Learn Buddhism: Taking The Triple Gem Refuge

When you are ready to become a Buddhist, you "officially" become one by taking the Triple Gem Refuge. But what does this mean and why is it important? Can you take the Triple Gem Refuge from home? What's the purpose of becoming a Buddhist? I'll talk about these topics and more in this episode!

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Learn Buddhism.

I'm Alan Pitou.

So you want to become a Buddhist.

If you've been learning about Buddhism,

Practicing Buddhism,

Maybe going to temple,

There's going to be a point where the Buddhist path is resonating with you.

You want to take that next step from just learning and practicing and actually say and become a Buddhist.

But what does that actually mean and how do you go about doing that?

That's what we're going to talk about in this episode today.

I'd like to start off by saying it's okay to just keep learning about Buddhism and practicing Buddhism.

All that's okay.

We sometimes call that an observer of Buddhism and you will have people who are in Buddhist countries who are in that particular state as well.

They may be young,

Maybe they're just learning about Buddhism and so they have not actually take what we call the triple gem refuge.

So it's perfectly okay at this point to continue learning and continue practicing Buddhism.

What you're trying to do is see if this is a good fit for you.

You want to see if there's something that resonates with you where you want to actually be part of this religion.

And when that point comes,

You typically in most of the Buddhist traditions take this triple gem refuge.

The triple gem refuge is taking,

As it sounds,

Refuge,

Faith,

In the Buddha as our teacher,

The Dharma as his teachings,

And the Sangha as his monastic community.

These three things are jewels or gems.

They are precious because they are helping us on that path towards enlightenment so we can reach this state of Nirvana.

And that's something we just typically can't do on our own.

We need help there.

And so just like it sounds,

These gems or jewels,

They are the most precious thing we have in the religion because they are key to helping us on this path to calming our mind,

To taming our mind,

To gaining wisdom,

To transforming our morality and conduct,

To deepening our concentration.

We need this support system.

And that's why you hear Buddhists again call it a triple gem or the three jewels.

It's that important to us and it's foundational for Buddhists.

So when one wants to become a Buddhist,

It's because it's almost like they have a fire inside them.

There's something that is inside them that goes,

I want to be on this path.

There's something that's resonating for you.

And typically for Buddhists,

Not always,

But typically,

It's going to be this cycle of rebirth.

And I've talked about this several times.

Our karmic actions that are keeping us trapped in this cycle of rebirth.

And for the vast majority of Buddhists,

They are looking towards these future rebirths where their karma and these new existences are arising.

And so what they want to do,

Especially in this life,

Is to the best of their ability,

Be on this Buddhist path.

They want to reinforce and practice what's called the threefold training.

That wisdom,

Morality,

Conduct,

And concentration,

Meditative concentration.

They want to deepen these because they're trying to transform their karma from unwholesome to wholesome.

They're trying to be skillful in what they do because that is important to ensuring one remains inside either the human realm or the heavenly realm in these realms of rebirth,

Which are more conducive on the Buddhist path.

We don't want to descend to these lower realms.

And for those of you who don't quite yet believe in rebirth or anything like that,

It's a major part of religion,

But that's okay.

You don't have to fully understand and comprehend this,

But it is often a driving force for Buddhists because it's what the Buddha taught.

And he explains this existence in samsara,

This continuing rebirth,

If you will,

Constantly re-becoming in the cycle of rebirth,

The impermanence of each existence.

That is dukkha.

That is unsatisfactoriness and suffering.

And we're just constantly in it.

So we want to end that condition.

We want to stop this unwholesome karmic actions that are trapping us.

So I bring that up because you're going to have particular reasons you want to become a Buddhist.

And that's good.

And so the more you understand,

The more you gain this wisdom and you transform your morality and conduct and deepen your concentration,

This is key elements.

Whether you fully understand or not,

Certain concepts and teachings is why you want to become a Buddhist.

You're going to have something that just speaks to you.

But again,

For most Buddhists out there,

It's really the cycle of rebirth because they see the impermanence of each existence and the unsatisfactoriness of it.

