Home - News ( United States | United Kingdom | Italy | Germany ) - Football scores

Showing content from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge_(Buddhism) below:

Refuge in Buddhism - Wikipedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Initiation ceremony in Buddhism

In Buddhism, refuge or taking refuge refers to a religious practice which often includes a prayer or recitation performed at the beginning of the day or of a practice session. Its object is typically the Three Jewels (also known as the Triple Gem or Three Refuges, Pali: ti-ratana or ratana-ttaya; Sanskrit: tri-ratna or ratna-traya), which are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Taking refuge is a form of aspiration to lead a life with the Triple Gem at its core. In early Buddhist scriptures, taking refuge is an expression of determination to follow the Buddha's path, but not a relinquishing of responsibility.^[3] Refuge is common to all major schools of Buddhism.

Since the period of Early Buddhism, all Theravada and mainstream Mahayana schools only take refuge in the Triple Gem. However, the Vajrayana school includes an expanded refuge formula known as the Three Jewels and Three Roots.

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 Buddha, the fully enlightened one (i.e. the figure of Sakyamuni Buddha)
• The Dharma, the Buddhist teachings expounded by the Buddha
• The Sangha, the monastic order 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 devās (heavenly beings). This often includes other Buddhas from the past, and Buddhas who have not yet arisen. Secondly, the taking of refuge honours the truth and efficacy of the Buddha's spiritual doctrine, which includes the characteristics of phenomenon (Pali: saṅkhāra) such as their impermanence (Pali: anicca), and the Noble Eightfold Path to liberation.^[3] The taking of refuge ends with the acceptance of worthiness of the community of spiritually developed followers (the saṅgha), which is mostly defined as the monastic community, but may also include lay people and even devās provided they are nearly or completely enlightened. Early Buddhism did not include bodhisattvas in the Three Refuges, because they were considered to still be on the path to enlightenment.

Early texts describe the saṅgha as a "field of merit", because early Buddhists regard offerings to them as particularly karmically fruitful. Lay devotees support and revere the saṅgha, of which they believe it will render them merit and bring them closer to enlightenment. At the same time, the Buddhist monk is given a significant role in promoting and upholding faith among laypeople. Although many examples in the canon are mentioned of well-behaved monks, there are also cases of monks misbehaving. In such cases, the texts describe that the Buddha responds with great sensitivity to the perceptions of the lay community. When the Buddha sets out new rules in the 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.

Faith in the three jewels is an important teaching element in both Theravada and Mahayana traditions. In contrast to perceived Western notions of faith, faith in Buddhism arises from accumulated experience and reasoning. In the Kalama Sutra, the Buddha explicitly argues against simply following authority or tradition, particularly those of religions contemporary to the Buddha's time. 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, 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:

• 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.

Thus, for Mahayana Buddhism, the Buddha jewel includes innumerable Buddhas (like Amitabha, Vajradhara and Vairocana), not just Sakyamuni Buddha. Likewise, the Dharma jewel includes the Mahayana sutras and (for certain sects of Mahayana) may also include the Buddhist tantras, not just the Tripitaka. Finally, the Sangha jewel includes numerous beings that are not part of the monastic sangha proper, including high level bodhisattvas like Avalokiteshvara, Vajrapani, Manjushri and so on.

According to the Śrīmālā Sūtra, the Dharma and Sangha are "partial refuges," while the Buddha, possessed of limitless compassion and not being bound by time, is the supreme and ultimate refuge. That is, the Dharma and Sangha are limited refuges in relation to the Buddha because the Dharma attains the dharmakāya while the Sangha, being afraid, looks to the tathāgata for refuge. Therefore, to go for refuge in the Dharma and Sangha is ultimately to go for refuge in the tathāgata, who is thus the supreme truth of the three jewels. Furthermore, the other two refuges are not separate from the tathāgata who is identical to the three refuges "because of the path of the One Vehicle" (Ekayāna).^[14][15] Additionally, according to the Śrīmālā Sūtra, of the four noble truths, the noble truth of the extinction of suffering is the one refuge, as it is permanent and separate from the conditioned. It is therefore not false or deceptive in nature. Conversely, the other three noble truths are impermanent, conditioned, and are thus false and deceptive in nature.^[16]

