To take refuge in the Budda
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One who wants to be a good Buddhist for his spritual pro gress should have firm faith and take refuge in the triple Gems, i.e, Buddha, Dhamma and Sańgha. The reasons are briefly explained in the following:-
Buddha: Innumerable Aeons ago, the future ( would be )Gotama the Buddha was, at the time of Dīpańkarā Buddha, a sage of perfect virtues necessary to be come an Arahat and attain to Nirvāna. But he denied that opportunity and was determined to become a Buddha, for he did not want to attain to Nirvāna alone, but to lead other people to Nirvāna as well. So it is clear that his compassion for living beings was beyond expression. He fulfilled all the perfections ( Pāramī ) to become a Buddha. When he become the Buddha, he went, for 45 years, from place to place to preach his teachings of Truth ( Dhamma ) for the benefit of man kind. He was the great teacher of both gods and men, as he taught them, day and night, things to be avioded and things to be practised. He showed the right way to heaven and the wrong way to hells. He also showed the best way to Nirvāna, the enternal bliss and final liberation from all sefferings caused by birth, decay, disease and death. He organised his disciples, monks and lay men, and also founded the community of Buddhist monks, the spritual heirs to him, to continue studying,practisings and preachings. So he was a great benefactor to mankind and worty of our reverence and worship.
