About taking refuge
Dharma Wheel
I take refuge in the Buddha,
I take refuge in the Dharma,
I take refuge in the Sangha.
To take a refuge in the three gems is the gateway of become a
Buddhist,
I had following questions about to take refuge.
1. So what are the roots causes of taking refuge?
2. What are the precepts of cultivation (have to do) for taking
refuge?
3. What are the precepts of negation (don't do) for taking refuge?
4. Do we can take refuge in the temporary?
5. Or we have take refuge for permanently?
6. I go refuge, until I am enlightenment, what is this word mean?
7. Do we can take refuge for other then three jewels? (Protector, ect)
Thanks for all
Dharma begger
Katie Gustafson
I think you - Khenchen Rinpoche - said a few Sundays ago that there are two reasons people take refuge - 1. Fear; 2. Faith. Fear of continued samsaric existence? And faith that the three jewels are the 'way out' of such existence. I don't know that these qualify as root causes.
We also take refuge in the guru as part of our chant. Would the guru be a 'fourth jewel'? Does the guru encompass the three jewels?
Thank you!
Katie
Refugee
missed a class? I am not familiar with the precepts of cultivation or
negation. Explaining enlightenment in a way that does it justice is
kind of difficult for me too. :-)
It makes the most sense I think to take refuge permanently, or for
life rather than temporarily.
taking refuge in a protector may help in receiving the benefits of
the protector, but it seems it would fall short in helping one to
Buddhahood.
My $.02,
ron
Dharma Wheel
"Taking refuge" makes the difference between Buddhists and non-
Buddhists. It is not even necessary to take refuge in a formal session
with a teacher, but it may help to clarify your choice and to remember
your commitment.
"How do I become a Buddhist?
Once there was a man called Upali. He was the follower of another
religion and he went to the Buddha in order to argue with him and try
to convert him. But after talking to the Buddha, he was so impressed
that he decided to become a follower of the Buddha.
But the Buddha said: "Make a proper investigation first. Proper
investigation is good for a well-known person like yourself."
Upali: "Now I am even more pleased and satisfied when the Lord says to
me: 'Make a proper investigation first.' For if members of another
religion had secured me as a discipline they would have paraded a
banner all around the town saying: 'Upali has joined our religion.'
But the Lord says to me: Make a proper investigation first. Proper
investigation is good for a well-known person like yourself."
In Buddhism, understanding is the most important thing and
understanding takes time. So do not impulsively rush into Buddhism.
Take your time, ask questions, consider carefully, and then make your
decision. The Buddha was not interested in having a large number of
disciples. He was concerned that people should follow his teachings as
a result of a careful investigation and consideration of the facts.
The idea behind taking refuge is that when it starts to rain, we like
to find a shelter. The Buddhist shelter from the rain of problems and
pain of life is threefold: the Buddha, his teachings (the Dharma) and
the spiritual community (the Sangha). Taking refuge means that we have
some understanding about suffering, and we have confidence that the
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha (the "Three Jewels") can help us. We should
however not be taking refuge in Buddhism to avoid problems in this
very life, there are many non-religious organizations for that, but we
should take refuge to avoid problems in future lives, or even better,
to avoid future uncontrolled rebirths.
Three differences taking refuges as dependent on personality.
Small scope person
We like to be free from suffering, now and in future lives
Middle scope person
When we understand the frustrating nature of all life, we like to be
freed from cyclic existence in general.
Great scope person
The best reason would be the wish to free all living (sentient) beings
from suffering.
The analogy of sickness is often used; Buddha is the doctor; Dharma is
the medicine; Sangha is the nurse; we are the patients; the cure is
taking the medicine, which means practicing the methods. Taking refuge
is like unpacking the medicine and deciding to follow the doctor's
advice.
THE BUDDHA
Buddha means enlightened, awakened or omniscient One. A Buddha is a
person who has purified all defilements and developed all good
qualities. A Buddha is totally free from obscurations and suffering
after traveling the entire spiritual path. A Buddha started as an
ordinary person and generated infinite compassion and equanimity to
arrive at a state of highest bliss, and omniscience. But, as the
Buddha himself said: "I cannot do but point the way" - if we don't
take the medicine, the doctor is helpless, but what better doctor
could we have than an omniscient one?
