1. Talking Refuge in the Triple Gems 归敬三宝 Outline Introduction Seeking Refuge Seeking Refuge...

Talking Refuge in the Triple Gems归敬三宝Outline

IntroductionSeeking RefugeSeeking Refuge in things of this world• Seeking Refuge in things beyond this world • Real Refuge: The 3 Treasure - Praise for the

3 Treasure Praise for the Virtues of the Buddha Praise for the Virtues of the Dharma Praise for the Virtues of the Saṅgha

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SEEKING REGUGE IN THINGS BEYOND THIS WORLD

3 Ghosts and spirits delight in violent murder,The desirous divine beings are addicted to various cravings,The Brahma dwells on arrogance;None of them are a place of refuge. Page 8

鬼神好凶殺，欲天耽诸欲，独梵依慢住，亦非归依处。

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Things beyond this world (cont.)

Even if one knows of the need to seek refuge, one may be misled by heterodox religions or deviant schools.False refuge:1.Ghosts & spirits 鬼神

• Heavenly gods 天神 , earthly deities 地只 & human ghosts 人 ( 死为 ) 鬼

• Wind gods, rain gods, mountain gods, water gods, local guardian gods of the earth etc.

• Forest/mountain goblins & all sorts of demons and monsters.

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In Buddhist sutraso Ghosts are called hungry ghostso Spirits governed by the gods of the 4 heavens

Yakṣas 夜叉 , rākṣasaḥ 罗刹 , nagas 龙 , mahoragas 摩睺羅迦 , garuḍa 迦樓羅(golden bird-like demons that eat dragons), the powerful ghost king etc.

Story: Inviting fox spirit by Master Da Yong as Dharma protector.

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2. Desirous divine beings 欲天 Deva (sanskrit)o 5 desires of matter - Enjoyment of material form,

sound, smell, touch; and sexual desireso In the 3 realms – 6 levels of Devas

1. Lowest - 4 heavenly king who governs 8 categories of ghosts & spirits 四大王众天

2. Above them –Trayastriṃśa Heaven 忉利天 ( 三十三天 )

3. Yama Heaven 夜摩天4. Tuṣita Heaven 兜率天 (king of Tuṣita, Sakra, similar as

Jade Emperor) – closest relationship with humankind5. Nirmanarati Heaven 化乐天6. Paranivmitavasavartin Heaven 他化自在天

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3. One & only one Brahmā 独梵• 1 st Dhyāna 禅

I. the heavens of Brahmā’s multitudes 初梵天II. Brahmā’s ministers 梵辅天III. Great Brahmā 大梵天

Brahmā means “clean” & “pure” = “holy”Brahmā has neither sexual desire nor worldly material

desire. He thought that he created the world.• Above Brahmā are the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Dhyāna & realm of

formlessness – humankind has little contact with them.• None of these beings can save themselves, therefore,

“neither are they the place of refuge”.19

Exceptional/ultimate – Real refugeThe Three Treasures

4 People seeking refuge everywhere,Seeking refuge in all the ten directions,Finally realize that the ultimate place of refugeIs to be found in the most auspicious Three Treasures.

归依处处求，求之遍十方，究竟归依处，三宝最吉祥！

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Praise for the Three Treasures Page 11

The Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha are rare, invaluable, and wonderful; thus they are called treasures.

• Taking refuge in them enables us to transform bad luck into good and disaster into peace, abandon evil for kindness, turn darkness into light, abandon suffering, and obtain happiness.

• 归衣三宝，使我们化凶为吉，化难为祥，理恶向善，转黑暗为光明，难苦痛得安乐。

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Praise for the Three Treasures (cont.)

• Conclusion derived from facts:• When Śākyamuni became a Buddha, the “creator”

god, Brahmā ( 梵天王 ), came down from heaven & requested the Buddha to expound the Dharma – Turning the Great Wheel of Dharma– Śakra 帝释 to reborn as a pig fetus

• Both the great god of polytheism and the “creator” god of monotheism have had to take refuge in the Buddha.

• “Seeking for refuge everywhere, seeking refuge in all the ten directions” was exactly Śakra’s experience.

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Praise for the Virtues of the Buddha

5 The true Dharma is the body of the Buddha,

His life is pure wisdom,Like the bright moon shining through the

autumn sky; Therefore, we should worship the

Honored One of Two Perfections.

正法以为身，净慧以为命，智月朗秋空，礼佛两足尊。

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Praise for the Virtues of the Buddha (cont.)

