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Traditional Tibetan Refuge Prayer

Before practice, we always take refuge in the three jewels: our teachers, the teachings, and those others who travel along the path of awakening with us. In this Tibetan prayer these supports are referred to as Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

SANG GYE CHHÖ DANG TS'HOK KYI CHHOK NAM LA
JANG CHHUP BAR DU DAK NI KYAP SU CHHI
DAK GI JIN SOK GYI PAY SÖ NAM KYI
DRO LA P'HEN CHHIR SANG GYE DRUP PAR SHOK

Until I reach enlightenment, I take refuge in all the Buddhas
And in the Dharma and all the noble Sangha.
By the merit of accomplishing the six perfections
May I achieve buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings.

How to Sing the Prayer

The Refuge Prayer is usually sung, sometimes simply chanted, often slightly differently in different temples. Below is instruction on how our Senior Teacher, Catherine Jetsun Yeshe, usually sings the prayer.

Sing it in an even rhythm, emphasizing every other syllable: i.e., sang GYE chhö DANG ts'hok KYI chhok NAM la (pause)...etc.

Using the "do, re, mi" system of music, begin with "do" on any note that is comfortable for your voice. The red words are "do", the blue words are "re" (one note up from "do"), and the green words are "la" (two notes below "do").

(On a keyboard, try starting on E-flat above middle C for "do", F for "re", and middle C for "mi". Of course you can move the whole tune up and down to suit your voice; these notes are just given to help you pick out the tune.)

SANG GYE CHHÖ DANG TS'HOK KYI CHHOK NAM LA
JANG CHHUP BAR DU DAK NI KYAP SU CHHI
DAK GI JIN SOK GYI PAY SÖ NAM KYI
DRO LA P'HEN CHHIR SANG GYE DRUP PAR SHOK

BUT.....this is only one way to chant refuge. There are other tunes and rhythms. Why not make up your own? It's a very personal prayer, after all.....

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