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