Audio recorded at Buddha House Adelaide. Transcript auto-generated and AI-corrected; may contain errors.
About this talk. In this 49-minute teaching, Geshe Sopa introduces the practice of taking refuge in the Three Jewels, the foundation of Buddhist spiritual life. He begins by establishing the central problem: after death, without preparation, we have no control over our rebirth and risk falling into suffering. He then walks through the object of refuge—the Buddha as a perfect teacher, the Dharma as the path of teachings and practices that directly uproot suffering through realisation, and the Sangha as spiritual companions. Sopa distinguishes three levels of practitioners: those seeking protection from lower rebirth, those seeking complete freedom from saṃsāra itself, and superior beings (Bodhisattvas) who seek enlightenment to benefit all sentient beings. He explains that taking refuge is not mere intellectual acceptance but a commitment to discipline—avoiding harmful actions and cultivating virtue—and he introduces bodhicitta, the aspiration to achieve perfect enlightenment for the sake of all others. The talk assumes some familiarity with Buddhist concepts and is pitched at students beginning serious practice.
File metadata (for organising)
File: 11 LP.mp3
UUID: 8142a646-e3be-449c-849b-7f979ac025b9
Teacher: Geshe Sopa 1986
Collection: A lamp that illuminates the path (Geshe Sopa 1986)
Recorded at: Buddha House Adelaide
Duration: 49.0 minutes
Words: ~4,930
That means there is no assurance or confidence that one has not, will not be born into lower or bad migration. After or after after that, other than those meanings. Other that means other from the protection or the saving or protection from that fear. What or that is only is definitely or only these three rare ones or three types of refuge, Three Jewels or three refuges. Other that is or therefore, means one should have strong and firm refuge or should take strong, firm refuge.
And so one should not, one should try to, or practice or take seriously. It is advised without losing or degenerating. Other that mean that all altogether, we were, again, subject to, like, talking here. Last time, we were talking about life impermanent or life, life is not forever lasting or life or impermanent life or, or that means or death, or this life can be anytime and it can come.
Or that is the, when that comes, what will expect this? If it goes in nothingness, then no need to worry about. But instead of nothingness, or it goes, life can continue to again another life. Or the another life has only two births, higher birth or lower birth. There’s no any other way to going.
Other because life, once life goes from here, same way, even in this during this life, where you born, how high, how good, etcetera. You have no power. After birth, there’s no, all the, from the point of duration or the freshness of body, freshness of mind, youthfulness, etcetera. No control. Every moment goes aging, sickness, or goes without control.
And then there is from time to time, based on one’s own karma, and sickness often comes or the mental, physical sickness. There’s no much control. And then when the ceasing that life and death, also, no oneself have control or it comes again or by karma. Some are very short. Some are intermediate. Some are little longer.
But anyway, have no oneself. Even one or even or today and tomorrow, between today and tomorrow, has no or then definite oneself assurance or control to remain or to stay, not dying, etcetera, or like that kind of uncontrollable nature. Or same way, after death, where you were born, where you’re going, also oneself have no real control or no competence, no assurance. If I die, if after that of death, when you’re born, or definitely, the same life like this, or maybe better, or something. Everyone has to be confident or assurance. And then or that is not too fearful.
All the great, as we were talking earlier, are great saints, great who, people who put in this life meaningful or useful. Meaningful means to accomplish certain kind of goal for the future, not just merely this life, but for future. Order, so, therefore, put this body and precious mind in powerful practice. Mind put into our future goal. Order.
These, they done preparation for the future or great merits, virtues, or practice, meditation, realization, all the necessary things done. And then also all the preventing to be born again, worse, bad, all serious life situation of what the cause is, realizing to preventing those things, stopping doing those, and what you already have done, created, or purifying or clean, making as much clean you will do. Other that way, great saints or personality, all those are very, very even exciting to die. Like, means a young child being somewhere and ready to return to one’s own home. Also exciting to or like that way.
Other that kind of feeling will happen. All religious person, spiritual, one who practice and realize. Now rest of all, haven’t done anything or even not know what to do, even where you are going, what is the cause, and what will happen in your life, and nothing or no. All no. Pay attention.
