Refuge In The Three Jewels

Buddhist practice – in any Buddhist tradition – starts by taking refuge in the Three Jewels, that is in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha: this is the gate through which one embarks on the Buddhist path, aiming to go beyond the suffering of cyclic existence.

Taking refuge in the Buddha means that the Buddhist practitioner generates deep appreciation and respect for buddha, the enlightened state with all its qualities of wisdom and compassion. He also takes refuge in Buddha Shakyamuni as the authentic spiritual master, as the one who has fully accomplished the state of awakening and therefore has the capacity to show this path to others and to guide them thereon.

Taking refuge in the dharma means that the practitioner dedicates himself to studying and applying the methods taught by the Buddha. This is the process which Buddha Shakyamuni himself has gone through. Applying his instructions means that the practitioner gradually removes all the veils that obscure the true nature of his basic Buddha-mind. In this way, the Buddha-dharma is the remedy against all samsaric delusions.

Taking refuge in the sangha pertains to those enlightened masters who themselves have practiced this path and are therefore authentic spiritual friends to other practitioners. Refuge is therefore taken in the noble sangha as the spiritual guides and friends on the path.

In Theravada Buddhism a practitioner takes refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha from now on until death. In Mahayana Buddhism a practitioner takes refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha from now on until he has achieved buddha, the enlightened state and he does so in order to help all sentient beings to free themselves from the suffering of cyclic existence.

By taking refuge in the Buddha, the dharma and the sangha, a practitioner will be able to achieve enlightenment because this is in his very nature. Based on the potential of enlightenment which is the true nature of mind of each and every individual – perfectly pure in itself –, a practitioner finds access to this potential by relying on the authentic support of the Three Jewels – and the way to do so is by taking refuge in them with trust and confidence.

Read more about the Buddhist Refuge  here.