Refuge (Buddhism)

Refuge (Sanskrit, n, त्रिशरण, triśaraṇa / Trisharana; Pali: tisarana; " Three Refuges " ) is a central concept in Buddhism. By taking refuge in the three jewels = Buddha, Dharma, Sangha is explained as outward to the Buddhists. Taking refuge means to have these Three Jewels are the essential pillars of personal faith and life practices, ie to orient on the Buddha, his teaching and the community. The refuge can be done at a ceremony (in the context of a Buddhist community ) and comes with a commitment to the so-called ( Five Silas ), the moral precepts, usually linked.

After taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha should one take no further recourse to unenlightened beings (God, gods ), as they are a not ultimately assist to overcome samsara and achieve nirvana.

The Refuge happens to the Buddha as a teacher, the Dharma, " awakened " Sangha as a guide and as a model.

Prerequisite

Refuge based on the knowledge and approval of the possibility that every living being has the potential and the opportunity to completely free themselves from suffering and that there are beings who have attained the support and a self along the way. But the way it comes down yourself, it can be removed one by anyone. Each bears the full responsibility for your own path.

Resolutions

If you decide to take refuge, puts you firmly on the Buddhist path. These include the resolutions or vows observed, in particular the intent to harm any living being. This is a mandatory prefix is always silently connected to the refuge.

Depending on the tradition and the teacher 's resolutions and formulations may vary.

These five precepts ( Five Silas ) can also be considered part of the refuge:

Refuge formulas

The Three Refuges is already in the Pali canon, the oldest collection of writings of Buddhism, mentioned several times (see "Sources of refuge "). The refuge formula preceded by the worship, as it is reproduced below, can be found literally in the short straw collection of Suttapitaka. It is recited to the present time in different Buddhist traditions. Often it is not recited in the native language, but in Pali or Sanskrit.

• Worship formula ( Namaskara ), preceded by the Refuge:

Pali:

Sanskrit:

• Traditional refuge formula ( Pali ):

• Refuge formula of the Mahayana:

Degrees of refuge according to Atisha

According to Atisha's lamp for the path (11th century) and related the episode Lamrim tradition, founded by Tsongkhapa, one can distinguish different degrees of Refuge:

To distinguish serve the intentions of the practitioners, the concept of regions is used:

Refuge to the Guru

In Vajrayana Buddhism is also takes refuge in the Gurus, the respective Lamas. These represent for the students the perfect qualities of the Buddha and are mediators of the Dharma. In the actual refuge ceremony but is usually only taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha here. It agrees neither a lama (teacher), nor a center nor a tradition or a group, but only Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The refuge in the Guru is an advanced exercise ( yoga guru ) in Vajrayana Buddhism.

Literature on the refuge

Mahayana:

• Discover meaning and path - Refuge: Ringu Tulku. Bodhicharya Verlag, Hamburg 2003, ISBN 3-937457-13-5.
• Arya Maitreya Buddha Nature. The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra with Commentary. Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca NY, 2000, ISBN 1-55939-128-6 ( Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso Rinpoche Commented by ).