Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Taking refuge in the dharma means to apply the wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings. In the Plum Village tradition, we speak of the living dharma. That is, we must be able to apply the teachings of the dharma in our daily life. The spoken dharma and the written dharma must also be the living dharma. Our daily practice of stopping and looking deeply breathes life into the dharma; this is how the dharma nourishes us and we nourish the dharma. In this way, we understand that taking refuge in the dharma isn’t limited to the practice of studying or recitation of the sutras. It’s about being committed to cultivating a path, a set of guiding means we can use to transform our suffering, others’ suffering, and the planet’s suffering. To say, “I take refuge in the dharma” means to embody the teachings of the Buddha in ways that are relevant right now. It means to ask ourselves, “How can I bring these teachings to life?”’ (from Lion’s Roar)