Tag Archive for: Refuge

Definition of the Week (39) – Refuge (b)

☞ Gyaltsab Je:
Going for refuge to the other two Rare and Sublime Ones come naturally due to clear faith in the dharmakaya of the Buddha.

Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsan:
☞ The definition of the Buddha Jewel is:
An ultimate refuge possessing the eight qualities of non-compoundedness and so forth.

☞ Definition Key

  1. Non-compoundedness – It is free in the beginning of inherent generation, in the middle of inherent abiding and in the end of inherent cessation. This is the natural purify of the svabhavakaya.
  2. Spontaneous beneficial actions – Having pacified even the subtle effort of uncontaminated motivational action, through the abandonment of the most subtle obscurations to knowledge. Because spontaneous enlightened action for others arises from the purity that is the abandonment of the obscurations to knowledge, this point refers to the adventitious purity of the svabhavakaya.
  3. Not being understandable through others – It cannot be realized by thought or conveyed with words the way it is realized directly. (It cannot be realized through the condition of others, but only by one’s own efforts.) (The wisdom truth body understands the truth that is the svabhavakaya, by itself, and not through the condition of words or conceptual input of others.)
  4. Knowledge – Understanding both the world of suchness and the world of multiplicity. Understanding emptiness non-dually, and simultaneously comprehending the complete world of conventional multiplicity.
  5. Love – Showing sentient beings, who do not understand suchness and the world of multiplicity, the pure and unmistaken path leading to the irreversible state of omniscience.
  6. Ability – Being able to cut with the sword of knowledge and love the sprout of suffering that is the dependent link of name and form. Being able to destroy with the vajra of knowledge and love the wall of views protecting afflicted doubt.
  7. Purpose of self.
  8. Purpose of others.

The first three qualities are contained in the purpose of self, and the second three qualities are contained in the purpose for others.

Geshe Doga:
When reciting the word Buddha we meditate that in addition to Shakyamuni Buddha it includes one’s teachers, the deities, the eight Medicine Buddhas, the Thirty-five Buddhas and so forth. That is something to contemplate without fail when going for refuge.

Definition of the Week (38) – Refuge (a)

According to Lama Tsong Khapa, irreversible complete refuge in the Buddha Jewel, Dharma Jewel and Sangha Jewel is the basis for generating the path.

Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen:
The nature or way of refuge: In dependence on these two cause for refuge, the mind being transformed into complete trust, from the depth of the mind, that the Three Jewels will rescue one from all sufferings, and accepting this with a commitment.

The two causes for refuge:

  1. Being afraid of all sufferings.
  2. Knowing that the Three Rare and Sublime Ones have the ability to rescue one.
    These two are the perfect causes for refuge, because in dependence on them the mind of refuge will definitely be generated.

The are called the “Precious Rare and Sublime Ones” for six reasons:

  1. They are seldom present in the worlds.
  2. They are stainless.
  3. The possess the powers of clairvoyances and so forth.
  4. They are the sublime of all virtuous ornaments.
  5. They are the sublime of all qualities.
  6. They are not under the control of attachment or anger.

Shantideva:
Until attaining the essence of enlightenment [2.26]
I go for refuge to the buddhas;
Likewise, I go for refuge to the dharma
And to the assembly of bodhisattvas.

Gyalstab Dharma Rinchen:
The meaning of refuge is to mentally hold the object as the basis for liberation from dangers and suffering, and to express this verbally…
Here one goes for refuge from now until the attainment of the essence of highest enlightenment… Until that time one takes refuge in the buddhas and likewise in the Mahayana Dharma Jewel and into the assembly of bodhisattvas, the superior bodhisattvas.