The Advantages of Chanting Buddhaguna
The Advantages of Chanting Buddhaguna
by Phra Dhedsinghaburajarn
and English version by Dr. Suchitra Ronren,
Rajbhat Institute Dhonburi,
Issaraparb Road, Bangkok 10600
An Approval
Chanting the holy stanzas is the way of life. A person who chants every day will be good and prosperous. He can share this merit with his friends and all beings.
May you and your family chant daily for your well-being, wealth of fortune, happiness, and wisdom.
You should advise your children to chant every night before bed. If they do this with firm faith, these benefits should be expected. They are:
1. They will have good discipline.
2. They won’t argue with their parents but will be obedient and respectful.
3. When they are grown up, they will be good members of society and citizens of the nation.
4. He who chants daily will lead a good, prosperous, rich, smart, and intellectual life. He will get all the good things he wishes for.
Congratulations!
Phra Rajsuddhinananmangala
The Advantages of Chanting Buddhaguna
Buddhaguna (worshipping the Enlightened one). I have discovered that when a fortune-teller foretells some people that they have bad luck, something should be done to eradicate that bad luck. With the help of mindfulness, a thought arises in my mind that it’s much better to chant Buddhaguna than to get advice from a fortune-teller. I then tell my disciples to follow this idea, which works well.
The chanting begins with Namo Tassa Bhagavato…, refuges, Buddhaguna, Dhammaguna, Sanghaguna, Bahum, and Mahakaruniko. After that, chant only Buddhaguna as many times as your age plus one. Suppose you are 40, then chant Buddhaguna 41 times, and if you are 35, then chant Buddhaguna 36 times.
There was a fifty-one-year-old Christian widow who was a millionaire and had only one son. This widow possessed lots of lands in Lad Prao and Klong San-sab. Her son was not keen on learning, and she sent him to study in the U.S.A. The son was not involved in his studies. He spent three years there as a playboy and often wrote to his mother to send him money, lying to her that he had nearly finished his studies. From time to time, the son deceived his mother to send him one hundred thousand, then five hundred thousand, and so on.
The mother did not know what to do, so she went to a fortune-teller to have him ridden of her bad luck. She paid lots of money to the fortune-teller, hoping he would help her son finish his studies. She also went to other fortune-tellers, but none of them could solve her problem though she had paid them a lot. She was very nervous and could neither eat nor sleep.
Fortunately, a man from Singburi, one of her employees, knew and asked for my help. At that time, I didn't realize that she was a Christian, and when I saw her face, I knew that her son would have finished his M.A. and would continue with a Ph.D. But why he couldn't finish his B.A., I wondered. I suggested that she chant Buddhaguna 52 times every night, but she said she couldn't because she was a Christian. That day she left the monastery hopeless.
She came back again after four or five months had passed. This time she came alone and confessed, "Luang Phor, (venerable father) I will follow your advice." I then told her to buy a chant book, but she refused. Her reason was that any Christian could not keep the Buddhist chant book in the house. She requested me to write the words of the Buddhist chant for her. For her, I had to write the chant words of Buddhaguna, Dhammaguna, Sanghaguna, Bahum, and Mahaka. She still said, "I can't chant in the chanting hall because I am not a Buddhist." I suggest that she could chant in her bed by counting pieces of matches for the 52 times of chanting. Having finished chanting, she should transfer merit to her son. I forbade her from scolding her son and suggested that she wish him happiness and success in his studies.
For three months, she followed my suggestion. She could remember all the words she chanted, and she got two advantages.
First, her nervousness had gone. She became mindful and could eat and sleep. When happy, she began to transfer merit to her son in the U.S.A. After six months of chanting, the son got that merit. The day he got it, he had a serious accident. The car he was driving crashed on the electric distribution pole. His friends in the back seat were thrown out of the vehicle, but none of them got hurt. Only he is the one who was hurt. The electric distribution pole had fallen (and he had to pay lots of money for the accident). He was unconscious and was sent to the hospital ICU room. Fortunately, one of his friend's cousins was a doctor in the hospital. The doctor reported to his friend that the patient should be dead.
