The first step in practicing Buddhism is taking refuge in the Three Jewels (the Buddha, his teachings and the community of buddhists). Studying the Buddha's teachings--one definition of dharma--is important, but to take refuge in the Dharma is much more than just trust and acceptance of teachings. 2. First of all, the precepts were combined with a declaration of faith in the triple gem (the Buddha, his teaching and the monastic community). Without the monastic order, the Buddha-dhamma might have been long forgotten. It's also trusting your practice of Buddhism, whether regular meditation and regular chanting. It's about trusting mindfulness, the present moment, right here, not putting faith in something far away. In the Kalama Sutra, the Buddha explicitly argues against simply following authority or tradition, particularly those of religions contemporary to the Buddha's time. Or perhaps they view taking refuge as analogous to rushing into marriage without sufficient knowledge of the future spouse and worry that personalities may … There are aspects of the Buddhism I’m being taught that I don’t relate to much at all. by Yukh ok Chatralwa Chöying Rangdrol This has two sections: 1) causal and resultant refuge, and 2) how to take refuge. report. [12] When Buddhism spread to different places and people, the role of the precepts began to vary. We know that the Buddha’s father, King Suddhodana, sought protection in political power and social standing. However, it is also often used in a way similar to how some western Christians use "church." Of course the underlying principle is that the work has to be beneficial not harmful to oneself and others. The English word refuge refers to a place of shelter and protection from danger. We become Buddhists through participating in the ceremony of refuge. Tai Situ Rinpoche When we take refuge for the first time, we officially become a Buddhist. He could be a scientist; she could be a religious teacher.". TAKING REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA When we become Buddhists, we vow to take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Zen teacher Robert Aitken said of the First Jewel: Like "Buddha," the word Dharma can point to several meanings. share. Taking refuge is the first step on the Buddhist path, and often occurs as a natural outgrowth of learning about Buddhism and reflecting upon the meaning of the teachings, for ourselves personally and in light of the human condition. The third form of Refuge is taking Refuge in the Sangha. hide. The first Buddhist step on the journey to enlightenment is taking refuge, called śaraṇaṃ in Sanskrit and chabdro (སྐྱབས་འགྲོ་) in Choekey. The late Chogyam Trungpa said of taking refuge in the Sangha. The Theravada teacher Bhikkhu Bodhi said. "The implication is that by finding my home in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha I can free myself from blind conditioning and realize true nature," Aitken writes. That consists of the Buddha (the teacher), the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha), and the Sangha (the monastic community). Pali texts employ the Brahmanical motif of a group of three refuges, as found in Rig Veda 9.97.47, Rig Veda 6.46.9 and Chandogya Upanishad 2.22.3-4. Living Buddhism is not a project of self-perfection, in which behavioral control—ethical and technical—is the name of the game. Taking refuge. This public teaching was given before a private online refuge ceremony, offered at the request of Lama Lena’s students. Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels or Triple Gem (also known as the "Three Refuges"). Faith is an important teaching element in both Theravada and Mahayana traditions. I very much want to have a little ritual/ceremony for myself to signify my beginnings in practicing Buddhism. We Refuge in the Dhamma, the teachings which lead to liberation. For example, it refers to the Buddha's teachings, and also to the law of karma and rebirth. [4][5] Monks administer the precepts to the laypeople, which creates an additional psychological effect. In doing so, we recognize and confirm our Buddhanature, the potential for basic goodness that we all share as sentient beings. They want to be the only ones who hurt; everyone else is supposed to be cool and pain-free and supportive. And we Refuge in the Sangha While "Buddha" may be a person who has awakened to enlightenment, "Buddha" might also refer to enlightenment itself (bodhi). Especially in the West, people who come to Buddhism very often do so because they are hurt and confused. Next, the precepts developed to become the foundation of lay practice. “I take refuge in the Sangha.”. Trying to achieve enlightenment by yourself and only for yourself is like trying to walk uphill during a mudslide. [13], A layperson who upholds the precepts is described in the texts as a "jewel among laymen".[14]. In his book Taking the Path of Zen, Zen teacher Robert Aitken wrote that taking refuge in the Three Jewels more of a vow than a prayer. [3] There remains value for a degree of trusting confidence and belief in Buddhism, primarily in the spiritual attainment and salvation or enlightenment. Since the time of the Buddha, taking this Threefold Refuge has identified a person as a Buddhist. Taking Refuge means, that we Refuge in the Attainments of the Lord Buddha, as a Faith instiller to let us know that a Human can do this (self liberation). What danger? But why “Triple Gem”? They fear taking refuge will bind them to the institution of Buddhism, so they maintain a window-shopping attitude. Six points of training: 1. So they go to a dharma center and find other people who are hurt and confused. Yet in whom did the Buddha himself take refuge? 1. Faith in Buddhism centres on belief in the Three Jewels. Bikkhu Bodhi said that there are two levels of dharma. We take three refuges, which are often called The Three Jewels or … These alternative refuge formulations are employed by those undertaking Deity Yoga and other tantric practices within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition as a means of recognizing Buddha Nature. We seek shelter from the passions that jerk us around, from feeling distressed and broken, from pain and suffering, from the fear of death. The other is the Buddhist path, and the goal, which is Nirvana. She is the author of "Rethinking Religion" and has covered religion for The Guardian, Tricycle.org, and other outlets. “I take refuge in the Dharma.”, Sangham saranam gacchami. 1. “Gem” refers to something precious, which is a great analogy for the Buddh… Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels. This is a bit of Buddhist symbolism, and teachings of the Buddha. Taking refuge is a way to formalize one’s commitment to and faith in the Buddha’s path and take shelter from the vicissitudes of life. When we accept the Buddha’s teaching as a student of the Buddha, we make this vow with all sentient beings. [10] The precepts were seen as a preliminary condition for the higher development of the mind. Refuge is common to all major schools of Buddhism. This sense can be found in the Heart Sutra, which refers to the voidness or emptiness (shunyata) of all dharmas. Since I took refuge, I find myself explaining what that means to me to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Robert Thurman, a Tibetan Buddhist and Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University, said of the Three Jewels, Ch'an Master Sheng-Yen said, "The genuine Three Jewels, in essence, are none other than the enlightened Buddha nature that is already inside you.". Because, after all, I did not suddenly become less of a skeptic. 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