All of them just only concentrating how you live this, how you enjoy this, this life. That’s only that. Or if that life is spent on that way, and then all that person have no confidence, assurance, after death, what will happen? Or they speak on or dark or big question with a very, very huge dark. Whether it’s continue, if there’s a continue, which way continue, where you going. All of those things have no, all the, if the, if the or haven’t prepared positive, all negative karmas and created all of these mountain of all the negative karma, which mind action created with that, and then it goes to all the only lower part. Or that is the if one has no competence.
Or then or that time or that if that situation, all that is, that is fearful. All that fear means fear, real fear, see, not to need to feel trapped or dying or death and dying is everybody’s nature or what you mean. Nobody lives that way. Other part is a real fear is after death, what will happen? Other that is the fearful.
If one hasn’t done preparation or any of those things, then if all the born into, you know, lower rebirth like that, all created, all misery, all suffering nature, all life, all once you fall from there on down and down all the time, life after life, life after life, eons, all circling down or lower part of, most of the lower or life. That’s the kind of fear one have. What is it to say, to protect from those? According to the Buddhist teaching, whether we call Buddhist term or not, generally, almost this can be applied. Buddhists will say, Three Jewels or Three Jewels.
Or first one is the, order, you know, one has to take refuge from this fear, object of refuge. That is the Three Jewels or sometimes Buddha. Then according to Buddhism, Buddha. Order, whether a Buddha is there or what that means, or somebody who, who has perfect knowledge, who has become perfect, who has perfect knowledge, who is free, who himself is free from all the misery or suffering obstacles, who has the power to protect, who has great compassion and love, the perfect love or perfect compassion or in this, any discrimination or pure or impartial, you know, those things. Or the one who or then show what are the cause of misery or suffering or problem.
What is the cause of the highest peace, happiness, or enjoyment, or whatever highest goal. All of these paths or bad path or wrong path or right path, who knows properly, who can show all those things properly. That, so, therefore, that kind of teacher or guidance or who is the perfect one. Or that is what you would call, whether you call Buddha or Buddha or guru or teacher or whatever you call. Whether that is one, like we last time we were talking, like doctor or the medical term, we have the analogy.
Or the one who completely sick with the disease or serious, who only take refuge to where, this first refuge is there, somebody who knows how to work, etcetera, a doctor, public doctor. Or that this is like reference to the doctor like that. Right? Or the second reference, object to refuge is the, what is the, called Dharma. What Dharma?
That guru or spiritual, what given the medicine, like medicine, what given is, other what to do or how to do or the practice or mentally or physically or the life doing the, this life can be all the put into the or special on it, or method to lead oneself up or higher rebirth or finally obtainment, perfect emancipation of freedom or enlightenment or Buddhahood. Or one set of those method or path or realization, whatever are those method. And they can bring, brings oneself, bring or protect from falling into a lower rebirth or lower rebirth or even falling into samsaric circle life. Or even also method, higher method is one, not only oneself safe and freeing, but all other sentient beings can able to help, to help other sentient beings or emancipation or freedom for all other sentient beings. For that, that kind of responsibility, able to take all such kind of noble or method on producing noble attitude, mind, method, how to do.
All of these teachings, you know, popular, all these teachings, you know, themselves are in the all. Those are the Dharma or called Dharma. Or for example, if one was going to, if we are gonna have lot of powerful negative karma created. One has, or if one after death might be the most serious, worst kind of life might have coming or something like that. How one can prevent? What kind of refuge one should be taking? When should you take?
Or the one you should taking is during this, other real life or this life, before, long before that death comes. And then what kind of the refuge or the refuge is doing? Other, all these purification or any of those courses or method which are purifying the Dharma practice. And also all kind of the practice, virtuous activity or action or karma. Other those, other than the real, real Dharma or the, like medicine or the taking medicine cure.
Direct cure. Curing is like medicine. Like that way, here, direct curing is the, the all those or Dharma. That is the Dharma. Then Dharma has the, Dharma has many, many different levels or the main, one of the main key Dharma is the other yogis, through meditation, direct realization of the all truths, one of the truths.
Or these direct realizations, meditating, realizing truth or insight in a deep realization by this can be only removed all the obstacles. All the desire, hatred, ignorance, etcetera, from the root can be removed. All, therefore, all negative things can remove. So, therefore, these realizations or inner realizations, higher realizations are the real Dharma. And after realization, when it removed various negative karma and obstacles, when removed, all that is the, from the root, when he removes, all that sees all these obstacles or obstacles, misery, or suffering, the cause, all of these are, when each of those are ceased permanently, that permanent cessation.
