Tisarana (3 Refuges)

The Tisarana (Three Refuges or Triple Gem) are the base on which the teachings of Buddha and the whole Buddhist community are built. These are the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, or the Awakened One, his teachings, and his community of monks and enlightened disciples.

The Tisarana is sung at every morning chant and all other religious ceremonies.


The Tisarana in Theravadan Buddhism

In Theravadan Buddhism, the Tisarana is very simple:

Buddham saranam gacchami (I go to the Buddha for refuge)
Dhammam saranam gacchami (I go to the Dhamma for refuge)
Sangham saranam gacchami (I go to the Sangha for refuge)

The Three Refuges in Tibetan Buddhism

At the Meditation Center where I currently practice, the Three Refuges are more complicated, adding a call for personal enlightenment. This version is normally used in Tibetan Buddhism:

I take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
Until I attain enlightenment.
By the merit I have accumulated from practising generosity and the other perfections.
May I attain enlightenment, for the benefit of all migrators.

I must confess that I am personally a little bit at unease with this version, mixing the whole of Buddhism with private and personal achievements (or the wish for these).

Ajahn Sumedho about the Three Refuges

According to Ajahn Sumedho, the Buddha is called upon as personification of wisdom, a focus for people to concentrate on as an un-personified and bodiless wisdom might be too abstract to conceive of.

On the second refuge, the Buddhist teachings, Ajahn Sumedho has taught that this is not meant to be taking refuge in philosophy, concepts, doctrines or beliefs, nor is it taking refuge in a belief in Dhamma, a god, or some kind of cosmic force. Ajahn Sumedho directs us to see Dhamma as something to keep us in the present moment, unbounded by ideas of time.

Ajahn Sumedho has described the third refuge of the Sangha succinctly as well: he states that it may be understood as the Bhikkhu-Sangha (the order of monks), or as the Ariya-Sangha (those noble ones who live virtuously, free from any thought, word, or action that could be seen as evil. He states that taking refuge in the Sangha by chanting “Sangham saranam gacchami” means that we take refuge in virtue, in goodness, kindness, and compassion.

More on Ajahn Sumedho and the Three Refuges here at Forest Wisdom.