November 21, 2009 - Taking Refuge

Nov 21, 2009

Thanksgiving is a celebration of giving thanks for a good harvest, which is what is being celebrated in the US in the coming week.  And we're looking into what makes a bountiful spiritual harvest.

Taking refuge is one of the more important things you do to insure a good spiritual harvest.  And to see what's involved, there is no better example of taking refuge than the Three Refuges Of Buddhism.  Go to almost any Buddhist handbook and you will find them:

1. I take refuge in the Buddha.
2. I take refuge in the Dharma.
3. I take refuge in the Sangha.

A bit of basic knowledge of Buddhism will give you a grasp of what these are.  And do you know what?  They, or their equivalents are found in almost any spiritual path.  And do you know what?  The cluster of paths which we follow have them in abundance, and at all of the levels you can imagine!

In refuge, we find comfort, reassurance, nurturing, strengthening, and all else we need to follow our spiritual quests and deal with the mundance world at the same time! 

And with that and what we discover, we can really have a major harvest!

Blessed Be!