The Four Preliminary Practices of the True Buddha Dharma

by Living Buddha Lian-Shen (Grand Master Sheng-yen Lu)

Translated from Chinese by The Purple Lotus Society, August 16, 1991

2: The True Buddha Fourfold Refuge Practice

An inner Vajrayana disciple of Dunju Rinpoche came to take refuge in the True Buddha School.

I asked him, what kind of high level Tantra has Tulku Dunju taught you??

"The Fourfold Refuge Practice," he replied. I shook my head in disbelief.

It was, indeed, the Fourfold Refuge Practice. The new student answered me firmly. Tulku Dunju said that practicing the Fourfold Refuge a million times would constitute a main practice.

From this, one may comprehend the significance of one of the Four Preliminary Practices - the Fourfold Refuge Practice.

The Fourfold Refuge Practice of the True Buddha School is explained in detail as follows:

Enter the Tantric shrine and fix one's gaze on the guru's image (a photograph or statue).

First visualize the Guru's image and, from the Guru's brow point, a beam of white light is emitted which enters into one's own brow point; next, from the Guru's throat, a beam of red light is emitted which enters into one's throat: then, from the Guru's heart, a beam of blue light is emitted which enters into one's heart.

Join both palms and recite respectfully, "Namo the Holy Red Crown Vajra Master Living Buddha Lian-shen." Bow with each recitation.

Then recite the Mantra of the Fourfold refuge:

"Namo Guru bei. Namo Buddha ye. Namo Dharma ye. Namo Sangha ye."

Namo Guru bei - Taking refuge in the Vajra Guru.
Namo Buddha ye - Taking refuge in the Buddhas.
Namo Dharma ye - Taking refuge in the Dharma.
Namo Sangha ye - Taking refuge in the saints and sages in the ten directions.

After reciting the Fourfold Refuge Mantra three times, immediately visualize the Guru appearing together with the Triple Jewels in the Empty Space above. Visualize them merging into each other, transforming into a great five-colored rainbow (white, red, blue, green, and yellow). This five-colored rainbow enters into the practitioner through the crown and fills the entire body. The practitioner then feels that all hindrances, evil deeds, impure deeds, and sinful deeds turn into black vapors and are excreted from the body through all the skin pores. One becomes clear and radiant, physically and mentally relaxed in a state of ease and comfort and, full of blessing and wisdom.

Recite the Fourfold Refuge Mantra again one hundred and eight times, or even one thousand eighty times. The number of recitations is arbitrary - the more the better.

After the Fourfold Refuge Mantra, recite the Bodhicitta Vow:

"I am taking refuge in the Guru and the Triple Jewels and, from now on until the attainment of Bodhi, I shall never recede, and shall dedicate all merits, great or small, to all sentiment beings, so that all will quickly attain Buddhahood." (three times)

Then recite other Heart Mantras : (All 108 or 1080 times)

The Heart Mantra of Living Buddha Lian-shen:
"Om, guru, Lian-shen sih-dee, hum."

The Heart Mantra of Padmasambhava:
"Om ah hum, be-dze guru, beh-ma, sih-dhi, hum, seh."

The Heart Mantra of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva:
"Om, ma-nee pad-mee, hum."

The Heart Mantra of Amitabha Buddha:
"Om, a-mee deh-wah, seh."

The Heart Mantra of Green Tara:
"Om, da-ru, du-da-ru, du-ru, so-ha."

After reciting the Heart Mantras above, recite the Dedication Verse:

"With empowerment from Living Buddha Lian-shen,
Hindrances are removed by the Light of the Triple Jewels;
All sentient beings and I will attain Buddhahood,
Together we will be reborn in the Paradise of Ultimate Bliss."

Finally perform the Great Homage. Exit from the shrine.

The key to this True Buddha Fourfold Refuge Practice is in the visualization of the five-colored rainbow. As I previously instructed, after reciting the Fourfold Refuge Mantra three times, visualize the Guru and the Triple Jewels appearing in the Empty Space above, revolving and merging into each other and transforming into a rainbow of five colors. This visualization, which cleanses the practitioner of hindrances, is of the utmost importance.

The emphasis of this Fourfold Refuge Practice is on the Guru. In Vajrayana, the Vajra Guru is placed at the beginning of the Fourfold Refuge because the Guru is the embodiment of the Triple Jewels. It is through the teaching transmitted by the Vajra Guru that sentient beings are able to truly understand the Triple Jewels. Only by taking refuge in the Vajra Guru can sentient beings practice the Vajrayana. Also, by relying on the Vajra Guru, practitioners can be salvaged by the Triple Jewels.

Practicing the Fourfold Refuge can reinforce one's faith in the Guru and the Triple Jewels.

Practicing the Fourfold Refuge forms an eternal affinity with the Guru, and the Triple Jewels.

Practicing the Fourfold Refuge eradicates all hindrances accumulated throughout all lifetimes.

To Practice the Fourfold Refuge is to receive empowerment from the Guru and the Triple Jewels.

To practice the Fourfold Refuge is to take a first step towards Bodhicitta.

The Fourfold Refuge Mantra is commonly the first mantra taught by Tibetan tulkus to beginners. After reciting the Fourfold Refuge Mantra a million times, one's affinity and faith in Buddhism are firmly established.

To write a verse for the True Buddha Fourfold Refuge Practice:

The Practice of Fourfold Refuge removes all hindrances;
The cultivation will succeed when there is affinity with the Buddhas;
Don't stay as a vulgar visitor in the earth realm,
Generate the Bodhicitta to salvage all sentient beings.