Refuge in Buddhism
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In
.However, only Vajrayana school includes an expanded refuge formula known as the Three Jewels and Three Roots.[1]
Taking refuge is a form of aspiration to lead a life with the Triple Gem at its core. Taking refuge is done by a short formula in which one names the Buddha, the dharma and the saṅgha as refuges.[2][3] In early Buddhist scriptures, taking refuge is an expression of determination to follow the Buddha's path, but not a relinquishing of responsibility.[4] Refuge is common to all major schools of Buddhism.
In 1880,
Overview
Since the period of Early Buddhism, devotees expressed their faith through the act of taking refuge, which is threefold. These are the three supports or jewels in which a Sutrayana Buddhist takes refuge:
- The Sakyamuni Buddha)
- The Dharma, the Buddhist teachings expounded by the Buddha
- The Sangha, the monasticorder of Buddhism that practices and preserves the Dharma.
In this, it centres on the authority of a Buddha as a supremely awakened being, by assenting to a role for a Buddha as a teacher of both humans and
Early texts describe the saṅgha as a "
In Mahayana Buddhism
In Mahayana Buddhism, the three jewels are understood in a different sense than in Sravakayana or non-Mahayana forms of Buddhism. For example, the Buddha is usually explained through the Mahayana doctrine of the three bodies (trikaya).
According to the Mahayana treatise titled Ratnagotravibhāga (Analysis of the Jeweled Lineage), the true meaning of the triple gem is as follows:[13]
- The Buddha is without beginning, middle and end. The Buddha is peace. The Buddha is uncompounded (asamskrta), and spontaneous (anabhoga) Dharmakaya. The Buddha is self-enlightened and self arisen wisdom (jñana), compassion and power for the benefit of others.
- The Dharma is described as the reality which is cessation. This is described as neither existence nor non-existence. It is non-conceptual reality as well as the reality of the path which consists of luminous and stainless jñana that removes all defilement. It is also equated with the dharmakaya.
- The Sangha refers to those beings who realize the true luminous nature of the mind and the "full extent of what is" (yavad bhavikataya) as well as the supreme qualities that make them a refuge.
According to the Tibetan Buddhist master Longchenpa:
According to the Mahayana approach, the buddha is the totality of the three kayas; the dharma encompasses scriptural transmission (contained in the sutras and tantras) and the realization of one’s self-knowing timeless awareness (including the views, states of meditative absorption, and so forth associated with stages such as those of development and completion); and the sangha is made up of bodhisattvas, masters of awareness, and other spiritually advanced beings (other than buddhas) whose nature is such that they are on the paths of learning and no more learning.[14]
Thus, for Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha jewel includes innumerable Buddhas (like
Recitation in Pali
Translations of Refuge | |
---|---|
Rōmaji: kie) | |
Khmer | សរណៈ (Saranak) |
Korean | 귀의 (RR: gwiui) |
Sinhala | සරණ(saraṇa) |
Tamil | Saranam / saran சரணம் |
Tagalog | Salanam (Baybayin: ᜐᜀᜎᜀᜈᜀ) |
Thai | สรณะ, ที่พึ่ง ที่ระลึก RTGS: sarana, thi phueng thi raluek |
Vietnamese | Quy y |
Glossary of Buddhism |
The most used recitation in Pali:[15]
Buddham saranam gacchami.
I take refuge in the Buddha.
Dhammam saranam gacchami.
I take refuge in the Dharma.
Sangham saranam gacchami.
I take refuge in the Sangha.
Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Dharma.
Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami.
For the second time, I take refuge in the Sangha.
Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Dharma.
Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami.
For the third time, I take refuge in the Sangha.
Except this there are various recitations mentioned in Pali literature for taking refuge in the Three Jewels. Brett Shults proposes that Pali texts may employ the
Precepts
Lay followers often undertake five precepts in the same ceremony as they take the refuges.[17][18] Monks administer the precepts to the laypeople, which creates an additional psychological effect.[19] The five precepts are:[20]
- not killing;
- not stealing;
- not misusing sex;
- not engaging in false speech;
- not indulging in intoxicants.
A layperson who upholds the precepts is described in the texts as a "jewel among laymen".[21]
Refuge in Vajrayana
In Tibetan Buddhism there are three refuge formulations, the Outer, Inner, and Secret forms of the Three Jewels. The 'Outer' form is the 'Triple Gem', (Sanskrit:triratna), the 'Inner' is the Three Roots and the 'Secret' form is the 'Three Bodies' or trikaya of a Buddha.[1]
These alternative refuge formulations are employed by those undertaking deity yoga and other tantric practices within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition.[1]
See also
- Awgatha – Burmese Buddhist prayer
- Abhijñā – Supernormal knowledge in Buddhism
- Anussati – Type of meditational and devotional practices
- Bhāvanā – Concept in Indian religions, signifying contemplation and spiritual cultivation
- Four Noble Truths – Basic framework of Buddhist thought
- Jingxiang – Ritual of offering incense accompanied by tea and/or fruits
- Pure land – Abode of a buddha or bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism
References
Citations
- ^ a b c Ray 2004, p. 60.
