8/12/2019 Thubten Chodron

1/2

GUIDELINES FOR THE PRACTICE OF TAKING REFUGE

Having taken refuge, a safe and sound direction, in the Three Jewels -Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha - it is advantageous to follow certainguidelines for practice in order to make progress along the path toenlightenment.

1. In analogy to taking refuge in the Buddha, commit yourselfwhole-heartedly to a qualified spiritual master.

2. In analogy to taking refuge in the Dharma, listen to and study theteachings as well as put them into practice in your daily life.

3.

In analogy to taking refuge in the Sangha, respect the Sangha asyour spiritual companions and follow the good examples they set.4. Avoid being rough and arrogant, running after any desirable

object you see and criticizing anything that meets with yourdisapproval.

5. Be friendly and kind to others and be concerned more withcorrecting your own faults than with pointing out those of others.

6. As much as possible avoid the ten non-virtuous actions, and takeand keep precepts.

7. Have a compassionate and sympathetic heart towards all othersentient beings.

8. Make special offerings to the Three Jewels on Buddhist festivaldays.

Guidelines in terms of each of the Three Jewels

1. Having taken refuge in the Buddha, who has purified alldefilements and develop all qualities, do not turn for refuge toworldly deities, who lack the capacity to guide you from allproblems.Respect all images of the Buddha: do not put them in low or dirtyplaces, step over them, point your feet towards them, sell them toearn a living or use them as collateral. When looking at variousimages, do not discriminate, "This Buddha is beautiful, but thisone is not." Do not treat with respect expensive and impressivestatues while neglecting those that are damaged or less costly.

2. Having taken refuge in the Dharma, avoid harming any livingbeing.

8/12/2019 Thubten Chodron

2/2

2

Also, respect the written words which describe the path toenlightenment by keeping the texts clean and in a high place.Avoid stepping over them, putting them on the floor, or throwingthem in the rubbish when they are old. It is best to burn or recycleold Dharma materials.

3. Having taken refuge in the Sangha, do not cultivate the friendshipof people who criticize the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha or whohave unruly behavior or do many harmful actions. By becomingfriendly with such people, you may be influenced in the wrongway by them. However, that does not mean you should criticizeor not have compassion for them.

Also, respect monks and nuns as they are people who are makingearnest efforts to actualize the teachings. Respecting them helpsyour mind, for you appreciate their qualities and are open to learnfrom their example. By respecting even the robes of ordainedbeings, you will be happy and inspired when seeing them.

Common guidelines

1. Mindful of the qualities, skills, and differences between the Three Jewels and other possible refuges, repeatedly take refuge in theBuddha, Dharma and Sangha.

2. Remembering their kindness, make offerings to them, especiallyoffering your food before eating. (See the prayers for this.)

3. Mindful of their compassion, encourage others to take refuge inthe Three Jewels.

4. Remembering the benefits of taking refuge, do so three times inthe morning and three times in the evening, by reciting andreflecting upon any of the refuge prayers.

5. Do all actions by entrusting yourself to the Three Jewels.

6. Do not forsake your refuge at the cost of your life, or even as a joke.