In this issue:
In Buddhism, “taking refuge” in the Three Treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha is an important aspect of the practice. Indeed, without the Three Refuges, Buddhist practice is not possible.
A very relevant definition of refuge is: a source of help, relief or comfort in times of trouble, and this has been my experience of the Three Treasures, from the very beginning of my training. I don’t often think consciously about “taking refuge,” but I have come to realize that it is something I have been doing all along.
The first Refuge—the Buddha Treasure—is taking refuge in the Eternal, the Unborn, the Buddha Nature. Knowing that It is full of love, compassion without judgment, and that It is always there and will never hurt me.
The second Refuge is the Dharma Treasure. For me, it is the teaching that guides me back to my daily training and the ongoing flow of the Eternal when I wander off the Path of meditation and Precepts.
Finally, the Refuge of the Sangha Treasure is, for me, all the monastic seniors and teachers who have personally helped me in my practice. It is also my contemporaries who help just by doing the practice and meditating with me. When I have been having difficulties members of the Sangha have offered counsel and guidance and have been, recalling the above definition, a source of help, relief or comfort in times of trouble.
It is said that “faith “is a big help and important to our training. One definition of faith I feel that works is belief that does not rest on material evidence. This pertains to the faith I have always had that there is the Eternal, and the faith I have had that It is always my true Refuge. Also, I had faith that the teaching and teachers and the training would be of great help with my suffering and my daily life. The faith that this practice was good and right.
Over the years this kind of faith that I had at the beginning turned more into certainty. And, I can see in retrospect how helpful the faith was in the beginning to set me on the Path of Buddhist training. I still take refuge in the Three Treasures and I can see very clearly that they are truly treasures.