TLDR: "The Three Jewels (Buddham Sharanam)" is a devotional duet performed by Deva Premal and voice coach Nicki Wells, sung entirely in Pali—the ancient language spoken by Gautama Buddha himself. The mantra invokes the Three Jewels of Buddhist tradition: Buddham (the Buddha), Dhammam (the Teachings), and Sangham (the spiritual community). Through this meditative offering, the piece activates what the artists describe as an energetic force aligned with these foundational Buddhist principles of refuge and awakening.
What Are the Three Jewels in Buddhist Practice?
The Three Jewels, or Triratna, represent the core pillars of Buddhist refuge and spiritual orientation. They consist of the Buddha (the awakened one), the Dharma (the teachings and the truth of how reality works), and the Sangha (the community of practitioners who embody and transmit these teachings). When a person takes refuge in the Three Jewels, they are formally committing to a spiritual path rooted in awakening, truth, and communal support. This is not merely intellectual assent—it is a lived turning toward these three sources of guidance and transformation.
The mantra "Buddham Sharanam Gacchami" translates as "I take refuge in the Buddha." Similarly, "Dhammam Sharanam Gacchami" means "I take refuge in the Dharma," and "Sangham Sharanam Gacchami" means "I take refuge in the Sangha." The recitation of these phrases, especially in Pali—the language in which many of Buddhism's earliest texts were recorded—carries a direct link to the historical Buddha and the original transmission of these teachings. The word "sharanam" literally means shelter or refuge; "gacchami" means "I go" or "I come." Together, they form a declaration of spiritual orientation and protection.
Why Sing the Three Jewels in Pali?
Pali is the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism and represents the closest linguistic bridge to the Buddha's own historical context. By choosing to sing in Pali rather than English or other modern languages, Deva Premal and Nicki Wells create a direct sonic link to ancient Buddhist practice and the Buddha's direct students. This choice honors the integrity of the original transmission while making the mantra accessible to contemporary practitioners seeking authentic spiritual connection.
The use of the original language also activates what many practitioners call the "seed syllables" or inherent vibrations within the words themselves. In mantra traditions, the precise pronunciation and tonality of syllables are understood to carry energetic and transformative properties that can be diluted or lost in translation. Singing in Pali preserves this sacred resonance.
The Role of the Buddha in Refuge Practice
Taking refuge in the Buddha does not mean worshiping the Buddha as a deity in the theistic sense. Rather, it means recognizing and honoring the Buddha as an exemplary human being who achieved awakening through his own effort and insight. The Buddha represents the possibility of enlightenment—the proof that liberation is achievable. He is the model of what sustained practice, wisdom, and compassion can accomplish. When practitioners take refuge in the Buddha, they align themselves with this vision of human potential and draw inspiration from his example of breaking free from suffering through understanding.
The Dharma as Living Truth
The Dharma—the second jewel—refers both to the Buddha's teachings and to the underlying truth those teachings point toward. The Dharma includes foundational insights such as the Four Noble Truths (that suffering exists, it has causes, it can cease, and there is a path to its cessation), the concept of impermanence, non-self, and interdependence. But the Dharma is not merely abstract doctrine; it is a living framework for understanding how the mind works and how liberation unfolds in practice. Refuge in the Dharma means committing to seeing clearly and aligning one's understanding with reality as it actually is, not as wishful thinking might prefer.
The Sangha as the Container for Practice
The Sangha—the third jewel—is often misunderstood as simply "the community" in a social sense. More precisely, the Sangha refers to the community of practitioners who actively engage in the path of awakening. The Sangha provides accountability, inspiration, shared practice, and the transmission of lineage teaching. Without the Sangha, individual practice can become isolated, distorted, or unsustained. The Sangha holds the teachings and carries them forward through generations. Refuge in the Sangha acknowledges that spiritual work is not a solitary endeavor but occurs within a web of support, guidance, and shared commitment.
How Does Devotional Singing Activate Spiritual Principles?
Deva Premal's approach to mantra—and to this duet with Nicki Wells—works with the understanding that sound, breath, intention, and embodied practice together create transformation. When a mantra is sung with awareness, presence, and devotion, it becomes more than mere recitation. The repetition of the phrases, the melody, and the shared participation with other voices (as in the duet format) create what practitioners call a "field" of aligned intention and consciousness. The vibration moves through the body, the nervous system begins to attune to the frequency of the mantra, and the rational mind's habitual patterns quiet.
Nicki Wells, credited as the voice coach and composer, brings her own expertise in vocal precision and emotional expression to the piece. The composition itself—the melodic choices, the pacing, the interplay between the two voices—is designed to support this activation. A well-crafted mantra composition opens the heart while stabilizing the mind, allowing the words and their meaning to settle more deeply into the practitioner's consciousness.
What Is "The Inevitable Blossoming of the Heart"?
"The Three Jewels" appears as the second track on Deva Premal's album The Inevitable Blossoming of the Heart, described as a collection of meditative and heart-opening mantras. The album title itself signals the intention: that through devoted practice with mantra, the heart naturally and inevitably unfolds. This is not forced sentimentality but a recognition that when the mind is settled and the nervous system is calm, the heart's natural openness and compassion emerge. The Buddhist principles invoked in the Three Jewels—clarity of understanding, wise action, and communal care—are all expressions of an opened heart.
The Practical Significance of Refuge Today
In contemporary spiritual life, refuge is often misunderstood as passive surrender or escapism. In Buddhist understanding, however, taking refuge is an active commitment to reorienting one's life toward wisdom and liberation. It is a daily, sometimes moment-to-moment practice. Singing "Buddham Sharanam Gacchami" is a way of repeatedly affirming this orientation: I choose to turn toward awakening. I choose to align with truth. I choose to practice within community. This repetition rewires the nervous system and the psyche, gradually shifting habitual patterns of reactivity and contraction toward openness and clarity.
The duet format—with Deva Premal and Nicki Wells singing together—models this communal aspect of practice. It is not a soloist performing for an audience; it is an invitation for listeners to join a field of shared intention. When listeners engage with the recording or attend a live performance, they become part of an extended Sangha, connected across time and space through the common thread of refuge and devotion.
Where to Go From Here
Those drawn to "The Three Jewels" may explore the full album The Inevitable Blossoming of the Heart, available on all major streaming platforms. For practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of the Three Jewels, traditional Buddhist texts such as the Dhammapada offer accessible teachings on refuge and the path of awakening. Joining a Sangha—whether through an online community, a local meditation group, or a retreat—brings the practice of refuge from the abstract into lived reality. Finally, the simplest practice is to listen to the mantra repeatedly with open attention, allowing its vibration and meaning to gradually rewire one's sense of orientation and possibility.
