhandho aniccalakkhaṇapārami ca sampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: the aggregate of formations, perfect in the mark of impermanence and in the perfections.
itipi so bhagavā viññāṇakhandho aniccalakkhaṇapārami ca sampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: the aggregate of consciousness, perfect in the mark of impermanence and in the perfections.
itipi so bhagavā paṭhavī dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the earth element.
itipi so bhagavā āpo dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the water element.
itipi so bhagavā tejo dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the fire element.
itipi so bhagavā vāyo dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the air element.
itipi so bhagavā ākāsa dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the space element.
itipi so bhagavā viññāna dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the consciousness element.
itipi so bhagavā cakkavāḷa dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the world-sphere element.
itipi so bhagavā cātummahārājikā dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the realm of the Four Great Kings.
itipi so bhagavā tāvatiṃsā dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the Tāvatiṃsa heaven.
itipi so bhagavā yāmā dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the Yāma heaven.
itipi so bhagavā tusitā dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the Tusita heaven.
itipi so bhagavā nimmānaratī dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the Nimmānaratī heaven.
itipi so bhagavā paranimmitavasavattī dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the Paranimmitavasavattī heaven.
itipi so bhagavā kāmāvacara dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the sense-sphere realm.
itipi so bhagavā rūpāvacara dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the form realm.
itipi so bhagavā arūpāvacara dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the formless realm.
itipi so bhagavā lokuttara dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the supramundane.
itipi so bhagavā paṭhamajhāna dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the first jhāna.
itipi so bhagavā dutiyajhāna dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the second jhāna.
itipi so bhagavā tatiyajhāna dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the third jhāna.
itipi so bhagavā catutthajhāna dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the fourth jhāna.
itipi so bhagavā pañcamajhāna dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the fifth jhāna.
itipi so bhagavā ākāsānañcāyatana dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the base of infinite space.
itipi so bhagavā viññānañcāyatana dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the base of infinite consciousness.
itipi so bhagavā ākiñcaññāyatana dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the base of nothingness.
itipi so bhagavā nevasaññānāsaññāyatana dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception.
itipi so bhagavā sotāpattimagga dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the path of stream-entry.
itipi so bhagavā sakidāgāmimagga dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the path of once-returning.
itipi so bhagavā anāgāmimagga dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the path of non-returning.
itipi so bhagavā arahattamagga dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the path of arahantship.
itipi so bhagavā sotāpattiphala dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the fruit of stream-entry.
itipi so bhagavā sakidāgāmiphala dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the fruit of once-returning.
itipi so bhagavā anāgāmiphala dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the fruit of non-returning.
itipi so bhagavā arahattaphala dhātu samādhiñāṇasampanno.
Such is the Blessed One: perfect in the knowledge of concentration on the element of the fruit of arahantship.
kusalādhammā itipi so bhagavā a-ā yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi jambhūdīpañca issaro kusalādhammā namobuddhāya namodhammāya namosan—ghāya pañcabuddhānamāmihaṃ āpāmacupa dimasamaṇkhu saṃvidhāpukayapa upasajasahe pāsāyaso.
Wholesome states. Such is the Blessed One. For as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge. Lord of the Jambū continent, wholesome states. Homage to the Buddha, homage to the Dhamma, homage to the Saṅgha. I revere the five Buddhas — followed by the heart-syllable formulas.
sososasa a-a-a-a-ni tejasu nemabhūcanāvive asaṃvisulopusabubha iśvāsu, susvā-i, kusalādhammā citti vi-atthi.
Heart-syllable formulas, each letter standing for a whole phrase; then: wholesome states, the mind, and what is present.
itipi so bhagavā arahaṃ a-ā yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi sābodhipañca issaro dhammā. kusalā dhammā
Such is the Blessed One, the worthy one. For as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge. Lord of the five awakenings, states. Wholesome states
nandavivaṅko iti sammāsambuddho sugalāno yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃgacchāmi.
Nandavivaṅka: thus the Fully Enlightened One, the well-gone. For as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
cātummahārājikā issaro kusalādhammā iti vijjācaraṇasampanno u-ū yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord of the realm of the Four Great Kings, wholesome states; thus, perfect in knowledge and conduct — u-ū — for as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
tāvatiṃsā issaro kusalādhammā nandapañcasugato lokavidū mahā-e-o yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord of the Tāvatiṃsa heaven, wholesome states; the well-gone one, knower of worlds — mahā-e-o — for as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
yāmā issaro kusalādhammā brahmā sadda pañcasatta sattāpāramī anuttaro yamakakha yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord of the Yāma heaven, wholesome states; Brahmā, sound, the five and seven, the seven perfections, the unsurpassed — yamakakha — for as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
tusitā issaro kusalādhammā puyapaka purisadammasārathi yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord of the Tusita heaven, wholesome states; puyapaka, trainer of tameable people — for as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
nimmānaratī issaro kusalādhammā hetupova satthādevamanussānaṃ tathā yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord of the Nimmānaratī heaven, wholesome states; hetupova, teacher of devas and humans, likewise — for as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
paranimmitavasavattī issaro kusalādhammā saṅkhārakhandho dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā rūpakhandho buddhapapha yāvajīvaṃ buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord of the Paranimmitavasavattī heaven, wholesome states; the aggregate of formations — suffering, impermanent, not-self — the aggregate of form, buddhapapha — for as long as life lasts I go to the Buddha for refuge.
