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What
is the actual practice of taking Refuge?
Taking
Refuge is performed differently according to the intentions
of the three types of persons who perform it, although the
three causes - fear, faith and compassion - are the same.
The actual practice is the recitation of the prayer of Refuge.
The simplest prayer says, "I take Refuge in the Buddha, I
take Refuge in the Dharma, I take Refuge in the Sangha." A
more elaborate prayer says, "I take Refuge in the Buddha,
Dharma and Sangha until I get Enlightenment; by the merit
of doing this may all beings attain Buddha's stage."
But
mere recitation of the prayer with your voice is not sufficient;
it must be recited from the heart. If you want to take refuge
from the rain, it won't help you to say "house, house" or
"umbrella, umbrella". You have to find a house, you have to
go and get an umbrella, and if you do this, you will be saved
from the rain without any doubt. So it is necessary to take
Refuge very seriously, with full belief and, moreover, you
must think that, no matter what happens, you will seek the
Refuge of only the Triple Gem, and that you will always remain
under it. Reciting the prayer in this way and with this intention
is the first practice of Buddhism and one of the foundations
of all practice. Taking Refuge like this distinguishes the
Buddhist from the non-Buddhist.
Although recitation like this is sufficient to make you a
Buddhist, it is common for a short ceremony to be performed
in front of the spiritual guide. He will say the words of
the prayer, which the disciple will repeat after him and also
promise to uphold the basic moral teachings of Buddhism. From
that time onwards, you should continue to recite the prayer
daily and with great devotion.
--
His Holiness the Sakya Trizin
The
Four Noble Truths
When
Buddha Shakyamuni turned the wheel of dharma for the first
time, he taught the Four Noble Truths - The Truth of Suffering,
The Truth of the Cause of Suffering, The Truth of the Cessation
of Suffering, and the Truth of the Path that leads to the
Cessation of Suffering.
These
four truths encompass the entire teachings of the Buddha.
Visit the Lama
Yeshe Wisdom Archive site to read an explanation of the
Truths by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
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Practicing
Devotion to a Lama
Always
show deference for the robes. No matter who is wearing them,
what you think of them or how close you are to them, they
represent nothing less than the Buddha. You cannot show too
much respect.
Don't use coarse speech in their presence or in a shrine room.
There shouldn't be carelessness in your manner and all your
attention should be towards the Lama. Take the moment to be
aware of your behavior.
There
should be no physical contact between a monk and nun and the
opposite sex, for instance: handshakes, hugs, kissing, etc.
(excluding children). This should not be taken to an extreme
but the idea is to respect their vows.
Lamas
should always be the honored guest: have the best seat, sit
the highest, have special cups and dishes available and the
choicest foods. Take every opportunity to be generous. They
should be served first and the food given to them, not handed
to them to serve themselves. They should be treated as though
the Buddha himself were at your table...offering them food
before you take anything for yourself. Western manners are
similar for honored and special guests.
Your
speech should be honorific, as much as there is in English.
Do not call them by their first name. The shortest form should
be "Lama-La."
Even
if you have become very close to the Lama, your behavior should
teach others to maintain a public formality. If you show an
informal attitude, then others will as well and miss the opportunity
to practice respect and devotion to the Lama. There are foundation
teachings on the benefit of this practice of Devotion to the
Guru.
At
teachings or even at social gatherings, one should stand when
a Lama enters and attend to what they need. Stand quietly
with hands folded respectfully until they have taken their
seat. After they have done their prostrations to the shrine,
if they do them, and sit down, THEN you should do prostrations
to the shrine and Lama who represents the Buddha's teachings.
There are wonderful teachings on imagining the teacher as
the Buddha himself and you as a Bodhisattva listening to His
words in a pure realm. Make the occasion special and extraordinary
in any case.
Never
stretch out your legs towards the shrine and Lama. They should
never see the soles of your feet.
Never
lay a Dharma book, pictures, prayers, mala, or religious articles
on the floor. Never lick your fingers while turning the pages
of Dharma books; it is considered bad form and negative karma.
The
robes represent the teachings of the Buddha embodied in the
Lama. Because that manifestation of the Doctrine is standing
in front of us, we should take the opportunity to practice
taking refuge to that symbol through first prostrations. As
they speak we should hear their words as the Buddha's speech.
They are the compassionate companions who have devoted their
lives to our well being and we should not lose the opportunity
to repay this commitment with respect and devotion.
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Understanding
the Buddhist Shrine
Your shrine at home should reflect your heart-felt and deepest
devotion to the Buddha. It should enhance your faith and cause
you to reflect upon the Buddha's teachings. A beautifully
arranged, clean shrine will enhance your meditative concentration
and absorption and will bring a sense of spiritual centeredness.
It will become your own mirror-image.
An image of the Buddha will radiate warmth, compassion and
loving-kindness. This will help reinforce these positive traits
into your own being. It will help you to purify negativities
and distractions and bring a true sense of peace and contentment.
Seven offering bowls are traditionally placed on the shrine
in front of your statue of Buddha. You can also put photographs
of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Holiness the Sakya
Trizin.
Empty the water offering bowls in the evening, dispose the
old water offering outside onto clean outdoor spots. Offer
clean water in the morning before the meditation/prayer and
add saffron; starting from the left to the right. Remove old
flowers and other offerings. Set your lamp by putting in a
new wick (never leave flame unattended) and refilling it with
oil. Share leftover fruit/food offering to the animals (birds,
etc.) outside.
"Tho
pa Gya Ts'o Ma"
Think of this prayer while you are tending to your shrine.
I offer to you my body, transformed into a celestial mansion,
adorned by an ocean of understanding, wreathed about by the
flowers of virtue, and an incense cloud of moral habits. In
it shines the lamp of wisdom, and there, too, lies a lake
of faith's perfume; the food of meditative bliss I offer you,
with sweet music of songs of praise; a canopy fashioned from
my compassion for others; and a banner that consists of discernment
and an ensign of courage held high. These I offer to you,
King of Dharma, who dwells always in the lotus of my heart.
From the deep certitude of my mind, I pray you will always
be pleased with me, oh teacher of all living beings, may you
always be pleased.
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