Buddhist discussion

has anyone formally taken refuge? if so, how did you prepare for this and how was your experience? are you happy you did it and what made you do it?

Hello Ashley,

I have been a practicing Buddhist for 25+ years but only took refuge 11 years ago. We take refuge in the Three Jewels of the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. I was ready when I knew that I wanted to be involved with a community of brother and sister practioners (the Sangha). I have been involved with two Tibetan tradition sanghas for the past 10 years, the Shambhala Buddhist community (primarily Kagyu) and my personal teacher Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche (primarily Nyingma). She is from the Mindrolling tradition (pronounced Min-drol-ling).
I believe you are prepared when you recognize within yourself that your study and practice is what you are committed to for the remainder of this lifetime.

Enjoy the journey on this path
yours in the Three Jewels
Larry

Now, I haven't been practicing nearly 25 years but maybe you can clarify my understanding here. Should we ever make a committment to anything for life? It's all about experience, isn't it, living by experience and what's happening now - saying I'm going to do this for the rest of this life seems to me to be trying to live in the future instead of in the now, and it seems like attachment to certain imagined ideas of what we think our lives should be. I'd think that taking refuge,like everything else, should be viewed as something that might well be transitory.

Interesting perspective Rebecca, the Bodhisattva Vow goes even further. In that we vow to return life time after life time until all beings are free from suffering and have realized their Buddha nature which is enlightenment. The strength of the Refuge Vow and the dedication to practice and study does fluctuate, at least in my experience day by day. The Refuge Vow is recited every morning as part of my practice so it is fresh each day.

Everything is transitory and constantly changing. It is my practice and study of Buddhism that allows me to rest comfortably with all that change. I use the example that the Buddha set, the teachings of the Buddha (the Dharma) and the support of the community of people (the Sangha) that follow those teachings and that teacher. I do that daily so it made sense to me to take that vow.

it seems i have sparked some good discussion. as someone just starting out on the path i simply wanted some input about this big step. i don't want to break my vows and so i wanted to give an opportunity for others to share their experiences

what does everyone think of following two different traditions at the same time? such as zen and tibetan?

I've just found out that the nearest retreat to me (which isn't that far) is called Rivendell! It'd almost say it was destiny if I believed in it. I'd love to be able to take a weekend sometime this year and try out group practice. Is there anything I need to consider before I go? Like Ashley I consider myself just starting although I've been interested for years.

As for traditions, I havn't comitted myself to any one, Ashley. Are they so incompatable? If you like something from one, why not incorporate it into another?