Overview
The Three Refuges (Tisaraṇa) constitute the foundational act of entering the Buddhist dispensation. Taking refuge is not merely a ritual; it is a profound cognitive shift where a person formally recognizes that the Buddha, his Teaching, and his Awakened Community are the only true sources of safety from the suffering of saṃsāra.
The List
- Buddhaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi - I go to the Buddha for refuge: Taking safe harbor in the Fully Awakened One, recognizing him as the supreme teacher and the discoverer of the path.
- Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi - I go to the Dhamma for refuge: Taking safe harbor in the Doctrine and the Path itself, recognizing it as the ultimate truth that liberates the mind.
- Saṅghaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi - I go to the Saṅgha for refuge: Taking safe harbor in the Community of Awakened Disciples, recognizing them as the living proof of the path and the supreme field of merit.
Textual References
- Canonical: Saraṇattaya (Khp 1) – The standard formula for taking refuge.
- Commentary: Paramatthajotikā I – Details the exact mechanics of what invalidates or breaks the taking of refuge.