← Home
CHANTING & MANTRAS
मन्त्र · पारित्त — Sacred Sound
From the rhythmic Pali chanting of Theravāda monks to the deep-throated overtone singing
of Tibetan monasteries, from Japanese shōmyō to Korean beompae — chanting is prayer, meditation,
and devotion expressed through sound. The voice becomes a vehicle for the Dharma itself.
☸ The Three Refuges — तिसरणं
बुद्धं सरणं गच्छामि
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi — I go to the Buddha for refuge
धम्मं सरणं गच्छामि
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi — I go to the Dharma for refuge
संघं सरणं गच्छामि
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi — I go to the Sangha for refuge
🔔
The Mantra of Compassion
ༀ མ ཎི པ དྨེ ཧཱུྃ
Vajrayāna — Mantra of Avalokiteśvara
The most widely recited mantra in Tibetan Buddhism. Each syllable purifies one of the six realms
of existence. "Oṃ" purifies pride; "Ma" purifies jealousy; "Ṇi" purifies desire; "Pad" purifies
ignorance; "Me" purifies greed; "Hūṃ" purifies hatred. Together they invoke the boundless compassion
of Avalokiteśvara.
Om Ma-ni Pad-me Hum
Namo Tassa
नमो तस्स भगवतो अरहतो सम्मासम्बुद्धस्स
Theravāda — Universal Opening
"Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Self-Enlightened One."
Recited three times at the beginning of every Theravāda ceremony and meditation session.
Heart Sutra Mantra
गते गते पारगते पारसंगते बोधि स्वाहा
Mahāyāna — Prajñāpāramitā
"Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone utterly beyond — Enlightenment! Hail!"
The concluding mantra of the Heart Sutra, encapsulating the entire Perfection of Wisdom.
Green Tārā Mantra
ॐ तारे तुत्तारे तुरे स्वाहा
Vajrayāna — Protection & Liberation
Invokes Green Tārā — the swift protectress who liberates from all fears and obstacles.
"Om Tare" addresses Tārā; "Tuttare" liberates from the eight dangers; "Ture" brings swift help.
Medicine Buddha Mantra
ॐ भैषज्ये भैषज्ये महाभैषज्ये भैषज्यराज समुद्गते स्वाहा
Mahāyāna / Vajrayāna — Healing
Invokes the healing power of the Medicine Buddha (Bhaiṣajyaguru).
Recited for physical and mental healing, and to purify negative karma related to illness.
Metta Sutta (excerpt)
सब्बे सत्ता सुखी होन्तु
Theravāda — Loving-Kindness
"May all beings be happy." The Karaniya Mettā Sutta is the most beloved
Pali chant on loving-kindness, recited daily in Theravāda countries for protection and goodwill.
🔔
Theravāda Pali Chanting
In monasteries across Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia, monks gather at dawn and dusk
to chant suttas in Pali — the language closest to what the Buddha himself may have spoken. The chanting
is melodic yet restrained, a form of meditation in itself. Key texts include the Mangala Sutta
(Blessings), Ratana Sutta (Jewel Discourse), and Karaniya Mettā Sutta (Loving-Kindness).
Mahāyāna Sūtra Recitation
In Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions, sūtras are chanted in classical Chinese
or Sanskrit transliterations. The Heart Sutra is chanted daily in virtually every Zen temple.
The Lotus Sutra is central to Tendai and Nichiren practices. Chanting is accompanied by the
rhythmic beating of the mokugyo (wooden fish) and the ringing of bells.
Tibetan Overtone Chanting
Tibetan monks produce extraordinary overtone harmonics — multiple pitches from a single voice —
creating an otherworldly resonance believed to invoke the presence of deities. Long horns (dungchen),
cymbals, and hand drums accompany elaborate liturgies that can last hours. The deep, guttural tones
are said to represent the fundamental vibration of the universe.
Japanese Shōmyō
An ancient form of Buddhist liturgical chanting in Japan, shōmyō influenced the development of
Japanese traditional music. Performed in both Shingon and Tendai schools, it ranges from solemn
solo recitations to elaborate multi-voice compositions. The chanting of "Namu Amida Butsu" (Nembutsu)
in Pure Land Buddhism is perhaps the most widely practiced devotional recitation in Japan.
"The gift of Dhamma surpasses all gifts."
— Dhammapada 354