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 A
refuge (saraṇa) is a place one goes to in order to find
peace, security and safety. The Buddhist considers continual rebirth
in saṃsāra to be an unenviable prospect and believes
the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha to be a
refuge from this. Thus the Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha are often
called the Three Refuges. The Buddha is a refuge in that his
enlightenment demonstrates that saṃsāra can be transcended,
the Dhamma is a refuge in that it shows how enlightenment can
be attained and the Saṅgha is a refuge in that it offers the
guidance, encouragement, example and support needed to transcend
saṃsāra. When a person decides to become a Buddhist, they
recite a simple formula in which they affirm their confidence in and
commitment to the Three Refuges. This formula is –
Buddhaṃ
saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Dhammaṃ saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
Saṅghaṃ
saraṇaṃ gacchāmi
This
means: 'I go to the Buddha for Refuge. I go to the Dhamma for Refuge.
I go to the Saṅgha for Refuge.' The formula is usually repeated
three times. What the sacred thread ceremony is to Hindus, baptism is
to Christians and reciting the shahada is to Muslims, going
for refuge is to Buddhists.
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