THE DHARMA
Dharma means doctrine, law or truth. The word Dharma has many
different connotations, but in the Buddhist sense, it refers to "what
holds back the mind from suffering", or the Buddha's teachings. In
this sense, the Dharma is the ultimate medicine against all suffering.
THE SANGHA
The Sangha refers to the spiritual community. It is defined in various
ways, like:
Whole community of ordained and lay Buddhists. This is however not the
traditional use.
More restricted: ordained Buddhist practitioners (monks and nuns).
Most specific: persons who have direct perception of emptiness
(ordained or lay).
The Sangha, are like other travelers on the same spiritual path, but
we need their help like nurses with the correct medicine of good
advice. They are our spiritual friends who can help us stay on the
right path and can share their own experience.
REFUGE VOWS
If we decide to go for refuge in the three jewels, we should also
commit ourselves to the path we choose by keeping vows.
The one mandatory vow, always implicit in taking refuge, does not want
to harm other sentient beings. Please note that depending on tradition
and teacher, some differences can appear in the exact definitions of
the vows.
Optional other vows are:
1. Not killing: refers to humans and animals; it is both harming
sentient beings.
2. Not stealing: not taking what is not given.
3. No sexual misconduct: refers usually to committing adultery (having
sex with others when married).
4. Not lying: refers usually to not lying about spiritual attainments,
but can include all lying.
5. No intoxicants; refers traditionally to alcohol, but anything
robbing clarity of mind (like drugs) is usually included.
"Question: What is the difference between making a commitment by
formally taking refuge (and precepts) and simply not harming? Why is
the formal commitment important?
Answer: Suppose you make a commitment never to kill a snow lion. Most
people will never see a snow lion in their entire lives; some think
snow lion don't exist. So, you might ask, why would anyone make a
commitment not to kill a snow lion? If you never kill a snow lion, you
aren't creating any non-virtue, yet at the same time you're not
creating any virtue (merit). From the day you make a commitment not to
kill a snow lion, and continue to uphold that commitment, you're
accumulating virtue. In taking refuge, you accumulate great virtue
minute by minute as you uphold your vows.
REFUGE ADVICE
1. Primary guidelines
A. To actualize refuge in:
- Buddha: commit yourself to one master, the Buddha
- Dharma: listen, study and practice Dharma to overcome your own
delusions
- Sangha: respect Sangha and train in accordance with their example
B. Try to:
- subdue the body, speech and mind, instead of letting our senses rule
us, do not speak harsh, skeptical and avoid being judgmental.
- Practice ethics and vows.
- Be kind and considerate to any living being.
2. Secondary guidelines
Referring to the refuge in the:
- Buddha: do not follow other, lower beings as ultimate spiritual
guides.
- Dharma: do not harm or upset humans or animals.
- Sangha: do not be negatively influenced by any extremists or others
opposing our beliefs
To show respect to the:
- Buddha: respect all images of the Buddha; treat these as if they are
Buddhas.
- Dharma: respect texts, treat them with utmost care.
- Sangha: respect even piece of robes and all who wear robes (despite
behaviour)
Six points of training:
1. Take refuge in the Three Jewels, do not seek the source of your
happiness and problems outside yourself.
2. Offer the first part of food or drink to the triple gem, by
blessing it before eating or drinking by reciting "Om Ah Hum".
3. Encourage others to become inner beings (Buddhists) and to take
refuge; but only when one is asked for advice.
4. Recite the refuge prayer 3x in the day and 3x in the night.
5. Follow the example of the Three Jewels; rely on them as the only
trustworthy refuge objects.
6. Never lose faith in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
THE REFUGE PRAYER
Traditional Refuge Prayers
Namo Buddhaya
Namo Dharmaya
Namo Sanghaya
I go for refuge to the Buddha,
I go for refuge to the Dharma,
I go for refuge to the Sangha.
Or, the Tibetan (Mahayana) version:
Until I am enlightened,
I go for refuge to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.
Through the virtue I create by practicing giving and the other
perfections,
may I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.
gscl ry
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