Buddhist Refuge
Taking refuge is something that all beings do. It is our search for happiness, security, for something we can rely on. For Buddhists, taking refuge is a constant practice, and is far more than a ceremony which takes place once. Rather, it is like a thread which weaves a line through our lives. Taking refuge is the gateway into the Buddhist practice. There are four levels of refuge: outer, inner, secret and absolute. These levels correspond to our more and more deepening understanding.
The outer level of refuge is taken by all Buddhist traditions. It is the refuge in Buddha, the Enlightened One, in the dharma, the Buddha's teachings, and in the sangha, the practitioners. They are called the three jewels, which means, that, since our wishes for happiness are granted, taking refuge in them is like finding a wish-fulfilling jewel.
The inner level of refuge is connected with the Diamond Way, the practice of the Vajrayana. It is the refuge in the "three roots," which are the lama, the yidams (buddha aspects), and the protectors. The lama is the root of blessing, the yidams are the roots of qualities and the protectors are the roots of activity.
With this we come to the secret meaning of refuge. Here we understand that the lama is the essence of the refuge. His mind is Buddha, his speech is dharma, and his body is sangha. That is why in the Diamond Way, the Guru-Yoga meditation on the lama is of such importance.
If we understand that we are not separate from the Buddha, from our teacher, this is the absolute meaning of refuge. By logical investigation we can see that nothing is truly existent whatsoever, not even our mind. But with investigation alone we will not be able to realize the true nature of mind. We need a direct and clear perception of our mind. Otherwise it is like describing the taste of a banana, but never eating one.
The absolute refuge is our mind itself. It is the only thing we can rely on. The mind is described as being empty, yet vivid.
Normally everybody is taking refuge in something. Some in a Mercedes, others in their families, in being rich, smart, young, etc. But if we look for something lasting, something beyond coming and going, then we can only trust our Buddha nature. Everything else in the world disappears. You may ask yourself, "Why are there so many levels of refuge? Why isn't just the absolute level explained?" The reason is that we cannot understand the absolute truth without having a strong basis. Therefore we undergo a step by step training in Buddhism. There are no doubts about reaching enlightenment if we practice
Read more about:
Buddha
Buddha's Teachings
Karma
Buddhist Refuge
Buddhist Meditation
Liberation and Enlightenment
Different Buddhist Schools
Diamond Way Sangha
