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In lay and monastic ordination ceremonies, Buddhists take the Three Refuges in the Three Jewels
Three Jewels

The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as refuge ....
 and are said to "take refuge." The practice of taking refuge on behalf of young or even unborn children is mentioned in the Majjhima Nikaya
Majjhima Nikaya

The Majjhima Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the second of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
, recognized by most scholars as an early text (cf Infant baptism
Infant baptism

Infant baptism is the Christian religious practice of baptism infants or young children. In theology discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believers baptism", or credobaptism, from t...
).

The general signification of Three Jewels is:

In Vajrayana
Vajrayana

Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayana, Mantranaya, Mantrayana, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle ....
 practice, the refuge tree
Refuge tree

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Refuge Tree, , may be represented on a thangka as a mnemonic device and precursor to being fully visualization by the sadhaka during advanced Refuge Formula or evocation, the lineage of gurus and transmission of teachings is depicted in visual form as a visual mind map....
 is often visualized by practitioners (sadhaka
Sadhaka

A sadhaka is a practitioner of a particular sadhana. The term is often synonymous with yogi. Sadhakas typically have a relationship with a master teacher....
s), and to aid this interior viewing, the 'refuge tree' is often found as scroll paintings (thangka
Thangka

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-S-18-10-29, Tibetexpedition, Tempelfest, Gebetsmauer.jpgA "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a painted or embroidered Buddhist banner which was hung in a monastery or a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial processions....
) or murals.

History
In Buddhism, instead of looking for any external saviour, most Buddhists believe one can take refuge in oneself.






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In lay and monastic ordination ceremonies, Buddhists take the Three Refuges in the Three Jewels
Three Jewels

The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as refuge ....
 and are said to "take refuge." The practice of taking refuge on behalf of young or even unborn children is mentioned in the Majjhima Nikaya
Majjhima Nikaya

The Majjhima Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the second of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that compose the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
, recognized by most scholars as an early text (cf Infant baptism
Infant baptism

Infant baptism is the Christian religious practice of baptism infants or young children. In theology discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believers baptism", or credobaptism, from t...
).

The general signification of Three Jewels is:
  • the Buddha
    Gautama Buddha

    Siddhartha Gautama was a Spirituality teacher in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent who founded Buddhism. He is generally seen by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddhahood of our age....
    ;
  • the Dharma
    Dharma (Buddhism)

    Dhamma or Dharma in Buddhism has two primary meanings:* the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment* the constituent factors of the experienced world...
    , the teachings;
  • the Sangha
    Sangha

    Sangha is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose....
    , the community of (at least partially) enlightened beings, often approximated to community of monks and nuns (Bhikkhu
    Bhikkhu

    A Bhikkhu , Bhiksu is a fully ordained male Buddhism monastic. Female monastics are called Bhikkhunis . Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis keep many precepts: they live by the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline, the basic rules of which are called the patimokkha....
    s and Bhikkhuni
    Bhikkhuni

    A Bhikkhuni is a fully ordained female Buddhism monastic. Male monastics are called Bhikkhus. Both Bhikkunis and Bhikkhus live by the vinaya. Bhikkhuni lineages enjoy a broad basis in Mahayana countries like Korea, Vietnam, China and Taiwan....
    s).


In Vajrayana
Vajrayana

Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayana, Mantranaya, Mantrayana, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle ....
 practice, the refuge tree
Refuge tree

In Tibetan Buddhism, the Refuge Tree, , may be represented on a thangka as a mnemonic device and precursor to being fully visualization by the sadhaka during advanced Refuge Formula or evocation, the lineage of gurus and transmission of teachings is depicted in visual form as a visual mind map....
 is often visualized by practitioners (sadhaka
Sadhaka

A sadhaka is a practitioner of a particular sadhana. The term is often synonymous with yogi. Sadhakas typically have a relationship with a master teacher....
s), and to aid this interior viewing, the 'refuge tree' is often found as scroll paintings (thangka
Thangka

File:Bundesarchiv Bild 135-S-18-10-29, Tibetexpedition, Tempelfest, Gebetsmauer.jpgA "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a painted or embroidered Buddhist banner which was hung in a monastery or a family altar and occasionally carried by monks in ceremonial processions....
) or murals.

History


In Buddhism, instead of looking for any external saviour, most Buddhists believe one can take refuge in oneself. From the Dhammapada
Dhammapada

The Dhammapada is a versified Buddhism scripture traditionally ascribed to the Gautama Buddha himself. It is one of the best-known texts from the Theravada Pali Canon....
:

The Mahaparinibbana sutta states, "For that which I have proclaimed and made known as the Dhamma and the Discipline, that shall be your Master when I am gone."

Faith (Saddha)

Faith (saddha/sraddha) is an important element of the Buddha
Gautama Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama was a Spirituality teacher in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent who founded Buddhism. He is generally seen by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddhahood of our age....
's teachings, in both the Theravada
Theravada

Theravada...
 and Mahayana
Mahayana

Mahayana is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophy and practice. It was History of Buddhism in India....
 traditions. The Sanskrit word sraddha is translated as faith
Faith

Faith is the confident belief in the truth of or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. It is also used for a belief, characteristically without proof....
; the original word has connotations of trust, perseverance, humility
Humility

Humility, or being humble, is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modesty person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others....
 and steady effort. In contrast to Western notions of faith, sraddha implies thorough reason
Reason

Reason may refer to Mind#Mental faculties that consciously create explanations in order to judge, decide, solve problems, generalize, and give examples, among other activities....
ing and accumulated experience.

In the Kalama Sutra the Buddha explicitly argues against simply following authority
Authority

In government, authority is often used interchangeably with the term "power ". However, their meanings differ: while "power" refers to the ability to achieve certain ends, "authority" refers to a claim of legitimacy , the justification and right to exercise that power....
 or tradition
Tradition

The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem, acc. of traditio which means "handing over, passing on", and is used in a number of ways in the English language:...
, particularly those of religions contemporary to the Buddha's time.. Nevertheless, there remains value for a degree of trusting confidence and belief in Buddhism, primarily in the spiritual attainment and salvation
Salvation

In religion, salvation is the concept that God saves humanity from death. As commonly conceived, He has both Will of God and omnipotence to realize human salvation....
 or enlightenment
Enlightenment

Enlightenment may refer to:...
 through the wisdom
Wisdom

Wisdom is knowledge, understanding, experience, discretion, and Intuition , along with a capacity to apply these qualities well towards finding solutions to problems....
 of the Buddha. Faith in Buddhism centres on belief in the Three Jewels
Three Jewels

The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as refuge ....
.

Vows

Often, one who takes refuge will make vow
Vow

A vow is a promise or oath....
s as well, typically vows to adhere to the Five Precepts (pańca-sila). Laypeople generally undertake at least one of the five, but traditions differ in how many vows is common to take. The Five Precepts are not given in the form of commands such as "thou shalt not ...", but rather are promises to oneself: "I will (try) ..."

  1. To refrain from harming living creature
    Creature

    A creature is a living organism. The term is derived from a widespread historical belief in creationism. The word is generally used to refer to non-human Animal but does include humans, and it is also sometimes used to mean monster....
    s (killing).
  2. To refrain from taking that which is not given (stealing).
  3. To refrain from sexual misconduct
    Sexual misconduct

    Sexual misconduct is misconduct of a sexual nature.In legal sense, for a person in a position of authority it includes in particular any human sexual behavior between him or her and one of his or her subordinates....
    .
  4. To refrain from false speech.
  5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.


In some schools of Buddhism, serious lay people or aspiring monks take an additional three to five ethical precepts, and some of the five precepts are strengthened. For example, the precept pertaining to sexual misconduct becomes a precept of celibacy.

What taking Refuge means


Primary guidelines

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


Commit to:
- train the body, speech and mind, instead of letting our senses rule us: do not speak harsh, cynical things and avoid being judgmental.
- practice ethics and vows.
- be kind and considerate to any living being.


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)


Six points of training

  1. Take refuge in the Three Refuges, do not seek the source of your happiness and problems outside yourself.
  2. Offer the first part of food or drink to the triple jewel, by blessing it before eating or drinking by reciting "Om Ah Hum". (The mantra applies only to the Vajrayana tradition. Any offering prayer may be used.)
  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 Refuges, rely on them as the only trustworthy refuge objects.
  6. Never lose faith in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.


Refuge Wording

Sanskrit version:
?????? ???? ????????
????? ???? ????????
???? ???? ????????


.
.
.


I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the Dharma.
I take refuge in the Sangha.


