Taking Refuge
ingredients: antique handwritten letter fragments, Italian currency, vintage ephemera, image transfers, ginko leaf, monoprint
To take refuge is to commit oneself to the Buddhist path. According to Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche:
"In the Buddhist tradition, the purpose of taking refuge is to awaken from confusion and associate oneself with wakefulness. Taking refuge is a matter of commitment and acceptance and, at the same time, of openness and freedom. By taking the refuge vow we commit ourselves to freedom.
“I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the dharma.
I take refuge in the sangha.”
So becoming a refugee is acknowledging that we are homeless and groundless, and it is acknowledging that there is really no need for home, or ground. Taking refuge is an expression of freedom, because as refugees we are no longer bounded by the need for security. We are suspended in a no-man’s land in which the only thing to do is to relate with the teachings and with ourselves."
I just took formal refuge this past weekend with the lama I most often study with, so your collage is very timely for me. It was a lovely ceremony where he talked about the dharma being the path and the method and our aim as being to benefit all beings.
ReplyDeleteTaking refuge is an important step; I realize more and more just how important that commitment is, and often doubt my ability to live up to it. All we can do is keep trying, right?
Deletenamaste
ReplyDeleteNamaste, Mo.
DeleteThis is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Roberta!
DeleteLovely composition here and also wonderful words!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Mary Ann!
DeleteThis brought insight to the word refuge. It layered it in its true meaning. The word for me has been tied a "running away from" and the need for help. With the connotations of oppression and shame being the driving force. When we reclaim ourselves from the hands of oppression we choose to "move toward" the blessing of acceptance and freedom. The gift of that shift is brought about by grace, art, love and patience. Thank you for sharing this wonderful post. As always- love your creations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Teri. The reason I chose these quotes is precisely as you said - it sheds a different and beautiful light, and layers of meaning to words we may not seem as so positive. It truly gave me new insight.
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