Learning to Take Refuge

We have three cats that live on the homestead.  There's Sam, a black and white tuxedo.  There is Finn, a white albino.  And there is Enso, a gray tabby.  

The first two, Sam and Finn, are house cats to their core.  They'll sit and look out the window on nice days, but they have zero interest in trying to venture outside.

Enso, however, is another story.  During the spring and summer, he comes inside just long enough to eat, then he runs back outside to explore the woods that surround our property.  

He likes to roll around in our garden mulch and he'd rather sleep in a pile of straw than a cat bed.

However, his love of adventure cools a bit as the days grow shorter and the nights get colder.  During the Fall and Winter months Enso goes outside just long enough to ensure the grass is still where he left it, and then he retreats to the warm comfort of our home.

I get a bit of a chuckle from his antics, but I'm glad we can offer Enso a place of refuge on the days when the world is uninviting.  And watching him snooze on the couch reminds me that Buddhism does the same thing for us.

As Buddhists, we vow to take refuge in the triple gem of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.  When we take refuge in Buddha, we vow to follow his example.  When we take refuge in Dharma, we vow to follow his teachings.  And when we take refuge in Sangha, we vow to support and take part in the larger Buddhist community.

That said, the way practitioners approach the refuge vows can vary.  For some people they are hallmarks of tradition; something they do to connect with their Buddhist ancestors.  For others, they are an intellectual exercise; something they do to learn more about the teachings.

But we must remember that the triple gem is much more than that.  It's a safe space; a place where we can find comfort when the world is uninviting.

When our mind is rattled and full of unkind thoughts, those are the day we should meditate.  When we're so angry that we can't think, those are the days we should chant.  And when we're scared of what the future has in store, those are the days we should study sutras.

As we do this, as we take refuge in the triple gem of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, we regain our strength, and we learn to deal with life's hardships.

Like a farm cat who's venturing out into the wilderness, we live our lives knowing that if things become too difficult, we can always return home.

Namu Amida Butsu

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