Collection of prayers
A Collection of Evening Chants
Including metta (loving-kindness) prayers for oneself and all beings,
and chants for dedicating merit and goodness.
Reciting these daily helps calm the mind, cultivate mindfulness,
reduce mental distractions, and ease worries.
Prayers
Before bed
Paying Homage to the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha) Prostration 1: Homage to the Buddha Prostration 2: Homage to the Dhamma Prostration 3: Homage to the Sangha Verse of Respect to the Triple Gem An offering of devotion to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha—those who are free from defilements and have attained enlightenment on their own: Imina sakkārena Buddhaṃ abhipūjayāmi Imina sakkārena Dhammaṃ abhipūjayāmi Imina sakkārena Saṅghaṃ abhipūjayāmi Homage to the Triple Gem I bow in reverence to the Blessed One—the Enlightened, Awakened, and Radiant One. I venerate the Dhamma and humbly pay respect to the Sangha. Arahaṃ sammāsambuddho bhagavā Buddhaṃ bhagavantaṃ abhivādemi (Bow) Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo Dhammaṃ namassāmi (Bow) Supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho Saṅghaṃ namāmi (Bow) Namo Tassa (Homage to the Buddha) Reverence to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-Awakened One. Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa (Repeat 3 times) Requesting the Five Precepts (Pañca Sīla) The basic moral code of human life. Keeping these precepts means not harming others and living ethically: Mayang bhante visung visung rakkhanatthāya, Tisaraṇena saha pañca sīlāni yācāma. (Repeated 3 times, requesting the Five Precepts) Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem (Tisarana) Reflecting on the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha as our spiritual refuge: Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi (Repeat 3 times, each time adding: dutiyampi (second time), tatiyampi (third time)) Observing the Five Precepts (Pañca Sīla) These are the formal precepts to live by daily: Pānātipātā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi (I undertake the precept to abstain from killing living beings.) Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi (…to abstain from taking what is not given.) Kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi (…to abstain from sexual misconduct.) Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi (…to abstain from false speech.) Surāmeraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhāpadaṃ samādiyāmi (…to abstain from intoxicants causing heedlessness.) Chanting Buddha’s Victory Mantras (Jaya Mangala Gatha - "Verses of the Victories of the Buddha") These verses celebrate the eight great victories of the Buddha over various forms of evil. (Due to length, this chant is best recited from a full text version or booklet) Metta Chant for Oneself A chant to spread loving-kindness to oneself for happiness and peace: Ahaṃ sukhito homi (May I be happy.) Ahaṃ niddukkho homi (May I be free from suffering.) Ahaṃ avero homi (May I be free from enmity.) Ahaṃ abyāpajjho homi (May I be free from mental distress.) Ahaṃ anīgho homi (May I be free from harm and obstacles.) Sukhī attānaṃ pariharāmi (May I always care for myself joyfully.) Metta Chant for All Beings A prayer to spread loving-kindness to all sentient beings: Sabbe sattā (All beings…) Avera hontu (May they be free from enmity.) Abyāpajjhā hontu (May they be free from harm.) Anīghā hontu (May they be free from suffering.) Sukhī attānaṃ pariharantu (May they look after themselves with ease and happiness.) Chant for Sharing Merits (Pattidāna Gāthā) A chant to dedicate the merit earned from chanting to parents, relatives, teachers, celestial beings, departed ones, and all living beings: Idaṃ me mātāpitūnaṃ hotu, sukhitā hontu mātāpitaro (May this merit benefit my parents. May they be happy.) Idaṃ me ñātīnaṃ hotu, sukhitā hontu ñātayo (May this merit benefit my relatives. May they be happy.) Idaṃ me gurūpajjhāyācariyānaṃ hotu, sukhitā hontu… (May this merit benefit my teachers and mentors…) … sabbe sattā (May all beings be happy.)
Benefits of Praying
Chanting as a Form of Meditation and Devotion Chanting is considered a form of meditation. During chanting, the mind becomes focused on each verse, anchoring attention and calming mental distractions. When one chants verses that have been translated from Pali into Thai, the meaning becomes clearer, allowing deeper understanding of the Dhamma and its profound teachings. Each chant is referred to as a Paritta, meaning “sublime protection.” These are composed of the teachings of the Buddha and include verses that praise the Triple Gem, offer blessings, or are derived from the Tipitaka (the Buddhist scriptures). Some are ancient, directly from the Buddha’s words; others were composed later for devotional use. Every verse and phrase reflects the compassion, purity, and wisdom of the Enlightened One. Chanting is like an audience with the Buddha Venerable Phra Thep Bodhividesa (Most Venerable Vīrayuttho), Abbot of Wat Thai Buddhagaya in India, once said: “The power of chanting at the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites is as if we are sitting in the presence of the Arahants and celestial beings.”