Understanding the Core Pillars of Buddhism and Their Sacred Value
In Buddhist philosophy, the Three Jewels (Sanskrit: Triratna, Pali: Tiratana). These jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, which are not just concepts but also the foundation of the lived experience for all people who identify as "Buddhist," regardless of whether they are monastic or lay. The Buddha represents the ideal of enlightenment, the Dharma represents the path of enlightenment, and the Sangha represents the community that fosters the development of enlightenment. To "take refuge" in the Three Jewels is more than an act of symbolism and practical application.
In Buddhist culture and many others, gems symbolize things that are rare, over time, and precious. The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are jewels that shine light on the path. They clarify confusion, provide stillness amid chaos, and give purpose when faced with impermanence. Like gems that linger over time, the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha shine brightly over the cycles of life.
Origin of the Three Jewels
The Three Jewels, the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, originate from the historical experience of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, or "Awakened One," in the 5th–6th century BCE India, after years of spiritual seeking that culminated in enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. With heartfelt compassion, he turned to sharing the path he had discovered — a path based on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, which he believed was the way to end suffering and achieve enlightenment (nirvana).
The Buddha's teachings spread, leading to the formation of the Sangha monastic community. This community, comprising ordained monks and nuns, lived in accordance with the Dharma, exemplifying it through disciplined and mindful lives. Lay followers sought refuge in this community, expanding the circle of practitioners. The Pali Canon emphasizes "taking refuge" in the Three Gems of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This act is a distinguishing feature of the Buddhist way of life, marking a departure from worldly existence and the initial steps toward enlightenment. Initially, taking refuge was a personal declaration, representing a commitment to following the Buddha as the enlightened teacher, studying and applying the Dharma as the truth of life, and interacting with the Sangha as a moral compass.
Why Are They Called “Jewels”?
The term "jewel" means precious, rare, and unchanging, a welcome idea in the uncertain and impermanent world we live in. The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are constant and valuable sources of wisdom and support. In the same way that we value and protect our jewels, Buddhists regard the Three Jewels as the most venerated aspects of our lives.
To go for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, seeing with correct understanding the Four Noble Truths—this is the safe refuge.
-Dhammapada
Taking refuge in the Three Jewels provides a specific spiritual safety and guidance, things that are as valuable as the most brilliant jewel.
1. The Buddha: the Enlightened One
The Buddha refers to Siddhartha Gautama, who attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. He discovered a path to freedom from suffering and shared it out of compassion. Buddha, however, also represents the ideal of awakening, the potential for enlightenment inherent in all beings.
Taking refuge in the Buddha means having confidence in the example of one who has awakened to the ultimate truth, and recognizing that this same awakening is available to all.
"He who sees the Dhamma sees me, and he who sees me sees the Dhamma."
- Samyutta Nikaya
2. The Dharma: The Teachings
Dharma represents a body of teachings that the Buddha taught to guide others toward enlightenment. These lessons include essential doctrines, including:
- Four Noble Truths
- Noble Eightfold Path
- Transience, no-self, and Karma
But Dharma is more than doctrine. It's the universal truth that those teachings point to. It is the law of reality, how things are. Taking refuge in the Dharma means following that path of truth and living it out in daily life.
“The Dharma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, to be seen here and now, not delayed in time, inviting one to come and see.”
-Anguttura Nikaya
3. The Sangha: The Community
The Sangha refers to the community of people who practice the Buddhist teachings, also known as the Dharma. In other words, it relates to the broader community of practitioners. Traditionally, it includes:
- The monastic Sangha: ordained monks and nuns
- The noble Sangha: any person (monk, nun, or layperson) who has attained even the first level of enlightenment
The Sangha provides all support, protection, and preservation of the Dharma. Taking refuge in the Sangha means relying on a community of other practitioners with the same goals of awakening. And when we are awakened, we strive to offer support and guidance to others with mindfulness and compassion.
The Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are the essence of Buddha's teachings. They represent a deep recognition of the tenacity of existence. They provide a truthful account of the causes of suffering and offer guidance on achieving liberation and peace.
Dukkha (Suffering) - Suffering exists in the experience of all beings, and it is an indicator of dissatisfaction and impermanence. Suffering exists from birth to death for each being, and in that time, all beings experience pain, loss, and desire.
Samudaya (Cause of Suffering) - Craving or clinging or desire is the cause of suffering in our desire for pleasure, our passion for control, and our desire for permanence.
