The Three Refuges.pdf

The Three Refuges

Based on the Work of

Venerable Master Chin Kung

Translated by

Silent Voices

Permission for reprinting is granted for non-profit use.

Printed 2001

PDF file created by

Amitabha Pureland

http://www.amtbweb.org

Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels

We are here today for the Initiation Ceremony of the Three Jewels,

which are the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. I would like

to clarify what taking refuge in the Three Jewels means since there

have been growing misunderstandings in recent times. These need

to be cleared up in order to receive the true benefits.

What is Buddhism? Is it a religion? Buddhism is not a religion

but rather the most profound and beneficial education based on

forty-nine years of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teachings for all sentient-

beings. In 1923, Mr. Oyang Jingwu spoke at the University of

Zhongshan. The title of his lecture was “Buddhism Is Neither a

Religion Nor a Philosophy. It Is a Modern-day Essential.” This

lecture was an insightful breakthrough that shook the contempo-

rary Chinese Buddhist world.

Since Buddhism is an education, we need to understand exactly

what its objectives, methods, and principles are. In the Prajna

Sutra , we read that its objective is the truth of the Dharma (the

causes that initiate all the phenomena of life and the universe).

Life refers to us while the universe refers to our living environment.

Therefore, the educational content of Buddhism guides us so that

we will clearly understand our living environment and ourselves.

Today, the formal educational system only partially explains the

phenomena of the universe and much of this remains to be proven.

We are still discussing and investigating this limited part, not yet

knowing enough to draw the correct conclusions. Unfortunately,

even religions cannot provide comprehensive and satisfactory

explanations of life as a whole, and are confined to a limited area

of the truth. Therefore, the profound and extensive educational

content of Buddhism is essential for every sentient being.

The boundary of our living space is not restricted to a city, a

region, or even just the planet earth. There are galaxies in outer

space, comprised of innumerable planets, on which exist advanced

life forms that are much more intelligent than human beings.

These galaxies are also our living environments. Additionally, apart

from the space dimension, there is also a time dimension, which

extends from the past through the present and into the future.

Thus, the environment in which we live consists of an infinite

magnitude of space and time.

Modern education does not normally include such an extensive

discussion of this infinite living space and time. Even the well-

respected Confucianism only involves a single lifetime, ranging

from birth to death and ultimately to the strong relationship that

links us to our ancestors. These teachings cover our existence from

the human realm to the heavenly realms, barely touching on the

heavenly beings or ghosts but instead focus on how to behave as

an honorable person.

In contrast, Buddha Shakyamuni clearly described the Four

Sage Realms of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Pratyekabuddhas, and

Sound-hearers and the Six Realms of Rebirth of heavenly beings,

asuras, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, and hells. [The beings in

these ten realms have different degrees of awakening; for example,

Buddhas have the most awakened minds while beings in the hell

realms have the most deluded]. We exist in these Ten Realms.

After we understand the truth of life and the universe, our

thoughts, speech, and behavior will naturally change. In the past,

our lack of understanding and delusion led to erroneous viewpoints,

words, and behavior, thereby creating negative karma. We learn

from the law of cause and effect that unavoidable consequences will

result from creating karma, as good results come from good karma

and bad results come from bad karma. We create our own destiny;

no one can step in to bear the consequences of our actions.

As we can see, thoroughly understanding the truth of life and

the universe will bring us infinite benefits. Once we understand

and deeply believe in the law of cause and effect, we will no longer

create any more negative karma and will not have to bear the

consequences or fruits and we will have transcended the Ten

Realms. From the aspect of causality, the Four Sage Realms are

the rewards for diligent cultivation and attainment, while the Six

Realms are the consequences of good or bad deeds. The Six

Realms can be further categorized into the Three Good Realms of

humans, asuras, and heavenly beings, and the Three Bad Realms

of hells, hungry ghosts, and animals.

After understanding karma and its consequences, we will refrain

from creating any more karma or at least not that which is

negative. By applying the above concepts to our daily lives, we will

attain what everyone wishes for: happy lives, joyful families,

successful careers, harmonious societies, prosperous nations, and

a peaceful world. Can we obtain achievement? Yes. However, only

the Buddha’s teachings completely provides the solution to

humanity’s search for true happiness. Clearly understanding this,

we realize that this teaching is essential for everyone. Since this

teaching encompasses infinite space and time, it surpasses

differences in nationality, ethnicity, political affiliation, and

religion. It is for all sentient beings in the Nine Realms below that

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