Explore/Chapter 2 - Confession of Negativity: Difference between revisions
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Refuge is the key orientation for Buddhists which is essential in considering ourselves to be Buddhist. We place our trust in the Three Jewels and commit to relying on them whatever is happening in our lives. It is not just a request seeking help when times are hard, but an understanding of the qualities of the Three Jewels, and particularly the Dharma Jewel, which is said to be the real refuge. | Refuge is the key orientation for Buddhists which is essential in considering ourselves to be Buddhist. We place our trust in the Three Jewels and commit to relying on them whatever is happening in our lives. It is not just a request seeking help when times are hard, but an understanding of the qualities of the Three Jewels, and particularly the Dharma Jewel, which is said to be the real refuge. | ||
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Refuge is a shared practice across all the Buddhist traditions. Because Śāntideva is introducing us to the conduct of the bodhisattvas then here the refuge is specifically Mahāyāna refuge. We go for refuge for the purpose of attaining the unsurpassed fully-enlightened state for the welfare of all sentient beings. We carry this refuge with us until we reach the ultimate state of buddhahood, where we will then be able to spontaneously and most effectively work for their benefit. Khenpo Kunpal [LINK to text] reminds us of the general way in which we take refuge: | |||
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|quote-text=In accordance with the formula "The Buddha is the teacher unsurpassed; the sacred Dharma is the guardian unsurpassed, the Sangha is the leader unsurpassed," the actual protector or refuge for beginners is in fact the Dharma. The Buddha said, "I have taught you the methods that lead to liberation. Practice with diligence; your liberation depends on you."<ref>Helena Blankleder and Wulstan Fletcher (Padmakara Translation Group), trans., ''The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech: A Detailed Commentary on Shantideva's Way of the Bodhisattva'' (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2007), 90.</ref> | |||
Refuge is a shared practice across all the Buddhist traditions. Because | }} | ||
Khenpo Kunpal [LINK to text] reminds us of the general way in which we take refuge: | The Buddha is telling us that for beginners the main refuge is the teachings and realizations. But he also makes sure to point out that although he has revealed the way, walking the path must be done by ourselves. Thus, taking refuge is not giving up responsibility to another higher power who will pull us along the path but is a process of relying on someone with deep experience and knowledge and then integrating their advice and teachings into our own lives. | ||
In accordance with the formula | |||
The Buddha is telling us that for beginners the main refuge is the teachings and realizations. But he also makes sure to point out that although he has revealed the way, walking the path must be done by ourselves. Thus, taking refuge is not giving up responsibility to another higher power who will pull us along the path | |||
As the famous lines from Sutra [NEED to identify] say: | As the famous lines from Sutra [NEED to identify] say: | ||
The Sage does not wash sins away with water, | {{QuoteCite | ||
|quote-text=The Sage does not wash sins away with water, | |||
Nor wipe away the pain of beings with his hands. | |||
His realization he does not transfer to others, | |||
He frees by showing them the peace of ultimate reality. | |||
}} | |||
There are two main causes of refuge. One is the fear of the suffering which is an inevitable consequence of the negative actions we have done. The other cause is to understand that the Three Jewels have the power to protect us from those sufferings. | There are two main causes of refuge. One is the fear of the suffering which is an inevitable consequence of the negative actions we have done. The other cause is to understand that the Three Jewels have the power to protect us from those sufferings. | ||
