Buddha Minders

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the magazine for young and young at heart
  Buddha Minders > little bodhi > another spoke       
 
another
spoke

each month

 we look at a basic buddhist theme
THIS
MONTH
 The Three Refuges - BUDDHA

The Buddha is most commonly known as a historical figure that lived over 2500 years ago in northern India. His name was Siddhattha Gotama, a prince. When he was 29 he left his father's palace to live the life of a spiritual seeker; searching for the answers to life.
     After six years of wandering, trying very hard to understand the truth of human life, he sat under a Bodhi Tree, practised meditation and became enlightened.
     Because he discovered how to become enlightened without a teacher, he was called Buddha (a Pali word meaning awakened, self-realised, enlightened).
     So Buddha isn't a name but a title which tells us how special this man was.
And what was so special about him?
He was a human being, and he was enlightened.
      And, because he was human (just like you and me)
            this shows us that we too can get enlightened.
There are many statues,
old and new,
that try to represent
the physical form
of this man.

A refuge is a place of shelter.
As human beings we are very vulnerable creatures, there are many dangerous things in the world. We build houses, have police and pass laws trying to make our environment safe.
A good society offers a refuge.
This is O.K. for the body but what is our refuge for the heart and mind? Where can we go to shelter from the difficulties and dangers of the heart?

In Buddhism there are three such 'places': the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha.

Here are some thoughts about the first of these – Buddha.


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Here are two ways of thinking about the Buddha as a refuge:
AS A TEACHER.....

The historical Buddha, as best as history can confirm, was very wise & compassionate; a fully enlightened human being. Not only enlightened himself but he taught others how to discover that same enlightenment.
Refuge in Buddha is refuge in a wise and compassionate teacher.

AS FREEDOM.....

Knowing that the Buddha was a human being, just like me, I can take refuge in Buddha knowing that my difficulties aren't permanent. I can feel safe, following the Buddha’s example, knowing that I can be free from these difficulties. Refuge in Buddha is refuge in my own 'Buddhahood' – my potential freedom.
    Because he was a human being, just like me, I can take refuge in Buddha knowing that if I have some faith in his enlightenment then this means that I too can be free. I can feel safe, following the Buddha’s example, knowing that I too can overcome the difficulties I experience in my heart. I can develop the same wisdom and compassion, become enlightened and be free from suffering.

On Buddhist shrines offerings are made in the form of incense, candles and flowers.
The idea behind having a shrine is of creating a place where symbolic objects, worthy of reverence, are placed 'high'. These 3 objects can be seen as symbolizing the 3 refuges.  
Incense as a symbol of Buddha:

The red, glowing tip of the incense is like the one-pointedness of the concentrated, enlightened mind.

The fragrant smoke fills the room in the same way that wisdom and enlightenment fills the mind of a Buddha. The Buddha mind, like the smoke, knows no boundaries.