When a
person wishes to become a Buddhist, the first step he or she
takes is to go to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha for refuge.
Since the time of the Buddha, taking this Threefold Refuge
has identified a person as a Buddhist.
Reasons
for Taking Refuge
If people
observe the world around them carefully, they are bound to
notice the pain, suffering and frustrations experienced by
sentient beings. A Buddhist will look for a way to end such
distressing conditions in life just as a traveller caught
in a storm will seek shelter. If the traveller is able to
find shelter inside a building that is strong and safe, he
will call out to others who are still struggling in the storm
outdoors to join him in this safe refuge. Similarly, a person
chooses to become a Buddhist when he understands who the Buddha
is, and how the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha can provide him
the way to end suffering. Out of compassion, he will also
encourage others to take the same refuge.
The Buddha,
Dharma and Sangha are called the Triple Gem because they represent
qualities which are excellent and precious like a gem. Once
a person recognises these unique qualities after careful consideration
and is confident that the Triple Gem can help lead him towards
happiness and Enlightenment, he takes refuge. It is, therefore,
not out of mere faith, but with an open-minded attitude and
enquiring spirit that he begins to practise the Buddha's Teaching.
In a way, he resembles the scientist who decides to carry
out a research project once he is confident that it will bring
positive results.
The
Buddha
The word
Buddha means the "Fully Enlightened One" or "Awakened
One". It is the title given to those who have attained
supreme and perfect Enlightenment. Buddhists acknowledge the
Buddha as the embodiment of the highest morality, deepest
concentration and perfect wisdom. His followers also know
the Buddha as the "Perfected One" because He has
wiped out desire, ill will and ignorance, and has overcome
all unwholesome actions. He has put an end to suffering and
is no longer bound to the cycle of birth and death.
The Buddha
is the Fully Enlightened One because He has realised the Truth
and sees things as they really are. He knows through his perfect
wisdom, what is good and what is not good for all beings.
Out of great compassion, He shows people the path leading
to the end of suffering.
The Buddha's
exemplary conduct, perfect wisdom and great compassion make
Him an excellent teacher. By His use of skilful means, He
is able to reach out to all His followers so that they can
understand His Teaching.
The
Dharma
The Buddha
taught the Dharma solely out of compassion for sentient beings
who suffer in the cycle of birth and death. The Dharma is
therefore taught without any selfish motives. It is well-taught
and completely good. It is by nature pure and bright like
a light that destroys the darkness of ignorance. When the
Dharma is studied and practised, it brings many benefits now
and in the future.
The Dharma
is the Teaching about the nature of life. This Teaching of
the Buddha is contained in the three collections of scriptures
called the Tripitaka or the "Three Baskets". These
consist of the discourses (Sutra Pitaka) said to have been
taught by the Buddha, the rules governing the discipline of
the monastic community (Vinaya Pitaka) and the philosophy
and psychology of Buddhism (Abhidharma Pitaka).
A Buddhist
gets to know about the Dharma by reading the scriptures. He
also learns from the writings and explanations of qualified
teachers of Buddhism. Once he has familiarised himself with
the Dharma through reading and listening, he has to realise
its truth for himself by putting it into practice. This means
purifying his conduct and cultivating Mental Development until
the Teaching becomes part of his own experience.
The
Sangha
The Sangha
that a Buddhist takes refuge in is the community of Noble
Ones who have led exemplary lives and attained extraordinary
insight into the true nature of things. Their lives and achievements
show others that it is possible to progress on the path to
Enlightenment.
However,
the Sangha also generally refers to the fourfold community
of monks, nuns, men and women lay followers. Monks and nuns
are respected for their good conduct and for their experience
in meditation. They are also respected for their diligence,
mindfulness and calmness. Wise and learned, they are able
teachers of the Dharma. They can also be like trusted friends
inspiring the lay followers along the path of Good Conduct.
The lay
followers accept the Four Noble Truths and the other teachings
of the Buddha and seek happiness and Enlightenment as their
common goal in life. They also uphold common moral values
such as avoiding injury to others in any way. Thus a Buddhist
can look to other members of the lay community for help and
advice in times of need.
Analogy
of a Journey
To understand
better the idea of taking refuge, one might take the example
of a traveller who wants to visit a distant city where he
has never been to before. He will surely need a guide to lead
him towards his destination. He will need a path to follow.
He may also wish to have travelling companions on the journey.
A Buddhist working towards attaining happiness and Enlightenment
is like the traveller trying to reach that distant city. The
Buddha is his "guide", the Dharma his "path"
and the Sangha are his travelling companions".
A Buddhist
takes refuge in the Buddha as his guide because he believes
that the Buddha, having attained Enlightenment Himself, is
able to guide him towards that goal. The Dharma that he takes
as his refuge is like a path that has been well laid out.
Such a path may include signposts to show directions, bridges
for crossing rivers and steps for climbing mountains. Similarly,
the Dharma includes the rules of Good Conduct to help him
avoid unwholesome actions and the techniques of Mental Development
to help him overcome distractions. It also teaches him how
to overcome ignorance and gain Enlightenment.
Taking
refuge in the Sangha is like having good travelling companions
who keep a traveller company, care for him when he is sick
and encourage him along when he is tired. The members of the
Sangha, like ideal travelling companions, help the lay follower
to purify his unwholesome ideas and correct his behaviour
through sound advice and instruction, and encourage him to
continue his journey to Enlightenment.
The
Act of Taking Refuge
A Buddhist
expresses his intention of taking the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
as his refuge by repeating the following lines thrice:
These
lines can be recited by the person alone before the image
of a Buddha or repeated line by line after a monk or master.
A Buddhist may repeat the Threefold Refuge daily to remind
himself that he has made a commitment to attain the goal of
happiness and Enlightenment through the guidance and inspiration
of the Triple Gem.
The
Benefits of Taking Refuge
A Buddhist
performs the act of taking refuge as the first step on the
path to Enlightenment. Thereafter, through Good Conduct and
Mental Development, he tries to achieve contentment, self-control,
a calm and clear mind, and wisdom. Even if Enlightenment is
not achieved in this life, a Buddhist who takes refuge in
the Triple Gem is more likely to have favourable conditions
for attaining Enlightenment in a future life.
A person
takes refuge when he fears the suffering of the world and
develops confidence in the Triple Gem which can lead him to
happiness and Enlightenment. The Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
are called the Triple Gem because they represent qualities
that are precious like a gem. A Buddhist who wishes to attain
Enlightenment regards the Buddha as his guide, the Dharma
as his path and the Sangha as his travelling companions. He
repeats the formula of taking refuge before an image of the
Buddha or a monk. Taking refuge is the first step on the path
to Enlightenment.
