Three Jewels

The Three Jewels, also Three Treasures, Three Gems, and Triple Gems, are described by Burton Wilson in The Lotus Sutra as "three things that all Buddhists are enjoined to serve and revere, namely, the Buddha, the Law or Dharma, and the Sangha or Order"

The Three Jewels in Lamrim

According to Atisha in the 11th century 'Lamp for the Path' and in the subsequent Lamrim tradition as elaborated by Tsongkhapa, there are several purposes of refuge:

These purposes are introduced using the concept of the 'scope' of a practitioner

• Worldly scope is taking refuge to improve the lot of this life
• Low scope is taking refuge to gain high rebirth and avoid the low realms
• Middle scope is taking refuge to achieve Nirvana
• High scope is taking refuge to achieve Buddhahood
• Highest scope is also sometimes included, which is taking refuge to achieve Buddhahood in this life