The Itipiso chant, Itipi so bhagavā, is one of the most chanted passages in Theravāda Buddhism. In Thailand, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, people say it every morning and evening, at temples and at home. It is a short list of the Buddha's qualities, followed by the qualities of his teaching and his community. Here is the full text, what each word means, and how to say it.
Where it comes from
The chant is found in the early discourses. In the Dhajagga Sutta (SN 11.3), the Buddha speaks to monks meditating alone in the forest:
"If you've gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut and you get scared or terrified, just recollect me ... Then your fear and terror will go away."
The words he gives for that recollection are the Itipiso. So from the start, this chant has been a way to steady a frightened mind by remembering what is good and reliable.
1. The Buddha (Buddhānussati)
Itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.
"That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those fit for training, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed."
The nine qualities, word by word
| Pāli | Meaning |
|---|---|
| arahaṁ | perfected, free of all defilements |
| sammāsambuddho | fully awakened by himself |
| vijjācaraṇasampanno | accomplished in knowledge and conduct |
| sugato | holy; literally "well gone" |
| lokavidū | knower of the world |
| anuttaro purisadammasārathi | supreme guide for those who can be trained |
| satthā devamanussānaṁ | teacher of gods and humans |
| buddho | awakened |
| bhagavā | blessed |
2. The Teaching (Dhammānussati)
Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko opaneyyiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.
"The teaching is well explained by the Buddha: apparent in the present life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves."
A favorite word here is ehipassiko, "come and see." The teaching does not ask for blind belief; it invites you to try it and see for yourself.
3. The Community (Saṅghānussati)
Suppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujuppaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyappaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcippaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṁ cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭha purisapuggalā, esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjalikaraṇīyo anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.
"The Saṅgha of the Buddha's disciples is practicing the way that's good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha's disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world."
Pāli and English from SN 11.3, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato. Chanting books in Thailand use the same words with small spelling differences.
How to say it
Thai temples chant the Pāli slowly and evenly, one syllable to a beat. The opening line, as it sounds in Thailand:
ee-tee-pee soh pah-kah-wah, ah-rah-hang, sahm-mah-sahm-put-toh, wit-chah-jah-rah-nah-sahm-pahn-noh, soo-kah-toh, loh-kah-wee-doo, ah-noot-tah-roh poo-rit-sah-tahm-mah-sah-rah-tee, sat-tah teh-wah-mah-noot-sah-nang, put-toh pah-kah-wah-tee
In Sri Lanka and in Western monasteries the same words sound a little different (bh as in "abhor," v as in "very"). Both are correct.
How to use it every day
- Morning: after the homage, Namo tassa, and the Three Refuges, chant the Buddha section once, slowly.
- When you feel anxious: do what the Buddha suggested. Recall the qualities, even just the first line, and let your breath slow down.
- Evening: chant all three sections before sitting quietly for a few minutes.
Many Thais chant Itipiso for protection and good fortune, sometimes as many times as their age plus one. We share this as Thai tradition. In the early texts, the chant works by calming fear and turning the mind toward what is good.
Want to be guided? The ANEW app, arriving December 1, includes the Itipiso with audio and the meaning of every line.
Questions people ask
What does Itipiso mean?
Itipi so means "Such indeed is he" or "That Blessed One is..." These are the opening words of a chant listing the nine qualities of the Buddha.
Where does the Itipiso chant come from?
From the early discourses. In the Dhajagga Sutta (SN 11.3), the Buddha tells monks who feel afraid in the wilderness to recollect his qualities with these exact words, and their fear will go away.
Why do Thai people chant Itipiso?
It is part of daily morning and evening chanting in Thai temples and homes. Some people chant it many times as a practice of recollection. Many Thais also chant it for protection; ANEW shares this as tradition, while the early texts present it as a way to calm fear and steady the mind.
How long does it take to chant?
The Buddha section takes about 20 seconds. All three sections, Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha, take about a minute.