Day Course and Refuge Vow Ceremony

In this very special course, we will explore what it means to be a Buddhist. Gen Delek will explain about Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the Three Jewels of refuge, why we turn to them and how they help us on our spiritual path, as well as in our everyday life.

At the conclusion of the day, there will be a rare opportunity to receive Refuge Vows, for those who wish.

It often seems to us that our happiness is created by external conditions — the people and things in our life — and that all our problems are also created by others. However, Buddha explained that since happiness is a state of mind, its main cause must also be a state of mind. Other things such as our friends, our wealth, our job, or our holidays can act only as contributory causes of happiness. We know this by observation. Since happiness is a state of mind, we can see how misleading it is to place all our expectations of bliss and contentment on transient possessions and enjoyments.

Buddha taught how to examine our mind and see which states produce misery and confusion and which states produce health and happiness. He taught how to overcome the compulsively non-virtuous minds that confine us to states of discontent and unhappiness, and how to cultivate the virtuous minds that liberate us from pain and lead us to the bliss of full enlightenment. All of this is Dharma — Buddha’s teachings — an extraordinary spiritual path that is relevant and practical and perfectly suited to modern day, 21st-century people. Sangha are the spiritual friends who guide and inspire us on this spiritual journey.

Becoming a Buddhist is a gradual process of appreciating more and more deeply the wisdom of Buddha, the transformative power of his teachings, and the real friendship of the Sangha.

Taking Refuge Vows means that we promise to apply effort to receiving Buddha’s blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving help from Sangha throughout our life.

This rare and precious opportunity is open to everyone.