What does ‘taking refuge in the Triple Jewels 三皈依’ mean? Is the commonly used English translation ‘take refuge’ most appropriate? To answer the questions, it is perhaps better to look at the Chinese term ‘三皈依’. There are the three sinographs in the term, i.e., 三 (san), 皈 (gui) and 依 (yi). San 三 means three and it refers to the Triple Jewels. My teacher explained that gui 皈 means to return, and yi 依 means to rely on or lean on.

Listen to my teacher’s original lecture in Chinese: The True Meaning of Returning to and Relying on the Triple Jewels.

Listen to the podcast in English: Coming soon…

Based on the analysis above, perhaps the alternative English translation of the term ‘return to and rely on the Triple Jewels‘ more accurately and clearly conveys the meaning of the original term.

Traditionally, at the outset of becoming a Buddhist, reading a sutra, or listening to a Dharma lecture, what a Buddhist does is to receive ‘Returning to and Relying on the Triple Jewels 皈依三寶’. When we return to and rely on the Triple Jewels, it means that we truly recognise and admit what we have thought, said, and acted was wrong, are determined to avoid making the same mistakes again, let go of our arrogance, and follow Buddhas’ teachings, i.e., the enlightenment of self-nature.

The first line is ‘returning to and relying on Buddha 皈依佛’. Buddha means enlightenment, awakened. We admit to ourselves that

‘I was all deluded and could not tell right from wrong. I now want to awaken from all the delusions, want to return to and rely on the enlightenment/awakening of self-nature. I want to rely on Buddhas’ teachings because they have already awakened to the truth of the Universe. I now want to be awakened to the truth but not yet, and hope they can guide and teach me.’

‘Returning to and relying on Buddha’ means this.

How do Buddhas teach us? They use scriptures first. We enter Buddhas’ teachings from learning scriptures. Once we have deeply rooted in scriptures, all our six senses are the enlightenment of self-nature when being in contact with all kinds of environments. By then, we will be on the right track and doing really well.

In other words, we will be using all the principles, wisdom, and methods recorded in the scriptures in our daily lives, at work, when we interact with others and nature, and when solving problems. We will be awakened when we do everything. We will be like other Buddhas and bodhisattvas. We will no longer to deluded in the slightest. We will be able to correctly tell right from wrong. We will no longer have any single bad thought. We will no longer do anything bad. We will be truly awakened. This is the first line of Returning to and Relying on the Triple Jewels.

2) The second line is ‘Returning to and Relying on Dharma’. Dharma refers to correct understanding and correct views. At the moment, the way we see things is wrong; the way we think is wrong. We now want to return. Return from the wrong views and wrong thoughts and rely on correct understanding and correct views. What is correct understanding and correct views? The scriptures. That is why Buddhist scriptures are called ‘Dharma jewel’. We must be respectful to them. We must not be disrespectful to them.

Why? Because what is recorded in scriptures is the true wisdom originated from our self-nature. If we disrespect Buddhist scriptures, we disrespect our self-nature. That is why. It is why Buddhist patriarchs and other true practitioners throughout Chinese history had always taught us that

’10 per cent of respect reaps 10 per cent of benefit;

100 per cent of respect reaps 100 per cent of benefit’.

Whenever we read scriptures or listen to someone explaining scriptures, the amount of benefit we get from it has nothing to the scripture or the person who explains the scripture. Our sincerity plays a decisive role. How much sincerity we have, we will benefit that much. So it is clear that the level we can attain when learning to become a Buddha has nothing to do with anyone else. It has nothing to do with Buddhas and bodhisattvas, either. It is all to do with our own sincerity and respect.

It has nothing to do with the length of time of learning Buddhism, either. ‘Person A has learnt a scripture for 30, 50 years. I’ve only learnt it for a few days.’ There is no need to have that kind of thought. There are perhaps people who have learnt a scriptures for only a few days, but their learning outcome surpasses those who have learnt it for 30, 50 years. It is because it is futile to learn scriptures without sincerity and respect. Even after 30, 50 years, it is still futile. But if we learn a scriptures with utmost sincerity and respect, even thought it’s only for a few days, we still benefit much.

So the length of time is not crucial. The key is sincerity and respect. The key is that we truly want to return to correctness. So when we hear what Buddhas’ taught, we are able to immediately accept the teachings and be willing to return to the correctness of our self-nature.

This is key. This is ‘returning to and relying on Dharma’. Return from wrong understanding and wrong views and rely on correct understanding and correct views.

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

(To be continued…)

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.