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When we take refuge with the 3 Jewels as person of small capacity, the causes of going for refuge are twofold:
- our fear of the miserable realms and the like, and
- our conviction that the three jewels can protect us from them.
(LAMRIM VOL 1, PG 179)
On the path as person of great capacity, a practitioner needs to perform a practice of going for refuge that is specific to this context. The refuge will not only be for this life from now till death, it will be from now until one become a buddha instead. That means starting from now in this life and for all my future lives, I will go for refuge to the Three Jewels. The practitioner then needs to recite the following three times:
“O master, please listen to me. I, (say your name at this point), from now until I reach the heart of enlightenment go for refuge to the bhagavan buddhas, supreme among beings. O master, please listen to me. I, (say your name at this point), from now until I reach the heart of enlightenment, go for refuge to the best of teachings, the teachings of peace free from attachment. O master, please listen to me. I, (say your name at this point), from now until I reach the heart of enlightenment, go for refuge to the best of assemblies, the mem- bers of the community of noble bodhisattvas, who are irreversible.
LAMRIM VOL 2, PG 66
Master Tsongkhapa had written the ritual exactly as Master Atisha composed it.
I am extremely blessed and grateful to my dharma master, Venerable Richang, for imparting the complete teachings with a perfect lineage from Master Tsongkhapa and Atisha.
Rejoice with gratitude! ????????????