What is “Itipiso” chant?
The “Itipiso” chant or Dhajagga paritta (Protection) comes from the Dhajagga Sutta or The Top of the Standard Discourse (Saṃyutta Nikāya SN11.3), whereby the Lord Buddha taught his disciples to recollect the qualities of the Triple Gem, to be free from fear.
The Blessed One said: “... For those who have thus recalled the Buddha, Dhamma, & Saṅgha, monks, there will be no terror, horripilation, or fear.”
以上护卫偈 取之于 《旗帜顶端经》（相应部11相应3经）。 此经文记载佛陀教弟子们怎么回忆三宝 (佛陀、法、僧团）来消除害怕与恐怖。
世尊这么说：『... 这样回忆佛陀、法、僧团者，将不存在害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立。』
Dhajagga Paritta | Itipiso Chant
The Top of the Standard Protection
《旗帜顶端护卫偈》
(BUDDHA)
Itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammā-sambuddho,
He is a Blessed One, a Worthy One, a Rightly Self-awakened One,
世尊是如此：阿罗汉、正等正觉者、
Vijjā-caraṇa-sampanno sugato lokavidū,
consummate in knowledge & conduct, one who has gone the good way, knower of the cosmos,
明行具足者、善逝、世间解、
Anuttaro purisa-damma-sārathi satthā deva-manussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.
unexcelled trainer of those who can be taught, teacher of devas & human beings; awakened; blessed.
无上士调御丈夫、天人师、佛、世尊。
(DHAMMA)
Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo,
The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One,
世尊所善妙宣说之法,
Sandiṭṭhiko akāliko ehipassiko,
to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting all to come and see,
是可亲自见证、无时的、可邀人来见证，
Opanayiko paccattaṁ veditabbo viññūhīti.
pertinent, to be seen by the observant for themselves.
导向（涅槃）的，由智者们各自证知。
(SANGHA)
Supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho,
The Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples who have practised well,
僧伽，世尊的弟子，是善行道者;
Uju-paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho,
the Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples who have practised straightforwardly,
僧伽，世尊的弟子，是正直行道者;
Ñāya-paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho,
the Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples who have practised methodically,
僧伽，世尊的弟子，是如理行道者;
Sāmīci-paṭipanno bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho,
the Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples who have practised masterfully,
僧伽，世尊的弟子，是正当行道者;
Yadidaṁ cattāri purisa-yugāni aṭṭha purisa-puggalā:
i.e., the four pairs-the eight types-of noble ones:
他们即是四双八辈人，
Esa bhagavato sāvaka-saṅgho -
That is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples -
这僧伽，世尊的弟子，
Āhuneyyo pāhuneyyo dakkhiṇeyyo añjali-karaṇīyo,
worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect,
值得供养、值得殷勤礼敬、值得布施、值得合掌敬礼，
Anuttaraṁ puññakkhettaṁ lokassāti.
the incomparable field of merit for the world.
是世间无上的福田。
Why Chant together?
“...When the chant goes together, when the voices go together, we give energy to one another…
When we are practising, we are giving energy not only to ourselves, but we are radiating energy out, to help one another on the path.”
- Ajahn Thanissaro, “Why We Chant (26 Dec 2014)”
『...当在一起诵经时，当声音同步诵经时，我们互相给予能量......
当我们修行时，我们不仅给自己提供能量，而且我们向外辐射能量，在修行道路上互相帮助。』
- 坦尼沙罗尊者， 《我们为什么诵经》 (26 Dec 2014)
Dhajagga Sutta (SN 11:3)
The Top of the Standard Discourse
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There he addressed the monks: “Monks!”
“Yes, lord!” the monks responded to him.
The Blessed One said: “Once, monks, the devas & asuras were arrayed for battle. Then Sakka, lord of the devas, addressed the Devas of the Thirty-three: ‘If, dear sirs, when the devas are engaged in battle, there should arise fear, terror, or horripilation, then on that occasion you should look up at the top of my standard. For when you look up at the top of my standard, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“‘If you don’t look up at the top of my standard, then you should look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“‘If you don’t look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king, then you should look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“‘If you don’t look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa the deva-king, then you should look up at the top of the standard of Īsāna the deva-king. For when you look up at the top of the standard of Īsāna the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“Monks, in those who look up at the top of the standard of Sakka, lord of the devas; in those who look up at the top of the standard of Pajāpati the deva-king; in those who look up at the top of the standard of Varuṇa, the deva-king; or in those who look up at the top of the standard of Īsāna, the deva-king, any fear, terror, or horripilation they may have might be abandoned, or it might not. Why is that? Because Sakka, lord of the devas, is not free of passion, free of aversion, or free of delusion. He can be frightened, terrorized, cowardly, quick to flee.
