‘Triple Jewels 三寶/三宝’ or ‘Triple Gems’ are the guiding principles of learning and practising Buddhism. If what a Buddhist thinks, says and acts does not correspond with these three guiding principles, they are drifting away from Buddha’s teachings (Buddhism). A true Buddhist is always mindful of these three principles. It is therefore crucial to have a correct understanding of the term. In this blog I will share with you my teacher’s explanation of the term.

Listen to my teacher’s original lecture in Chinese: What are the Triple Jewels?

Listen to the podcast in English: Coming soon…

A practising Buddhist would normally read aloud twice a day the verse ‘Returning to and Relying on the Triple Jewels 三皈依’, commonly known as ‘Taking Refuge to the Triple Jewels’. One in the morning to remind them of the correct way of thinking, speaking and acting; and one in the evening to reflect on themselves if they followed the guiding principles during the day. Please find the entire verse below.

‘By returning to and relying on Buddha (the enlightenment of self-nature),

I gain the two perfections and therefore I am honourable

皈依佛陀，兩足中尊 .’

‘By returning to and relying on Dharma (correctness),

I am freed from desires and therefore I am honourable

皈依達摩，離欲中尊.’

‘By returning to and relying on sangha (purity),

I am therefore the most honourable amongst all

皈依僧伽，諸眾中尊 .’

In the context of the Triple Jewels, the word ‘Buddha’, the word ‘Dharma’ and the word ‘sangha’ do not refer to any specific Buddha, Buddhist sutra or Buddhist practitioner. Instead, they are representations of something abstract, something that is innate to every single one of us.

What is Buddha? Buddha represents the enlightenment 覺 of self-nature. Every single thought is awakened but not deluded. This is ‘returning to and relying on enlightenment’. Buddha also has the manifestations of perfection in two things. One is the perfection in wisdom 智慧, the other the perfection in good fortune and virtue 福德. When a person is fully enlightened (awakened to the truth of the Universe) and is not deluded in the slightest, perfection in these two things are consequently present.

Many people do not know the meaning of Buddha. As a result, they do not want Buddha. When a person does not want Buddha, they do not want wisdom, do not want good fortune, and do not want virtue. Saying ‘no’ to wisdom results in ignorance and foolishness. Say ‘no’ to good fortune and virtue results in poverty and lowliness. But then, no one wants foolishness, ignorance, poverty or lowliness. So why should anyone say ‘no’ to Buddha? It is crucial to have a clear understanding of this.

What is Dharma? Dharma here means to left go of everything in our minds 萬緣放下. This is correctness. Let go of all our desires, be they good or bad. Why? Because there are no desires in our self-nature. Self-nature has no desires. Ālaya-consciousness has desires. Self-nature is the true mind. Ālaya-consciousness is a deluded mind. There is no desire in the true mind, not even the desire for becoming a Buddha, then the Buddhahood is attained. Self-nature is all pure. If we have a desire to become a Buddha, the desire is contamination which deters us from returning to self-nature. There is nothing in self-nature 自行清淨心中一法不立. If there is one thing, it is wrong.

‘Returning to and relying on sangha’, in present-day terms, means unity 團結. Sangha is a group of people. Sakyamuni Buddha taught that four or more people working or living together makes a sangha 眾. Amongst all groups, sangha is the best because this group practise Six Principles of Harmony and Respect 六和敬. They set a good example for other groups. The Six Principles are:

1) Harmony in opinions with a common understanding 見和同解. Every member of the group share the same opinions. There is no disagreement.

2) Harmony in precepts when practising together 戒和同修. This is to follow rules. When people work or live together, they must follow rules. If there are no rules, it will be chaotic. In the past, families in China were big groups. There were at least 200 people living together. That is why there were family principles 家道 and family rules 家規. The family principles are the Triple Jewels. Every member of the family shares the same aspiration, striving towards the family principles, continuing and promoting the principles. This is the common understanding and common goal. The family rules were the Guidelines for Being a Good Person 弟子規 (MP3, PDF). Every family member must follow the rules. Be they male, female, old or young, everyone followed the rules. There was no exception. The great-great-grandfather and the great-grandfathers led by example. However old they were, they still followed the rules. They could not say ‘I won’t follow them because I’m old’. So the entire family followed the same rules. There were also family learning and family business. The family business was multiple and diverse.

3) harmony in actions when living together 身和同住,

4) harmony in speech without competition and conflicts 口和無諍,

5) harmony in experiencing the joy of practising the Buddha’s teachings 意和同悅,

6) harmony in benefit when sharing together 利和同均.

This is the meaning of the Triple Jewels. When we think, speak and act, are we good examples for everyone else? If it is not a good example, we must not think, say or do it. Therefore, the Triple Jewels are the guiding principles of learning and practising Buddhism, or learning to become a Buddha. We should be mindful of them every single day, every single moment.

Wishing whoever reads this post good mental and physical health, peace, harmony, auspiciousness, happiness, long life and infinite wisdom. Thank you.

DEDICATION

The effort and gains of explaining, transmitting and listening to Buddhas’ teachings are dedicated to:

the entire Universe and all beings of all dimensions and all existences. May they all listen to Buddhas’ teachings, awaken to the truth of the Universe, be mindful of the name ‘Amituofo’ (Amitabha Buddha),

aspire to go to the Pure Land, and become Buddhas. (Read the above three times)

I pray to Buddhas and bodhisattvas for unconditionally solving all man-made and natural disasters around the globe.

For all of those who died in man-made wars and natural disasters across the world,

and for all of those who are related to me in all kinds of ways in this life and previous lives, may they listen to Buddhas’ teachings. May they awaken to the truth of the Universe, aspire to unearth their innate and most sincere, pure, equal and awakened mind, be single-mindedly mindful of Amituofo, aspire to go to the Pure Land so as to see Amituofo and listen to his teachings, removing all their delusions and unveiling their innate wisdom, gaining the real peace and happiness, instantly escaping from the cycle of birth and death, speedily becoming Buddhas, and helping all beings (in the entire Universe) like all other Buddhas.

The effort and gains are dedicated to the leaders of all countries on the Earth. May all countries be prosperous. May all disasters be solved. May the world enjoy eternal peace. I use the effort and gains to return the help from the enlightenment of Buddhas, by the correctness of Buddhas’ teachings, from the purity of sangha, from all beings, from my parents (in this life and previous lives), and from my country(ies). I also use the effort and gains to help alleviate the suffering of those who are already in and will be reborn into the animal realm, the ghost realm and hells as the result of their bad thoughts, speech and deeds. For anyone who sees and hears me chanting or being mindful of Amituofo and doing other good deeds, may they aspire to unearth their most sincere, pure, equal and awakened mind so as to go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, together with me, at the end of our present lives.