On the following day, he became conscious and felt seriously hurt. Tears filled his eyes when he thought of his mother. I notice that when someone is in trouble, they usually think of his mother, but when he is happy with his friends, the mother is forgotten.
Secondly, the son missed his mother a lot. He was sorry for how unhappy his mother would be if she had known that he had not finished his studies. He then determined that he would try to finish his studies as soon as he recovered.
Finally, he returned to Thailand, and his mother brought him to meet me. He revealed what had happened to him. After he had got well, he chanted every day and also went to practice vipassana meditation at a Thai Temple in the U.S.A. He could finish his B.A. and M.A., and I knew he would spend his Ph.D. in the future.
I conclude that whenever someone is in trouble, he will think of his mother and perceive the Dhamma. That widow’s son said to me, “Venerable father, I never missed my mother during these three or four years while I was in the U.S.A., but when I was in the hospital, I missed her so much.” The mother told her son that it was me who had helped him. He then had faith in me, and I told him that if he believed me, he should have his hair cut because he wore long hair. He went immediately to Singburi to have his hair cut. I then postulate that when someone is in bad luck, he should chant Buddhaguna.
When I met Somdej Phra Banaratana of Wat Pa Kaew
One night I dreamt that I went somewhere and met a monk wearing an ancient triple robe, the appearance and bearing appropriate to a monk. I saw that he was a senior monk, and I paid my respects to him. He stooped in front of me, saying:
I am Somdej Phra Banaratana of Wat Pa Kaew temple of Ayutthaya. I want you to go to Wat Yai Chaimongkol temple to see the inscription I engraved for blessing King Naret the Great of Thailand on the occasion of finishing the Triumph Pagoda construction. This Triumph Pagoda was built to celebrate King Naret the Great since he triumphed over King Maha Uparaja of Burma and liberated Thailand from Burma for the first time. When you see my inscription, please note it and spread it to others. It’s time you must know this.
In the dream, I accepted his order, and he told me where the inscription was kept in the Pagoda. I had been informed the same day that the Fine Arts Department would finish restoring that pagoda, and the scaffolding would be pulled down. I reflected on my goal and thought that I was always mindful and that such untrue dreams could not happen to me.P
Around 9.00 a.m. I went to the pagoda and climbed to the top to find a way to the bottom. There was scaffolding, and I was determined to climb down though it was very dangerous. If I fell down the structure, my life would cease to be. I climbed down to the bottom of the pagoda with a flashlight in my hand, and I saw what Somdej Phra Banaratam had told me in the dream.
I had just realized that the inscription he told me was the chant called “Bahum Mahaka,” a well-known chant.
The end of the inscription is written: “I am Somdej Phra Banaratana of Wat Pa Kaew temple of Ayudhaya. I engraved this inscription to bless King Naret the Great.”
The Bahum Mahaka is the chant consisting of Buddhaguna, Dhammaguna, Sanghaguna, and Bahum that begins with Bahum Sahassa to Duggathaditthi till Mahakaruniko natho pitaya and ends with Bhavatu sabba mangalam…Sabba Buddha Sabba Dhamma, Sabba Sanghanu bhavan sada Sotthi bhavantu te. I called this chant “Bahum Mahaka”.
I then understood that Bahum Mahaka was composed by Somdej Phra Banaratana of Wat Pa Kaew temple and presented to King Naret so the king would chant daily, especially during wartime. It appeared that King Naret never lost the war but won every time, even though he was alone with his brother among thousands of Burmese soldiers in the war, but the Burmese still could catch neither he nor his brother because of the protection of this chant.
After I had found what was in my dream, I climbed up with great relief. I spent nearly three hours at the bottom of the pagoda. My body was dusty and covered with spider webs. A nun saw me and asked in a loud voice. “Luang Phor, did you enter that cave?” But I said nothing. Since then, I have taught this chant to my disciples. Why? Because this chant is the most valuable and gives the greatest benefits since it comes from the eight hymns of the Buddha’s glorious triumphs that he had conquered. Mara, Alavaka Yakkha, the elephant Nalagiri, the robber Angulimala, the woman named Cinca, the mendicant Saccaka, Nandopananda Naga, and Baka, the Brahma god.
