Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in Śrāvastī, at Jetṛ’s Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. The Exalted One said to the monks:

“There are these three kinds of virtue pertaining to taking refuge of one’s own accord. Which are the three? The first kind of virtue pertains to taking refuge in the Buddha, the second to taking refuge in the Dharma and the third to taking refuge in the monastic Community.

“What does virtue pertaining to taking refuge in the Buddha mean? Among all sentient beings—bipeds, quadrupeds, those with many feet, those with or without form, those with perception or without perception and finally the gods belonging to the sphere of Neither-Perception-Nor-Nonperception—the Tathāgata is superior, he is foremost and without equal.

“Just as from a cow one gets milk, from milk curds one gets butter, from butter one gets ghee and from ghee the skimmings of melted butter, and just as the skimmings of melted butter are superior, foremost and without equal, even so among all sentient beings—bipeds, quadrupeds … and finally the gods belonging to the sphere of Neither-Perception-Nor-Nonperception—the Tathāgata is superior, foremost and without equal.

“When there are sentient beings who have faith in the Buddha, this is called virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best. Those who are possessed of virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best, will have good fortune to be born among gods or as the most splendid among human beings; this is what is called virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best.

“What does taking refuge of one’s own accord in the Dharma mean? As for that which signifies the existential constituents, there are the dharmas under the sway of the malign influences, the dharmas free from malign influences, the conditioned; and the unconditioned being that which is free from greed and undefiled, cessation, Nirvāṇa. It is the unconditioned dharma Nirvāṇa which, among all existential constituents, is superior, foremost and without equal.

“Just as from a cow one gets milk … and just as the skimmings of melted butter are superior, foremost and without equal, even so among the so-called existential constituents—the dharmas under the sway of malign influences and those free from them, the conditioned; and the unconditioned dharmas being that which is free from greed and undefiled, cessation, Nirvāṇa—it is the dharma Nirvāṇa which, among all dharmas, is superior, foremost and without equal.

“When there are sentient beings who have faith in the Dharma, this is called virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best. Those who are possessed of virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best, will have good fortune to be born among gods or as the most splendid human beings; this is what is called virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best.

“What does taking refuge of one’s own accord in the Saṃgha of Noble Ones mean? As for that which is referred to as the Community of Noble Ones, among all forms of monastic communities and all kinds of assemblies in society, the Tathāgata’s Saṃgha is superior, foremost and without equal.

“Just as from a cow one gets milk … and just as the skimmings of melted butter are superior … without equal,—even so as for that which is referred to as the Community of Noble Ones, among all kinds of assemblies in society the Tathāgata’s Saṃgha is … and without equal.

“When there are sentient beings who have faith in the Community of Noble Ones, this is called virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best. Those who are possessed of virtue pertaining to faith in what is the best, will have the good fortune to be born among gods or as the most splendid among human beings, this is what is called virtue … what is the best.”

Then the Exalted One uttered the following verses:

“The first object of faith is the Buddha, foremost and
Without equal; the second object of faith is the
Dharma which is free from greed and attachment;
Reverence and offerings are due to the saṃgha of
Persons of truth who are the most excellent
Field of merit. Those who know what is
The best, will gain outstanding merit: Having been
Reborn as gods or human beings, it will go well for
Them wherever they will be; to them, moreover, will be
Offered the highest seats of honour, and as a matter of
Course, they will partake in ambrosia; they will
Wear garments adorned with the seven kind of jewels,
Being respected by everyone. Those who know what is
the best, will be most conscientious in their moral
Training; they will not be wanting in any of the spiritual
Faculties and will realise an ocean of insight-knowledge
And wisdom. In due course they will reach the sphere of
Nirvāṇa. Whoever takes this threefold refuge will
Make good progress on his or her way without difficulty.”

After listening to the Buddha’s words, the monks were pleased and respectfully applied themselves to practice.