六祖大師法寶壇經 1.77

1.77

"Good friends! Having now made the four great vows, I will further confer upon you, good friends, the formless three refuges precepts. Good friends! Take refuge in awakening, the most honored among two-legged beings. Take refuge in correctness, the most honored through freedom from desire. Take refuge in purity, the most honored among assemblies. From this day forward, address awakening as your teacher, and do not take refuge again in evil demons and heterodox paths. Constantly attest for yourselves by means of the triratna of the svabhāva; I urge you, good friends, to take refuge in the triratna of the svabhāva. 'Buddha' is awakening. 'Dharma' is correctness. 'Saṅgha' is purity. When one's own mind takes refuge in awakening, evil delusion does not arise, desires are few and one is content, and one is able to be free from wealth and sensual desire; this is called the most honored among two-legged beings. When one's own mind takes refuge in correctness, in thought after thought there are no wrong views; because there are no wrong views, there is no pride regarding self and others, greed, craving, and clinging; this is called the most honored through freedom from desire. When one's own mind takes refuge in purity, the svabhāva is entirely untainted by and unattached to all realms of worldly defilement and affectionate desires; this is called the most honored among assemblies. If one cultivates this practice, this is taking refuge for oneself. Ordinary beings do not understand, receiving the three refuges precepts from day to night. If you say you take refuge in the Buddha, where is the Buddha? If you do not see the Buddha, upon what do you rely for refuge? The words turn out to be false. Good friends! Examine this for yourselves; do not misapply your mind. The text of the sūtra clearly says 'take refuge in the Buddha for oneself'; it does not say 'take refuge in another Buddha'. If you do not take refuge in your own Buddha, there is no place to rely upon. Now that you have awakened for yourselves, each must take refuge in the triratna of your own mind: inwardly regulate the nature of the mind, and outwardly respect other people; this is taking refuge for oneself.