Buddha
The awakened one; also a reminder of the possibility of awakening.
Guided Practice
Listen, repeat, reflect.
This page introduces basic Buddhist terms, short pronunciation practice, and simple meditation prompts for beginners.
Basic Concepts
Dharma
The teachings, truth, and path that guide practice.
Saṅgha
The community of practitioners who support the path.
Mantra
A repeated sacred phrase used to focus attention and devotion.
Chanting
Vocal repetition that can join text, breath, rhythm, and memory.
Meditation
A practice of steady attention, insight, and compassionate awareness.
Listen & Repeat
AI-generated pronunciation demos are for educational use only. They are not traditional monastic chants or ritual performances.
oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ
oṃ / ma / ṇi / pad / me / hūṃ
A widely known compassion mantra associated with Avalokiteśvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.
gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā
ga / te / ga / te / pā / ra / ga / te / pā / ra / saṃ / ga / te / bo / dhi / svā / hā
A phrase from the Heart Sutra, often understood as moving beyond ordinary grasping toward awakening.
namo buddhāya
na / mo / bud / dhā / ya
An expression of homage or refuge directed toward the Buddha.
namo dharmāya
na / mo / dhar / mā / ya
An expression of homage or refuge directed toward the Dharma.
namo saṅghāya
na / mo / saṅ / ghā / ya
An expression of homage or refuge directed toward the Saṅgha.
Enter Meditation
Sound Meditation
Listen to one tone or phrase. Let the beginning, middle, and fading of sound become the focus.
Breath and Repetition
Pair a short phrase with natural breathing. Keep the pace gentle and unforced.
Loving-Kindness Reflection
After repeating a phrase, pause and offer goodwill to yourself, a friend, and all beings.
Reflection Prompts
- What did I notice in the sound?
- Did repetition change my attention?
- Did the phrase feel like language, music, ritual, or meditation?
- How was hearing different from reading?
- Did meaning come from translation, sound, rhythm, or memory?