Three Jewels and Three Roots

New branches: Tantric techniques: Fourfold division: Twofold division: Thought forms and visualisation: Yoga: In Tibetan Buddhism, the Three Jewels and Three Roots are supports in which a Buddhist takes refuge by means of a prayer or recitation at the beginning of the day or of a practice session.

These are:[1] The additional refuge formulations are employed by those undertaking deity yoga and other tantric practices within the Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana tradition as a means of recognizing the universality of Buddha Nature.

[2] Lord Buddha is the Enlightened One who discovered the Ultimate Path to release clinging and craving and liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

As for recognizable current-life forms, the interpretation of what is the Jewel depends on how a school defines Saṅgha.

[citation needed] Samding Dorje Phagmo Dilgo Khyentse, head of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism until his death in 1991, explained the twilight language correspondences and meaning of the Outer, Inner and Secret aspects of the Three Jewels: The outer three jewels are the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha.

According to the Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols: The trinity of body, speech, and mind are known as the three gates, three receptacles or three vajras, and correspond to the western religious concept of righteous thought (mind), word (speech), and deed (body).

[8] In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, the teacher is a valued and honoured mentor worthy of great respect and a source of inspiration on the path to Enlightenment.

[9] In the Tibetan tradition, however, the teacher is viewed as the very root of spiritual realization and the basis of the entire path.

In return, disciples are expected to show great devotion to the lama, whom they regard as a Bodhisattva.

A lama is one who has not only mastered the words of the tradition, but who has an intense personal relationship with the student; thus, devotion is the proper attitude toward the guru.

[13] Through guru yoga practices, the Vajrayana student becomes familiar with the refuge tree and lineage within which the lama is teaching.

Judith Simmer-Brown points out that: The dakini, in various guises, serves as each of the Three Roots, and may be a human guru, a vajra master who transmits the Vajrayana teachings to her disciples and joins them in samaya commitments.