brahmā issaro kusalādhammā natthipaccayā vinapañca bhagavatā yāvanibbānaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi.
Lord Brahmā, wholesome states; by the condition of non-existence, vinapañca, by the Blessed One — until Nibbāna I go for refuge.
namobuddhassa namodhammassa namosaṅghassa buddhilābho kalākara kanā etena saccena suvatthi hontu hulū hulū hulū savāhāya.
Homage to the Buddha, homage to the Dhamma, homage to the Saṅgha; the gain of awakening. By this truth may there be well-being — hulū hulū hulū savāhāya.
namobuddhassa namodhammassa namosaṅghassa vitti vitti vitti mitti mitti mitt citti citti vatti vatti mayasu suvatthi hontu hulū hulū hulū savāhāya.
Homage to the Buddha, homage to the Dhamma, homage to the Saṅgha; syllable formulas repeated in threes and pairs. May there be well-being — hulū hulū hulū savāhāya.
indasāvaṃ mahā-indasāvaṃ brahmasāvaṃ mahābrahmasāvaṃ cakkavattisāvaṃ mahācakkavattisāvaṃ devasāvaṃ mahādevāsāvaṃ isīsāvaṃ mahā-isīsāvaṃ munīsāvaṃ mahāmunīsāvaṃ sappurisasāvaṃ mahāsappurisasāvaṃ buddhasāvaṃ paccekabuddhasāvaṃ arahattasāvaṃ sabbasiddhivijjādhāraṇaṃsāvaṃ sabbalokā-iriyānaṃsāvaṃ etena saccena suvatthi hontu.
The power of Inda and of great Inda, of Brahmā and great Brahmā, of the wheel-turning king and the great wheel-turner, of devas and great devas, of seers and great seers, of sages and great sages, of good people and great good people, of Buddhas, of Paccekabuddhas, of arahantship, of all attainment and knowledge held, and of all the world's conduct. By this truth may there be well-being.
sāvaṃ guṇaṃ vaja balaṃ tejaṃ viriaṃ siddhi kammaṃ dhammaṃ saccaṃ nibbānaṃ mokkhaṃ guyhakaṃ dānaṃ sīlaṃ paññā nikkhaṃ puññaṃ bhāgayaṃ yasaṃ tappaṃ sukhaṃ siri rūpaṃ catuvīsatidesanaṃ etena saccena suvatthi hontu hulū hulū hulū savāhāya.
Power, virtue, speech, strength, brilliance, energy, attainment, action, Dhamma, truth, Nibbāna, release, what is hidden, giving, morality, wisdom, renunciation, merit, fortune, fame, satisfaction, happiness, splendour, form, and the twenty-four teachings. By this truth may there be well-being — hulū hulū hulū savāhāya.
namobuddhassa dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā rūpakhandho vedanākhandho saññākhandho saṅkhārakhandho viññāṇakhandho namo itipi so bhagavā.
Homage to the Buddha. Suffering, impermanent, not-self: the aggregates of form, feeling, perception, formations and consciousness. Homage — such is the Blessed One.
namodhammassa dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā rūpakhandho vedanākhandho saññākhandho saṅkhārakhandho viññāṇakhandho namo svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo.
Homage to the Dhamma. Suffering, impermanent, not-self: the aggregates of form, feeling, perception, formations and consciousness. Homage — well proclaimed by the Blessed One is the Dhamma.
namosaṅghassa dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā rūpakhandho vedanākhandho saññākhandho saṅkhārakhandho viññāṇakhandho namo supatipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho vāhaparittaṃ.
Homage to the Saṅgha. Suffering, impermanent, not-self: the aggregates of form, feeling, perception, formations and consciousness. Homage — of good practice is the Blessed One's community of disciples. The protective recitation.
namobuddhāya ma-a-u dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā yāvatassa hāyo mona u-a-ma dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā u-a-ma-a vandā namobuddhāya na-a kati nissaraṇa ārapakhuddhaṃ ma-a-u dukkhaṃ aniccaṃ anattā.
Homage to the Buddha — ma-a-u — suffering, impermanent, not-self; and so on through the heart syllables u-a-ma and na-a, with reverence, escape, and again: suffering, impermanent, not-self.