According to the Ratnagotravibhāga, the Buddha alone is considered to be a true and permanent refuge. This is because the Dharma (as doctrine) is like a boat that is ultimately abandoned. Also, the Dharma (as realization) is made up of the truth of the path and the truth of cessation, but the former is artificial and impermanent while the latter is, according to śravakas, a mere absence of defilement and suffering. An absence, or nonexistence, can be neither a refuge nor non-refuge. As for the Sangha, it is possessed of fear and has many things still to be done, having not yet attained perfect enlightenment. Being with fear, the Sangha goes for refuge in the Buddha. However, that which goes for refuge in others cannot be a refuge by itself.^{[note 1]} Therefore, the Dharma and Sangha are considered to be temporary refuges, while the Buddha jewel is an eternal and lasting refuge. This is because the Buddha jewel possesses the dharmakāya and neither arises nor disappears.^[18]

In Chan Buddhism, it is taught in the Platform Sūtra that, rather than take refuge in external buddhas, one should take refuge in the three jewels of one's own essential nature. According to this explanation, "Buddha" refers to awareness, "Dharma" refers to truth, and "Sangha" to purity.^[19] The Platform Sūtra says:

Learned Audience, each of you should consider and examine this point for yourself, and let not your energy be misapplied. The sūtra distinctly says that we should take refuge in the Buddha within ourselves; it does not suggest that we should take refuge in other buddhas. [Moreover], if we do not take refuge in the buddha within ourselves, there is no other place for us to retreat.^{[20][note 2]}

Mahāyāna sources may speak of the three refuges according to non-dual interpretations which do not regard them as three separate entities. For example, in the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, one reads:

Good man, now you should not distinguish among the Three Jewels as śrāvakas and ordinary people do. In the Mahāyāna, there is nothing that marks the three refuges as separate. Why do I say this? Because the dharma and the sangha exist within the buddha-nature itself. It was in order to ferry śrāvakas and ordinary people to the other shore that I separately expounded different marks for each of the three refuges.^[22]

The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra also emphasizes that since the Buddha "is permanently abiding and immutable," the Dharma and the Sangha are also permanent.^[23] Thus, the sutra affirms that "the Three Jewels all abide permanently."^[24] Similarly, in Chan materials one also finds definitions according to which the three jewels are inseparable in and as mind, or heart (xin), such as when the second patriarch Huike explains, "This Heart is Buddha, this Heart is Dharma; Dharma and Buddha are not two. The jewel of the Sangha is like this too."^[25] Likewise, the Tsung Ching Record of Dazhu Huihai states:

Mind is the Buddha and it is needless to use this Buddha to seek the Buddha. Mind is the Dharma and it is needless to use this Dharma to seek the Dharma. Buddha and Dharma are not separate entities and their togetherness forms the Sangha. Such is the meaning of Three Jewels in One Substance.^[26]

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.

These alternative refuge formulations are employed by those undertaking deity yoga and other tantric practices within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition.

Recitation in Pali for taking refuge

The most used recitation in Pali:

Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
      I take refuge in the Buddha.

Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

      I take refuge in the Dharma.

Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

      I take refuge in the Saṅgha.

Dutiyampi Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

      For the second time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
Dutiyampi Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
      For the second time, I take refuge in the Dharma.
Dutiyampi Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
      For the second time, I take refuge in the Saṅgha.

Tatiyampi Buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.

      For the third time, I take refuge in the Buddha.
Tatiyampi Dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
      For the third time, I take refuge in the Dharma.
Tatiyampi Saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gacchāmi.
      For the third time, I take refuge in the Saṅgha.

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 Brahmanical motif of a group of three refuges, as found in Rig Veda 9.97.47, Rig Veda 6.46.9 and Chandogya Upanishad 2.22.3-4.