The victories the Enlightened One got were because of his Perfections. One who recites and recollects these eight hymns will be prosperous and mindful. If he dies mindfully, he will be born in the Happy States. I wish everybody chanted this “Bahum Mahaka” every day to protect himself and his family. If all citizens chant, our country will be prosperous and ignorant people will disappear from our society.
King Naret the Great got advantages because of this chant, and King Tak Sin the Great also got these advantages. There was an ancient memorandum saying this:
When King Tak Sin the Great conquered Chandaburi, he realized that this war would be severe and last long. He then ordered his soldiers to make a flag similar to Ayutthaya's. He invited senior monks to chant this "Bahum Mahaka," and he followed in King Naret's footsteps and finally could successfully liberate Thailand from Burma.
May every household chant this "Bahum Mahaka" for prosperity.
How to Chant (Method of Chanting)
Begin with Part 1 (Vandana) and ends with Part 6 (Jayaparittam - that ends with sada sotthi bhavantu te) chant only one time. Then chant Itipiso (Part 7) as many times as your age plus one. After that, chant the aspiration (Metta), followed by the transference of merit. When you finish this, you can make whatever wish you want.
(Part 1)
Vandana
Namo Tassa Bhagavato, Arahato, Samma Sam Buddhass (Repeat 3 times)
Ti-Sarana
Buddham saranam gacchami
Dhammam saranam gacchami
Sangham saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami
Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami
Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami
(Part 1) Translated to English
Homage
Homage to Him the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Fully Enlightened One (Repeat three times)
The Three Refuges
I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
I go to the Sangha as my refuge.
For the second time, I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
For the second time, I go. to the Dhamma as my refuge.
For the second time, I go to the Sangha as my refuge.
For the third time, I go to the Buddha as my refuge.
For the third time, I go to the Dhamma as my refuge.
For the third time, I go to the Sangha as my refuge.
(Part 2)
Buddhaguna
Itipi so Bhagava Araham
Sammasambuddho vijjacarana-sampanno
Sugato Lokavidu
Anuttaro purisadhamma-sarathi sattha
Devamannussanam
Buddho Bhagavati
(Part 2) Translated to English
Salutation To The Buddha
Such indeed is that Blessed One: Exalted, Omniscient, endowed with knowledge and virtue,
Well-gone, knower of the worlds,
A Guide incomparable for the training of individuals, a Teacher of gods and men, Enlightened and Holy.
(Part 3)
Dhammaguna
Svakkhato Bhagavata Dhammo
Sanditthiko
Akaliko
Ehipassiko
Opanayiko
Paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi’ti
(Part 3) Translated to English
Salutation to the Dhamma
Well-expounded is the Dhamma by the Blessed One.
To be self-realized (to be seen here and now).
With immediate fruit (not delayed in time).
Inviting one to come and see.
Capable of being entered upon leading to Nirvana.
To be attained by the wise, each for himself.
(Part 4)
Sanghaguna
Supatipanno Bhagavato savakasangho
Ujupatipanno Bhagavato savakasangho
Nayapatipanno Bhagavato savakasangho
Samicipatipanno Bhagavato savakasangho
Yadidam cattari purisayugani, Atthapurisapuggala
Esa Bhagavato savakasangho
Ahuneyyo
Pahuneyyo
Dakkhineyyo
Anjalikaraniyo
Anuttaram Punnakkhettam lokassati
(Part 4) Translated to English
Salutation to the Sangha
Of good conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
Of upright conduct is the Order of the Disciple of the Blessed One.
Of wise conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
Of dutiful conduct is the Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One.
Namely, these Four Pairs of Persons, the eight types of individuals,
this Order of the Disciples of the Blessed One
Is worthy of gifts,
Is worthy of hospitality,
Is worthy of offerings,
Is worthy of reverential salutation,
It is an incomparable field of merit for the World.
