法界次第初門 1.221

1.221

Third, taking refuge in the Saṅgha. "Saṅgha" in the language of Qin is "assembly" (zhong); "assembly" means harmonious union. For practitioners of the three vehicles who have gone forth, when their minds unite with the dharmas of principle and phenomena spoken by the Buddha, they are therefore named Saṅgha. "Taking refuge" means turning away from companions of the ninety-five kinds of heterodox conduct and directing one's mind to take refuge in companions of the correct conduct of the three vehicles who have gone forth; therefore it is called taking refuge. "Relying upon" means depending with one's mind upon companions of the correct conduct of the three vehicles who have gone forth, thereby being able to escape the three destinies and the birth and death of the three realms. Therefore a sūtra says: "One who takes refuge in the Saṅgha will never again take refuge in any other non-Buddhist paths."