Why Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Taking refuge is a foundational Buddhist practice, serving as a daily commitment to the Triple Gem. While often viewed as a simple act of faith, it represents a profound aspiration to align one's life with the Buddha, his teachings, and the community of practitioners, transcending mere religious ritual or external authority.

At the heart of Buddhism lies the act of taking refuge in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This practice, common across all major schools, is an expression of determination to follow the path toward enlightenment. In early Buddhist tradition, the Buddha is the fully awakened teacher, the Dharma represents his spiritual doctrine—including the impermanence of phenomena—and the Sangha is the community of spiritually developed followers. Far from a passive relinquishing of responsibility, this commitment is an active, daily aspiration to center one's life on these three supports.

Interpretations of these jewels vary significantly across traditions. Mahayana Buddhism, for instance, often expands the scope of the refuge. The treatise Ratnagotravibhāga posits that the Buddha is the only true, permanent refuge, while the Dharma and Sangha are considered temporary or partial. In contrast, Chan Buddhism emphasizes an internal turn, with figures like Huineng urging practitioners to find the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha within their own essential nature rather than in external entities. Some Mahayana texts even suggest a non-dual perspective, where the three jewels are inseparable, existing as a single substance within the mind.

The practice also carries historical and symbolic weight. The Triratna, a trident-like symbol representing the Three Jewels, has appeared on coins and architecture since the 2nd century BCE, such as at the stupa in Sanchi. While early texts describe the Sangha as a 'field of merit' for lay devotees, the relationship between monastics and the laity is carefully managed; monks are expected to uphold the faith without resorting to hypocrisy or inappropriate behavior. Ultimately, faith in Buddhism is not blind obedience, but a confidence rooted in reasoning and accumulated experience, designed to guide the practitioner toward liberation.

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