And right now,

In our current existence,

In this current form right now,

We are impermanent.

This existence is impermanent.

It's unsatisfactory.

It's dukkha.

It's part of samsara.

So for a Buddhist,

There's gonna be something where you're going,

I have to take this next step.

I need to take this more seriously,

If you will.

And that's where you see them often taking that next step from maybe an observer of Buddhism where you're practicing,

Learning to going,

I want to be more involved.

I want to be part of this religion.

I want to be a Buddhist.

Now,

You of course have people who are in maybe predominantly Buddhist countries,

For example.

This is almost sort of like a rite of passage or this is what expected,

Of course.

And so they will take the triple gem as well.

So all of this is good.

Whether you're not even 100% sure of all these different things as I mentioned,

All these different teachings,

That's okay.

Because all of these Buddhist concepts and teachings can be very challenging to understand.

So it doesn't have to be something concrete where you got to go,

I'm gonna wait 30 years and just continuously study until I understand these concepts.

Then I become a Buddhist.

No,

You don't have to do that.

And I'm not trying to say that.

There's just gonna be something that's gonna speak to you.

So when that happens,

You're going,

You know what?

I want to be a Buddhist.

I want to be part of this religion.

And I want to be more involved.

And that's where the triple gem comes in.

So as I mentioned,

We have the Buddha,

The Dharma,

And the Sangha.

This is what we are taking refuge in.

Almost like if you are in this desert and there's nothing around except for sand.

No water,

No trees,

Nothing.

The sun's blaring down on you.

And you see this oasis in front of you.

That's the triple gem.

So this desert we're in,

That's samsara.

We are in this constantly unsatisfactory existence.

And we see this oasis,

If you will,

This triple gem.

And that is what's going to help us,

Refresh us,

And help us on the path.

Because otherwise we're just gonna be wandering.

We're gonna be lost.

We're not gonna be sure how to get out of this desert.

So that oasis,

If you will,

The triple gem is there for you.

So when we are taking refuge in a triple gem,

You can do it one of two ways.

Now we could do it just from home.

And you may not have a Buddhist temple around you and you're like,

You know,

I want to become a Buddhist.

You absolutely can.

I'm going to show you how to do that inside this episode.

As a reminder,

I also have two videos about the triple gem up on my YouTube where you could learn more about this and actually take the triple gem with a Buddhist monk in one of the videos.

But if you have a Buddhist temple nearby,

The more traditional and common way to do this is at a ceremony at a Buddhist temple.

It may be very elaborate and a whole ceremony to itself,

Or it could be very informal.

So there's different ways based upon the different traditions out there.

So when you go to one at a temple,

You are obviously doing it with a lot of other people,

Typically,

For a big ceremony,

Or it might be just yourself with a monastic.

So on the big ceremonies or ones for other people,

This is actually a nice way to do it because you are taking refuge in the Buddha,

The Dharma,

And the Sangha.

So when you're with the Sangha inside this temple and you're around other lay practitioners,

And most importantly when you're around other people taking the triple gem,

You are actually doing this almost like a public declaration,

If you will,

But it's inside a Buddhist temple,

Where you're saying,

I want to be a Buddhist.

And there is a very powerful aspect about that because you are now saying not just to yourself but to others,

Yes,

This is what I want to do.

And you have the added benefit of other people you are taking a triple gem with,

Often becoming lifelong what we call Dharma friends,

So other people on the journey with you.

So it's a great way to build relationships and be part of the community.

But if you don't have a Buddhist temple nearby,

That's perfectly okay.

If you do,

You can reach out to them and see what it takes to become a Buddhist,

If they have a ceremony.

And often they will probably give you some instruction,

Whether that might be very formal such as classes or a class beforehand,

Or it may be very informal where it says you go there and the monastic will help you take the triple gem.

So again,

Different ways of doing it based upon all the different traditions out there.

Now if you're at home and you're ready to take the triple gem,

As I mentioned I got a video that will show you how to do this and you can actually do one with a Buddhist monk in one of the videos.

But let's say right now you're like,

I'm ready to become a Buddhist.

