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Taking Refuge makes the difference between Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
One accepts the example of the Buddha as the perfect, enlightened teacher, the Dharma as the guidebook on the spiritual path, and the Sangha as the supporting spiritual community. These three are also known as the Three Jewels.
It is not really necessary to take formal refuge in front of a teacher, although it may help one to remember the choice of direction in life.
Vows If we decide to go for Refuge, we should also commit ourselves to the path we choose by keeping vows. The one mandatory vow, always implicit in taking refuge, is avoiding 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 that can be taken as part of taking Refuge are:
- 1. Not killing: refers to humans and animals; both is 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, or when the other person is 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 substance influencing clarity of mind (like drugs) is usually included.
Refuge Advice 1. Primary guidelines
a. To actualise refuge in:
- _ Buddha: commit yourself to one teacher, 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, sceptical and avoid being judgmental.
- _ practice ethics and vows.
- _ be kind and considerate to any living being.
- _ make special offerings on two special days of the year: the 15th of 4th lunar month (around May), to celebrate birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha, and on the 4th of 6th lunar month (around July) to celebrate the first turning of the wheel _ or the first teachings of the Buddha on the Four Noble Truths in Sarnath.
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
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)
3. 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.
Refuge Prayers (Sanskrit:) - 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 practising giving and the other perfections,
- may I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.
Levels of Refuge According to Atisha in the 11th century 'Lamp for the Path' and in the subsequent Lamrim tradition as elaborated by Tsongkhapa, one can distinguish several levels of refuge:
These purposes are introduced using the concept of the 'scope' of a practitioner
- Worldly scope is taking refuge to improve this life (not Buddhist)
- Lowest Buddhist scope is taking refuge to gain high rebirth and avoid the low realms
- Middle Buddhist scope is taking refuge to achieve Nirvana
- High Buddhist scope is taking refuge to become a Buddha
- Highest Buddhist scope is also sometimes included, which is taking refuge to achieve Buddhahood in this life (using Buddhist Tantra techniques)
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