Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
Ethical decision-making through Buddhist refuge
Teacher Experience
A contemplative invitation for educators to reflect on before teaching.When you take refuge, imagine drawing on the strength and example of the Buddha as a master teacher, speaking to each student in the way that best matched their capacity. Remember you’re aspiring to share the dharma, this protective path that guides beings from endless unnecessary suffering. When you share the power of Sangha, reflect on your own experience of connecting with others who, just like you, wish to awaken. For non-Buddhists: What are your three main sources of guidance and support as an educator? Who are your role models? What inspiration guides you? What community do you draw strength from? Consider how reflecting on these questions with students might create deeper trust.
Student Experience
A contemplative invitation for students to connect with this learning goal.Think of a difficult decision you had to make. How might it have been different if you had consciously consulted a role model, clear principles, and wise community before choosing?
Understanding
Students will understand...The three jewels—the Buddha as exemplar, the dharma as ethical framework, and the sangha as community wisdom—constitute a comprehensive system for ethical decision-making that addresses contemporary moral challenges while maintaining connection to Buddhist principles and community accountability.
Action
Students are able to...Analyze the three jewels as a comprehensive ethical decision-making framework; evaluate how this system addresses complex moral dilemmas; and synthesize understanding by applying the three refuges to contemporary ethical challenges while demonstrating knowledge of their traditional Buddhist context.
Content Knowledge
Students will know...The three jewels constitute a sophisticated ethical decision-making framework that addresses contemporary moral challenges through the integration of exemplar guidance, principled analysis, and community accountability.
The Buddha functions as an ethical exemplar whose approach to moral reasoning provides methodology rather than rigid rules. Buddhist ethical decision-making examines how the Buddha’s demonstrated qualities – compassion, wisdom, and skillful means – might address contemporary dilemmas. This involves analyzing underlying motivations, considering long-term consequences, and prioritizing actions that reduce suffering for all affected parties.
The dharma serves as both analytical framework and principled foundation for ethical reasoning. Complex moral decisions are evaluated through dharma principles such as dependent origination (understanding interconnectedness and consequences), the middle way (avoiding extremes), and the cultivation of wisdom and compassion. The dharma provides tools for analyzing ethical complexity while maintaining commitment to non-harm and universal benefit.
The sangha represents community consultation and accountability in ethical decision-making. Buddhist communities engage in collective discernment about moral challenges, drawing on diverse perspectives and experiences to identify skillful responses. The sangha provides both support for difficult decisions and accountability for their implementation, ensuring individual choices consider broader community impact.
This integrated system addresses contemporary ethical challenges by combining personal inspiration (Buddha), principled analysis (dharma), and community wisdom (sangha) in a framework that maintains connection to traditional values while engaging modern complexity.
Guiding Questions
Implementation Possibilities
Examine contemporary ethical dilemmas like environmental responsibility or social justice through the lens of the three jewels framework. Research how different Buddhist communities have applied refuge principles to modern challenges like technology ethics or global conflicts. Design presentations analyzing how the Buddha’s example, dharma principles, and sangha consultation might address current ethical debates. Facilitate philosophical discussions comparing Buddhist refuge with other ethical decision-making systems. Practice applying the three jewels framework to personal and societal moral questions while maintaining scholarly distance. Create research projects connecting traditional Buddhist teachings to contemporary ethical philosophy and community decision-making processes.
Assessment Ideas
Assess students’ analysis of contemporary ethical issues through the three jewels framework via research papers or presentations. Evaluate their ability to synthesize traditional Buddhist concepts with modern applications through portfolio projects. Review their participation in philosophical discussions for understanding of how refuge functions as an ethical system.
