Buddhism

===The Three Jewels===
{{Main|Three Jewels}}
[[File:Sanchi Stupa number 2 KSP 3667 Wheel and Triratna.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|[[Dharmachakra|Dharma Wheel]] and [[triratna]] symbols from [[Sanchi]] Stupa number 2]]
All forms of Buddhism revere and take spiritual refuge in the "three jewels" (''triratna''): Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.{{sfnp|Harvey|2013|pp=244–245}}

====Buddha====
{{Main|Buddhahood}}
While all varieties of Buddhism revere "Buddha" and "buddhahood", they have different views on what these are. Regardless of their interpretation, the concept of Buddha is central to all forms of Buddhism.

In Theravada Buddhism, a Buddha is someone who has become awake through their own efforts and insight. They have put an end to their cycle of rebirths and have ended all unwholesome mental states which lead to bad action and thus are morally perfected.<ref name="Crosby, Kate 2013 p. 16">Crosby, Kate (2013). ''"Theravada Buddhism: Continuity, Diversity, and Identity,"'' p. 16. John Wiley & Sons.</ref> While subject to the limitations of the human body in certain ways (for example, in the early texts, the Buddha suffers from backaches), a Buddha is said to be "deep, immeasurable, hard-to-fathom as is the great ocean", and also has immense psychic powers ([[abhijñā]]).{{sfnp|Harvey|2013|pp=27-28}} Theravada generally sees Gautama Buddha (the historical Buddha Sakyamuni) as the only Buddha of the current era.

Mahāyāna Buddhism meanwhile, has a vastly expanded [[Buddhist cosmology|cosmology]], with various [[Buddhahood|Buddhas]] and other holy beings (''aryas'') residing in different realms. Mahāyāna texts not only revere numerous [[Buddhist deities#Buddhas|Buddhas]] besides [[The Buddha|Shakyamuni]], such as [[Amitābha|Amitabha]] and [[Vairochana|Vairocana]], but also see them as transcendental or supramundane (''lokuttara'') beings.{{sfnp|Williams|2008 |p=21}} Mahāyāna Buddhism holds that these other Buddhas in other realms can be contacted and are able to benefit beings in this world.{{sfnp|Harvey|2013|p=162}} In Mahāyāna, a Buddha is a kind of "spiritual king", a "protector of all creatures" with a lifetime that is countless of eons long, rather than just a human teacher who has transcended the world after death.{{sfnp|Williams|2008|p=27}} Shakyamuni's life and death on earth is then usually understood as a "mere appearance" or "a manifestation skilfully projected into earthly life by a long-enlightened transcendent being, who is still available to teach the faithful through visionary experiences".{{sfnp|Williams|2008|p=27}}{{sfnp|Harvey|2013|p=164}}

====Dharma====
{{Main|Dharma}}
The second of the three jewels is "Dharma" (Pali: Dhamma), which in Buddhism refers to the Buddha's teaching, which includes all of the main ideas outlined above. While this teaching reflects the true nature of reality, it is not a belief to be clung to, but a pragmatic teaching to be put into practice. It is likened to a raft which is "for crossing over" (to nirvana) not for holding on to.{{sfnp|Harvey|2013|p=31}} It also refers to the universal law and cosmic order which that teaching both reveals and relies upon.<ref>"[http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/dharma.aspx#1 Dharma] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926234045/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/dharma.aspx#1 |date=26 September 2016 }}", ''The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions''.</ref> It is an everlasting principle which applies to all beings and worlds. In that sense it is also the ultimate truth and reality about the universe, it is thus "the way that things really are".

====Sangha====
{{Main|Sangha|Bodhisattva|Arhat}}
[[File:Praying monks and nuns in the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple of Singapore.jpg|thumb|Buddhist monks and nuns praying in the [[Buddha Tooth Relic Temple]] of Singapore]]
The third "jewel" which Buddhists take refuge in is the "Sangha", which refers to the monastic community of monks and nuns who follow Gautama Buddha's monastic discipline which was "designed to shape the Sangha as an ideal community, with the optimum conditions for spiritual growth."{{sfnp|Harvey|2013|p=88}} The Sangha consists of those who have chosen to follow the Buddha's ideal way of life, which is one of celibate monastic renunciation with minimal material possessions (such as an alms bowl and robes).{{sfnp|Gethin|1998|pp=85-88}}

The Sangha is seen as important because they preserve and pass down Buddha Dharma. As Gethin states "the Sangha lives the teaching, preserves the teaching as Scriptures and teaches the wider community. Without the Sangha there is no Buddhism."{{sfnp|Gethin|1998|p=92}} The Sangha also acts as a "field of merit" for laypersons, allowing them to make spiritual merit or goodness by donating to the Sangha and supporting them. In return, they keep their duty to preserve and spread the Dharma everywhere for the good of the world.{{sfnp|Gethin|1998|p=86}}

There is also a separate definition of Sangha, referring to those who have attained any [[Four stages of enlightenment|stage of awakening]], whether or not they are monastics. This sangha is called the [[Śrāvaka#The community of disciples|''āryasaṅgha'']] "noble Sangha".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/triplegem.html|title=What is the Triple Gem?|website=www.accesstoinsight.org|access-date=12 April 2020|archive-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730060230/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/triplegem.html|url-status=live}}</ref> All forms of Buddhism generally reveres these ''[[Arya (Buddhism)|āryas]]'' (Pali: ''ariya'', "noble ones" or "holy ones") who are spiritually attained beings. Aryas have attained the fruits of the Buddhist path.<ref>Williams, Paul (2002), "Buddhist Thought", p. 52, Taylor & Francis Kindle Edition</ref> Becoming an arya is a goal in most forms of Buddhism. The ''āryasaṅgha'' includes holy beings such as [[bodhisattva]]s, [[arhat]]s and stream-enterers.