(Part 5)
Jaya-Mangala-Gatha
(5. 1) Bahum sahassa’ mabhinimmita savudhantam
Girimekhalam udita ghora sasena maram
Danadi dhamma vidhina jitava Munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.2) Marati reka’mabhiyujjhita sabbarattim
Ghorampanalavaka makkhamathaddha yakkham
Khanti sudanta vidhina jitava Munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.3) Nalagirim gajavaram atimatta bhutam
Davaggi cakka’masaniva sudarunantam
Mettambuseka vidhinna jitava Munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.4) Ukkhitta-khagga matihattha sudarunantam
Dhavam tiyojanapatham’Gulimala vantam
Iddhibhi sankhata mano jitava Munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.5) Katvana kattha’mudaram iva gabbhi niya
Cincaya duttha vacanam janakaya majjhe
Santena somavidhina jitava Munindo
Tam tajasa bhavtu me jayamanalani
(5.6) Saccam vihaya matisaccaka vadaketum
Vadabhiropitamanam atiandhabhutam
Pannapadipa jalito munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.7) Nandopananda bhujagam vibudham mahiddhim
Puttena thera bhujagena damapayanto
Iddhipadesa vidhina jitava Munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.8) Duggahaditthi bhujagena sudattha hattham
Brahman visuddhi jutim’iddhi bakabhidhanam
Nanagadena vidhina jitava Munindo
Tam tejasa bhavatu me jayamangalani
(5.9) Eta pi Buddha jayamangla atthagatha
Yo vacako dinadine sarate matandi
Hitvana nekavivdhani c’upaddhavani
Mokkham sukham adhigameyya naro sapanno
(Part 5) Translated to English
Stanzas of Victory
(5.1) Creating a thousand hands with weapons armed, was Mara seated on the trumpeting, ferocious elephant Girimekhala. He and his army did the Lord of Sages subdue using generosity and other virtues. By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine
(5.2) More violent than Mara was the indocile obstinate demon Alavaka, who battled with the Buddha throughout the night. He did the Lord of Sages subdue using His patience and self-control. By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine
(5.3) Nalagiri, the king elephant, highly intoxicated, was raging like a forest fire and was terrible as a thunderbolt. Sprinkling the waters of loving-kindness, this ferocious beast did the Lord of Sages subdues.
By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine.
(5.4) With lifted sword, for a. distance of’ three leagues, did wicked Angulimala run. He did the Lord of Sages subdue by His psychic powers. By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine.
(5.5) Her belly is bound with faggots, to simulate the appearance of pregnancy, with harsh words made the foul accusation amid an assemblage. She did the Lord of sages subdue by His serene and peaceful bearing. By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine
(5.6) Haughty Saccaka, who ignored the truth, was like a banner controversy, and his disputations blinded his vision.
Lighting the lamp of wisdom, he did the Lord of Sages subdues.
By the grace of which may victory be mine
(5.7) The wise and powerful serpent Nandopananda,
the Noble Sage, got subdued by psychic powers
through his disciple con-Thera Moggallana.
By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine
(5.8) The pure, radiant, majestic Brahma, named Baka, whose hand was grievously held by the snake of tenacious heresies, did the Lord of Sages cured with His medicine of wisdom By the grace of which may joyous victory be mine.
(5.9) The wise one, who daily recites and earnestly remembers these eight verses of’ the joyous victory of Buddha, will get rid of various misfortunes and gain the bliss of Nibbana.
N.B. The last line “me” is changed to “te” if repeated for others.
(Part 6)
Jayaparittam
(6.1) Mahakaruniko natho hitaya sabbapaninam
Puretva parami sabba patto sambodhimuttaman
Etena saccavajjena hotu te jayamangalam
Jayanto bodhiya mule sakyanam nandivaddhano
Evam tvam vijayo hohi jayassu jayamangale
Aparajitapallanke sise pathavipokkhare
Abhiseke sabbabuddhanam aggapatto pamodati
(6.2) Sunakkhattam sumangalam supabhatam suhutthitam
Sukhano sumuhutto ca suyittham brahmmacarisu
Padakkhinam kayakammam vacakammam padakkhinam
Paddkkhinam manokammam panidthi te padakkhina
Padakkhinani katvana labhantatthe padakhine
(6.3) Bhavatu sabba mangalam-rakkhantu sabba devata
sabba Buddhanu bhavena-sada sotti bhavantu te.
