{"id":1981,"date":"2020-03-03T11:38:15","date_gmt":"2020-03-03T01:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/?page_id=1981"},"modified":"2020-03-14T19:13:22","modified_gmt":"2020-03-14T09:13:22","slug":"taking-refuge","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dying-and-death-reflections.com\/index.php\/taking-refuge\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking Refuge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

All our lives we try to protect ourselves when our welfare,\nour possessions, things that are dear to us, or our very existence are\nthreatened. We are looking for safe places to take refuge, and we seek help\nfrom those who are able to defend us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we also spend our whole life suffering<\/em> from our ignorance<\/em>\nand the mental poisons<\/em> it produces, especially hatred and attachment,\nand those woes are far crueller and more durable than the simple vagaries of\nour existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To protect ourselves from such evils, we must go back to\ntheir source, namely, ignorance<\/em>. But how can an ignorant person overcome\nhis or her own ignorance? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By relying on beings who have already done so and\nfollowing the path they have traced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is the role of the Three Jewels in Buddhism<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The Buddha<\/em>, which means the Awakened One, shows us how to get free from suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The Dharma<\/em> is the path taught by the Buddha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The Sangha<\/em> is the community of those who follow that path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The Buddha is the guide<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The Dharma is the path<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf The Sangha are the traveling companions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Vajrayana, the esoteric vehicle of Tibetan and Indian\nBuddhism, the spiritual master<\/strong> embodies the essence of the Three\nJewels<\/em>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf His mind<\/em> is enlightenment, or Buddha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf His words<\/em> are the teaching, or Dharma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u25cf His body<\/em> is the community, or Sangha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Buddhism, taking refuge in the wisdom of\nenlightenment is the first and indispensable step toward liberation from\nsuffering. It is the starting point of the path. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate, or inner, refuge<\/strong> is none other than our\nown mind<\/em>. Through recognizing its essence, the luminous wakefulness of\nawareness that shines continuously behind the clouds of confusion, one is\nnaturally protected from the very causes of suffering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preserving the continuum of awareness, we no longer fear\nthe cognitive or emotional obscurations, because they no longer affect our\nconsciousness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The function of the external refuge is to lead progressively to the understanding and eventually the realization of the inner refuge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Taken from Ricard, Matthieu. On the Path to Enlightenment: Heart Advice from the Great Tibetan Masters<\/em>. Shambhala. Kindle Edition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Notes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGoing for refuge is making a commitment. \u2026 We are ready to make a commitment to the path, the spiritual training, and to the goal, the attainment of enlightenment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going for refuge is the laying of the foundation, the initiation of commitment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally it starts with a ceremony of going for refuge; but the most important thing is the development of faith and trust in the objects of refuge. If we have that kind of strong urge and trust in the path and the goal that is taught in Buddhism, the vow of going for refuge is born in us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We must think about taking refuge in a common-sense way. If we make a commitment or determination, we will succeed faster and more easily. But if we are hesitant, doubting, or unsure about whether or not to commit ourselves, we will become increasingly lazy and will not find it easy to succeed.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Adapted from Thondup, Tulku. Enlightened Journey: Buddhist Practice as Daily Life<\/em>. Shambhala. Kindle Edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Reflection:
\u2018Taking refuge\u2019 is the commitment to follow the path and teachings revealed by the Buddha. It can be done informally through reciting a liturgy or simply by being committed to the Dharma and the path to Awakening. When refuge is formally taken from a preceptor at a ceremony, it marks a definite decision and moment of being received within the community of followers of the Buddha.
(Lama Shenpen Hookham) <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"reddit\"<\/a>\"pinterest\"<\/a>\"linkedin\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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