Given to an old member on the question of Taking Refuge and continually reciting the Refuge Prayer
by Khenpo Tashi
Question: What is Taking Refuge for? Will reciting the Refuge vow help?
Haha! A Very basic question but very good question!
Yes yes yes! Because taking refuge, or reciting refuge vow, contains the entire meaning of Buddhism.
For example, we want to go to a college. We tell our mother, “Mom, I want to go to this good university!” Is that it? No! There are many reasons behind why we want to go to that university. Because that university is very good. Going to that university will give us better life, career, money etc! It will change our lives forever.
Same for taking refuge! Until we attain full Enlightenment, we need to say the Refuge Prayer. Because we are still going to that direction. We have not arrived. (READ: What is the Use of Faith?)
Of course, we are not going to a physical place. We are correcting our wrong thinking. Still going to the wholesome thinking that brings peace.
Can it help us just by reciting the refuge prayer over and over?
Until now, we are still sort of going to different directions. That is why our sufferings are still around us. That is why we are still afraid and feeling all sorts of emotions.
Just by reciting the Refuge Prayer is very powerful in accumulating merit and purifying Karma. Because it is removing our wrong habits of self-centeredness. It also pours the good habits of Buddhism into us.