Buddhist Evening Chanting in Pāli and English: A Simple Sequence to End the Day

In Theravāda monasteries, the day ends as it began: with chanting. As the light fades, monks and lay people gather to recite the qualities of the Buddha, to reflect on how short and precious life is, and to wish all beings well. Here is a simple evening sequence you can follow at home, with links to the full text of each passage.

The 5-minute sequence

1. Homage (3 times). Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa. See Namo tassa.
2. The qualities of the Buddha. Itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti. Full text and meaning: the Itipiso.
3. The five reflections (below).
4. A wish of loving-kindness: Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā, "May all beings be happy!"

The five reflections

In AN 5.57, the Buddha says that "a woman or a man, a layperson or a renunciate should often review these five subjects." Many monasteries chant them every evening:

Jarādhammomhi, jaraṁ anatīto.

"I am liable to grow old, I am not exempt from old age."

Byādhidhammomhi, byādhiṁ anatīto.

"I am liable to get sick, I am not exempt from sickness."

Maraṇadhammomhi, maraṇaṁ anatīto.

"I am liable to die, I am not exempt from death."

Sabbehi me piyehi manāpehi nānābhāvo vinābhāvo.

"I must be parted and separated from all I hold dear and beloved."

Kammassakomhi, kammadāyādo kammayoni kammabandhu kammapaṭisaraṇo. Yaṁ kammaṁ karissāmi, kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā, tassa dāyādo bhavissāmi.

"I am the owner of my deeds and heir to my deeds. Deeds are my womb, my relative, and my refuge. I shall be the heir of whatever deeds I do, whether good or bad."

These lines can sound heavy, but at the end of a long day they are strangely freeing. Whatever went wrong today is small next to the plain facts of life. And the last reflection turns you toward tomorrow: what you do is yours, so you can begin again.

The 15-minute sequence

Add these after the five reflections:

1. The full Itipiso, with the qualities of the Dhamma and Saṅgha. See the Itipiso.
2. A few verses of the Mangala Sutta, such as "Respect and placidity, contentment and gratitude." See the Mangala Sutta.
3. Five minutes of gratitude. Look back at the day and notice three good moments. Try our gratitude meditation.
4. Loving-kindness for everyone. Widen the wish to all beings, as in the Karaniya Metta Sutta.

Tips for evening practice

• Dim the lights and put your phone in another room. The chanting becomes the bridge from day to night.
• Chant softly if others are sleeping. A whisper is enough.
• End with a kind wish for someone you found difficult today.

Prefer a gentle, non-chanting version? Follow the 10-minute evening ritual or the free 3-minute evening practice. And begin tomorrow with morning chanting.