- ^ Irons 2008, p. 403.
- ^ a b Robinson & Johnson 1997, p. 43.
- ^ a b Kariyawasam 1995, p. [page needed].
- ^ Sakya 2011, p. 244.
- ^ a b Wijayaratna 1990, pp. 130–1.
- ^ a b Buswell & Lopez 2013, Kuladūșaka.
- ^ Harvey 2013, p. 245.
- ^ a b Harvey 2013, p. 246.
- ^ Buswell & Lopez 2013, Paramatthasaṅgha.
- ^ Werner 2013, p. 39.
- ^ Thera 2013.
- ^ Hookham 1991, pp. 186–190.
- ^ Longchen Rabjam & Barron 2007, p. 66.
- ^ Anon 2020.
- ^ Shults 2014, p. 119.
- ^ Getz 2004, p. 673.
- ^ Walters 2004.
- ^ Harvey 2000, p. 80.
- ^ Sperry 2021.
- ^ De Silva 2016, p. 63.
Works cited
- Anon (2020), "The Three Treasures", The Pluralism Project, Harvard University, retrieved 2022-12-08.
- ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3.
- De Silva, Padmasiri (2016), Environmental Philosophy and Ethics in Buddhism, ISBN 978-1-349-26772-9.
- Getz, Daniel A. (2004), "Precepts", in Buswell, Robert E. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Macmillan Reference USA, ISBN 978-0-02-865720-2, archivedfrom the original on 23 December 2017.
- Harvey, Peter (2000), An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues, ISBN 978-0-511-07584-1.
- Harvey, Peter (2013), An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (2nd ed.), New York: ISBN 978-0-521-85942-4.
- Hookham, S. K. (1991), The Buddha within : Tathagatagarbha doctrine according to the Shentong interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga, Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, pp. 186–190, ISBN 978-0791403587.
- Irons, Edward A. (2008), Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Encyclopedia of World Religions, New York: ISBN 978-0-8160-5459-6.
- Kariyawasam, A. G. S. (1995), Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka, The Wheel Series, Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication Society, archived from the original on 28 March 2013, retrieved 23 October 2007 – via Accesstoinsight.org.
- ISBN 978-1881847441.
- Ray, Reginald A., ed. (2004), In the Presence of Masters: Wisdom from 30 Contemporary Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Boston: Shambhala Publications, ISBN 1-57062-849-1.
- Robinson, Richard H.; Johnson, Willard L. (1997), The Buddhist religion: a historical introduction (4th ed.), Belmont, CA: ISBN 978-0-534-20718-2.
- Sakya, Madhusudan (2011), Buddhism Today: Issues & Global Dimensions, Current Perspectives in Buddhism, vol. 3, Cyber Tech Publications, ISBN 9788178847337.
- Shults, Brett (May 2014), "On the Buddha's Use of Some Brahmanical Motifs in Pali Texts", Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, 6: 106–140.
- Sperry, Rod Meade (June 11, 2021), "What Are the Five Precepts?", Lion's Roar, retrieved 2022-12-08
- Thera, Soma, tr. (2013), Kalama Sutta: The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry, Buddhist Publication Society, archived from the original on 4 February 2013
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link). - Walters, Jonathan S. (2004), "Festivals and Calendrical Rituals", Encyclopedia of Buddhism, The Gale Group, archivedfrom the original on 23 December 2017 – via Encyclopedia.com.
- ISBN 978-1-136-77461-4.
- Wijayaratna, Mohan (1990), Buddhist monastic life: according to the texts of the Theravāda tradition, translated by Claude Grangier; Steven Collins, ISBN 978-0-521-36428-7.
Further reading
- Chodron, Ven. Thubten (June 18, 2012), "Long refuge and precepts ceremony", ThubtenChodron.org, retrieved 2022-12-03.
- Kohn, Livia (1994), "The Five Precepts of the Venerable Lord", .
- Terwiel, Barend Jan (2012), Monks and Magic: Revisiting a Classic Study of Religious Ceremonies in Thailand, ISBN 978-87-7694-101-7.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2012), Refuge: An Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha.
External links
- Refuge at StudyBuddhism.com
- A Buddhist View on Refuge
- Vajrayana refuge prayer audio
- What are the Three Jewels? at Tricycle.org