The Three Jewels 

The concept of the Three Jewels stems from ancient Buddhist philosophy; however, you don’t have to be Buddhist to appreciate the jewels in your own life. Each of these jewels (in my opinion) is essential and can be found in every spiritual or religious tradition. There are the  wisdom teachings, the community of practice, and that which connects you to who you really are. Enjoyed together, these three jewels work together to support and enhance your personal evolution.

Wisdom Teachings (Dharma)

In Buddhism, the Dharma includes the fundamental wisdom that Siddhartha Gautama taught such as the Four Noble truths and the Eightfold Path. In any tradition, Dharma might refer to spiritual teachings which support you on your ever-evolving path of awakening, no matter what your religious or philosophical beliefs may be. You might be inspired by religious teachings or sacred texts and writings of mystics, poets, and historical figures. It’s worth noting that the Sanskrit word dharma means duty. In either case, Dharma denotes a basic law or truth of reality.

Community of Practice (Sangha)

Sangha is a Pali term which refers to a spiritual community of practitioners that provides you  support on the path of awakening. In its largest sense, all living beings make up your Sangha. In Buddhism, the Sangha refers to the community of practitioners – monks, nuns, and laypeople such as most of us. When you hear people talk about their sangha, they are referring to a community of practice to which they belong. Though the sangha can include friends and family, it is often a group made up of people who practice together whether meditating, praying, or gathering to practice their faith.

Connecting to Your Essential Nature through Practice (Buddha)

Buddha originally refers to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the founder of Buddhism. He lived in 6th century B.C.E. and was not a god, but a human being committed to waking up to who he really was. His life was an example to show that there is a path to enlightenment. Buddha  can also refer to enlightened beings who inspire and guide us. Most importantly, Buddha refers to your true nature (your soul or spirit), sometimes called your essential self or your Buddha nature, which can be directly experienced in your meditation practice. It has been said that consciousness itself is the truest teacher.  I think of Buddha as that unconditioned Self that is beyond all fluctuations; that which is looking, seeing, feeling, and experiencing life through your senses.

Taking Refuge (Finding a Safe Space)

To take refuge is to find a safe place. You might take refuge under a bridge in a hailstorm, or in a basement during a tornado. The word refuge comes from a French word meaning “to flee,” and, in most cases, a refuge is where you flee to in order to get away from people or places that seem/are unsafe.

In Buddhism, “taking refuge” in the three jewels means to lean on them to help you weather whatever storms and uncertainties life brings.

Taking refuge is finding a way to help you feel protected, safe and comforted when you are feeling stressed out and overwhelmed. Your refuge may be spending time in nature, reading a favorite book while sipping a cup of tea, walking your dog, or hanging out with friends or family. Think of a refuge as your safe space!

Here are other examples of refuges:

• A person/being (a spiritual teacher, parent, friends who share your values, etc.)
• A place (a vacation spot, meditation room, garden, beach, desert, etc.)
• A memory (your favorite spot, a special moment, being surrounded by friends, etc.)
• A sanctuary (a physical space such as a church, temple, garden, etc., or a feeling such as dwelling in your heart space, or inviting contentment, or compassion, etc.)
• A practice (such as yoga, affirmations, meditation, praying, acts of service, mindful walking, etc.)

Some refuges cultivate a feeling or a belief. Perhaps you invite and embodying qualities you admire in a teacher that you recognize they are also present within you. Or maybe your refuge is a belief that brings you comfort such as, “everything happens for a reason,” or, “life is a play of consciousness”, or “the universe has my back.” You can also take refuge in creativity, laughter, poetry, or song.

Rick Hanson, author of the Buddha’s Brain, uses the examples of refuges as finding  “confidence in the power of reason, feeling connected with nature, or a basic intuition of the fundamental alrightness of all things.”

You can take refuges in a formal or an informal way, a verbal or nonverbal way–whatever works for you. Experiment with different ways to take refuge, such as clutivating the sense that the refuge is where you come from or that it is the love that flows through you

Taking refuge can help you feel protected, safe, and comforted whenever you feel stressed out and overwhelmed. Finding what you take refuge in is important. It can be people, places, memories, practices, behaviors, and of course, the Three Jewels are a refuge.

If you want to awaken to love, be happier, change from the inside out and deepen your meditation practice so you can savor your life and stay connected, be sure you have your three jewels, your way!