In our tradition, the purpose of taking refuge is to make a commitment and affirmation of our desire to awaken from confusion, and to continuously associate ourselves with wakefulness.

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche taught that taking refuge is a commitment to freedom. He pointed out that once we take this step, there is no longer the entertainment of indulging in so-called “seeking” here-and-there. We take a definite vow to enter a discipline of groundlessness or Emptiness — which saves us a lot of money, a lot of energy, and a tremendous amount of superfluous thinking.

By taking refuge, in some sense we become homeless refugees – choosing to mindfully detach ourselves from the material world. Taking refuge does not represent feeling helpless or handing all our problems over to somebody or something else. This is the point of great departure from theistic spirituality. In the Dharma of Compassion, we do not concern ourselves with mythical cosmic beings, such as creator-gods, saviour-gods or such superstitious and primitive notions. We recognise that our imaginary “foundations” in this world are illusory, and that there is no solid “ground” on which to stand, since all phenomena are impermanent.

Thus taking refuge is an affirmation that there is no need for a home or ground… it is an expression of freedom and a celebration of our decision to follow the groundless path… the feral path.

The refuge ceremony represents a final decision. Acknowledging that the only real working basis is oneself and that there is no way around that, one takes refuge in the Buddha as an example, in the dharma as the path, and in the sangha as companionship. Nevertheless, it is a total commitment to oneself.

To take refuge, which can be done privately or in community, one simply affirms with pure intention:

“I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the dharma.
I take refuge in the sangha”

These three items are referred to as the Three Jewels. The Three Jewels, also called the Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem, are the three things that Buddhists look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.

The Three Jewels are:

The Buddha (The Enlightened or Awakened One) who, depending on one’s interpretation, can mean the Historical Buddha, Sakyamuni, or the Buddha nature within all beings.

The Dharma (The Teaching), which is the Teachings of the Buddha, and his descendents.

The Sangha (The Community or Order), which is the Community of those who have attained Enlightenment, as well as the monastic order, working toward Enlightenment. The word Sangha also refers to all Buddhist as a universal collective.