2. The Extraordinary Preliminaries

There are six sections to the extraordinary preliminaries.

a. Taking Refuge

The first of these sections is taking refuge, which is explained in terms of the divisions of refuge, the way to take refuge, and finally the benefits and precepts of refuge.

i. The Divisions of Refuge

Generally, it is said that refuge is the foundation stone of all Dharma practices, and that which opens the door to refuge is faith. The importance of the three types of faith has already been shown above. It may be further demonstrated by the stories of Ben of Kongpo and the old lady and the dog’s tooth.

ii. The Way to Take Refuge

As for the method of taking refuge, the field of merit should be visualized according to the descriptions in the various commentaries. Then:

The Buddha, Dharma and Sangha are supreme among all that is rare, like a priceless jewel. They constitute the outer refuge. The real essence or embodiment of these three is the Sugata, the Buddha, as it says in the Sublime Continuum (Gyü Lama):

The single refuge is the Buddha.

The three roots are the lama, yidam and khandro, the inner refuge of the secret mantrayana. They are like the root or the basis for all the positive accumulations until you attain enlightenment. Taking refuge in order to use the channels as the nirmanakaya, train the inner air as the sambhogakaya, and purify the tiklés—whose nature is the bodhichitta—as the dharmakaya is the secret refuge. The ultimate refuge is the primordial wisdom present within the wisdom mind of these objects of refuge— the mandala of the empty essence, the cognizant nature and the all-pervading compassionate energy. In order to accomplish this within our own mind-stream we take refuge until enlightenment is fully realized. With this in mind we take the vow of refuge.

iii. Precepts and Benefits of Taking Refuge

As regards the precepts and benefits of taking refuge, in terms of precepts there are three things to be abandoned, three things to be adopted and three supplementary precepts. Firstly, having taken refuge in the Buddha, do not take worldly deities such as local spirits as your outer refuge and do not make offerings to them. Having taken refuge in the Dharma, refrain from harming other beings. Having taken refuge in the Sangha, do not associate with non-buddhist extremists ( tirthikas), or anyone whose behaviour is contrary to the teachings. Regarding the three things to be adopted, having taken refuge in the Buddha, you should honour and respect any representation of his body, even a tiny piece of broken statue. Having taken refuge in the Dharma, you should respect and take care to preserve the written teachings, even fragments of paper bearing a single syllable. In the past, when Lord Atisha saw a scribe putting his pen in his mouth as he wrote, he cried out, “Atsama! That’s not right!” Having taken refuge in the Sangha, even a patch of red or yellow cloth from their robes should inspire you with faith. As supplementary precepts, rely upon your spiritual master and practise without doing anything that violates or conflicts with his body, speech or mind. Listen to the teachings and follow the Dharma and the Sangha.

It says in the Pig’s Story (Pak Gi Tokjö):

Whoever takes refuge in the Buddha

Will no longer be reborn in the lower realms.

Forsaking even the body of a human being,

They will be reborn among the gods.

And the Parinirvana Sutra says:

Whoever takes refuge in the Three [Jewels]

Will swiftly attain enlightenment.