Monday, 05/04/2026
The 1st Three-Jewel Refuge Ceremony in 2024
Update: 21/04/2024
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Taking refuge in the Three Jewels is extremely important, marking the time a person officially becomes a Buddhist. From now, all attendees have entered a Dharma house, getting a good spiritual path for their life. Therefore, the Refuge Ceremony was held very seriously and took place all day.
After registering in the morning, participants came to the lecture halls to learn right demeanor when coming to the pagoda, such as the manner of clasping their hands, greeting, prostrating, etc,... . these are very necessary and important rules, because not everyone has also conditions to learn these rules. Next, Junior Thich Tam Truong explained thoroughly the purpose, meaning of Three Refuge and Five precepts, the necessary knowledge to become a Buddhist.
In the afternoon, the ceremony officially took place under the witness of all Sangha at the pagoda. From beginningless eons, drifting in six realms, covered by ignorance, no one avoids making mistakes and sinful things; therefore, each of us should recognize our mistakes and vow not to repeat them. On this occasion, the Master created conditions for the disciples to repent and help purify three karmas before entering the sacred moment, officially becoming a Buddhist. On behalf of pagoda monks, Most Thich Chan Tinh transferred Three refuge and Five Precepts for all attendees. Next, he had some instruction, and encouragement words to new Buddhists.
There are three levels of Three Jewels:
1)Three Jewels reside in the world:
- Buddha Jewel is the Buddha relics, the Buddha statues, or images for us to worship.
- Dharma Jewel is the Tripitaka; the Sutras, Laws, and Treatises we are studying.
- Sangha Jewel is devout monks with solemn conduct in the present life.
2) Three Jewels left the world:
- Buddha Jewel implies Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha... are those who have become Buddhas and are no longer bound to birth - death cycle in the world.
- Dharma Jewel implies the teachings of Buddha that teach sentient beings to practice to liberate themselves from samsara, such as Four Noble Truths, Twelve Causes of Dependent Origination, Six Paramitas...
- Sangha Jewel implies Holy Monks and Bodhisattvas who have left the world such as Avalokiteshvara, Vajrapani ...
3) Three Jewels are identical:
- Buddha Jewel points out the Buddha and sentient beings have the same nature which is Buddha nature.
- Dharma Jewel points out the Buddha and sentient beings have the same Dharma nature of compassion and equality.
- Sangha Jewel points out the Buddha and sentient beings have the same pure nature and harmony.
We are fortunate to be able to become a human being, have enough wisdom to recognize right - wrong, good - bad. No god, or saint blesses - harms anyone; disaster - blessing is caused by each person's cause and effect; sowing the cause, and also picking the fruit by himself. Whether we will be born in a good realm or fall into an evil realm is up to us to decide.
Taking refuge in the Three Jewels with good conditions, each person should try to arrange time to go to the temple during Buddhist holidays, days of practice, repentance, listening to Dharma, practicing vegetarianism, keeping precepts, and practicing Buddha's teachings in order to build a happy family.
All worldly materials: wealth, property, spouses, children, etc, cannot be carried with us, life is impermanent, only good or evil karma follows us from this life to the next. As a wise disciple of Buddha, one must understand clearly; from there, diligently practice to have a peaceful and happy life; the future will not fall into three-path evil, then be reborn in a peaceful realm.
The ceremony ended in joy for everyone. Before leaving the temple, Buddhists were given books composed by Most Thich Chan Tinh, such as: A brief Introduction of Hoang Phap monastery, Summary of the story of Shakyamuni Buddha, Lessons for Buddhists, Buddha Dharma Saving My Destiny, Three Refuge-Five Precepts, Message words.
Some images recorded:
