About the Refuge Ceremony
Taking refuge means relying wholeheartedly on the Three Jewels of the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha to inspire and guide us toward a constructive and beneficial direction in our lives. The real taking of refuge occurs deep in our hearts and isn’t dependent on doing or saying anything. Nevertheless, we may wish to participate in the refuge ceremony by requesting a monk or a nun to formally give us refuge. The refuge ceremony is brief: we repeat the passages after our teacher and open our hearts to make a strong connection with the Three Jewels. The ceremony also “officially” makes us a Buddhist.
Taking refuge means relying wholeheartedly on the Three Jewels of the Buddhas, Dharma and Sangha to inspire and guide us toward a constructive and beneficial direction in our lives. The real taking of refuge occurs deep in our hearts and isn’t dependent on doing or saying anything. Nevertheless, we may wish to participate in the refuge ceremony by requesting a monk or a nun to formally give us refuge. The refuge ceremony is brief: we repeat the passages after our teacher and open our hearts to make a strong connection with the Three Jewels. The ceremony also “officially” makes us a Buddhist.
About Taking Precepts
Precepts are a joy, not a burden. They aren’t designed to keep us from having a good time and to make us feel deprived. The purpose of taking precepts is to give us internal strength so that we won’t act in ways that we don’t want to. Having understood that killing, stealing, selfishness and so forth only lead us to harm ourselves and others now and in the future, we’ll want to avoid these. Taking precepts give us energy and strength to do so.To help people overcome their disturbing attitudes and stop commiting harmful actions, the Buddha set out five precepts. During the refuge ceremony, in addition to taking refuge in the Three Jewels, we can take any or all of the five precepts, and become a lay follower — an upasaka (male) or upasika (female).
Precepts are a joy, not a burden. They aren’t designed to keep us from having a good time and to make us feel deprived. The purpose of taking precepts is to give us internal strength so that we won’t act in ways that we don’t want to. Having understood that killing, stealing, selfishness and so forth only lead us to harm ourselves and others now and in the future, we’ll want to avoid these. Taking precepts give us energy and strength to do so.To help people overcome their disturbing attitudes and stop commiting harmful actions, the Buddha set out five precepts. During the refuge ceremony, in addition to taking refuge in the Three Jewels, we can take any or all of the five precepts, and become a lay follower — an upasaka (male) or upasika (female).
Refuge Taking Dates ：
3 Refuge & 5 Precepts
Venue: Ven. Hong Choon Memorial Hall｜Level 4｜Hall of No Form
Date: 21 Jul 13, 09:30 am – 02:30 pm
The taking of Three Refuges and Five Precepts form the basis of liberation.
It is the very initial step to one who wish to walk the path to liberation would take.
Registration
Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery, Reception
24 Jun 13 – 20 Jul 13, 09:00 am – 04:00 pm
Register at Front Office.
Preparatory Course for 3 Refuges and 5 Pecepts
Venue: KMSPKS, Venerable Hong Choon Memorial Hall, Level 1, Room 8
Date: 21 Jul 13, 09:30 am – 11:00 am
Get to know about the Three Refuges and Five Precepts. English and Chinese classes available.
No registration required
