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Buddham Saranam Gacchami

Chant: Complete Lyrics,


Meaning, Benefits
Insight State's Editorial • May 10, 2020

The following Pali chant is commonly recited by both


laypeople and monks in Theravada Buddhism
(sometimes called ‘Southern Buddhism’)
communities:

Buddham Saranam Gacchami Lyrics &


Translation:

बुद्धं शरणं गच्छािम।


धमर्ं शरणं गच्छािम।
संघं शरणं गच्छािम।

Buddham saranam gacchami


Dhammam saranam gacchami
Sangham saranam gacchami

I go to the Buddha for refuge


I go to the Dhamma for refuge
I go to the Sangha for refuge.

Mantra Meaning

This chant is all about taking refuge in Buddha,


Dhamma, and Sangha. In Buddhism, this prayer is
known as the “Three Treasures” or “Three Jewels”
prayer. The meaning of the Three Jewels is as follows:

Buddha

The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama to a large


clan called the Shakyas in Lumbini, in the 6th century
B.C.

The Buddha refers both to the ideal of Buddhahood


itself and to the historical Buddha (the word buddha
means “the Awakened One”). By taking refuge in the
Buddha, we seek the capacity to be awakened to what
the Buddha experienced. We also align ourselves with
the capacity to become a Buddha ourselves.

Moreover, the way the Gautama Buddha protects us is


not by building walls or standing guard, but by
teaching us the Dharma.

Therefore, we take refuge in the Buddha by turning to


the teaching of the way of attaining happiness in
whatever form it comes to us, the teaching of the
reality of bliss.

Since Gautama Buddha is thought to have been the


1st man to truly understand the way to enlightenment
and wisdom, the first jewel also represents the
fulfillment of enlightenment.

Note – Depending on the particular school of


Buddhism, Buddha can refer to the universal Buddha
nature that potentially exists in all living beings or to
the specific Buddha Siddhartha Gautama.

“When we go for refuge to the Buddha we resort to


him as the supreme embodiment of wisdom, purity,
and compassion, the peerless teacher who can guide
us to safety out of the perilous ocean of samsara.” –
Bhikkhu Bodhi, an American Theravada Buddhist
monk.

Dhamma

The Dhamma, the second of the Three Gems,


describes ”how things really are,” and the way by
which anyone can slowly change themselves. It is also
the method of love and understanding – how to love,
how to understand, and how to make understanding
into real things.

Taking refuge in the dharma also means we study the


teachings of Buddha Siddhartha Gautama and put
forth the effort to utilize these teachings in our lives.

Sangha

The third of the Three Gems, the Sangha, is the


community which lives in awareness and harmony.

The term sangha has 2 meanings in Theravada


Buddhism. The first meaning links the sangha to the
attainment of a stage of higher knowledge. The
second meaning denotes the community of nuns and
monks which follow the teachings of Buddha.

In addition, the Sangha represents the community of


active spiritual seekers, however, this is an esoteric
interpretation.

Notes

Taking refuge in these “Triple Jewels” is usually


considered to make one officially a Buddhist.

This chant is occasionally expanded with:

I go for refuge in the One Universal life


(Ekam sharanam gacchâmi);
I go for refuge in yoga (Yogam sharanam gacchâmi);
I go for refuge in non-violence
(Ahimsam sharanam gacchâmi);
I go for refuge in truth (Satyam sharanam gacchâmi).

References

https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-triple-gem-of-bu
https://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/c

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