The Three Jewels of Buddhism
The Buddha, The Dharma and The Sangha.
In Buddhism this is also known as the Triratna in Sanskrit and comprises of the Buddha, the dharma (doctrine, or teaching), and the sangha (the monastic order, or community).
To become Buddhist you must submit to The Three Jewels or Gems and become a part of the three. Reciting the mantra of The Three Jewels affirms your commitment to Buddhism, its Dharma and the community that you support and that supports you.
• Buddham Saranam Gacchami
• Dhamman Saranam Gacchami
• Sangham Saranam Gacchami
In translation from Sanskrit these mean, I go to Buddha for refuge, I go to the dhamma for refuge and I go to Sangha for refuge.
Buddha means the one who takes us from darkness to light, towards wisdom, towards higher consciousness, and towards mindfulness. Dhamma is the ‘here’ and ‘now’, it’s being and ecisting in the present which is the fundamental principle of Buddhism or Dharma. Sangha means community, a community where people support and help each other. It is important to have a community so that if you‘re feeling low and not 100% or stuck, the community is there to help pull you up.
Buddhists recite this mantra 108 times regularly to reaffirm their commitment to The Three Jewels.