• Buddha (Skt.) the awakened one – what he realized with his purest wisdom is the purest Dharmadhātu (Dharmakāya).

• “Only after one has attained the perfect enlightenment of the true Dharma can one be called a buddha.”

• 正法以为身 : The Buddha, who has the true Dharma as his body (the Dharmakāya), is the one who concretely reveals the absolute truth.

• When the Dharmakāya 法身 and the vital wisdom 慧命 reach perfection, this accomplishment deserves the trust & respect of all sentient beings.

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Reverence to the Buddha: • Reverence is expressed in worship - 3 ways of

expressing. 1. Body 身– bowing and greetings 2. Verbal 口– praising the Buddha’s virtues3. Mental 意– trusting with respect

• In epithet: “Honored One of Two Perfections” : Good fortune & wisdom 两足尊是福德与智慧的圆满。– Bodhisattvas also have great good fortune & great wisdom.

• Perfection in Chinese can mean “foot” 足– Humans are 2-footed animals & the Buddha is the most

honored among humans 两足尊26

Show ourtotal respect


6. Buddhas of the three periods are innumerable, Buddhas of the ten directions are also countless,Having come to this impure world because of his

compassionate vow,Śākyamuni Buddha is deserving of our worship.

三世佛无量，十方佛亦尔。悲愿来浊世，礼佛释加文。

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Praise for the Virtues of the Buddha (cont.)• Innumerable buddhas in the 3 periods

1. Past – Kāśyapa Buddha, Kanakamuni Buddha, Śikhin Buddha & Vipaśyin Buddha

2. Present - Śākyamuni Buddha3. Future – Maitreya Buddha, Rucika Buddha and

others.

• Space – countless buddhas in the ten directions. Countless world in the 10 directionso At present in other world –

East - Akṣobhya Buddha, Medicine Buddha West – Amitābha

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• Buddhists who take refuge in the Three Treasures should do so with the buddhas of the 3 periods and ten directions.

• However Śākyamuni Buddha (historical Buddha) deserved our utmost trust & worship. HE was a bodhisattva who, with great compassion, made a great vow to alleviate suffering in this impure world ( 秽土 )sahā-lokadhātu 莎婆世界

“If I do not go into hell to save suffering beings, who will?”

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• Reason for Buddha to appear in this “evil world of the five impurities 五浊恶世 was to save us suffering sentient beings from abandonment.”

• Five impurities 五浊 /defilements:1. 劫浊 the kalpa in decay2. 见浊 deterioration of view, egoism, etc., arising;3. 烦恼浊 the passions & delusions of desire,

anger, stupidity, pride & doubt prevail;4. 众生浊 in consequence human miseries

increase & happiness decreases;5. 命浊 human life time gradually diminishes to

ten years30


7 His wisdom is perfect, his compassion infinite.Overcoming all obstructions, he is totally without

remnants of habit.These three virtues are equal and ultimate for all buddhas,But for the sake of skillful means, there are differences.

智圆悲无极，断障无余习，三德等究竟，方便示差别。

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Praise for the Virtues of the Buddha (cont.)• All ancient sages possess 3 virtues 一切诸佛三

德园满1. Wisdom 智德 – the Buddha with his “endless skills &

tactfulness, was able not only to liberate himself but also to save sentient beings.”

2. Grace 恩德 – showered great compassion to ALL sentient beings.

3. Breaking free of afflictions 断德 - the Tathāgata has no “residual habit”. ( 于习 or 习气 papañca)

• All buddhas are the same and are equal – the “differences” is only to suit diverse qualities of sentient beings by using skillful means (upāya).

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Praise for the Virtues of the Dharma (cont.)

• Analogy of a man fallen into a well wilderness – births & deaths withered vine – root of life rat gnawing the withered vine –

encroaching of impermanence's empty, dry well four poisonous snakes – 4 elements:

earth, water, fire & air honey – enjoyment of 5 desires 五欲 :

contented by small happiness (wealth, sex, fame, eating and sleeping. ) Heedless of bees stings.

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Powerful force of impermanence

May fall sick & die

Karmic forces

Ignorant of suffering


2nd parable illustrates the 3 Marks of Existence of the Dharma – Study and practice the Buddha’s teachings but fail to guard the 6 sense organs

• Empty village – 6 sense organs: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind = false believes of a permanent “I” – no self

• 6 sense organs contact 6 sense objects (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, ideals) = confused 6 consciousness - like robbers, rob people of merits & wealth of the Dharma.

