Back to take refuge.VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.

To become a Buddhist, the first thing each person needs to do is to take a vow to return to take refuge in the three jewels (the Three Jewels - including Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha), also known as refuge in the Three Jewels.

However, taking refuge in the Three Jewels is not just a ceremony, then the guru gives the name and takes the refuge sect (certifying himself as a Buddhist). The return to relying on the Buddha - Dharma - Sangha must take place every day, in this life, the next life following the prayer of walking on a beautiful path of light ...

Reliance on the Three Jewels of the three paths of evil

According to that, when returning to rely on the Three Jewels, the person who develops the mind will hear that: Refuge the Buddha, immoral hell; Refuge Dharma, non-ghoul devils; Refugee Sangha, no fall of birth. When I first heard it, what was it… so easy, just by taking refuge is to get off the bad roads and bad roads that everyone will be afraid of. But, do not understand on the text but need to illuminate the relying on the Three Jewels in the practice of returning from life, every day.

That practice may begin with the contemplation of the "Three Returns" guided by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village Sangha, often contemplating:

I am taking refuge in the Buddha, the person giving me the way in life. I take refuge in the Dharma, the path of love and understanding. Children rely on Sangha, the union of those who vow to live a mindful life.

Having taken refuge in the Buddha, I have a bright and beautiful direction in life. Having returned to the Dharma, I am learning and practicing the transformation methods. Having taken refuge in the Sangha, I am being enlightened, guided and supported by the Sangha on the way of practice.

About the Buddha in me, may everyone, be able to receive awareness, soon open the heart of Bodhi. Regarding the Dharma in me, may everyone, master the methods, set out to transform together. About the Sangha in me, may everyone, build four of them, regain all species.

Breathe lightly, smile. After that contemplation, we will see, Buddha is not some distant object but "the person who guides you in life". In retrospect, maybe on the way of cultivation, I have met many Buddhas in the reincarnation of ancestors, parents, fellow practitioners or people who are still uncomfortable day by day, causing difficulties for me. And Buddha is sometimes a bell.

Well, I will remember, those childhood years, when I was a high school student, happened to be lost in the neighborhood. The funeral family has faith in the Buddha, so they invited monks to join the family for recitation. My house was nearby, so I came to see it and was impressed with the figure of a round-tipped monk sitting solemnly reciting Amitabha. That moment helped me to calm down, wonder why he was young but did not choose the path like many other young people, how his life is, and is he happy. However, his sitting general is so beautiful, his singing voice is so good, it makes the funeral more cozy.

The way he talks about death is also gentle: "As a human, everyone must die. The journey of life and death is indispensable, so please calmly support the mindset for those who walk gently. That is the best way to help them. And that is also karmic affinity on the way to rebirth, to meet again and to become a relative of Bodhi. Moreover, death is the beginning of a new life journey, like changing an old coat… ”.

Then he held hands, shared, the homeowner felt gently, he would recite the Buddha's mind, recite the sutras, and then eat a vegetarian diet to pray for the transcendence of his relatives. That moment, with the specific case of the pupil, that teacher was the Buddha - the one who gave the way not only to the owner of the mourning, but also to him. Because, also from that, he urged to find out the path the teacher went, to then enlighten many things, and to go his own way, happily.

There must be a certain predestined relationship to know the Buddha, take refuge in the Three Jewels, and become a Zen disciple. Some people suddenly come to mind because of the funeral, there are also people who by chance, out of curiosity, come and see. Some people listen to the elegant bell of the pagoda and choose a blue shirt ...

But after that initial predestined relationship, the way back to the Three Jewels must be given a strong aspiration, serious study, change (repair). being able to see Buddha, Dharma, and realizing the Sangha.

And when I really understand the religion, live the religion, no matter what happens, I'm happy that the sky falls down, I am not afraid, I can also rest in my heart. The state of fearlessness - fearlessness that is because we have little or no attachment, liberation, and rise - means not going down (without falling) into the three paths of suffering: hell, hungry ghost, and birth.

Study and practice Buddha for yourself, very carefully

There is a mistake that most of the Buddhist students still make, that is, thinking, we study Buddha for our teacher, our temple ... Or studying Buddha is like giving lessons to Buddha. In general, you don't have to study Buddha yourself. Therefore, whenever a teacher or a Buddhist is discouraged from practicing the same temple is… to leave the temple. It was turning out of the light on the way. It is not advisable to identify whether a teacher or a Buddhist is Dao, or the Three Jewels, to steadfastly return to rely on.

The Buddha did not force anyone to follow him, made him the highest rank and praised him. He taught listen - understand - believe - and act. Do not believe blindly even if it is the Buddha's words, that is the difference of Buddha from those who are claimed to be the masters of other religions. That also means that, Buddha told me to believe and rely on yourself is the core. I myself have great inheritance, treasure is full, and have a light source of wisdom and compassion, but because of ignorance, three poisons (greed-ignorance) cover up so I cannot see and use it.

Returning to refuge is the practice of meditating so that we see the "path of love and understanding" that lies in the real place of returning. For a long time, we have gone too far from us, thinking that we are something of "I" and "mine", so we do not stop holding and binding. And I was rolling because I didn't identify myself properly, only to lose myself more and more. The self without me, mine, in itself is a quiet moment, as clear as Buddha saw while sitting under the bodhi tree more than 25 centuries ago. Nurturing that view and living with it the more we don't get afflicted, the more we can let go of many things, and become kind.

Good life, gentle life is not for everyone, if you understand cause and effect. Then I will be enlightened, well, I don't compete, don't get angry with this person, don't be greedy for something ... I'm helping me. The concept of helping others is also helping me to light up. And right there, I will no longer see, I am the giver, they are the receiver. On the contrary, I will see, they gave me this opportunity to do this good work, thanks to them that I was able to do this. I am grateful to them from our own giveaway.

With that view, many Buddha's children opened their hearts. As can be seen, the present is filled with sharing hearts. Some people head to the dry West, the people suffer from the salty soil, rice crops, fruit trees have lost their income ... Some people join hands with the poor lottery ticket sellers, sharing gifts as soon as they hear they are influenced by the Covid-19 epidemic. And many others joined hands for the common work of the whole country: fighting against the Covid-19 epidemic in localities ... Maybe no one knows anyone, but with the same desire

to contribute secretly to their life, at that moment, they also is a beautiful group to rely on. Thinking about them, if my heart is cool and happy, the petals of wisdom and compassion in me will bloom and gently.

Cultivation in life is therefore very important. The biggest Buddhist school is actually life, with all the teachings going on out there, practically every day. The ugly, the bad or the beautiful, the beauty; Good people, wrong people ... can be lessons and exercises for us if we always see ourselves as a little practitioner in life. Every thing that comes, even the global Covid-19 epidemic, is also an opportunity for me to remember the impermanent teachings of the Buddha, and then return to rely on the Three Jewels, to gently dwell in the present. .

In fact, being able to be peaceful before the event is also a contribution, there's no need to do a big deal, if you can't! END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.24/10/2020.