Over a Thousand People Took Refuge in the Three Jewels at Nung Chan Monastery

On April 13^th 2024, 1,143 people participated in the "2024 Praying for Blessings and Refuge Taking Ceremony" held at 2:00 p. m. at Dharma Drum Mountain (DDM) Nung Chan Monastery in Beitou. By taking refuge in the Three Jewels and observing the Five Precepts, they formally became Buddhist disciples. 

After the prayer service, DDM Abbot President, Venerable Guo Huei (果暉法師), explained Buddhist repentance, taking refuge, making vows, and the spirit of observing the precepts in sequence. He indicated that one who believes and practices Buddhism should fully accept the Three Jewels of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. The "Jewel of Buddha" refers to those who have attained Buddhahood with complete virtue and perfect wisdom; the "Jewel of Dharma" refers to the methods and principles of attaining Buddhahood; and, finally, the "Jewel of Sangha" refers to those who study, learn and practice the Dharma, thereby helping others. Only when all Three Jewels are present can there be the complete Buddhism. 

The Abbot President exhorted the refuge takers to improve themselves and help others attain joy and peace. By likening taking refuge to enrolling at a school, he encouraged the refuge takers to register for courses in Buddhism and Chan meditation, serve as volunteers, and develop the habit of reciting the names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. He called on everyone to uplift the character of humanity and build a pure land on earth through purifying people's minds and society. 

With her mother's encouragement, Ms. Weng Yi-rou (翁以柔) and her husband brought their two children to take refuge. She shared that they were deeply moved when thousands of people chanted Guanyin Bodhisattva's name during the prayer service. Adherent Jing Pin-ruo (靖品若) brought her 9-year-old daughter to take refuge. Her daughter said that from then on, she would be a disciple of the Buddha and felt "a superb sense of happiness." Ms. Jing said that they were particularly moved when the Venerable presented them with the Buddha pendant. 


Along with his sisters and his wife, Wang Bing-wen (王炳文) accompanied his 96-year-old father and 84-year-old mother to take refuge.He maintained that his whole family believes in Buddhism, yet had not yet taken refuge in the Three Jewels. Therefore, he registered for the ceremony online in the hope that by the blessings of the Three Jewels his parents would stay healthy and be well. 







Photos provided by Zhang Yao-zhong (張曜鐘), Fu Li-xian (傅莉嫻), Lin Pei-wen (林珮雯)
Original text written in Chinese by Zhang Yao-zhong (張曜鐘)
Translation: Siang-ling Li
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL