Prayer · Buddhist practice
Homage to the Triple Gem
The Blessed One is worthy and perfectly self-awakened: I bow to the Blessed Buddha. The Dhamma is well expounded by the Blessed One: I revere the Dhamma. The Saṅgha of the Blessed One's disciples has practised well: I salute the Saṅgha.
อรหํ สมฺมาสมฺพุทฺโธ ภควา, พุทฺธํ ภควนฺตํ อภิวาเทมิ. สฺวากฺขาโต ภควตา ธมฺโม, ธมฺมํ นมสฺสามิ. สุปฏิปนฺโน ภควโต สาวกสงฺโฆ, สงฺฆํ นมามิ.
Arahaṃ sammāsambuddho bhagavā, buddhaṃ bhagavantaṃ abhivādemi Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, dhammaṃ namassāmi Supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, saṅghaṃ namāmi
A homage to the Three Jewels in turn, each named by its distinguishing quality and then bowed to. It opens Thai chanting services, morning and evening.
Source: Thai chanting book, Ratanattaya-vandanā
The count shown here is Japa's suggestion, not a rule of the tradition. Follow the form and number you were taught.
Not counted on beads
How many times
Japa suggests three times a day. Follow the number you were taught.
Japa counts this one without a mala: a plain daily number rather than a ring of beads, with the words kept in view while you say them. Counting is unlimited and free.
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What the words say
Three sentences with the same shape. The Buddha is worthy (arahaṃ) and perfectly awakened, so abhivādemi — I bow. The Dhamma is well expounded (svākkhāto), so namassāmi — I revere. The Saṅgha has practised well (supaṭipanno), so namāmi — I salute. Three different verbs of respect, not one repeated.
Where it comes from
Pāli, written here in Thai script, as it is read in Thailand. The text is a liturgical composition drawing on canonical descriptions of the Three Jewels rather than a single canonical passage, and it is standard in Thai chanting books.
How it is practised
Used near the opening of a chanting service, with an order that varies by chanting book. One count here includes all three homages. The goal of three complete recitations is an optional app setting, not a requirement to repeat the service opening three times.
References
- Standard Thai chanting book (Ratanattaya-vandanā); qualities drawn from the canonical recollection formulas
Keep it, and count it every day.
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