Refuge in Buddhism

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Triple Gem
)
Veneration of the Three Jewels, Chorasan, Gandhara, 2nd century AD, schist – Ethnological Museum of Berlin

In

Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha
.

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,

Five Precepts, which is the ceremony by which one traditionally become Buddhist.[5]

Overview

A Tibetan style Triratna (triple jewel) symbol
Triratna Pendant, Uttar or Madhya Pradesh, Shunga Period, Cleveland Museum of Art
laypeople.[6][7]

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:

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

nearly or completely enlightened.[9][3] Early Buddhism did not include bodhisattvas in the Three Refuges, because they were considered to still be on the path to enlightenment.[10]

Early texts describe the saṅgha as a "

monastic code to deal with the wrongdoings of his monastics, he usually states that such behavior should be curbed, because it would not "persuade non-believers" and "believers will turn away". He expects monks, nuns and novices not only to lead the spiritual life for their own benefit, but also to uphold the faith of the people. On the other hand, they are not to take the task of inspiring faith to the extent of hypocrisy or inappropriateness, for example, by taking on other professions apart from being a monastic, or by courting favours by giving items to the laypeople.[6][7]

Kalama Sutra, the Buddha explicitly argues against simply following authority or tradition, particularly those of religions contemporary to the Buddha's time.[12] There remains value for a degree of trusting confidence and belief in Buddhism, primarily in the spiritual attainment and salvation or enlightenment
. Faith in Buddhism centres on belief in the Three Jewels.

In Mahayana Buddhism

A Mahayana illustration of 35 Buddhas

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

Gautama Buddha delivering his first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath, Varanasi with his right hand turning the Dharmachakra, resting on the Triratna symbol flanked on either side by a deer. Statue on display at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya in Mumbai
.

Recitation in Pali

Translations of
Refuge
Rōmaji: kie)
Khmerសរណៈ
(Saranak)
Korean귀의
(RR: gwiui)
Sinhalaසරණ(saraṇa)
TamilSaranam / saran சரணம்
TagalogSalanam
(Baybayin: ᜐᜀᜎᜀᜈᜀ)
Thaiสรณะ, ที่พึ่ง ที่ระลึก RTGSsarana, thi phueng thi raluek
VietnameseQuy 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

Rig Veda 9.97.47, Rig Veda 6.46.9 and Chandogya Upanishad 2.22.3-4.[16]

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]

  1. not killing;
  2. not stealing;
  3. not misusing sex;
  4. not engaging in false speech;
  5. 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

  1. ^ a b c Ray 2004, p. 60.
  2. ^ Irons 2008, p. 403.
  3. ^ a b Robinson & Johnson 1997, p. 43.
  4. ^ a b Kariyawasam 1995, p. [page needed].
  5. ^ Sakya 2011, p. 244.
  6. ^ a b Wijayaratna 1990, pp. 130–1.
  7. ^ a b Buswell & Lopez 2013, Kuladūșaka.
  8. ^ Harvey 2013, p. 245.
  9. ^ a b Harvey 2013, p. 246.
  10. ^ Buswell & Lopez 2013, Paramatthasaṅgha.
  11. ^ Werner 2013, p. 39.
  12. ^ Thera 2013.
  13. ^ Hookham 1991, pp. 186–190.
  14. ^ Longchen Rabjam & Barron 2007, p. 66.
  15. ^ Anon 2020.
  16. ^ Shults 2014, p. 119.
  17. ^ Getz 2004, p. 673.
  18. ^ Walters 2004.
  19. ^ Harvey 2000, p. 80.
  20. ^ Sperry 2021.
  21. ^ De Silva 2016, p. 63.

Works cited

Further reading

External links