The Three Refuges: Gateways to Belonging and Freedom

Tara Brach

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We all need ways to guide our attention that allow us to find wisdom, love and freedom in the midst of our lives. This talk reviews three archetypal gateways—Buddha/awareness, Dharma/truth, and Sangha/loving community. Through teachings, guided meditations and a traditional refuge ritual, we engage together in bringing alive these pathways to healing and peace.

In this video, Tara explores:

• Spiritual practice as a journey of remembering our inherent goodness and reconnecting to what truly matters.
• The Three Refuges—Buddha (awareness), Dharma (truth), and Sangha (community)—as pathways to peace and belonging.
• The difference between false refuges, like seeking approval or blame, and true refuge found in presence and self-compassion.
• How the RAIN practice (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture) transforms challenging emotions into spacious awareness.
• The power of widening our circles of belonging through vulnerability, active listening, and embracing shared humanity.

St. Teresa of Avila says, “Only at the shrine where all are welcome will God sing loud enough to be heard.”

Elizabeth Lesser writes: “My prayer to god every day: Remove the veils so I might see what is really happening here and not be intoxicated by my stories and my fears.”

Enjoy a Reflection on The Three Refuges

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