To incite the magic of \u20183\u2019 in Buddhism<\/a> we can look at the two central \u20183\u2019s: that of the Buddha, Dharma<\/a>, and Sangha; and that of s\u012bla <\/span>(ethics), samadhi <\/span>(meditation), and pa\u00f1\u00f1a <\/span>(wisdom). There are more \u20183\u2019s, no doubt, but both of these are in the \u2018foundational\u2019 teachings of all schools of Buddhistm. I\u2019ll save the second triad for another post for now and simply work through the first.<\/p>\n This first triad (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) is often referred to as the three jewels,those which are most precious; or the three refuges, those to which one may turn in times of turbulence for shelter. The first, the Buddha, made clear that he was no god, no yaksa <\/span>(spirit), but merely one who is awakened (bodhi<\/span>, from which the title \u2018Buddha<\/span>\u2018 is derived). He was the exemplar, the Jungian archetype, the great man who was unique only in having cleared the path on his own, without an awakened teacher. However that path was there for us now to enter upon to likewise become awakened.<\/p>\n The path is synonymous with the teachings of the Buddha. Though not as mere books or sayings, but as lived wisdom<\/span>. A Buddhist must not merely know<\/span> or have faith<\/span> in the teachings, he or she must embody them. Yet Dharma also holds a more ancient meaning, borrowed from the Brahmanic tradition before Buddhism. That meaning is law<\/span>, or its corresponding duty<\/span>. The universe in Buddhism is not governed by chance<\/span> or an independent designer\/creator. It is law-bound, through and through. There are physical laws, Buddhism accepts these even in their most current scientific forms. Then there are moral laws, karma<\/span>, the inescapable balancing of good done with good received. But finally and above all is cosmic law, Dharma<\/span>, the Absolute Calmness and Equanimity of the universe of which we are one part reflecting all other parts like a giant net with a jewel at each knot in the net. To peer into any one jewel is to look at each and every other jewel reflected through it, layer by layer, level by level, reflection upon compounded reflection. The beauty of a jewel, like any one of us, is our ability to purely reflect the universe which is us<\/span> without selfishness.<\/p>\n And it is this which gives rise to the Sangha, for it is in other people that we find true, lived Dharma and thus our closest connection to Buddha. Each of us is that jewel, we just need the imperfections wiped away, which isn\u2019t easy, but worth it. As we clear away more of our selfishness we see more clearly our connectedness with others in our lives, from our parents to the 3rd world workers who make most of our cloths and harvest many of our foods. We also come closer to the earth, the sun, water, and air, all of which are within us\u2026 though usually unnoticed. Our Sangha is that group of people who realize the purity and goodness within us, who lead and sometimes push us along the path, who gently criticize us when we go astray and in whom we know the same goodness and give the same guidance.<\/p>\n (hint: start at the beginning) (completed on Dec 27th) I\u2019ve been a lazy boy this past week, relaxing in Helena at my parents\u2019 house. I did write a letter to the local paper\u2019s editor about the \u2018war on Christmas\u2019 and how the holiday, which is shared with\/borrowed from many other faiths should be about love […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/7907151-113515402180899484?l=americanbuddhist.blogspot.com\")