Read the followings.
Therefore one must begin by becoming aware of the qualities of
the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and by understanding
exactly what they are. By means of that, one will give rise to
faith in them. One will be able to feel one's faith and go for
refuge to them. It is necessary that
this occur as a basis for the practice, but beyond that, the
going for refuge must be something that is continually practiced
and renewed in one's daily practice; this is extremely
important.
The reason why the taking of
refuge is so important is that at present we are immersed in
samsara, which is an experience of suffering, an experience of
impermanence, and an experience of constant change. If we wish to
free ourselves from this, we cannot do so simply by ourselves.
However, we can travel the path to liberation by relying upon the
compassion of the Three Jewels. That is why it is necessary to go
to them for refuge.
As ordinary beings, we do not know or understand the methods
that we must engage in to obtain Buddhahood. For that reason we
need a guide or a companion on the path to Buddhahood. This is
something that can be explained by an example that is easily
understood by Westerners. If one wanted to get from here to New
York City and one tried to walk, one would either not get there at
all or it would take a very long time. However, if one were to
stand by the side of the road and put out one's thumb, then
eventually some good minded individual would stop their car; one
could get in and one would reach the city. It's the same way if we
want to reach the City of Enlightenment. We have to hitchhike or
take refuge in the Three Jewels
The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha are beings or
things that are separate from us, distinct from us. We are
individuals and we are quite a distance from them. One might ask
how it is possible to establish a connection. First of all, all
phenomena arise through interdependence through the actions of
causes and conditions. In the case of the path, what must occur is
the coming together of the conditions of one's own faith, and the
compassion and blessing of the Three Jewels. If these two come
together, then the connection is established and one can travel the
path.
The presence of the faith on one's own part and the compassion
and qualities on the part of the Three Jewels is sufficient to
create the connection. It does not depend on distance, like a
television station that is sending out a TV program. If one has the
box and the set, one can see the program. If the TV station isn't
sending it out, then even if one has the TV set one can't see it.
If the TV station is sending it out but one does not have the TV
set, then one also can't see it . But in either case, if these two
things are present, then regardless of the distance that separates
the two, although there is no direct physical connection that one
can see, the TV program still arrives somehow. In the same way, the
actual blessing and compassion of the Three Jewels can be received,
and one can enter through one's faith.
Another example is that the
compassion, blessing, and power of the Three Jewels is like a hook,
and one's faith is like a ring. If these two are present and
connect one with another, then the hook will lead the ring and
oneself, held by the ring, from suffering to happiness and finally
to liberation