Formal Requests
Taking the Five Precepts
The Request:
Mayaṁ bhante, ti-saraṇena saha pañca sīlāni yācāma.
Venerable Sir, we request the Three Refuges & the Five Precepts.
Dutiyam-pi mayaṁ bhante…
Venerable Sir, a second time…
Tatiyam-pi mayaṁ bhante…
Venerable Sir, a third time…
The monk then recites the following passage three times, after which the lay people repeat it three times:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato
sammā-sambuddhassa. (three times)
Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One,
the Rightly Self-awakened One.
The monk then recites the following passages line by line, with the lay people reciting line by line after him.
Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
Dutiyam-pi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Dutiyam-pi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Dutiyam-pi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
A second time, I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
Tatiyam-pi buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Buddha for refuge.
Tatiyam-pi dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
Tatiyam-pi saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
A third time, I go to the Saṅgha for refuge.
The monk then says:
Ti-saraṇa-gamanaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.
This ends the going for refuge.
The lay people respond:
Āma bhante.
Yes, Venerable Sir.
The monk then recites the precepts line by line, with the lay people reciting them line by line after him.
Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from taking life.
Adinnādānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from stealing.
Kāmesu micchācārā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from sexual misconduct.
Musāvādā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from telling lies.
Surā-meraya-majja-pamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī sikkhā-padaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake the training rule to refrain from intoxicating liquors & drugs that lead to heedlessness.
The monk then concludes with the following:
Imāni pañca sikkhā-padāni:
These are the five training rules.
Sīlena sugatiṁ yanti.
Through virtue they go to a good destination.
Sīlena bhoga-sampadā.
Through virtue is wealth attained.
Sīlena nibbutiṁ yanti.
Through virtue they go to unbinding.
Tasmā sīlaṁ visodhaye.
Therefore we should purify our virtue.
(Bow three times)