Lay followers often undertake five precepts in the same ceremony as they take the refuges. Monks administer the precepts to the laypeople, which creates an additional psychological effect. The five precepts are:

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".

The Triratna (Pali: ti-ratana or ratana-ttaya; Sanskrit: tri-ratna or ratna-traya) is a Buddhist symbol, thought to visually represent the Three Jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sangha).

The Triratna symbol is composed of:

• A lotus flower within a circle.
• A diamond rod, or vajra.
• An ananda-chakra.
• A trident, or trisula, with three branches, representing the threefold jewels of Buddhism: Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

On representations of the footprint of the Buddha, the Triratna is usually also surmounted by the Dhamma wheel.

The Triratna can be found on frieze sculptures at Sanchi as the symbol crowning a flag standard (2nd century BCE), as a symbol of the Buddha installed on the Buddha's throne (2nd century BCE), as the crowning decorative symbol on the later gates at the stupa in Sanchi (2nd century CE), or, very often on the Buddha footprint (starting from the 1st century CE).

The triratna can be further reinforced by being surmounted with three dharma wheels (one for each of the three jewels of Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha).

The triratna symbol is also called nandipada, or "bull's hoof", by Hindus.

A number of examples of the triratna symbol appear on historical coins of Buddhist kingdoms in the Indian subcontinent. For example, the triratna appears on the first century BCE coins of the Kuninda Kingdom. It also surmounts the depictions of stupas, on some the coins of Abdagases I of the Indo-Scythian of the first century CE and on the coins of the Kushan Empire, such as those coined by Vima Kadphises, also of the first century.

• Triratna on a

  Taxila coin

  , 185–168 BCE (detail)

• The compound Buddhist symbols:

  Shrivatsa

  within a

  triratana

  , over a

  Dharmacakra

  wheel, on the Torana gate at

  Sanchi

  . 1st century BCE

• The Triratna or "Three Jewels" symbol, on a

  Buddha footprint

  (bottom symbol, the top symbol being a

  dharmachakra

  ). 1st century CE,

  Gandhara

  .

• Triratna symbol on the reverse (left field) of a coin of the

  Indo-Scythian

  king

  Azes II

  (r.c. 35–12 BCE)

• 2nd century BCE coin of the

  Kunindas

  , incorporating on the reverse the Buddhist triratna symbol on top of a

  stupa
• Amaravati

  Triratna symbols

• Triratna with the

  mantra

  written in

  devanagari

  "

  om namo ratna trayaya om

  " (

  Om Praise to the Three Jewels (Triratna) Om

  ). Painting on canvas 18x24.

• Triratna symbol.

• Triratna Symbol SVG Vector Graphic

1. ^ The Śrīmālā Sūtra also states, "...Lord, the refuge does not seek a refuge." Alex and Hideko Wayman comment, "That is to say, the Lord, being the refuge, of course does not seek a refuge. In the last analysis, we cannot call anyone a refuge who himself is seeking a refuge."^[17]
2. ^ According to Wendi Adamek, "Chan Buddhism was radical in its rejection of the notion of taking refuge in the Three Jewels as outside supports, recommending that the practitioner go straight to her or his own mind."^[21]

• Awgatha – Burmese Buddhist prayerPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• 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 BuddhismPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Tamga – Symbol branding a group of Eurasian nomads