“But, monks, I tell you this: If, when you have gone to the wilderness, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, there should arise fear, terror, or horripilation, then on that occasion you should recollect me thus: ‘Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy & rightly self-awakened, consummate in clear-knowing & conduct, well-gone, an expert with regard to the cosmos, unexcelled trainer of people fit to be tamed, teacher of devas & human beings, awakened, blessed.’ For when you recollect me, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“If you don’t recollect me, then you should recollect the Dhamma thus: ‘The Dhamma is well taught by the Blessed One, to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting verification, leading out, to be experienced by the observant for themselves.’ For when you recollect the Dhamma, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“If you cannot recollect the Dhamma, then you should recollect the Saṅgha thus: ‘The Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples who have practiced well, practiced straightforwardly, practice methodically, practiced masterfully, i. e., the four pairs, the eight-types (of noble ones): That is the Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples—deserving of gifts, deserving of hospitality, deserving of offerings, deserving of respect, the unexcelled field of merit for the world.’ For when you recollect the Saṅgha, monks, any fear, terror, or horripilation you may have will be abandoned.
“Why is that? Because the Tathāgata, worthy & rightly self-awakened, is free of passion, free of aversion, free of delusion. He is fearless, cannot be terrorized, bold, not quick to flee.”
This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, further said this:
“In wilderness, monks,
at the foot of a tree,
or in an empty dwelling,
recollect the Buddha:
You will have no fear.
If you don’t recall the Buddha—
chief of the world,
the bull of men—
then recollect the Dhamma,
leading out,
well taught.
If you don’t recall the Dhamma—
leading out,
well taught—
then recollect the Saṅgha,
the field of merit
unexcelled.
For those who have thus recalled
the Buddha,
Dhamma,
& Saṅgha, monks,
there will be
no terror,
horripilation,
or fear.”
Translated by Than Ajaan Thanissaro
References:
Suttas/Saṁyutta Nikāya (SN)/11:3
https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/SN/SN11_3.html
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn11/sn11.003.than.html
(简体） 相应部11相应3经：《旗帜顶端经》
在舍卫城。
在那里，世尊召唤比丘们：「比丘们！」
「尊师！」那些比丘回答世尊。
世尊这么说：
「比丘们！从前，诸天与阿修罗众列阵战斗，比丘们！那时，天帝释召唤三十三天中的诸天：『亲爱的先生们！如果诸天在战斗进行中生起害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立时，那时，你们应该瞻视我的旗帜顶端。在你们瞻视我的旗帜顶端时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。
如果你们不能瞻视到我的旗帜顶端，那时，应该瞻视生主神天王的旗帜顶端。在你们瞻视生主神天王的旗帜顶端时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。
如果你们不能瞻视到生主神天王的旗帜顶端，那时，应该瞻视伐卢那天王的旗帜顶端。在你们瞻视伐卢那天王的旗帜顶端时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。
如果你们不能瞻视到伐卢那天王的旗帜顶端，那时，应该瞻视伊舍那天王的旗帜顶端。在你们瞻视伊舍那天王的旗帜顶端时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。』
而，比丘们！凡瞻视天帝释的旗帜顶端，或瞻视伐卢那天王的旗帜顶端，或瞻视伊舍那天王的旗帜顶端者，其存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立，或被舍断，或没被舍断，那是什么原因呢？比丘们！因为天帝释未离贪、未离瞋、未离痴，他胆怯、吓呆了、害怕、逃跑。
但，比丘们！我这么说：『比丘们！如果你们走在林野、或坐在树下、或住在空屋，生起害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立时，那时，你们应该回忆：「像这样，那世尊是阿罗汉、遍正觉者、明与行具足者、善逝、世间知者、被调伏人的无上调御者、人天之师、佛陀、世尊。」比丘们！在你们回忆我时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。
比丘们！如果你们不能回忆我，那时，应该回忆法：「法是被世尊善说的、直接可见的、即时的、请你来见的、能引导的、智者应该自己经验的。」比丘们！在你们回忆法时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。
比丘们！如果你们不能回忆法，那时，应该回忆僧团：「世尊的弟子僧团是依善而行者，世尊的弟子僧团是依正直而行者，世尊的弟子僧团是依真理而行者，世尊的弟子僧团是如法而行者，即：四双之人、八辈之士，这世尊的弟子僧团应该被奉献、应该被供奉、应该被供养、应该被合掌，为世间的无上福田。」』比丘们！在你们回忆僧团时，所有存在的害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立都将被舍断。那是什么原因呢？比丘们！因为如来、阿罗汉、遍正觉者已离贪、已离瞋、已离痴，他不胆怯、不吓呆了、不害怕、不逃跑。」
这就是世尊所说，说了这个后，善逝、大师又更进一步这么说：
「比丘们！在林野、树下、或空屋中，
你们应该回忆正觉者，你们不会恐怖。
如果你们不能回忆佛陀：世间最胜者、人中之牛王，
那时应该回忆法：出离的、善教导的。
如果你们不能回忆法：出离的、善教导的，
那时应该回忆僧团：无上福田。
比丘们！这样回忆佛陀、法、僧团者，
将不存在害怕、僵硬、身毛竖立。」
___
庄春江译
汉译经文 相应部11相应3经/ 旗帜顶端经(帝释相应/有偈篇/祇夜)
http://fowap.goodweb.net.cn/news/news_view.asp?newsid=87519