Phra Ratana Tray (Three Jewels )

1. Buddha

The Buddha means the Enlightened or Awakened One, having realized the Noble Truths. He is the founder of the unexcelled Buddhism, being perfect in the threefold virtue. The Buddha is the compassionate, wise Guide, the Torch Bearer, the Teacher who clearly shows the way to those who are willing to follow the advice. He is a noble sage, a noble saint, an Arahant. He is a perfectly Enlightened One. He had perfected both wisdom (vijjā) and conduct (caraṇa). He has been successful in achieving a good destiny. He knows the whole world. He is the teacher of all beings. Because of all these qualities the Buddha is a very Fortunate Being.

2. Dhamma

           The word Dhamma (in Sanskrit, Dharma) is often used to refer to the Buddha's teachings, but it also means the eternal truth which the teachings convey to us. Dhamma is threefold: the Dhamma that we study, that which we practice, and the Dhamma of Realization. Having been enlightened into the so-called 84,000 Dhamma-khandha (Aggregates or items of Dhamma), The Buddha shouldered the task of disseminating parts of the Dhamma of His discovery that would be conducive to beings' happiness, progress, peace and security. His teachings being based on the listeners' tendency and maturity, He knew how to teach them part of the Dhamma that suited their capacity for practice. This is so that they could be blessed with peace, progress and prosperity for their lives.

The Dhamma contains the truth or the solution the Buddha discovered for the problems faced by man. It is out of compassion for the people in the world that the Buddha preached this Dhamma. This well preached Dhamma is pleasant in the beginning, pleasant in the middle and pleasant in the end. This Dhamma brings about immediate results for those who practice it diligently. This Dhamma is open to all and invites you to 'come and see'. It certainly protects those who diligently follow it. It leads one to the noblest of goals, to Nibbāna. To reach this goal the wise people have to realize this Dhamma by themselves.

          The Dhamma taught by the Buddha has been organized into three groups called Piṭaka or baskets. This work had been completed by the Arahats who lived in the ancient time. The three divisions are given the names: Vinaya, Suttanta, and Abhidhamma

          The Vinaya Piṭaka contains the rules and regulations of disciplines for the monks and nuns to follow. The Suttanta Piṭaka consists mostly of discourses on Dhamma delivered by the Buddha at various times. Abhidhamma is the highest exposition of Dhamma in the final analysis.

3. Sangha

             Sangha literally means "community" or "assembly." The word has two meanings in proper Buddhist usage: the community of disciples who have gained realization of any of the stages of awakening; and the community of ordained disciples - bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunis (nuns). The former implies to those disciples who have through their earnest practice, realized any of the Four Grades of Path and Fruition called Sotāpanna (Stream-enterer), Sakadāgāmī (Once-returner), Anāgāmī (Non-returner), and Arahant (Fully Liberated One). These are called Ariya Sangha (Noble Disciples). The latter implies to the community of ordained disciples who have not yet attained any of the Four Grades of Path and Fruition. They are called Sammatisangha. In Thailand, the Sangha implies to the community of ordained disciples - bhikkhus (monks) only.

The members of the Sangha are the heirs to this Dhamma. They are the treasurers, the teachers, the propagators of this Dhamma. The monks are the best example of those who closely and truly follow this Dhamma. They are well established on the correct path. They deserve honor, respect and veneration.

Regarding the Sangha, there is a popular misconception in the West that

the term refers to any congregation or other community of Buddhists.

But a true Sangha functions as an inspiring example, worthy of reverence,

in order to offer us true spiritual guidance. An ordinary group of Buddhists

may include individuals whose beliefs and / or behavior barely conform to

the Dhamma. Should we take refuge in those who may mislead us?

Furthermore, the Sangha that is our refuge is not merely a group of monks

and nuns, but it is a community of those who are following, or have followed

the Path and have realized any of the stages of Awakening along the way.

To quote from the well-known description of the Sangha, found in numerous Suttas, and chanted daily in temples and homes throughout the world:

The Disciples of the Blessed One have practiced well, are of upright conduct, have practiced diligently, have practiced properly; that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight kinds of individuals; these are the Blessed One's Disciples: worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, and worthy of respect - an incomparable field of merit for the world.