Taking Refuge 

Taking refuge based on faith and devotion

Taking refuge practice is the method for bringing  yourself and other sentient beings under the blessing of the precious jewels. This is the root of the path for followers of Yungdrung Bon. The bodhichitta practice –Enlightened Mind practice– and taking refuge is the foundation for Yungdrung Bon and Buddhist practice.

The objects of the refuge are the Lama Jewel, Buddha Jewel, Dharma Jewel, and Sangha Jewel. These are the four objects of refuge, called the four supreme refuges. We can also call them the Three Precious Jewels, if we don’t include the lama. 

In the Chak Tri text, there are no details on the meaning of each of the jewels. But it is very important to understand what each jewel means deeply. So while we won’t go into the details here, please study and reflect on each’s meaning from other sources. What does lama mean? How many kinds of lama are there? What is the definition of lama according to the Buddha’s teachings? What is a Buddha? How many Buddhas are there? How many kinds of Buddhas are there? How did Buddhas arise? Why are there Buddhas? What are the teachings of the Buddha – the dharma? What makes a teaching a dharma teaching? How many are there and where can they be found? What does sangha mean? What are the qualities of a sangha? What makes up a sangha? Why are these precious objects? We can explore and reflect in this way so that we have a better understanding of what we are taking refuge in.

Refuge Visualization

Visualize in the sky in front of you an eight lion throne. On the throne is a sun cushion. On the sun cushion is a moon cushion. On this moon cushion is a lotus flower. On this, visualize your root lama in the form of Shenla Okar. In front of your root lama, visualize the inner and outer yidam deities, the Buddhas of the ten directions, Rigdzin awareness holders, and Yungdrung Senpas (Bodhisattvas), and the lineage lamas of the sutra, tantra, and dzogchen. Around them are the khandromas, and protectors – both wisdom protectors and worldly protectors. All are gathered like clouds in the sky in front and around your root lama. 

Behind your root lama is the representation of the Enlightened body, speech, and mind. The representation of the Enlightened body is the statue of the Buddha. The representation of the Enlightened speech is the scriptures of the Buddha’s teachings. The representation of the Enlightened mind is the stupa. You can visualize many of these statues, scriptures and stupas vividly existing in the 10 directions.

If this visualization is too difficult, just imagine that in the sky in front of you are all the Buddhas. Feel they are there. 

Then imagine from your body comes hundreds of millions manifestations of you and each of them leads many sentient beings with great faith and devotion to Enlightenment. Then, uniting the three doors of body, speech, and mind on a single point go for refuge reciting the prayer below:

སྐྱབས་འགྲོ།

Going to Refuge

The Lama who is the glorious source of the Three Enlightened Bodies,

The Buddhas of the three times who are the protectors of beings,

The supports of images, statues, stupas, and scriptures,

The Shenrabs of the ten directions who are guiding lights on path of liberation,

I and all sentient beings prostrate and go to refuge in the Four Jewels.

When you pray, feel that you are protected. You are protected and helped by the Buddhas, and all the Enlightened beings. You are protected from any and all difficulties and obscurations. These four jewels are your four protectors. Have no doubt that you are under the protection of the four jewels. When difficulties arise, simply remember the four protectors and connect with the four jewels. Feel the blessing of protection.

Try your best to practice like this each day, any time you are able, as much or as often as you can with faith and devotion. 

This completes the teachings of faithfully going for refuge.