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• Three seals (or marks) of the Dharma1. “All conditioned things are impermanent”

诸行无常2. “All dharmas have no self” 诸法无我3. “In Nirvāṇa is stillness and extinction”

涅槃寂静

All sages upon realizing impermanence & nonexistence of self recedes in Nirvāṇa

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9 The true Dharma is wonderful and inconceivable,It is excellent, pure, permanent, and joyful.If one follows the way of the ancient immortals,One can attain Nirvāṇa

正法妙难思，善净常安乐，依古仙人道，能入於涅槃

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• Three levels of realization1. Nirvāṇa with residue (sopadhiśeṣanirvāṇa)

有餘涅槃2. Nirvāṇa without residue (nirupadhiśeṣa-Nirvāṇa)

无餘涅槃3. Supreme Nirvāṇa (parinivāṇa) 大般涅槃Nirvāṇa is to realize – “Only the one who drinks the

water will know whether it is cold or warm”.The state that is attainable through wisdom is called the

true Dharma. Entering the true Dharma and attaining real liberation through wisdom is call Nirvāṇa. (page 18, last para.)

true Dharma = Nirvāṇa 38

Praise for the Virtues of the Saṅgha Page 1910 To bring together the Saṅgha, the Buddha relied

upon the Dharma,And harmony, joy, and purity were its foundation.With harmony in practical matters and harmony in

principles,The Saṅgha, most highly honored among assemblies,

compels our worship.依法以摄僧，和乐净为本，事和或理和，礼僧众中尊。 39

Praise for the Virtues of the Saṅgha (cont.)

• Saṅgha 僧伽 was formed when many people renounced. They were referred to as “a harmonized group” 和合众

• The Buddha relied on the Dharma to form the Saṅgha. 佛依法摄僧o Buddha utilized the Dharma to help sentient

beings break the bond to Saṃsāra 正发涅槃o Rules & regulations that accord with discipline of a

righteous life – Vinaya 侓法制度40


1) understanding the doctrines – refers to unified ways of thinking

2) Keeping precepts – observe the same rules3) Sharing of materials – economic equality in

daily life4) Abiding physically – peaceful communal

living5) In speech - without quarreling 6) Tranquil minds 41

Page19

Saṅgha has 3 fundamental characteristics 和乐净 of harmony, joy and purity. I.Harmony 和合– in both practical matters and in principles

Essence of Buddhist Saṅgha

Praise for the Virtues of the Saṅgha (cont.)II. Peaceful joy 安乐 - dwelling in a

harmonious organization, monks and nuns can find physical and mental peace & joy and can practice vigorously.

III. Purity 清净 - with harmony and joy they can encourage and keep each other alert. If offence is committed, they can quickly repent and restore purity so that the Saṅgha remains strong and sound.

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Saṅgha preach to benefit others and they are the collective force that mobilizes the Buddha Dharma. Disciples of the Buddha should take refuge in and respect the Saṅgha, one of the Three Treasures.


11 One should respect the members of the Saṅgha,And not scold them or judge them.For they follow the Buddha as practitioners,And maintain the true Dharma like a fortress.

敬僧莫呵僧，亦莫衡量僧，随佛修行者，住持正法城。

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How can lay devotees show respect & support Saṅgha ?

• Mentally respect with sincerity by verbal in term or praising or bodily by prostrations.

• Serve them according to their instruction.• Within your own means, provide the needs of

the Saṅgha.o Offering clothing, food, medicine, bedding and

other daily necessities.

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What if the bhikṣu broke the precepts?• Saṅgha may be superior/inferior, good/bad &

worldly/holy – they form a powerful force for maintaining the Tathāgata true Dharma so effectively that even demons and non-Buddhists cannot destroy it. Page 22, last para, ln5

• Respect all of them – be like the ocean that does not discriminate the things living in there.– Not all of them does the same job e.g. Some

prefer propagating the Dharma, others prefer just studying the Dharma, do social work, meditating etc. 45


• In this era, you may see bhikṣu breaking precepts, we should acknowledge that this is a “Saṅgha affair” and that will be handled according to the established rules and regulations.

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12 The real virtue of the Three Treasures, Is faultless and pure in nature.To transform the world, we should rely on both the

real and the worldly virtues.In this way, the Buddha Dharma can exist forever.

三宝真实德，无漏性清净。化世真亦俗，佛法得长存。

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Transference of Merits

May all the merits thus accumulated

Be dedicated to all sentient beings

May all sentient beings and I

Together attained Buddhahood.

1. Talking Refuge in the Triple Gems 归敬三宝 Outline Introduction Seeking Refuge Seeking Refuge...

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