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Good evening, today’s topic is about the Refuge. As a Buddhist, it is important to understand what is a refuge. Since there are many new comers and it has been so long since all of you took the refuge vow, it will be good for us to recall and review the basic and foundation of our practices and our original goal in coming to Buddhism. What was your intention then? It was probably for happiness, good health, and success.
Taking refuge is more than that! I would like to share with you what it really is. To attain the 8 beneficials of taking refuge, you have to apply Buddhist practices. In the words of my perfect Teacher by Za Patrul Rinpoche. To play a game, you have to know the rules of the game. To attain these beneficials, you need to know what are these Buddhist practices.
First of all, what is a refuge? A refuge from the rain, the storm, a problem, a crisis, or sufferings all means a shelter from whatever it is that are not desirable to you to see, hear, and meet. However, due to our muddled up habitual pattern, we become hopelessly ensnared into samsara. We are trapped in samsara because of karma. We create karmas according to our view. Whether you classify this as good or bad karma, depends on your view. Karma is cause and effect.
Due to the three sufferings: sufferings caused physical pains; sufferings caused by changes, as in birth, aging, sickness, and death; and sufferings caused by sufferings, as in destruction, unfulfilled wishes, and revulsion, our view is faulty because our vision is very short sighted and full of delusion and impure. We do not consider the cause of whatever that is happening. We are so full of ego and pride when it is something we like and we blame others when it is something we do not like.
Being preoccupied with present responsibility, samsara is difficult to handle, according to Ven. Nedo Rinpoche. “It does not mean that it is difficult because we cannot catch the birds or the wild animals in the forest; but because of the multi layered complexities of things running around us. It is truly muddled!”
The way is full of sufferings due to confusion and error because we do not see the cause of sufferings. I stress- this is the view.
Your coming here signifies your desire to know, to practice, and to inculcate the Buddhist way of life in order to attain enlightenment from sufferings. Therefore, you have come here to know the rules and requirements for Buddhist discipline.
Contemplate on the four immeasurable thoughts: And four ordinary foundation: Precious human life, impermanence, which is supremely important, defects of samsara, and defects of samsaric friends, places, and events.
To be protected from suffering, we come and take refuge to the three triple Gems - Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The Buddha showed the path to enlightenment. The Dharma is the path, which Buddha meditated to become a Budddha. The Sangha are spiritual friend, who practiced and have realized some of Buddha’s teachings. They have preserved these teachings and made them available in unbroken transmission to be free from error. Many are those that have used this path and have attained enlightenment. We are fortunate to have all these teachings and the expertise of qualified and devoted gurus to train our mind correctly.
The advice on refuge falls under 3 categories:
1. General 2. Particular 3. Similar.
General advice has three sub categories:
- After taking refuge with the Buddha, make it a habit to offer everything to Him. Examples are: after buying a new cloth, before you use it, offer it immediately in your mind. Before you eat, offer what you are about to eat.
- Always do remember Buddha in happy or unhappy moments. In your suffering, do not think that Buddha has no blessing; instead, think it is all happening because of your past karma.
- Always do remember three triple gems’ qualities and take refuge to them. Our desire is to emulate the Buddha, inculcate the teachings, and to be devoted to the Sangha.
Second advice particular has also three sub categories:
- Having taken refuge under Buddha, do not seek refuge to worldly gods as this shows lack of trust and will cause future confusion and sorrows.
- Having taken refuge under Dharma, avoid thought, word, and deed that harm other sentient being as the body, speech and mind are the gates to ourselves. Essence of practicing dharma is to benefit other beings.
- Having taken refuge under Sangha, avoid going with bad companions, who will lead you to wrong view.
Third advice on Similar has three sub categories:
- Respect all the Buddha images and make offerings.
- Respect His teachings found in book, sadhana, or text. Always put them in high places. Lama Choyeng taught us that we should never jump over the text or the mala. Respect all materials connected to Buddha teachings.
- Respect your spiritual master. This includes the color of his cloth, which always refers to red and yellow.
What are the eight beneficial if one applies the proper way to take refuge? Taking a refuge is opening the door to enlightenment. Very important is acceptance and three trusts, which were already taught in the last discussion.
Eight beneficials are:
- One is enrolled in Buddhism.
- All the taken vows will be intact.
- Past accumulated sins will exhaust.
- One will be free from obstacle caused by bad spirits in Tibetan Mimayin, (non human).
- One’s wish will be granted.
- One will not be born in lower realms.
- One can attain enlightenment quickly.
Taking refuge is the first step. It signifies our faith and deep trust in the Buddha, the teachings or path, and the teacher we have chosen. The attitude of a practitioner must be that we are so confident in the Buddha, Dharma, and the Sangha that we are willing to spend time, effort, and money to learn and attain this path.
We are confident who the Buddha is and that following his teachings will lead us to enlightenment.
We are confident that His teachings are the universal law that will lead us to a better life that will eventually lead us to enlightenment.
We are confident in our teachers with their unbroken lineage. We know that under their expertise, if we practice what will be taught with faith, pure motivation, discipline, sincerity, devotion, and perseverance, our practice will reap untold benefits, which will fortify our faith further, which will fortify our good motivation or goodwill. This will enthuse us to put in more effort, which will bring even more benefits which will eventually brings us to more realizations. If this is sustained, then enlightenment will be in sight.
This is my dream for all sentient beings and us.
Pema Techog Teaching on April 17, 2010 Friday 7:00 P.M at Nedo Bodhi Center.