That cessation itself, once you achieve that kind of cessation, what the negative things never again come back. So therefore, those that also real Dharma. Also, the realization and its through all the cessation of all the negative. All those are the real Dharma is like that. When you reach that, only one person become in peace or happiness or nothing. No? No aspiration. Other that is the main, but then and this has many, many can apply level. Earlier, we’re talking to three spiritual beings, inferior, intermediate, or the great beings. Or the inferior level is the main, mainly to free from lower rebirth. Or so, therefore, lower rebirth is the, cause of lower rebirth is the, physical or negative karma action or the non-virtuous, unwholesome action or, like, beginning, like killing or lying or stealing, etcetera.
Or various those bodies, speech, mind, that there are ten or various non-virtues. What are these? Various actions and karmas created life or negative and also will born into a lower rebirth. Prevention is the true, not harming to any other or keeping from or injuring or harming to others or no killing or no stealing or no lying, or deceiving any others. Other that fact, all those area. And fearful. All of those are fearful because they will bring into our.
So they, those, based in the beginning or teaching of the conduct. That means this is or is higher rebirth, free from lower rebirth. Next to, if one want to be born higher rebirth, like, again, rebirth of human or there were other, the real main cause is ethics. What is it you should use? Śīla. Śīla, morality.
Or in this life, religious or pure religious conduct or morality. Or that that is based on non-harming others. Or once our body, speech, mind, action keep in pure, or so stopping to cause, producing those causes of negative. Already have in the seed of many, many past and created those things, there are certain way to or and compassion and various way or the purifying, many methods. All of those that they, these activated, themselves also talk about the Dharma.
All the Dharma. Take refuge means to refuge or because relying on these, these will protect oneself or like that way. If one did bad behavior or bad thought on all the evil actions create, of course, its result will be, other future life, like those things. When these stops and already done, also, the way of to purifying all of these things, and then oneself on it already protect by those things. So, therefore, protection of Dharma.
Other, Dharma is this, other these are the first symbol of Dharma. Then from there, higher realization, many, many different level or Dharma which protects from a whole samsaric rebirth or Dharma which protects all other sentient beings, misery of other sentient beings or to help out to all other sentient beings. All of these various different level of those Dharmas which brings oneself or. Although these are the called Dharma. So the Dharma Jewels.
That that is a second one. And then the third one is the Sangha Jewel or the Sangha Jewel. Or the Sangha or, as in the last time we were talking also, those who real practitioner or who really understand, those understand, who started to learn to practice, and one step of doing, following this and also helping to others or assisting to others or various kind of the spiritual group or spiritual single beings who can help to others, showing others, assisting others. And anybody who follow that, who be dealing with, friendly or close association, which itself becomes to benefiting to spiritual growth. Other those area, those are the called Sangha.
Other anyway, those things are taking those Three Jewels. So, therefore, when you take refuge in those Three Jewels, they will be real protect or guard. So that those three are the definite or take refuge. Anybody who wants to, according to Buddhism or spiritual goal or higher goal or free from falling or those in the different or lower situation, other should be taking refuge, those three areas. Other that is, if those three areas are not protect, no one can protect.
Other, that is the main. When you’re talking about those take refuge, other take refuge means relying on them or touching on them. So therefore, they, when you are doing that, they precepts. Other precepts, it is precept or precept, by taking refuge to them, then all certain things should be doing or certain things should not be doing. Other, like, if we take some fearful or the negativity or something, if you take somebody else, king or somebody, attack refuge or they rely on, do even they protect for temporarily, if you don’t follow order, that order or whatever, certain things should be, other, you know, then we will again or not protect.
Or the similar, like that way or to take refuge, know, pure or true Buddha. Or means other special kind of commitment, which certain things you should not be doing. Taking refuge also to Dharma means, again, same way. So, anyway, these are our other subject. Means the precept or advice of the Three Jewels, if one follow carefully or properly, to following is the mainly karma.
What that means? Well, think what understanding the what is the virtuous karma? What its effect, result? What is a negative karma? Its result, what are these cause and effect? Karma and cause, effect. No? Or this properly first learn and then following or any negative or karmas, any try to or stop or positive karma, as much one create in during the life.
