A Buddhist morning prayer is not a request; it is a way of beginning the day facing in the right direction. In Theravāda temples, from Thailand to Sri Lanka to monasteries in the West, the morning usually opens with two short passages: the homage to the Buddha and the Three Refuges. Here are both, with what they mean and how to say them.
Try it now, guided. A 3-minute morning practice in your browser. Start →
1. The homage
Said three times, softly or silently:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa
Homage to him, the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the fully awakened Buddha.
How to say it: nah-moh tas-sah bah-gah-vah-toh ah-rah-hah-toh sahm-mah-sahm-bood-dhas-sah. In Thailand it sounds softer, with a p for the bh and a w for the v.
This exact homage appears in the early discourses: in the Saṅgārava Sutta (MN 100), a devoted woman named Dhanañjānī speaks it three times. For a word-by-word explanation, see the meaning of Namo tassa.
2. The Three Refuges
Each line is said three times. The short form:
Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmiI take refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Teaching. I take refuge in the Saṅgha.
The second and third rounds begin with Dutiyampi (for the second time) and Tatiyampi (for the third time). This is the form found in the Khuddakapāṭha (Kp 1), a short handbook of basic passages.
How to say it: bood-dhang sah-rah-nang gach-chah-mee, dham-mang sah-rah-nang gach-chah-mee, sang-ghang sah-rah-nang gach-chah-mee.
What it means in daily life: taking refuge is turning toward three things you can rely on: the example of someone who woke up (the Buddha), the way of seeing clearly (the Dhamma), and the people who practice it (the Saṅgha). Saying it each morning is a small act of choosing what kind of day you want to have.
3. A minute of quiet and one intention
After the chanting, sit for a minute with your breath. Then choose one kind intention for the day: to be patient with someone, to say thank you, or to do one small kindness. Many people finish with a simple wish in their own words, such as May I be well. May the people I meet today be well. (These are ANEW's words, not a traditional text.)
Putting it together
- Sit comfortably and take three slow breaths.
- Say the homage three times.
- Say the Three Refuges, three rounds.
- Sit quietly for a minute.
- Choose one kind intention for the day.
That is a complete morning prayer in about two minutes. For a longer version with a short sit and a teaching, see our 10-minute Buddhist morning routine, or let the guided morning practice walk you through it.
Questions people ask
What is a Buddhist morning prayer?
In Theravāda Buddhism, the day usually begins with chanting rather than asking for something. The two most common opening passages are the homage to the Buddha (Namo tassa) and the Three Refuges.
Do Buddhists pray to the Buddha?
Not in the sense of asking a god for help. The morning chant is an expression of respect and a way of turning the mind toward what is wise and kind. Many people call it a prayer because it plays the same role in their day.
Can I say the morning prayer in English?
Yes. Many people chant in Pāli and then say the English meaning, or simply say the English. What matters is understanding what you say.
How long does it take?
About two minutes. Chanting the homage three times and the Refuges three times takes a little over a minute; add a minute of quiet sitting after.