What are the Three Jewels of Buddhism?

The three jewels are a core Buddhist concept and a refuge practice.

The three jewels refuge goes like this…

The above was pulled from Thich Nhat Hanh’s wonderful book The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings. He goes on to say… “Taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha is a fundamental practice in Buddhism. These are universal values that transcend sectarian and cultural boundaries. When we were in our mother’s womb, we felt secure, and protected from heat, cold, hunger, and other difficulties. To seek refuge means to look for a place like that that is safe, a place we can rely on.”

The “Three Jewels” in Buddhism refer to the three core aspects of Buddhist practice and beliefs that are central to a practitioner’s spiritual journey. They are:

The First Jewel

Buddha (The Enlightened One):

This jewel represents the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, around 2,500 years ago. The Buddha serves as the model of enlightenment and compassion for Buddhists. Practitioners take refuge in the Buddha as their guide and inspiration on the path to awakening.

Don’t get confused though to think that “Buddha” only is a reference to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. In Buddhism, there is a concept called Buddhanature which is a concept that all people have the ability to become a Buddha. It is something within us that we all have. Through awakening, we can tap into our own Buddhanature and become an enlightened one.

To me, I think I’ve always thought of the term “Buddha”, in the 3 jewels, as another word for TEACHER. You see… we could learn from Siddhartha path and teaching, but also Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, our own personal life lessons, or even from difficulties in life or difficult people we deal with. All of these things, experiences, and people can be teachers for us on our journey.

The Second Jewel

Dharma (The Teaching):

Dharma refers to the teachings of the Buddha, which encompass the principles and practices that lead to liberation from suffering. The formal teachings include the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and other teachings found in Buddhist scriptures such as the Sutras. The Dharma provides a framework for understanding the nature of reality and offers guidance on how to live a wholesome and virtuous life.

Informally, the teachings can be any life situation or experience as mentioned above that allows us to practice or implement the Dharma. This morning as an example I accidentally got in the wrong lane to turn. Most other drivers went around me and just did what they needed to do in order to keep moving. One woman however decided to go the RIGHT way which put her car and my car face-to-face totally blocking either from moving forward and blocking traffic.

She was proud to prove I was doing things wrong but in doing so jammed us both up. So it made it even harder to fix my mistake. This was a great experience to practice dharma. In a previous life I might have flipped her off, or gotten out to ask how she’d like to fix this now more advanced problem she caused. Instead, I looked for the quickest way to get out of the situation and hinder any more traffic. I was in the wrong however it would have been easy to blame Texas roadways for setting me and others up for failure.

I’m not going to lie I got pissed. I was flabbergasted someone would WANT to intentionally block traffic and delay their arrival wherever they were going – to DO THINGS RIGHT at the cost of putting others in danger and her own family. I drove away wondering… what is going on in her life right now? What could have made her think this was okay or intelligent? Again, I admit I accidentally went far to turn and cross traffic instead of going short and turning tight.

Texas has both turn-far lanes and turn-short lanes and I struggle with these as in PA I think we only had turn-long lanes which means you always stay on the righthand side of the road. Anyhow, I went on to reflect on how to let go of this energy my body was stirring related to this situation. So this is a valuable opportunity to learn something. To learn compassion of other people, to notice what is going on in your mind and body after situations like this, and to reflect on how I could have handled this screw-up better. As you can see… lots of opportunities to learn and grow.

If we do take time to reflect on our situations or experiences in life and actually work towards learning and growing, then I think, we are applying dharma as much as when we study Buddhist teachings. I recommend exploring both.

The Third Jewel

Sangha (The Community):

Sangha represents the community of monks, nuns, and lay practitioners who follow the Buddha’s teachings. This community provides support, guidance, and inspiration for individuals on the spiritual path. Taking refuge in the Sangha involves seeking refuge in the collective wisdom and compassion of fellow practitioners, as well as participating in communal practices such as meditation and rituals.

For me, I love Sangha and community building. I am not sure I am great at it but I love it. I think the community is one of the important factors in big growth. Hearing other people’s successes and struggles helps you better understand your own. Being connected to like-minded individuals who practice meditation together and who study the Dharma together really helps you stay the course and feel seen and heard which are powerful benefits from connections in community.

Together, the Three Jewels serve as the foundation of Buddhist faith and practice, offering refuge and guidance to those seeking liberation from the cycle of suffering (samsara) and attainment of enlightenment (nirvana).

Going back to some thoughts by Thay he ends the Three Jewels chapter by offering this Three Jewels gatha…

Buddha is the teacher showing the way,
the perfectly awakened one,
beautifully seated, peaceful and smiling,
the living source of understanding and compassion.

Dharma is the clear path
leading us out of ignorance
bringing us back
to an awakened life.

Sangha is the beautiful community
that practices joy,
realizing liberation,
bringing peace and happiness to life.

I take refuge in the Buddha, the one who shows me the way in this life.

I take refuge in the Dharma, the way of understanding and love.

I take refuge in the Sangha, the community that lives in harmony and awareness.

Dwelling in the refuge of Buddha, I see clearly the path of light and beauty in the world
Dwelling in the refuge of Dharma, I learn to open many doors on the path of transformation.
Dwelling in the refuge of Sangha, I am supported by its shining light that keeps my practice free of obstacles.

Taking refuge in the Buddha in myself, I aspire to help all people recognize their own awakened nature and realize the mind of love.
Taking refuge in the Dharma in myself, I aspire to help all people grasp the way of practice and walk together on the path of liberation.
Taking refuge in the Sangha in myself, I aspire to help all people build fourfold communities and encourage the transformation of all beings.

I hope you found this article helpful for better understanding the three jewels and ideas on how to own these and apply them to your life and practice. Two years ago I wrote a personal reflection on what the three jewels meant to me and what this website might be.