The Discourse on Loving-Kindness
The Gilana Suttas (Samyutta Nikaya 46.14-16): the seven factors of awakening recited to heal the gravely ill, including the Buddha himself.
The Mangala Sutta (Khuddakapatha 5): the Buddha answers a deva's question on the highest blessings with thirty-eight ethical and spiritual qualities.
The Karaniya Metta Sutta (Sn 1.8): the Buddha's discourse on boundless loving-kindness toward all beings, chanted for protection.
The Ratana Sutta (Khp 6, Sn 2.1): the Buddha's protective discourse on the Three Jewels, taught at Vesali in a time of plague and fear.
A Buddhist protective verse from Majjhima Nikaya 86, in which the arahant Aṅgulimāla wishes safety to a mother in labour and her child.
Dhammapada verses 21–32: heedfulness is the path to the Deathless and heedlessness the path to death, so the wise guard their attention like a treasure.
The Dhammapada's Arahanta Vagga (verses 90–99) honors the awakened arahant, free of craving, serene wherever dwelling, like a swan leaving no trace in flight.
The Dhammapada's Atta Vagga (verses 157–166) teaches that one is one's own protector—spiritual effort and self-mastery cannot be borrowed from another.
Dhammapada verses 60–75 on the fool: long is the night to the sleepless, and the fool who knows his folly is wise, but one who thinks himself wise is the fool.
The Dhammapada's Buddha Vagga (verses 179–196) glorifies the Awakened One, including the Ovada-Patimokkha's summary of the entire teaching in verses 183–185.
Dhammapada verses 33–43: the restless mind is hard to guard, yet a tamed, well-directed mind brings happiness and freedom from fear.
Dhammapada chapter on the rod (verses 129–145): all beings fear violence and cherish life, so the seeker puts himself in others' place and harms none.
Dhammapada chapter on old age (verses 146–156), including the house-builder verses on craving and the impermanence of the body.
The Dhammapada's Loka Vagga (verses 167–178) urges seekers to see the world as a bubble or mirage and live heedfully, righteously, generously, and without envy.
The Pakinnaka Vagga, chapter 21 of the Pali Canon's Dhammapada, gathers sixteen verses (290-305) on renunciation, mindfulness of the Triple Gem, and solitary practice.
The Dhammapada's Pandita Vagga (verses 76–89) praises the wise, steady as rock and unruffled as a deep lake, who seek correction and walk the path to Nibbana.
Dhammapada chapter on evil (verses 116–128): be quick to do good, for small wrongs fill a life like drops filling a jar and no place hides one from karma.
The Dhammapada's Piya Vagga (verses 209–220) exposes attachment and affection as the root of grief and fear, and praises those who are freed from both.
Dhammapada chapter on flowers (verses 44–59): garlands, honeybees and fragrance that travels against the wind teach a life of virtue before death comes.
The Dhammapada's Sahassa Vagga (verses 100–115) teaches that one true word, one day of virtue, or one moment of insight outweighs a thousand empty quantities.
The Dhammapada's Sukha Vagga (verses 197–208) redefines happiness as inner freedom from hatred, craving, and attachment, not sensory gratification.
The Dhammapada's Yamaka Vagga (verses 1–20) opens the scripture, teaching that mind shapes all experience and that non-hatred, not retaliation, ends enmity.
Eight Pali verses recalling the Buddha's victories over Mara, Alavaka, the elephant Nalagiri, Angulimala and others, chanted as a protective paritta.
The Ovada-Patimokkha Gatha distills the Buddha's teaching into three instructions: avoid evil, cultivate good, and purify one's own mind.
A short Pali verse recited three times to dedicate merit to departed relatives, wishing them happiness, often used in Theravada funeral and memorial rites.
A traditional Pali chant of taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha — the Triple Gem — recited three times as a declaration of faith.
The Eight Precepts, ethical training rules Buddhists observe on uposatha days or retreats to deepen mindfulness and discipline.
The Pali recollection of the Buddha's nine virtues, chanted in Theravada devotion to steady the mind and renew faith.
The Ten Precepts, Khuddakapatha 2: ten Pali training rules of novice monks and nuns, each taken with the words I undertake the precept to refrain.
A foundational Theravada chant: taking refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, followed by the five ethical precepts.