| There are many items that are sacred | | | | Buddhism is Dharma, and the Gachchami |
| within the dharmic religion of Buddhism, | | | | for this is Dhammam sharanam gachchami, |
| but the Three Jewels of Buddhism are the | | | | which means "I go to the feet of Dharma, |
| very cornerstones of this religion and | | | | the Eternal Law". The word Dharma |
| its beliefs. | | | | literally translates into "the |
| Several parts of Buddhism make up the | | | | Teaching", and it is the laws and |
| core of this religion. They include the | | | | teachings that were handed down to |
| Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold | | | | Buddha's followers by Buddha himself. In |
| Path, both of which are beliefs that | | | | the Theraveda tradition, Dharma consists |
| were developed by the Buddha when he was | | | | only of these laws, but in Mahayana and |
| enlightened by meditation. The Three | | | | Tibetan Buddhism, there are other parts |
| Jewels of Buddhism are similar, but they | | | | of Dharma that are recognized. These |
| can also be seen as the three things | | | | include not only Kangyur (the teaching |
| that Buddhists actually "give" | | | | of the Buddha) but also Tengyur (the |
| themselves to in order to belong to this | | | | commentaries of Buddhist practitioners). |
| religion. The Three Jewels are Buddha, | | | | The third Jewel is Sangha. Sangha |
| Dharma and Sangha. | | | | translated into English literally means |
| The Three Jewels are also known as the | | | | "the Community", and the Gachchami for |
| "Gachchamis". The first of these, | | | | Sangha is Sangham sharanam gachchami, |
| Buddha, is stated as Buddham, sharanam, | | | | which means "I go to the feet of the |
| gachchami and means "I go to the feet of | | | | Sangha, the Awakened One's community". |
| the Awakened One". The Buddha, as | | | | In Tibetan Buddhism, Sangha is used to |
| referenced in this jewel, can be taken | | | | refer to all of the people who practice |
| to mean the historical Buddha, or to | | | | Buddhism and use the Buddha's teachings |
| mean the Buddha's nature or ideal within | | | | to benefit themselves and others. In |
| everyone. Buddha can also be taken to | | | | other sects of Buddhism, such as |
| mean Buddhahood or the attainment of | | | | Theraveda, Sangha means the community |
| Buddhahood, meaning finding the pinnacle | | | | of practitioners and devotees that have |
| of your spiritual and life potential. | | | | fully realized the nature of their mind |
| The name the Three Jewels or the Three | | | | - "Realized Sangha" as well as those |
| Gems also comes from the Buddha, who was | | | | who are working towards that goal |
| known as the Diamond Mind. | | | | "Ordinary Sangha". |
| The second of the Three Jewels of | | | | |