A week ago last Sunday I went to the Refuge Ceremony at the Shambhala Centre here in Halifax. My friend Heidi was taking refuge, becoming a Buddhist. The ceremony is about taking refuge in the Buddha (the teacher), the dharma (the teachings) and the sangha (the community of other Buddhists). When I took refuge in 1979, the ceremony was given by the Vajra Regent, Osel Tendzin, then the main student of the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. The Regent talked mostly about refuge as giving up, leaving “trivial pursuits”, ambitions, strivings, behind, embracing our loneliness as sentient beings on the path. As Buddhists, we know that there is no external salvation. It is up to each individual.
Sunday’s Refuge Ceremony was given by the Sakyong, Mipham Rinpoche, Trungpa's son and current head of the Shambhala Community. His emphasis was on embracing the community, being with others who are meditating and learning and helping us. We have the teacher, the teachings and each other to guide and encourage us. This is a very rich path. However you talk about it.
Posted by leya at October 22, 2006 08:24 PM