PROCEDURE OF TAKING
TRIPLE REFUGE
1. Self-taking of the Triple Refuge Registration Qualification: Buddhist disciples who seek to take refuge in the Three Jewels but are unable to attend the formal ceremony organized by the Buddhist True Enlightenment Practitioners Association in Taipei.
2. Appropriate time for self-taking of the Triple Refuge: Mornings of the six monthly fasting days (the eighth, fourteenth, fifteenth, twenty-third, twenty-ninth, and thirtieth days of the lunar month)
3. Venue for self-taking of the Triple Refuge: In front of a clean and dignified Buddha altar or a Buddha statue adorned with incense, flowers, lamps, and fruits.
4. Cost: Free of charge
5. Registration Procedure: After you have gone through the Triple Refuge ceremony on your own, download and filled out the application form (Buddhist True Enlightenment Practitioners Association’s application form for correspondence refuge-taking). Include two recent photos. Affix one to the application form, write down your full name on the back of the other, clip it to the application form, and mail everything to:
Correspondence Triple Refuge
9F, No. 277, Sec. 3, Chengde Rd.,
Taipei 103, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Please indicate “Correspondence Triple Refuge” on the envelope.
Because the English form will need to be translated into Chinese before it can be processed, please contact us at info@wholesomevision.com so that we can help coordinate the submission of the needed documents and photos.
The association will mail out the Certificate of Triple Refuge after proper verification.
Note: For those who have already received a Certificate of Triple Refuge, please do not mail in another application form to the Association to avoid duplicate work. Each person should have only one Dharma-name, so please do not submit more than one application.
6. Ceremony for Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels:
I. Prostrate to the Buddha and Beseech the Presence of the Preceptor
- “I take refuge in the Fundamental Teacher Buddha Shakyamuni.” [repeat three times and prostrate after each]
- Recite the Heart Sutra once with joined palms
- Prostrate three times to your preceptor, the Enlightened Bodhisattva Venerable Xiao Pingshi
[Kneel down and recite the following with joined palms]:
I, (own name), respectfully beseech the Venerable Master to certify my taking of the triple refuge. Relying on your compassion, I am able to take the triple refuge and become a disciple of the Three Jewels.
[prostrate once]
II. Beseech Certification from the Noble Beings
With incense and flowers, I, (own name), prostrate to and respectfully beseech the Fundamental Teacher Buddha Shakyamuni, the Supreme Teacher of the Saha World; Buddha Amitabha of the western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; Buddha Medicine Master of the eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli, the next Buddha to come, Bodhasattva Maitreya; and Buddhas of all Buddha worlds in the ten directions, to kindly guide me with your compassion and certify my taking of the triple refuge
[recite 3 times and prostrate after each]
With incense and flowers, I (own name) prostrate to and respectfully beseech all teachings of the precepts of the Great and Lesser Vehicles, the five divisions and three classes of precepts that generate insight for liberation, the sutras of the Three Vehicles, the twelve divisions of teachings, as well as the correct paths of hearers and solitary buddhas and bodhisattvas, that lead to the perfect realization of the definitive and true Dharma of the Buddha Bodhi, and the attaining of the profound Dharma treasures of the mundane and supramundane.
May the noble truths illuminate us thoroughly,
Sincerely and mindfully I prostrate and take refuge in the Three Jewels
[recite 3 times and prostrate after each]
With incense and flowers, I (own name) prostrate to and respectfully beseech Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta, Bodhisattva Manjushri, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra, countless Great Bodhisattvas and beings of pure conduct from the ten directions, Venerable Upali who participated in the compilation of the Vinaya, and all Buddhist patriarchs of India and China to be kindly guided with your compassion and certify my taking of the triple refuge, and may all be in accord with my vow.
[recite 3 times and prostrate after each]
With incense and flowers, I (own name) prostrate to and respectfully beseech the celestial beings who attend this golden light ceremony, Bodhisattva Skanda, the four lords of Brahma and Indra, the eight classes of celestial beings, all Great Dharma-protectors, guardian warriors, deities who protect those who observe the precepts, and all spirits and ghosts who protect the Dharma to certify my taking of the triple refuge, and may all be in accord with my vow.
[recite 3 times and prostrate after each]
May all of the noble beings attend this ceremony to witness and protect us according to your vows.
I take refuge in the Fundamental Teacher Buddha Shakyamuni.
[recite 3 times and prostrate after each]
III. Repentance and Purification
Every unwholesome act I have ever committed;
All are due to beginningless craving, aversion, and delusion;
Generated through body, speech, and mind;
I now make repentance for them all.
[recite 3 times and prostrate after each]
IV. Taking the Three Refuges (Karman)
I, (own name), take refuge in all Buddhas, who have attained supreme and perfect enlightenment, the World-Honored Ones who have attained perfect virtues and wisdom;
I take refuge in the Fundamental Teacher Buddha Shakyamuni;
I take refuge in Buddha Vairocana, the perfect reward-body of Buddha Shakyamuni;
I take refuge in Buddha Mahavairocana, the pure Dharma-body of Buddha Shakyamuni;
I take refuge in all Buddhas residing permanently in the worlds of ten directions.
Having taken refuge in all Buddhas, from now on I will never take refuge in any non-Buddhists.
[recite 3 times with joined palms and prostrate after each]
I, (own name), take refuge in Buddha’s definitive and correct teachings and Buddha’s correct instructions;
I take refuge in the shared teachings of liberation in the Three Vehicles;
I take refuge in the perfect path to Buddhahood of the Great Vehicle;
I take refuge in the correct meanings expounded in the sutras on the definitive teachings;
I take refuge in the Buddha Dharma abiding in the worlds of ten directions.
Having taken refuge in the Dharma, from now on I will never accept any non-Buddhist teachings.
[recite 3 times with joined palms and prostrate after each]
I, (own name), take refuge in the noble and worthy persons of the Great Vehicle;
And in all Mahayana Bodhisattvas with right view.
I take refuge in all Enlightened Bodhisattvas who have realized the Ultimate Reality;
And in all Bodhisattvas with right view who are still learning;
And in all Enlightened Bodhisattvas in the ten directions.
Having taken refuge in the Sangha, from now on I will accept the instructions of the Sangha and never follow any non-Buddhist teachings.
[recite 3 times with joined palms and prostrate after each]
V. Making Vows
I, (own name), take refuge in Buddha and shall never fall into the path of hell in all future lives.
I, (own name), take refuge in the Dharma and shall never fall into the path of the animals in all future lives.
I, (own name), take refuge in the Sangha and shall never fall into the path of hungry ghosts in all future lives.
[recite 3 times with joined palms and prostrate after each]
Countless are sentient beings, I vow to liberate them;
Endless are defilements, I vow to eradicate them;
Innumerable are the Dharma-doors, I vow to master them;
Unsurpassable is the Buddha’s Way, I vow to attain it. (prostrate aftereach stanza]
I take refuge in Buddha;
May all sentient beings understand the Great Path and bring forth the greatest aspiration.
I take refuge in the Dharma;
May all sentient beings penetrate the treasury of the scriptures and gain wisdom as vast as the ocean.
I take refuge in the Sangha;
May all sentient beings lead the assembly without any obstruction.
VI. Dedication of Merits
What a wonderful blessing to be able to take the triple refuge I shall dedicate the superb and immeasurable merits and virtues To all floundering and struggling sentient beings
May they soon reach the Buddha Land of Infinite Light.
Homage to the Buddhas of the past, present, future, and ten directions, the Great Bodhisattvas and the Great Perfection of Wisdom.
[prostrate once]
The End