1d.4) The actual liturgy of refuge

4.a) Emanating the field

Now from the actual presentation of the liturgy of going to refuge, as for the cause of its arising, lesser ones fear the lower realms, desire the good qualities of the higher realms and so forth. The shravakas and pratyekabuddhas are also afraid of samsara, and produce the three kinds of faith.^[1] In the Mahayana, because of compassion, we turn the wheel of Dharma for others. The Ornament of the Mahayana Sutras says:

That should be understood to be from compassion.

Moreover, having been told the virtues of refuge by the guru, we put our minds in order. Before representations of the three jewels we arrange offerings. Just from having gathered the text and offerings, in the space in front, the three jewels, as explained above, approach and remain. The Buddha and so forth are the objects of visualization. We visualize them in space:

Visualize these objects as being before you in space.
In particular, Buddha and guru are said to be most important.

From the external viewpoint, the Buddha is most important, but internally the guru is most important.

4.b) How to go for refuge

Making the actual outer, mental, and secret offerings,
Say “I and all sentient beings, joining our hands in devotion,
Take refuge until enlightened, for the benefit for others
In the guru and the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.”
Say this again and again, from the depths of your heart and bones.

The external offerings are incense, flowers, and so forth. The inner offerings are amrita, camphor, and so forth. The  secret  offerings  are rejoicing, equanimity,  supreme enlightenment and so forth. Offer these offerings, filling the whole of space, to the guests who also fill the whole of space, and say the following:

“From this time until attaining the essence of enlightenment, I, (say your name), for the sake of all sentient beings, go to the guru for refuge. I go to the Buddha for refuge. I go to the Dharma for refuge. I go to the Sangha for refuge.”

Say this three times from the depths of your heart. This is the refuge attained from symbols. Afterwards, while resting in a state of complete non-conception, entering into the unborn is the absolute refuge. Attaining dharmata is the world-transcending refuge.

4.c) Emanation and gathering of light rays

At other times, visualize that by having gone to refuge in this manner, these representations radiate intensely:

Visualize that by radiation of joy and light
Obscurations of the three gates are purified,
And that, because of that, the siddhis have been attained.
By that the accumulation of merits has been perfected,
by which there is the manifestation of rupakaya.

The Jewel Heap Sutra says:

By those beings who take the three-fold refuge
The accumulations will be completely perfected,
The level of buddhahood will be established.
The Dharma and Sangha will also be accomplished.

That completes the explanation of the incidental causal refuge.