The Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha
The
Three Treasures
The “three treasures”,
“three jewels”, “three refuges” or “threefold jewel” are all terms commonly used
throughout the Buddhist world when referring to the “Buddha”, the “Dharma” and
the “Sangha”. Some schools of Buddhism incorporate the recitation, “I take
refuge in the Buddha. I take refuge in the Dharma. I take refuge in the Sangha”
into their daily practice. In Nichiren Buddhism, though not expressed in the
same way, this idea is totally integrated in the practice of chanting Daimoku
and reciting Gongyo to the Gohonzon. The idea can be expressed as follows:
I take refuge in the Dharma, the Wonderful Law of the
Lotus Sutra, especially as expressed in Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo
I take refuge in the Sangha, the community of Disciples
of the Buddha, especially as manifested by those who embrace the Gohonzon.
In the prayer beads or “juzu” used by the SGI, the three tassels at one end of the loop specifically represent the three treasures. We therefore have a constant reminder of the three treasures whenever we are using our prayer beads.
Here is what Nichiren wrote about the three treasures in the Gosho “The Four Debts of Gratitude” (words in italics added):
“ …. The fourth is the debt owed to the three treasures
[the
three jewels or refuges]…
[The Buddha]: Even if we should gather all the water of the four
great oceans to wet inkstones, burn all the trees and plants to make ink
sticks, collect the hairs of all beasts for writing brushes, employ all the
surfaces of the worlds in the ten directions for paper, and, with these, set
down expressions of gratitude, how could we possibly repay our debt to the
Buddha?
[The Dharma]:
Concerning the debt owed to the Law [Dharma], the Law is the teacher of
all Buddhas. It is because of the Law that the Buddhas are worthy of respect.
Therefore, those who wish to repay their debt to the Buddha must first repay
the debt they owe to the Law [Dharma].
[The Sangha]; As for the debt owed to the Buddhist Order [Sangha],
both the treasure of the Buddha and the treasure of the Law [Dharma] are
invariably perpetuated by the Order. To illustrate, without firewood, there can
be no fire, and if there is no earth, trees and plants cannot grow. Likewise,
even though Buddhism existed, without the members of the Order who studied it
and passed it on, it would never have been transmitted throughout the two
thousand years of the Former and Middle Days into the Latter Day of the Law.