Refuge from the storm workshop & Refuge Vows Ceremony - 30 August 2025

Refuge from the storm workshop

How do we protect ourselves from the storm of suffering raging around us and within us?

According to Buddha’s teachings, known as Dharma, suffering arises not from external conditions themselves, but rather from how we respond to them. Suffering arises from the mind and therefore to protect ourselves from suffering we need to understand and transform our mind.

Buddha taught how to examine our mind and see which states produce misery and confusion and which states produce health and happiness. He taught how to overcome the compulsively non-virtuous minds that confine us to states of discontent and unhappiness, and how to cultivate the virtuous minds that liberate us from pain and lead us to the bliss of full enlightenment. By taking Buddha’s teachings – the Dharma – to heart and applying them to our own lives we can gain permanent protection the from suffering of this life and our future lives, and be able to help others do the same.

To accomplish this, we need to trust in the teachings and blessings of Buddha and the support and friendship of Sangha, the spiritual community. This refuge in Buddha, Dharma and Sangha or the Three Jewels, is what characterizes the Buddhist approach to life.

In this workshop, Gen Kelsang Ani will introduce us to the extraordinary qualities of the Three Jewels and explain the practice of going for refuge, known as the gateway to Buddhism. This will then be followed by the opportunity to take Refuge Vows.

The Refuge Vow Ceremony

Anyone who is applying Dharma to their lives is implicitly going for refuge. However, there is a special ceremony in which we can formally take Refuge Vows. Doing so creates a powerful bond with the Buddhas, deepens our own commitment to our practice, empowers us with strong positive energy, and bestows upon us spiritually nourishing blessings.

Taking Refuge Vows means that we promise to apply effort to receiving Buddha’s blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving help from Sangha throughout our life.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. If you wish, you can bring a traditional offering of food or flowers to the refuge vow ceremony.

Please book using the workshop booking form even if you are not attending the workshop.

Refuge Retreat on Sunday

Following the workshop and Refuge Vow Ceremony, on Sunday, there will be an opportunity to engage in a day of Refuge Retreat to gain familiarity with and deepen your practice of refuge.

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