Ti Sarana
Below is the complete Tisarana (Three Refuges) in Pali, followed by a line-by-line English interpretation.
The Request (Optional Chant by Leader)
Pali: “Aham bhante, tisaranena saha panca silam dammam yacami.”
English: “Venerable sir, I ask for the Three Refuges together with the Five Precepts.”
(The congregation then repeats each line after the leader.)
The Three Refuges (Tisarana)
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buddham saranam gacchami. | I go to the Buddha for refuge. |
| 2 | Dhammam saranam gacchami. | I go to the Dhamma for refuge. |
| 3 | Sangham saranam gacchami. | I go to the Sangha for refuge. |
(These three lines are typically chanted twice more, for a total of three repetitions.)
Second Repetition (Deepening the Commitment)
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutiyampi, Buddham saranam gacchami. | For the second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge. |
| 2 | Dutiyampi, Dhammam saranam gacchami. | For the second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge. |
| 3 | Dutiyampi, Sangham saranam gacchami. | For the second time, I go to the Sangha for refuge. |
Third Repetition (Final Confirmation)
| Line | Pali | English Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tatiyampi, Buddham saranam gacchami. | For the third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge. |
| 2 | Tatiyampi, Dhammam saranam gacchami. | For the third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge. |
| 3 | Tatiyampi, Sangham saranam gacchami. | For the third time, I go to the Sangha for refuge. |
Word-by-Word Breakdown
| Pali Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buddham | The Awakened One (the Buddha) |
| Dhammam | The Teaching / Truth / Natural Law |
| Sangham | The Community (of noble disciples) |
| Saranam | Refuge / shelter / protection |
| Gacchami | I go / I approach / I take |
| Dutiyampi | For the second time (dutiya = second, -pi = also/even) |
| Tatiyampi | For the third time (tatiya = third) |
The Full Chant as Usually Recited
Buddham saranam gacchami. Dhammam saranam gacchami. Sangham saranam gacchami.
Dutiyampi, Buddham saranam gacchami. Dutiyampi, Dhammam saranam gacchami. Dutiyampi, Sangham saranam gacchami.
Tatiyampi, Buddham saranam gacchami. Tatiyampi, Dhammam saranam gacchami. Tatiyampi, Sangham saranam gacchami.
Closing Affirmation
Pali: “Tisarana-paripanno aham bhante.” English: “I am one who has fully taken the Three Refuges, Venerable Sir.”
(The Five Precepts then follow immediately after.)
Important Notes on Meaning
| Term | Deeper Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buddha | Not just the historical Buddha, but one’s own potential for awakening |
| Dhamma | The teachings as preserved in the scriptures, and more deeply, the ultimate truth of how things are |
| Sangha | Ideally, the ariya-sangha (noble ones who have attained stages of enlightenment); practically, the ordained monastic community |
“Gacchami” (I go) implies movement — refuge is not a static belief but an active, daily orientation of the heart and mind toward these three ideals.
Pronunciation Guide (Approximate)
- Buddham = BOOD-dham (dh as in “dharma”)
- Dhammam = DHAM-mam (rhymes with “sum”)
- Sangham = SANG-ham (hard ‘g’)
- Saranam = SA-ra-nam (all short vowels)
- Gacchami = GACH-cha-mee (like “gotcha” with ’m')
- Dutiyampi = DOO-tee-yam-pee
- Tatiyampi = TA-tee-yam-pee