All that, that is the all that, that is the main activity or the practice of the main activity along the. Other, as it is said, our subject is the again, about taking other refuge. Now this, since right now, we were talking in period of the inferior or spiritual being practice. But the refuge is all three, all three spiritual way of refuge. All slight different mode, motivation or slight motivation and objective goal. But refuge, object of refuge are Three Jewels. Although that is the same way.
In this time now, we want to first, then I will be continue all this taking refuge about the nature of refuge. Last time, we talked some topics, with the topic also want to go continue. And then later, when the intermediate level of talking or the Mahāyāna on the refuge. Also, once you have some differences here, we talk later. We don’t need too much at this time.
So, therefore, the first root text, since we haven’t read much, first, the couple of lines, one, two, read root text. And then from there, we can do other root text. Do you have this line six? Number six. Do you have the with the number?
Maybe one can read slowly, loudly. I mean, everybody, many of you have, many may not have. So what is the, who’s going to read? Okay. Yes.
Yes. For those pure beings who decide the highest in life, shall explain the right things which are taught to me by my guru. Okay. Although that is the, we talked to the next, the three different levels of the beings. Other and then this is talking on the supreme being or spiritual, from the point of spiritual point, supreme being or superior being, or you could say, whether that is the, some of you maybe are new. So what is it talking about?
Maybe just the definition or short thing. Maybe those three. Or from the point of spiritual level, the seeking in this life goal. The goal there are three goals. The first goal is the inferior goal, is to, after this death, worrying about immediate next life. One not wanting to fall into a bad life or lower rebirth or hell or hungry ghost or animals or even human or worse kind of human, etcetera, or falling after death, where you go, feeling that way, wanting to be born higher rebirth, like human or even better than human, etcetera. Whether that immediate next life worrying about, whether that is the first or inferior level of. Whether for that, what one has to do in this life.
Other that is mainly emphasized on this life practice for future. All of these three are looking, seeking for future, not for this life. This for this life is not even not religious or spiritual goal anyway. Other, like that way, other future goal, that is the first. And the second one is the, second one is, even one is even free on this life from all the lower rebirth, born higher rebirth, life, but that doesn’t mean completely free.
But even higher rebirth, and then, again, you may fall or this samsaric circle life. So, therefore, higher or lower, whatever, wherever you’re born, it is the birth itself controlled by karma and afflicted or consciousness or mind like desire, hatred, etcetera. Whether that is the birth, aging, death, or sickness, any of these by created by impure karma, then is still is not free. So, therefore, one next, second one is much, much wider scope or the bigger one. One completely free from whole samsaric life or circling life, a life which is free, completely free from all the, whether that’s name, uncontrolled rebirth or wherever or higher or low or doesn’t matter, they are completely free from that, whether that is seeking, that is the, is the intermediate one.
Other goal. Or the third goal is the supreme or superior being. Goal of superior being is the, here it is talking of those or those who, those who spiritual practitioner who seeks the high goal, which is not for one’s sake or seeing one’s own first misery or suffering problem and all of these, fully realized, understand. When because of that, later all one’s others, other one’s own, oh, dear parents, etcetera. From that, then they up.
And then finally, you know, all more sentient beings, all beings or creatures or everybody in a situation like that, where one wants to do or mainly to the benefit of all other sentient beings. Order, wanting to free all of them from misery or suffering, wanting to lead to all sentient beings for the perfect enlightenment or Buddhahood or liberation. For that purpose, mainly seeking one’s whole energy only for purely for the benefit of others? Whether that is by producing a great love and compassion to all the, all others or universal love or compassion call. Order that is the first producing that way, and then finally, all the time, one seeks purely for the benefit of other sentient beings. Oneself become completely of service for other sentient beings.
Other that being, kind of being is the highest superior, other superior being. Other those and those things free level. So, therefore, we were and then just the definition first to I mean, we were still explanation talking those things. And the root text right now is the third one. Or third one is the, then those beings who are, oh, here it says for those pure beings who what?
Pure being or pure being is maybe means pure being. Means pure or holy being. So maybe great because great, you know, being who is mainly taking responsibility for other sentient beings. Other that is the holy beings who are mainly wanting to obtain quickly or perfect Buddhahood. Or that that is in order to, in order to help all the other sentient beings.
