Does taking refuge bind one to any commitments?
Yes. Taking Refuge is a commitment to the Buddhist path and so it is natural to at least remain on that path and, preferably, to progress as best possible along it. The main commitment is maintain faith and confidence in the Three Refuges. To help one do this, there are three particular sets of three commitments: Having taken Refuge in the Buddha, the most enblightened of all beings, one should keep the Buddha as one’s main teacher and not drop Buddhism for some other faith. Having taken Refuge in the Dharma, the essence of which is peace, one should never do anything which harms any living being. Having taken Refuge in the Sangha, the finest companions, one should be careful not to be swayed into negativity by worldly friends. As training, one should always make a point of respecting the representations of the Refuges: Buddha images, dharma texts and the sangha’s robes. Images and texts should be kept in high, clean, peaceful places. As helps for remembering the Refuges, one should re
