A Refuge Question...

johnathan

In my net surfing today a came across the following:

Be a lamp unto Yourself

As the Buddha was dying,
Ananda asked
who would be their teacher after death.
He replied to his disciple -

"Be lamps unto yourselves.
Be refuges unto yourselves.
Take yourself no external refuge.
Hold fast to the truth as a lamp.
Hold fast to the truth as a refuge.
Look not for a refuge in anyone besides yourselves.
And those, Ananda, who either now or after I am dead,
Shall be a lamp unto themselves,
Shall betake themselves as no external refuge,
But holding fast to the truth as their lamp,
Holding fast to the truth as their refuge,
Shall not look for refuge to anyone else besides themselves,
It is they who shall reach to the very topmost height;
But they must be anxious to learn."

Is this ever mentioned in the Sutta"s? Or anywhere with a credible reference?

BonsaiDoug

Sounds like you might find it here: Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html

33. "Therefore, Ananda, be islands unto yourselves, refuges unto yourselves, seeking no external refuge; with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge, seeking no other refuge.

johnathan

Thanks Bonsai Doug

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If Buddha directed Ananda to take himself (each individual) as a refuge and the Dharma as his Refuge... Why do we have the three treasures (Refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) and not two treasures (Refuge in the Dharma and Refuge in yourself)...

I assume there is a Sutta that directs us to the three treasures but does that lead to a contradiction?

Also, what does he mean by "yourselves" if there is no self? A figure of speech perhaps?

caz

Buddha was speaking to whom ?
Ananda...a Highly realized being.

naturelover

IOW if you're looking for contradictions, you will find them in the sacred texts of all religions. If you're looking to Buddhism for freedom from suffering, differing phraseology won't bother you.;)

TheJourney

There is no contradiction. Refuge in buddha is refuge in self.

johnathan

nature lover... I am not looking for contradictions... I was simply trying to understand what the Buddha was saying in that passage? I am well aware of the contradictions of other religions... I used to look for them... now, it doesn't matter...

Thanks caz namyaw... In that he would soon die was he basically saying follow your Buddha- nature...

TheJourny... your statement seems to say the same thing...

naturelover

johnathan wrote: »

Thanks Bonsai Doug

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I assume there is a Sutta that directs us to the three treasures but does that lead to a contradiction?
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