Pali
Pali language

Pali is a Middle Indo-Aryan languages or prakrit of India. It is best known as the language of the earliest extant Buddhism scriptures, as collected in the Pali Canon or Tipitaka, and as the liturgical language of Theravada....
 (Theravada
Theravada

Theravada...
) version:
Buddham saranam gacchami (to the Buddha for refuge I go)
Dhammam saranam gacchami (to the Dharma for refuge I go)
Sangham saranam gacchami (to the Sangha for refuge I go)


Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami (For the second time ... (repeated for each of the three))


Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami (For the third time ... (repeated for each of the three))


Chinese
Chinese language

Chinese or the Sinitic language is a language family consisting of language mutually unintelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the two branches of Sino-Tibetan languages of languages....
 (Mahayana
Mahayana

Mahayana is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophy and practice. It was History of Buddhism in India....
) version:
????? (to the Buddha for refuge I go)
????? (to the Dharma for refuge I go)
????? (to the Sangha for refuge I go)


However, some substitute the above with mention of three refuge in Lotus Sutra which read,
????,????,????,????? (I take refuge in the Buddha, wishing for all sentient beings to understand the great way and make the greatest vow.)
????,????,????,?????(I take refuge in the Dharma, wishing for all sentient beings to deeply delve into the Sutra Pitaka, gaining an ocean of knowledge.)
????,????,????,?????(I take refuge in the Sangha, wishing all sentient beings to lead the congregation in harmony, entirely without obstruction.)


A Tibetan (Mahayana
Mahayana

Mahayana is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for classification of Buddhist philosophy and practice. It was History of Buddhism in India....
, Vajrayana
Vajrayana

Vajrayana Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayana, Mantranaya, Mantrayana, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle ....
) 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
Atisha

Atisa Dipankara Shrijnana was a Buddhism teacher from the Pala Empire who, along with Konchog Gyalpo and Marpa Lotsawa, was one of the major figures in the establishment of the Sarma lineages in Tibet after the repression of Buddhism by King Langdarma ....
 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
    Nirvana

    In sramana thought, Nirvana is the state of being free from both dukkha and the cycle of rebirth. It is an important concept in Buddhism and Jainism....
  • 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
    Tantra

    Tantra , or tantram is a religious philosophy according to which Shakti is usually the main deity worshipped, and the universe is regarded as the divine play of shakti and shiva....
     techniques)


Another distinction between different levels of Going for Refuge, given by Sangharakshita
Sangharakshita

Sangharakshita is the founder of the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order , and the Western Buddhist Order . He is a prodigious author and public speaker on the subject of Buddhism, especially Buddhism in the West....
 in his text Going for Refuge is:
  • Ethnic Going for Refuge, when one is born into a Buddhist culture and practice is a matter more of social conditioning than personal commitment.
  • Effective Going for Refuge, when one has taken the conscious decision to commit oneself to the Three Refuges, typically by joining a Buddhist Order.
  • Real Going for Refuge, when the Three Fetter
    Fetter (Buddhism)

    In Buddhism, a mental fetter or "chain" or "bond" shackles a person to Samsara , the cycle of endless Dukkha. By completely cutting through all fetters, one attains Nirvana ....
    s of Conditioned Arising has been broken and Stream Entry has been attained.
  • Absolute Going for Refuge, which corresponds with the attainment of Enlightenment.


See also

  • Dharmapala
    Dharmapala

    In Vajrayana Buddhism, a dharmapala is a type of wrathful deity. The name means "Dharma-defender" in Sanskrit, and the dharmapalas are also known as the Defenders of the Law , or the Protectors of the Law, in English language....


The Dhammapada on Refuge

Driven only by fear, do men go for refuge to many places — to hills, woods, groves, trees and shrines.


Such, indeed, is no safe refuge; such is not the refuge supreme. Not by resorting to such a refuge is one released from all suffering.


He who has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching and his Order, penetrates with transcendental wisdom the Four Noble Truths — suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the Noble Eightfold Path leading to the cessation of suffering.


This indeed is the safe refuge, this the refuge supreme. Having gone to such a refuge, one is released from all suffering.


— Dhammapada
Dhammapada

The Dhammapada is a versified Buddhism scripture traditionally ascribed to the Gautama Buddha himself. It is one of the best-known texts from the Theravada Pali Canon....
 188-192


External links

  • (including commentary)
  • by Bhikkhu Samahita
  • (Anguttara Nikaya
    Anguttara Nikaya

    The Anguttara Nikaya is a Buddhist scripture, the fourth of the five nikayas, or collections, in the Sutta Pitaka, which is one of the "three baskets" that comprise the Pali Tipitaka of Theravada Buddhism....
    )
  • (Khuddakapatha
    Khuddakapatha

    The Khuddakapatha is a Buddhist scripture, the first collection of discourses in the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. It includes texts essential to Buddhist savaka....
    )
  • by Bhikkhu Bodhi
    Bhikkhu Bodhi

    Bhikkhu Bodhi , born Jeffrey Block, is an American Buddhist monk, ordained in Sri Lanka and currently teaching in the New York/New Jersey area....
  • by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
    Thanissaro Bhikkhu

    Thanissaro Bhikkhu is an United States Buddhist monk of the Thai forest kammatthana tradition. He was born Geoffrey DeGraff and converted to Buddhism in high school....