The Benefit of Chanting Itipiso

Some of Luang Pu's disciples whom he taught meditation to, often felt uncomfortable or fearful during their practice sessions. A few of them may see shadows, certain images that arise during meditation that remind them of ghosts or some just feel fear for no reason at all. 

Luang Pu reassured them by saying, “If fear arises, one should be mindful of the Triple Gems. According to the Dhajagga Sutta, the Buddha told his disciples to recollect the virtues of the Triple Gems to conquer the feelings of fear that arises.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"If you’ve gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut and you get scared or terrified, just recollect me: ‘That Blessed One is perfected, a fully awakened Buddha, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, holy, knower of the world, supreme guide for those who wish to train, teacher of gods and humans, awakened, blessed.’ Then your fear and terror will go away.

If you can’t recollect me, then recollect the Dhamma: ‘The teaching is well explained by the Buddha—visible in this very life, immediately effective, inviting inspection, relevant, so that sensible people can know it for themselves.’ Then your fear and terror will go away.

If you can’t recollect the teaching, then recollect the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, methodical, and proper. They consist of the four pairs, the eight individuals. 

This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with joined palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’ Then your fear and terror will go away.

Why is that? Because the Blessed One is free of greed, hate, and delusion. 

He is fearless, brave, bold, and stands his ground.”

That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root, or an empty hut, O monks,

recollect the Buddha,

and no fear will come to you.

If you can’t recollect the Buddha—

the eldest in the world, the bull of a man—then recollect the teaching,

emancipating, well taught.

If you can’t recollect the teaching—

emancipating, well taught—

then recollect the Saṅgha,

the supreme field of merit.

Happy Thus recollecting the Buddha,

the teaching, and the Saṅgha, monks,

fear and terror and goosebumps will be no more.”