..续本文上一页wever, within the Buddhist tradition it is generally considered to be insufficient under normal circumstances to rest content with merely going for refuge by an internal act of dedication. If one has sincerely become convinced of the truth of the Buddha”s teaching, and wishes to follow the teaching, it is preferable, when possible, to conform to the prescribed way of going for refuge that has come down in the Buddhist tradition. This way is to receive the three refuges from a bhikkhu, a Buddhist monk who has taken full ordination and remains in good standing in the monastic Order.

　　After one has decided to go for refuge, one should seek out a qualified monk — one”s own spiritual teacher or another respected member of the Order — discuss one”s intentions with him, and make arrangements for undergoing the ceremony. When the day arrives one should come to the monastery or temple bringing offerings such as candles, incense, and flowers for the shrine room and a small gift for the preceptor. After making the offerings one should, in the presence of the preceptor, join the palms together in respectful salutation (anjali), bow down three times before the image of the Buddha, and pay respects to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, as represented by the images and symbols in the shrine. Then, kneeling in front of the shrine, one should request the bhikkhu to give the three refuges. The bhikkhu will reply: "Repeat after me" and then recite:

　　Buddham saranam gacchami

　　I go for refuge to the Buddha;

　　Dhammam saranam gacchami

　　I go for refuge to the Dhamma;

　　Sangham saranam gacchami

　　I go for refuge to the Sangha.

　　Dutiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami

　　A second time I go for refuge to the Buddha.

　　Dutiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami

　　A second time I go for refuge to the Dhamma.

　　Dutiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami

　　A second time I go for refuge to the Sangha.

　　Tatiyampi Buddham saranam gacchami

　　A third time I go for refuge to the Buddha.

　　Tatiyampi Dhammam saranam gacchami

　　A third time I go for refuge to the Dhamma.

　　Tatiyampi Sangham saranam gacchami

　　A third time I go for refuge to the Sangha.

　　The candidate should repeat each line after the bhikkhu. At the end the bhikkhu will say: Saranagamanam sampunnam "The going for refuge is completed." With this one formally becomes a lay follower of the Buddha, and remains such so long as the going for refuge stands intact. But to make the going for refuge especially strong and definitive, the candidate may confirm his acceptance of the refuge by declaring to the monk: "Venerable sir, please accept me as a lay disciple gone for refuge from this day forth until the end of my life." This phrase is added to show one”s resolution to hold to the three refuges as one”s guiding ideal for the rest of one”s life. Following the declaration of the refuges, the bhikkhu will usually administer the five precepts, the ethical observances of abstaining from taking life, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants. These will be discussed in subsequent articles.

　　By undergoing the formal ceremony of taking refuge one openly embraces the teaching of the Buddha and becomes for the first time a self-declared follower of the Master. However, going for refuge should not be an event which occurs only once in a lifetime and then is allowed to fade into the background. Going for refuge is a method of cultivation, a practice of inner development which should be undertaken regularly, repeated and renewed every day as part of one”s daily routine. Just as we care for our body by washing it each morning, so we should also take care of our mind by implanting in it each day the fundamental seed for our development along the Buddhist path, that is, the going for refuge. Preferably the going for refuge should be done twice each day, with ea…

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