Three Jewels

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Three Jewels (Skt., triratna; Pāli, tiratana Jap., sanki). In Buddhism, the three most precious things, Buddha, dharma, and saṅgha. Taking refuge in them is the hallmark of all Buddhist practice. Since they are considered to be a unit, the translation ‘Triple Jewel’, though uncommon, is more appropriate.

In Taoism, see SAN-PAO. In Jainism, they are Right belief, Right knowledge, Right conduct, the path to liberation: see TATTVĀRTHA SŪTRA.

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