So it's very easy.

It's nothing very complicated.

Again,

You are doing this because you are ready to become a Buddhist.

You don't have to do this if you are still learning and still unsure to a large degree.

But if you're ready to do this,

You absolutely can.

So it's as simple as saying,

I take refuge in the Buddha.

I take refuge in the Dharma.

And I take refuge in the Sangha.

And as you do this,

You can have your hands clasped into the praying position and you can of course also bow.

It's very traditional to also do this three times.

So you'll be repeating,

I take refuge in a Buddha,

I take refuge in a Dharma,

And I take refuge in a Sangha three times in total.

So different ways that you can do it,

But that's a very simple and easy way to take the triple gem.

And after you do that,

You are again,

Quote-unquote,

An official Buddhist.

It's all about you being ready to become a Buddhist and to make that declaration when you do that triple gem.

Because that's when,

Whether you are in public or even at home,

You are saying that out loud and really to yourself,

I'm ready to walk on this path.

You're telling yourself that.

And when you do that,

Your mind is going,

Okay,

We're going to be on this path.

And that begins your journey officially.

So you might be reading books already,

Watching videos,

Listening to podcasts like this one or other ones,

And you're like,

I just want to take the next step.

This is where your practice becomes less being just curiosity and reading books as being curiosity too.

I want to practice because there's a goal I want to achieve here.

And often that is to change your karmic actions from unwholesome to wholesome.

That's a very important thing.

And for a lot of Buddhists,

As I mentioned in other episodes,

Largely what we're trying to do on that threefold training that's key to many,

Many of the Buddhist traditions is to really transform our morality and conduct because that's very closely interlinked with karmic actions and karmic thoughts.

So when we are doing that,

This is where you see a lot of Buddhists are focusing on it.

They're working on generosity,

Loving-kindness,

Compassion.

They're doing things that's making sure they are able to transform that karma to make sure the path that they are on is conducive to reaching enlightenment and nirvana.

Now this shouldn't be something where you're very concerned about going,

Wow,

It sounds like I need to be spending a lot of my time after work or school devoted to Buddhism or I need to totally uproot my life.

No.

So as a Buddhist,

You are trying your best and this often through a daily Buddhist practice and going to temple.

And if you can't go to temple,

There's of course many online ceremonies and sessions nowadays,

But you're doing things because you're trying to better yourself and you're bettering yourself not to just be successful or happy or something like that,

But because you're trying to again transform that karma because karma is not what we may think of in our Western world.

Well that's a good thing.

I want to have good karma,

Right?

Well we want to have what's called wholesome karma in Buddhism and what that means is it's conducive to the path towards enlightenment because ultimately for a Buddhist is to eliminate all karma.

We don't want to have any karma that's keeping us trapped in this cycle of rebirth.

When we look at Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for example,

They are creating karma that's called karma without outflows.

Basically the karma they're generating doesn't trap them or force them to be in the cycle of rebirth.

They've broken those chains basically.

We call those fetters inside Buddhism.

So basically they are liberated.

They're free.

The karma they're creating doesn't have essentially unwholesome qualities.

It's without any conditions,

Without any chains if you will.

That's where we want to get to.

So for you and me as laypersons,

This is a long long journey.

You know we have everyday lives and relationships and thoughts and everything else going on.

So we have a lot of things that we may consider hindrances to us on the path.

But when we become Buddhists and we're doing a daily Buddhist practice,

Going to temple when we can,

Going to classes,

We are slowly transforming ourselves.

You can think of it if you want an analogy or visual representation.

Just imagine you got a glass that's just full of salt.

You can't drink that.

That's like unwholesome karma inside or that salt.

It's too salty.

But if you dump that glass let's say into a big bucket,

Well you just really place that same amount of salty water inside that same bucket right?

But if you keep putting fresh water inside that bucket very consistently but maybe very slowly,

You're eventually going to change not the salt being removed from it but the ability to probably even drink that water.

Because now the salt is going to be so diluted inside all this fresh water inside this big bucket that you can't even taste the salt.

