The idea behind taking refuge means when it starts to rain, we like to find a shelter. The Buddhist shelter from the rain of problems and pain is threefold: the Buddha, his teachings (dharma), and the spiritual community (Sangha). Taking refuge means that we have some understanding about suffering, and we have confidence that the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (Three Jewels) can help us. We should not take refuge in spirituality or Buddhism to avoid issues in life.
The analogy of sickness is often used as Buddha is the doctor; Dharma is the medicine; Sangha is the nurse, and we are the patient; the cure is taking the medicine, which means practicing the methods. Taking refuge is like unpacking the medicine and deciding to follow the doctor’s advice.
Kind Heart Sangha
Buddha means enlightened, awakened or omniscient One. A Buddha is a person who has purified suffering and developed kindness and good qualities. A Buddha started as an ordinary person and generated infinite compassion and equanimity to arrive at a state of highest bliss, and omniscience. As the Buddha himself said: “I cannot do but point the way.” If we don’t take the medicine, the doctor is helpless, but what better doctor could we have than an omniscient one?
Dharma (Sanskrit) or Dhamma (Pali) means doctrine, law, or truth. The word Dharma has many connotations, but in the Buddhist sense, it refers to “what holds back the mind from suffering,” or the Buddha’s teachings. In this sense, the Dharma is the ultimate medicine against all suffering.
The Sangha refers to the spiritual community and spiritual friends who can help you stay on the right path and share experiences.