Or that because this being, superior being, or this holy being or superior being, or this is the wanting to obtaining or perfect Buddhahood or in order to help or to all other sentient beings equally or and also doing that perfectly or great in a powerful way or quick way or in a perfect way or without any much error or the, like that way or without partiality or there’s something like that kind of great job or goal to achieve. In order to do this, ordinary level is difficult to do. So, therefore, what is the best thing to do is the first oneself quickly obtain perfect Buddhahood, enlightenment, in order to mainly, not one’s own happiness or enjoyment, but mainly to help out all sentient beings. Other, that is the, other that is talking. Other. So this, the one who has, one who has obtaining this kind of mind or thought is called bodhicitta.
One who wants to obtain this bodhicitta, then the meaning or the mean or method. Alright? Or and explaining the right meaning, they says, you know, right meaning. What do they say? Right meaning?
Right means, means method. Other, that means if one who want to do that, the method is planning is now method of Mahāyāna or practitioner, one who is that superior being. Other, that is for that we’ll explain here what, as taught by one’s, his guru. Other that is, know, was what they are talking about it from here, explaining all that method, all the main method for that.
Right means which were taught by my guru. It’s saying, right, means from here means, is it how to, how to oneself obtain such kind of altruistic mind. Mind, spontaneous mind, wanting to obtain or perfect enlightened purely in order to have for the, mainly for the benefit of other sentient beings. Not for oneself, just purely for the benefit of other sentient beings. Whether that is such kind of mind first have to produce, that is called bodhicitta.
Until you reach that level or that mind spontaneously arises, is not superior being. Other when you reach that, reach or obtain that mind, then it becomes superior being or called Bodhisattva or who is entered with the Mahāyāna path. All that, that is all like that way. So, therefore, what are the method? All those that the mind first, how to this mind produce.
Right? And after producing, things to not degenerate or maintaining or should be developed that mind higher and higher. And with that mind, what kind of activity? Only until you obtain enlightenment, what activity should be doing? Other these order to do this, also, then kind of put this sort of a vow taking and all of these.
After taking vow also for the benefit of other sentient beings, then there are great deeds or activity or deeds of Buddha or Bodhisattva or the whole activity or design on the aim to benefit all other sentient beings. All of these great rest of method are called six paramitas, the six types of practice of Bodhisattva. This is mainly explained, but there are so many. Bodhisattva’s activity is so vast or unlimited because the objective goal is unlimited or highest goal. The object for whom is unlimited, all mother sentient beings without exception.
Also, therefore, for those that purpose, doing so much in practice or wanting to do, other for those method which taught with the Buddha or following various kind of lineage or teachers or spiritual gurus up to this, other, of this great Atisha, up to this teaching, pure teaching lineage. Or based on this, I will explain. Or that meaning like that way. This is the talking like that. After that, method.
Method is the, among beginning is the first and foremost, this bodhicitta. Now how do bodhicitta arise, is both ways of bodhicitta are practiced? Mentally various kind of practices. And then ritually also practices. Also, preparatory preparation for with this again, also with the vow taking from one’s spiritual guru, promising, doing all the certain things, taking vow, etcetera.
In order to do that, first, one step has to or special kind of preparation or certain kind of merits or virtues. Because if you invite some very important or, like a head of state or leader or, name, how do you say? King or, like western, like, Pope or something. If you want to invite then you have to lot of preparation, lot of cleanings, and a lot of things you have to, not easy to invite. Other like that way, the king of the mind, the mind, one of the best or the most noble mind is the or mind which wants to only help other sentient beings. A mind which wants or taking responsibility for others’ salvation or freedom or happiness or purpose or wanting to all everybody, the, become all perfect peace or, like that kind of the main seeking that, that attitude or mind.
Also, that mind is not just only rise one or two, but it becomes nature or, like, dominate or spontaneous, you know, when arise, as after practice. Or that, that is called bodhicitta. Or that, that bodhicitta is like or like the king or king of the mind, you could say.
Once you achieve that, all spiritual practice, or spiritual or activity, a person become a, what you could say, a greater or noble or, you could say sage. Or the person is in it or dominant, that kind of a noble mind. Also, once you and the person become that kind of noble mind or the activity, action, body, speech, action. Only mind, everything dominated by that, therefore, is not