Episode 163 - Refuge in Buddha

<p dir="ltr">At the start of this three part series on Refuge, this episode explores what it means to take refuge in Buddha. The most simple way to take refuge in Buddha means relying on Buddha as a teacher. This requires studying and applying dharma in daily life, which leads to an understanding that dharma and daily life are inseparable. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">To take refuge to a deeper level, what is called ultimate refuge in Buddha, means to identity with our Buddha-nature, to take inspiration from beings who were once just like us but are now enlightened, and follow their teachings. At this point, we start identifying ourselves with the enlightened beings of the past, present, and future. We see them as examples of what we can become and as guides to that same state of awakening. Right now awakening is just a seed, but this seed is indestructible. Awakening is in our nature, indestructible, just as sleeping and waking are irrevocably part of our daily rhythm. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">To say, “I take refuge in Buddha” means I put my faith in my Buddha-nature, not a man who lived in India 2500 years ago. The meaning of the man who attained enlightenment in ancient India is that he points to what we can do and what he can teach us. This is similar to what we do when we take any teacher. If we want to learn to paint with watercolors, we find a teacher whose skill we believe in, and we learn from them. What we’re trying to learn from Buddha is how to experience our real nature. And to have faith in Buddha is to have faith in our pure nature and potential.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">When we take refuge in Buddha this way, as revealing our Buddha-nature, we identify with our indestructible seed of enlightenment. At the moment it may seem like that seed is dormant in a field of weeds, with thorny trees and patches burnt to the ground. But if we see examples like Buddha and take refuge in Buddha's teachings by practicing them, that seed begins to sprout and then