THE MEANING OF THE THREE REFUGES
IN JODO SHINSHU BUDDHISM
Question:
“What is the meaning of the Three Refuges in Jodo Shinshu?
Answer:
The Three Refuges are:
I TAKE REFUGE IN THE BUDDHA
Buddham saranam gacchami
I TAKE REFUGE IN THE DHARMA
Dhammam saranam gacchami
I TAKE REFUGE IN THE SANGHA
Sangham saranam gacchami
The first line means to take refuge
first and foremost in Amida Buddha who is the central Buddha in
Jodo Shinshu. Only through him we attain Buddhahood in the Pure Land as
he is the only Buddha among all Buddhas who made the Vow of saving
everybody, no matter their spiritual capacities. We also honor and take
refuge in Shakyamuni Buddha as the Teacher who showed us the path of
Amida Dharma, his main reason for coming to this world.
At our dojo we recite the traditional "Vandana": NAMO TASSA BHAGAVATO
ARAHATO SAMMA SAMBUDDHASA (Homage to him, the Blessed One, the fully
Enlightened One) before reciting the Three Refuges. This is addressed
to Shakyamuni Buddha in his position as a messenger and Teacher of
Amida Dharma.
The second line means to take refuge
in the Dharma about Amida that was preached by Shakyamuni Buddha
and further explained by the Masters of our tradition, especially
Shinran Shonin and Rennyo Shonin. It is the Dharma contained in the
sacred texts of our tradition, the sutras and commentaries, not the
books of so-and-so scholar or priest.
By taking refuge in the true Dharma, which is, I repeat, is the
teaching contained in the sutras and commentaries of the Masters, we
indirectly reject false views or opinions that contradict these sacred
texts. We reject such false views held today by many, like the denial
of rebirth, of cause and effect, or those regarding Amida as being a
symbol, metaphor, fictional character, those who misinterpret the Pure
Land as being here and now and not a real place or manifestation of
Amida, etc.
Taking refuge in the Dharma means that we make the vow of putting the
Dharma higher than our own unenlightened opinions and ideas. We receive
and transmit to others only the teaching left to us by Shakyamuni and
the Masters of our tradition.
While we respect all Buddhist methods as coming from Shakyamuni, we
follow only the teaching about Amida Buddha and only in Him do we take
refuge.
The third line means that we take
refuge in those (lay and priests) who have received SHINJIN in
the present life and whose future birth in the Pure Land is thus
assured. By taking refuge in them we wish to be like them, we consider
them to be our fellow travelers on the path, our brothers and sisters
in the Amida Dharma. Those who don’t have SHINJIN yet should look for
the company of those who are firm in shinjin, listen to their
explanations and wish to become persons of settled faith themselves.
We do not take refuge in those who share false views or views that are
not in accordance with the words and instructions of the sutras and
commentaries of the Masters. The true Jodo Shinshu sangha (community)
is composed only of those who fully accept the teaching found in the
sutras and commentaries of the Masters and who receive SHINJIN. In such
a sangha we take refuge. Such a sangha we venerate as part of the Three
Treasures.
The sangha is the place where the true Dharma is shared and transmitted
so that we can receive SHINJIN and become Buddhas in the Pure Land.
Only in sharing and transmitting the true Dharma does the sangha have
meaning. Without taking refuge in the living Amida Buddha and accepting
the Dharma about Him as it was taught by Shakyamuni and the Masters,
there is no sangha.
Question:
How should we look to other Buddhists that are not Jodo Shinshu
followers?
Answer:
They are disciples of Shakyamuni Buddha, too, just they follow other
Buddhist methods than us. In accordance with Master Rennyo’s
instruction found in his letters, we should not despise those who
practice other Buddhist teachings than the Nembutsu of faith in Amida
Buddha. “Respect but not follow”, is the rule for treating other
Buddhist schools and their disciples. After all, Buddhists of all
schools are brothers and sisters in the Buddha Dharma and disciples of
Shakyamuni. They are part of the general Buddhist sangha, so to
speak, containing all Buddhists, but we specifically take refuge in the
sangha of those who have faith in Amida Buddha.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Rev. Josho Adrian Cirlea
BACK