Discovering Buddhism at Home -FAQ

Module 7 - Refuge in the Three Jewels

Is taking refuge a lifetime commitment?

Is taking refuge a lifetime commitment?

A student observes:

In my experience, lifetime commitments don't come until Tantra (others, please correct me). However, i did take the Refuge Vows and, although it was not phrased as "from now on to the end of your life you Thou Shalt do the following," my teacher, Venerable Robina, told us to state the Vows 3 times every day and to do 3 prostrations to the 3 Jewels daily. In my mind, these are such TINY commitments that they hardly feel like anything at all.

Thubten Yeshe observes:

Lama Thubten Yeshe stated: Refuge IS the path.

Is refuge a lifetime commitment? Of course it is, and it is no small commitment. Though it is true that the act of recalling the vows and reciting a refuge 'formula' every day is a small thing to do, the implications of taking refuge are huge.

Module 7 covers the subject of refuge in detail, and I recommend it (out of order if necessary) for those of you considering taking refuge.

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