Morning chanting
Praise of the Buddha
BuddhābhithutiThe morning chant in praise of the Buddha: who he was, what he came to know, and how he taught it.
Morning chanting
Praise of the Dhamma
Dhammābhithuti
The morning chant in praise of the Dhamma, stressing that it is something you can see for yourself here and now.
When it is chanted
Chanted after the praise of the Buddha in the morning service. It is the shortest of the three praises, easy to remember and fine to chant on its own.
Some people use it before reading the suttas or listening to a talk, as a reminder of what they are about to listen to and how to listen.
Background
The six words in this chant are the ones the Buddha used to describe his own teaching. Svākkhāto: well proclaimed. Sandiṭṭhiko: its results are visible to the one who practises. Akāliko: not dependent on time. Ehipassiko: it can be checked — "come and see". Opanayiko: worth bringing into oneself. Paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhi: to be known individually by those who know.
What stands out is that these words invite inspection rather than demand belief. Ehipassiko literally means "come and see", which is how someone speaks when they are not afraid of being checked.
The set appears in the Dhajagga Sutta and in many other suttas. The Thai liturgy lines them up and closes, as before, with an expression of homage.
Pali
- Yo so svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo That Dhamma was well proclaimed by the Blessed One:
- Sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko visible here and now, timeless, inviting one to come and see,
- Opanayiko paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhi worth bringing into oneself, to be known individually by those who know.
- Tamahaṃ dhammaṃ abhipūjayāmi I worship that Dhamma.
- Tamahaṃ dhammaṃ sirasā namāmi I bow my head to that Dhamma.
Where it comes from in the Tipiṭaka
Click to read the actual page it refers to
Other chants
Morning chanting
Preliminary homage (Namo tassa)
PubbabhāganamakāraThe short line of homage repeated three times before any other chant — the same sentence that opens every volu…
Morning chanting
Offering to the Triple Gem
RatanattayapūjāThe chant that opens morning chanting: offering flowers, incense and candles to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the…
Morning chanting
Passage on a sense of urgency
SaṃvegaparikittanapāṭhaThe passage that closes morning chanting: a review of dukkha, the impermanence of the five aggregates, and a r…