Sacred Literature of Buddhism

Verse for January 7, 2012

    7. To sacred hills, woods and groves,
        To sacred trees and shrines
        Do people go, gripped by fear.

        But they are not safe refuges,
        Not the best refuge.
        Not by going there
        Is one freed from all suffering.

        But whoever takes refuge

        In the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha

        Will understand with wisdom

        The Four Noble Truths:

        Suffering, its cause, its overcoming,

        And the Noble Eightfold Path

        Leading to its overcoming.

        And this is a safe refuge,
        The best refuge.
        Having taken refuge here,
        One is freed from all suffering.

Dhammapada 1