Nirodha (The End of Suffering) - There is the possibility of liberation from suffering. When craving and clinging cease, then suffering ceases.
Magga (Path to the End of Suffering) - The end of suffering is through the Eightfold Path, as a practice of discipline, in leading a life of ethics, mental cultivation, and wisdom.
The Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path serves as a guide to overcome suffering and, in the process, cultivate wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline. It is not a sequence of progression or stages, but it is a practice of harmony between aspects, all working in concert with one another.
Right Understanding - Understanding the nature of reality as it is, including the Four Noble Truths.
Right Intention - The intention of non-attachment, loving-kindness, and compassion.
Right Speech - Speaking truth, kindly, and without intent to harm.
Right Action - To act ethically, through non-violence, non-stealing, and respect for life.
Right Livelihood - Making a living that does not cause harm, and follows ethical values.
Right Effort - The effort to develop wholesome states and let go of unwholesome states of mind.
Right Mindfulness - Awareness of the body, feelings, thoughts, and phenomena, performed with neither attachment nor aversion.
Right Concentration - Development of deep states of meditative absorption that calm the mind and deepen insight.
Threefold Refuge in Buddhist Practice
Every Buddhist path begins with the act of taking the Threefold Refuge, a formal commitment that is most often chanted in Pali:
Buddham saranam gacchami – I take refuge in the Buddha.
Dhammam saranam gacchami – I take refuge in the Dharma.
Sangham saranam gacchami – I take refuge in the Sangha.
Taking refuge is more than adding a few words to your 'to-do' list. It is a profound and personal commitment to living an ethical life, cultivating mindful awareness, and exercising discernment. Taking refuge in the Three Jewels serves as a compass for spirituality, moral development, and a life-sustaining commitment to reducing suffering and extending one's lifespan in samsara.
Spiritual Significance of the Three Jewels
The Three Jewels are spiritually priceless because they represent the whole and integrated route to liberating oneself from suffering. Each jewel has a distinct yet complementary role in guiding a practitioner on the path toward awakening. The Buddha, the awakened teacher, has used his life and example to demonstrate that enlightenment is a possibility within the being of everyone. The Dharma is the universal truth and practical instruction that produces insight and liberation. The Sangha, or spiritual community, encourages and supports practitioners, offering counsel and helping them develop understanding, ethical conduct, and compassion. When combined, the Three Jewels serve as a spiritual navigation device that points us away from ignorance, attachment, and delusion.
The Ratna indicates that they are rare, pure, and worthwhile not only in an abstract sense, but also for their ability to lead someone authentically when committed to them. It is essential to recognize that taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha is not a blind act of faith; it is a knowledge-based affirmation that engages with this awareness of living, honesty, and intention, supported by timeless wisdom along the shared path to awakening.
The Role of the Three Jewels in Daily Buddhist Life
1. The Buddha as Role Model:
The Buddha’s life encourages practitioners to reflect positive qualities such as compassion, patience, and mindfulness within themselves, and to react to the trials and tribulations of their daily lives with courage and wisdom.
2. The Dharma as Practical Guidance:
The Dharma provides guidance on how to make ethical decisions and cultivate personal growth through various actions, including kind, honest, and generous thoughts and words, as well as meditation and self-awareness practices.
3. The Sangha as Community of Support:
A community of fellow practitioners that encourages accountability for efforts in the world and an exchange of wisdom is necessary, as it helps bolster commitment to various spiritual practices.
4. Integration into Daily Life:
The Three Jewels together can support not only a formal spiritual practice decision but also influence relationships, work, and reactions to stress in an all-encompassing, inclusive way, allowing Buddhism to be seen as a living, practical path and spiritual practice, not just a philosophy.
Conclusion
The Three Jewels of the Buddhist dispensation—the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—are ideal notions of inner cultivation and liberation. They are not only in the world but also in the lives of those who prefer to live mindfully. They address the spiritual desires at the core of the soul: a longing to know the truth, to find peace, and to belong to something. Refuge in the Buddha means having faith that it is possible to awaken. The Dharma also offers pragmatic methods to help one turn suffering into clarity and wisdom, and the Sangha is a spiritual community of friends and responsibility. These jewels can bring stability, direction, and purpose into a world full of impermanence and distraction. When one turns to the Three Jewels, it is to say yes to sanity, as opposed to mess; yes to kindness, as opposed to fear; yes to a more embodied, awake, and awakening way of being. By respecting these jewels, we respect ourselves, others, and the truth that connects all living beings.
