Refuge Vows and Commitments

Refuge pledge

I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.
I vow to uphold the basic Buddhist tenets,
Of goodness, kindness, and friendliness,
Of nonviolence, honesty, and self-control,
Of generosity, compassion, and understanding,
Of maturity, humility, and personal responsibility.
And to uphold the ten precepts of refuge.
I vow…

  1. To respect, protect, and nurture life
  2. To respect others’ property
  3. To avoid sexual misconduct
  4. To speak truthfully and honestly
  5. To speak politely and kindly
  6. To speak in ways that create harmony
  7. To speak meaningfully and moderately
  8. To cultivate contentment and non-attachment
  9. To cultivate goodwill
  10. To cultivate right view

The Four Noble Truths Affirmation

Today, I commit myself to awakening by cultivating the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths.
Consisting of:

The Four Noble Truths

  1. The truth of suffering
  2. The truth of the cause of suffering
  3. The truth of the cessation of suffering
  4. The truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering

I do this by engaging in the Buddha’s Four Tasks and Eightfold Path:

The Four Tasks

  1. Sufferings are to be known
  2. Their causes are to be abandoned
  3. Their cessation is to be actualized
  4. The Eightfold Path is to be relied upon

The Eightfold Path

Consisting of:
  1. Right view
  2. Right intention
  3. Right speech
  4. Right action
  5. Right livelihood
  6. Right effort
  7. Right mindfulness
  8. Right concentration

Pledge of daily practice and commitments,
I vow, to uphold my daily training - of affirmations, practice, and proper behavior,
To recite my vows, precepts, and pledges daily,
To purify my vows monthly - by honoring the day of observance.

Evening Contemplation and Affirmation

At the end of your day, spend a few minutes to contemplate your day’s wholesome
accomplishments, and also those things you could have done better (in a rational nonjudgmental
manner), while setting your intentions to do better tomorrow. Now reflect on your wholesome
accomplishments and recite.

Evening affirmation

This evening, as I put my day to rest, I reflect on today’s productive actions.
That through my study, contemplation, and practice, I have increased my understanding.
That through my altruistic efforts and maturity I have contributed to my community.
That through my virtuous intentions and actions, I’m now one step closer to awakening.
For tomorrow, and every day thereafter, my goal remains clear, simply improvement,
To become a little wiser and a little kinder each and every day.
– Venerable Tarpa

Refuge Level – Daily Practice

The essence of the Buddhist path lies in the Threefold Path – the development of higher
understanding, higher virtue, and higher awareness, which are cultivated through study,
contemplation, meditation, and practice. At the refuge level, daily practice consists of:
Refuge Level – Daily Study, Practice, and Training