bhavatu sabba mangalam-rakkhantu sabba devata
sabba dhammanu bhavena-sada sotti bhavantu te.
bhavatu sabba mangalam-rakkhantu sabba devata
sabba Sanghanu bhavena-sada sotti bhavantu te
Itipi so Bhagava Araham
Sammasambuddho vijjacarana-sampanno
Sugato Lokavidu
Anuttaro purisadhamma-sarathi sattha
Devamannussanam
Buddho Bhagavati
(Part 6) Translated to English
The Victory Protection
(6.1) The Lord is greatly compassionate for the welfare of all living beings, having fulfilled all the perfections attained by himself the highest Bodhi; by speaking this truth, may you be blessed with victory. Victorious at the root of the Bodhi tree, he who increased delight for the Sakyans, thus may success be yours, may you win the blessing of victory. In the undefeated posture upon the exalted holy place, having the consecration of all the Buddhas, he rejoices in the best attainment.
(6.2) A good time an auspicious time, a good dawn, a good morning,
a good instant, a good moment (when) well-given (are things) to Brahmacaris, when bodily kamma is righteous, and righteousness
is verbal kamma, (when) mental karma is virtuous, righteousness is their aspirations. This righteousness has been done, and one gains the goal by righteousness.
By the glory of all Buddhas, may security ever be yours! (6.3) May all blessings accrue. May all devas protect you.
May all blessings accrue. May all devas protect you. By the glory of all Dhammas, may security ever be yours!
May all blessings accrue. May all devas protect you. By the glory of all Saintly Disciples, may security ever be yours?
Such indeed is that Blessed One: Exalted,
Omniscient, endowed with knowledge and virtue,
Well-gone, knower of the worlds,
A Guide incomparable for the training of individuals,
Teacher of gods and men,
Enlightened and Holy
(Part 7)
Buddhaguna
Itipi so Bhagava Araham
Sammasambuddho vijjacarana-sampanno
Sugato Lokavidu
Anuttaro purisadhamma-sarathi sattha
Devamannussanam
Buddho Bhagavati
(Part 7) Translated to English
Salutation To The Buddha
Such indeed is that Blessed One: Exalted, Omniscient, endowed with knowledge and virtue,
Well-gone, knower of the worlds,
A Guide incomparable for the training of individuals, Teacher of gods and men. Enlightened and Holy.
(Repeat this Chant as many times as your age plus one)
(Part 8)
Metta
Sabbe satta, sukhi hontu
avera hontu,
abyapajjha hontu,
anigha hontu,
sukhi attanam pariharantu,
(Part 8) Translated to English
Loving Kindness
May all beings (who are subject to birth, aging, disease, and death) be happy.
May they be without enmity, May they be without malevolence
May they be without physical or mental suffering
May they be happy in both body and mind and be able to protect themselves from danger.
(Part 9)
Pattidana
Idam me matapitunani hotu,
Sukhita hontu matapitaro
Idam me natinam hotu, Sukhita. hontu natayo
Idam me gurupajjhayacariya nam hotu
Sukhita. hontu gurupajjhayacariya
Idam sabba devanam hotu, Sukhita hontu sabbe deva
Idam sabba petanam hotu, Sukhita hontu jabbe peta
Idam sabba verinam hotu, Sukhita hontu sabbe veri
Idam sabba sattanam hotu, Sukhita hontu sabbe satta.
(Part 9) Translated to English
Transference of Merit
May this merit accrue to my mother and my father, may they be happy
May this merit accrue to all my relatives; may they be happy
May this merit accrue to my; teachers and my preceptor;
may they be satisfied.
May this merit accrue to all gods; may they be happy,
May this merit accrue to all hungry ghosts; may they be happy.
May this merit accrue to all enemies; may they be happy.
May this merit accrue to all beings; may they be happy.
Buddha’s Words
By oneself is evil done
By oneself is one defiled
By oneself is evil left undone
By oneself is one purified
Purity and impurity depend on oneself
No one can purify another
Buddha Vacana
Attanava katam papam
attana sankilisati
attana akatam papam
attanava visujjhati
Suddhi asuddhi paccattam
nanno annam visodhaye