Foundations of practice
Pāli: tisaraṇagamana · Sanskrit: triśaraṇagamana · Vietnamese: Quy y Tam Bảo
Taking refuge in the Three Jewels means voluntarily choosing Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as three supports on the path of study and practice. Refuge in Buddha means turning toward awakening and learning from the awakened one; refuge in Dharma means using the teachings and right practice to examine body and mind; refuge in Sangha means relying on a healthy community that preserves and lives the Dharma. Refuge is more than a ceremony and does not mean handing fate to an external power. It is a commitment to return to wisdom, ethics, and spiritual friendship when greed, hatred, and delusion pull at us. Beginners can study a clearly sourced discourse, keep one precept, practice mindfulness, and find a trustworthy community. A formal ceremony should be guided by a suitable teacher or monastery.
A guide by Inti Foundation · updated
Buddha is the awakened one and the ideal of awakening; Dharma is the teaching and path of practice; Sangha is the community preserving, studying, and living that path. The three support each other and are inseparable from ethical life.
A refuge aspiration is meaningful when it becomes concrete choices: stopping harm, verifying what you learn, cultivating mindfulness, and staying close to wise spiritual friends.
Before a formal ceremony, learn about the venue, the guide, the meaning of the Three Jewels, and any precepts you freely choose to receive. A healthy community explains clearly, does not pressure donations, does not demand separation from family, and respects questions. After the ceremony, refuge gains meaning through studying Dharma, keeping precepts, and changing daily conduct.
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No. Laypeople can take refuge and practice in family, professional, and community life.
Refuge establishes your source of support; study should include discernment about sources and context, with trustworthy guidance.
You can make the aspiration and practice at home; for a formal ceremony, seek guidance from a suitable teacher or monastery.
Understand Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; find a transparent guide and community; ask about the ceremony and freely chosen precepts; and prepare to practice in daily life after the ritual.
Sources for deeper reading
A translation in the Inti library, offering deeper reading on refuge and conduct.
