—
Dhp 188-192
"Indeed, the Blessed One is worthy and rightly self-awakened,
consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, an expert with
regard to the world, unexcelled as a trainer for those people fit
to be tamed, the Teacher of divine & human beings, awakened,
blessed...
"The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, to be seen
here & now, timeless, inviting verification, pertinent, to be
realized by the wise for themselves...
"The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced
well... who have practiced straight-forwardly... who have practiced
methodically... who have practiced masterfully — in other words,
the four
types [of noble disciples] when taken as pairs, the eight when
taken as individual types — they are the Sangha of the Blessed
One's disciples: worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of
offerings, worthy of respect, the incomparable field of merit for
the world."
—
AN 11.12
(These verses are usually recited prior to taking on the Five
Precepts.)
—
Khp 1
"There is the case where a disciple of the noble ones has gone
to the Buddha for refuge. This is the first reward of merit, reward
of skillfulness, nourishment of happiness, celestial, resulting in
happiness, leading to heaven, leading to what is desirable,
pleasurable, & appealing; to welfare & to happiness.
"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones has gone to the
Dhamma for refuge. This is the second reward of merit...
"Furthermore, the disciple of the noble ones has gone to the
Sangha for refuge. This is the third reward of merit..."
—
AN 8.39
—
Thig 12
When the Exalted One had spoken thus, Sigala, the young
householder, said as follows:
"Excellent, Lord, excellent! It is as if, Lord, a man were to
set upright that which was overturned, or were to reveal that which
was hidden, or were to point out the way to one who had gone
astray, or were to hold a lamp amidst the darkness, so that those
who have eyes may see. Even so, has the doctrine
been explained in various ways by the Exalted One.
"I take refuge, Lord, in the Buddha, the
Dhamma,
and the Sangha. May
the Exalted One receive me as a lay follower; as one who has taken
refuge from this very day to life's end."
—
DN 31
