How to Practice
Taking Refuge (I)?
When we talk about common external preliminary cultivation, who are we common with? We have common practice rules with both Hinayana and Mahayana, the reason is that both Hinayana and Mahayana must cultivate renunciation. What follows is the uncommon internal advanced cultivation, which is the uncommon cultivation of the Mahayana. This uncommon cultivation of the Mahayana has five categories, namely:
1. Taking Refuge.
2. Generating Bodhicitta.
3. Offering Mandala.
4. Practicing Vajrasattva Visualization and Reciting "Vajrasattva Hundred Syllable Mantra".
5. Prostrating while Reciting "Seven-Division Offerings" in Guru Yoga.
(Seven-Division Offerings are: Prostration, Making Offering, Repentance, Rejoicing, Request of Turning Dharma-wheel, praying not to Enter Nirvana, and Dedication of Merits).
Taking refuge is also a matter of chanting, observing, and practicing according to the ritual. The two most important points are: one is to have faith in the Triple Gem of the Guru, which is the door to taking refuge. The other is to swear not to abandon the Triple Gem even if one encounters life difficulties or in exchange for the throne, which is the essence of taking refuge. When you have both above deeply in mind, then you can practice the dharma of taking refuge.
When we practice taking refuge, we must first visualize the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka. If the visualization is not so clear at first, we can view the Thangka of the scene of taking refuge multiple times until the visualization is clear.
Within the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka, there are five branches. On the middle branch is a majestic and lovely lotus seat. Master Padmasambhava, who has gathered all the Buddhas of the three generations, is sitting on it. Directly above Master Padmasambhava is his root guru, then followed are the gurus of root gurus, all the way up to Samantabhadra Tathagata.
Because of the limitations of the Thangka, the lineage masters were drawn on the upper right and upper left side of the root guru during the design. Therefore, we need to pay attention when visualizing that the lineage masters are all in the double tower style and are close to each other. Abiding without contact.
Taking Refuge in Buddha: In the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka, three Buddhas sit on the lotus seat in front of Padmasambhava. The representative of the past Buddha is Dipamkara Buddha, the representative of the future Buddha is Maitreya Buddha, and the representative of the current Buddha is Sakyamuni Buddha. In the scene, the Buddhas of the three generations are only displayed in a representative way, but when we visualize, we should imagine that all the Buddhas of the three generations sit here.
Taking Refuge in Dharma: The location of the Dharma scriptures in the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka is on the lotus pedestal behind Master Padmasambhava. Many sutras and scriptures thought by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the three generations are enshrined in sequence, with the Dzogchen 6.4 million Tantras as the head. The label of the scripture is facing me, and it emits a colorful dazzling light net, and naturally makes the sound "Ah Le, Ga Le".
Taking Refuge in Sangha: The Bodhisattvas in the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka reside on the lotus seat to the right of Master Padmasambhava. There are eight Bodhisattvas: Manjushri, Avalokitesvara, Mahasthamaprapta, Ksitigarbha, Voidgarbha, Maitreya, Obstacle Remover and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, they are the representatives of the Mahayana Sangha. Then, to the left of Master Padmasambhava, visualize the Hinayana monks, Shariputra, Moggallana, etc., representing all the Arhats.
There are many Wisdom Dharma Protectors and Karma Dharma Protectors gathered around the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka. They can resist the hostile conditions from the outside and prevent them from entering the interior, and they can also protect the inner siddhi from leaking to the outside.
I will only briefly describe the scene of Taking Refuge Thangka. If you want to visualize it clearly, you have to look at Taking Refuge Thangka in detail, just like a close friend who is close to you, recalling their appearance easily and naturally.
In addition, when practicing taking refuge, you should recite these four verses:
The realm of space is filled with
those void ones.
Master, Guru, Dakini,
and Gathered Assemblies.
In front of Buddhas, Dharma, Sanghas,
I and all sentient beings
of six realms take refuge.
Reciting the verses three or five thousand per time. The amount of five thousand is enough. If you are busy with studying and cultivation, you can recite one or two thousand at a time.
Finally, we can use the following verses to dedicate the merits:
With this good deed of mine,
Fast obtain Triple Gem of Buddhism.
Pray for all sentient beings,
All achieve the Buddhahood.