1. ^ ^{a b} Kariyawasam 1995, p. ^{[page needed]}.
2. ^ The Sutra of Queen Śrīmālā of the Lion’s Roar & The Vimalakīrti Sutra, pages 36-37 (PDF pages 29-30). Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai and Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2004.
3. ^ Alex and Hideko Wayman. The Lion's Roar of Queen Śrīmālā, a Buddhist Scripture on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory, pages 93-94. Motilal Banarsidass, 2007.
4. ^ The Sutra of Queen Śrīmālā of the Lion’s Roar & The Vimalakīrti Sutra, pages 47-49 (PDF pages 39-41). Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai and Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2004.
5. ^ Alex and Hideko Wayman. The Lion's Roar of Queen Śrīmālā, a Buddhist Scripture on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory, page 80. Motilal Banarsidass, 2007.
6. ^ Takasaki, Jikido. A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra), Being a Treatise on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory of Mahāyāna Buddhism, pages 181-185. Motilal Banarsidass, 2014
7. ^ The Sutra of Hui-neng, Grand Master of Zen, with Hui-neng's Commentary on the Diamond Sutra, translated by Thomas Cleary, page 40. Shambhala, 1998
8. ^ The Diamond Sutra & the Sutra of Hui-neng, translated by A.F. Price and Wong Mou-lam, page 104. Shambhala, 1990
9. ^ Adamek, Wendi. The Teachings of Master Wuzhu: Zen and Religion of No-Religion, page 17. Columbia University Press, 2011
10. ^ Blum, Mark. The Nirvana Sutra, Volume 1, p. 239. Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai America, Inc., 2013.
11. ^ Blum, Mark. The Nirvana Sutra, Volume 1, p. 223. Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai America, Inc., 2013.
12. ^ Blum, Mark. The Nirvana Sutra, Volume 1, p. 317. Bukkyō Dendō Kyōkai America, Inc., 2013.
13. ^ Records of the Transmission of the Lamp, Volume 1, The Buddhas and Indian Patriarchs, translated by Randolph S. Whitfield, page 158. Books on Demand, 2015.
14. ^ Ch'an Master Hui Hai, Zen Teaching of Instantaneous Awakening, translated by John Blofeld, pages 125-126. Buddhist Publishing Group, 2007

• Anon (2020), "The Three Treasures", The Pluralism Project, Harvard University, retrieved 2022-12-08.
• Buswell, Robert E. Jr.; Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (2013), Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3.
• De Silva, Padmasiri (2016), Environmental Philosophy and Ethics in Buddhism, Springer Nature, ISBN 978-1-349-26772-9.
• Getz, Daniel A. (2004), "Precepts", in Buswell, Robert E. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Macmillan Reference USA, Thomson Gale, ISBN 978-0-02-865720-2, archived from the original on 23 December 2017.
• Harvey, Peter (2000), An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-511-07584-1.
• Harvey, Peter (2013), An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (2nd ed.), New York: Cambridge University Press, 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: Facts on File, 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.
• Longchen Rabjam; Barron, Richard (2007), A Treatise Elucidating the Meaning of the Entire Range of Buddhist Teachings, The Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems (Drupta Dzöd), Padma Publishing, 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: Cengage, 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, archived from the original on 23 December 2017 – via Encyclopedia.com.
• Werner, Karel (2013), "Love and Devotion in Buddhism", in Werner, Karel (ed.), Love Divine Studies in Bhakti and Devotional Mysticism, Hoboken, NJ: Taylor and Francis, 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, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-36428-7.

• "ガンダーラ美術の見方" (The art of Gandhara), Yamada Kihito, ISBN 4-89806-106-0
• 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", Monumenta Serica, 42 (1): 171–215, doi:10.1080/02549948.1994.11731253.
• Refuge : An Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sangha. Thanissaro Bhikkhu : Third edition, revised, 2001
• Terwiel, Barend Jan (2012), Monks and Magic: Revisiting a Classic Study of Religious Ceremonies in Thailand, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, ISBN 978-87-7694-101-7.
• Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2012), Refuge: An Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha.

• Buddhapada and Triratna
• Another triratna on Buddha's footprint.
• Refuge at StudyBuddhism.com
• A Buddhist View on Refuge
• Vajrayana refuge prayer audio
• What are the Three Jewels? at Tricycle.org

RetroSearch is an open source project built by @garambo | Open a GitHub Issue

Search and Browse the WWW like it's 1997 | Search results from DuckDuckGo

HTML: 3.2 | Encoding: UTF-8 | Version: 0.7.4