Home › Glossary › Letter E

Ehipassiko

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A Pali term meaning “come and see,” describing the Buddha’s invitation to verify the Dharma through personal experience.

Detailed Definition
Ehipassiko underscores Buddhism’s empirical, non-dogmatic spirit. In poetry, it appears as an open door, a guiding hand, or a challenge to awaken. Poets use it to celebrate the Dharma as testable, immediate, and accessible to all who seek with sincerity—never requiring blind faith.
Example
Example in poetry:
A Theravāda poem: “Ehipassiko is the Dhamma’s open door—come, see for yourself”; A modern verse: “Not believe, but test”; A minimalist reflection: “The Buddha’s invitation, not command”; A student’s note: “I came skeptical—stayed because the path worked.”
Additional Notes
Ehipassiko (“come and see”) encapsulates Buddhism’s empirical invitation: test the Dhamma through practice, not faith. The Buddha discouraged blind belief, urging personal verification. This principle appears in discourses where skeptics are welcomed to observe monks’ conduct. In modern contexts, ehipassiko supports interfaith dialogue and scientific engagement with meditation. For literary students, it frames Buddhist narratives as experiential—not dogmatic—encouraging readers to “see” truth through story, as in Milarepa’s songs or Thich Nhat Hanh’s parables.
Also Known As
Come and see
Skip to main content