That's what we're trying to do.

We can't get rid of these past karmic seeds if you will that are planted inside us.

But we can have the power to shape our future karmic actions and that's where Buddhism is taking us.

That's where the Buddha has taken us.

That's where other Buddhas are taking us and other Bodhisattvas.

They are helping us on that path.

So that's why we see on the triple gem we have the Buddha as the teacher.

This basically the one with the flashlight leading us down this path,

Leading us out of this dark room if you will.

And we have his teachings,

The Dharma,

Which could be maybe that flashlight if you will.

And then you have the Sangha,

The monastic community,

Who are other people helping us.

You can maybe relate to them as maybe firefighters or somebody else helping us out of this maybe smoke-filled house.

So when we're looking at this triple gem,

You know what?

We're laypersons.

It's okay to struggle on some of this.

But that's why we have this really three-legged stool to help us,

To protect us,

And to guide us on this path.

And so when one takes refuge in a triple gem,

It's usually a very joyful experience,

A very happy experience because you're like,

Yes,

I believe in the Buddha and the Dharma and the Sangha.

I've maybe had some classes or I started learning about it.

I feel good about it.

You know,

I may not understand all these very abstract and technical and unusual to me concepts and teachings,

But I can feel that this is right.

I have faith in the triple gem that this is right and they are gonna lead us out of this room.

Because maybe we've never been in a smoke-filled room before,

But these firefighters have,

The fire chief has,

And the flashlights and infrared they have,

And everything else is gonna help us get out of there.

We have to trust in them.

So that's where we put our faith inside a triple gem.

It's not a faith that's unfounded or that we can't prove,

But there's things that when we're just starting,

And even those who've been in Buddhism for many,

Many years,

These are very hard concepts.

So we need that support.

So taking refuge in a triple gem should be something that is going to be joyful for you.

It's gonna be a happy experience for you because this is almost like a relief.

As I mentioned,

That oasis in the desert.

So taking refuge in a triple gem,

Very easy to do.

I take refuge in a Buddha,

I take refuge in a Dharma,

And I take refuge in a Sangha.

And again,

Based upon the different traditions,

You may be doing this in a different language.

For example,

When I took it,

It was in Chinese for my temple.

So there's different languages that you'll take it in.

Often there'll be support for you and translations and so you understand it.

But again,

If you don't have a temple nearby,

You can easily just become a Buddhist from home.

It's that commitment and that faith inside you which is the most important thing in my opinion.

It's not so much if you've done it inside a temple or not.

It's about that you're ready to become a Buddhist.

And when you're ready to pick a tradition and you maybe found a temple,

That's a perfect time to become a Buddhist when you're ready because now you have a teacher and specifically Sangha,

A monastic community,

That's going to guide you.

And you have the lay community there with you as well.

So you're just not by yourself anymore.

And as I mentioned a couple of times,

If you don't have a temple nearby,

That's okay.

You can of course do a lot of these things online including supporting these temples and monastics.

A lot of the temples,

They have usually ways you can donate virtually,

Electronically nowadays.

So it's not where you have to go to a temple and actually put paper money in a collection receptacle at a temple.

You can do this electronically very easily nowadays.

So you can do that charity and support and generosity for monastics right from home as well,

Even if that temple is not nearby you.

It's about this process for us and the Triple Gem is a beautiful way to do it.

And I look forward to hearing if you've actually taken a Triple Gem and what that experience was for you.

Again,

There's so many different traditions out there and it's beautiful all the different ways these traditions support becoming a Buddhist.

That you're gonna find one with your temple or your group that's going to be something that you're gonna remember probably for the rest of your life.

Because it's going to be that transformative event and experience for you that started you officially on that path with other people.

I hope you enjoyed this episode and I hope that you found it to be the right time to become a Buddhist and you're gonna take the Triple Gem.

And again I'd like to hear from you if you've actually done that.

I look forward to talking with you in our next episode.

Thank you.

Reviews

Thanks for the explanations. Very helpful. I am 2.5 hrs from nearest temple and this has bothered me and left me with questions.