Like many people, Tibetans commonly say a prayer before drinking tea or food. If it is said before drinking tea, it is called chamchoe, while the Tibetan Grace prayer before meals is called damchoe. Lobsang teaches you how to say the damchoe in the video below. The prayer is essentially a simple appreciation of and offering to the Three Jewels — the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
Video: How to say the Tibetan Grace prayer before meals
Tonpa Lame Sangye Rinpoche
To the teacher above all teachers, the Precious Buddha.
Kyopa Lame Damcho Rinpoche
To the protection above all protections, the Precious Dharma.
Drenpa Lame Gendun Rinpoche
To the guides above all guides, the Precious Sangha.
Kyabne Konchok Sumla Chodpa Bul
I offer this to the three jewels, the rare and supreme objects of refuge.
Handout: Tomchoe (Tibetan grace)
Reflections for the Prayer
Here’s a nice commentary from Ven. Thupten Chodron on her post with an extended version of the prayer:
Usually we dive into a plate of food with great attachment, little mindfulness, and even less real enjoyment. Instead, we can pause before eating and reflect on our motivation. Here we think that we are not eating for temporary pleasure or to make our body attractive. Rather, we eat to keep our body healthy so that we can practice the Dharma and benefit all beings. Reflecting on the kindness of those who planted, harvested, transported, and packaged our food, we feel interconnected with them and want to repay their kindness by using the occasion of eating to create merit for their benefit. For this reason, we offer the food.
See the full post on Ven. Thupten Chodron’s site here >>
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Sonam Yangzom says
This is good for me as a young Tibetan kid who is learning her language but I was wondering if there is a way I can get or see the prayer in Tibetan as in the actual written form?
Sonam Yangzom says
Wait never mind haha i just found it
rick says
So beautiful, and so easy to memorize in Tibetan. Thank you.
Mary Donnelly says
Thank you! Great tool for practice. I rejoice.
ongmu says
It’s really helpful. Thank you.
Freeman says
To make sure I understand: the words recited for chamchoe and damchoe are the same, merely the name/occasion is what differs, yes? Thank you for these fantastic resources!
Yeshe Pal says
It’s so helpful to hear the correct pronunciation, thank you!