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Triratna
Buddhism and Jainism
Also known as: Three Jewels, Three Refuges, Threefold Refuge, Triple Refuge, ti-ratana, tri-ratna
- Sanskrit:
- “Three Jewels”
- Pali:
- Ti-ratana
- Also called:
- Threefold Refuge
Triratna, in Buddhism the Triratna comprises the Buddha, the dharma (doctrine, or teaching), and the sangha (the monastic order, or community). One becomes a Buddhist by saying the words “I go to the Buddha for refuge, I go to the Doctrine for refuge, I go to the Order for refuge.”
In Jainism the three jewels (also referred to as ratnatraya) are understood as samyagdarshana (“right faith”), samyagjnana (“right knowledge”), and samyakcharitra (“right conduct”). One of the three cannot exist exclusive of the others, and all are required for spiritual liberation. The Triratna is symbolized frequently in art as a trident.