The Ultimate Refuge of All Living Beings

The ultimate refuge of all sentient life is the One True Dharma Realm; nothing surpasses this. The Threefold Refuge is taking refuge in the One True Dharma Realm—apart from this, there is no other refuge!

All sentient beings possess the buddha-nature, and by virtue of this buddha-nature all can attain buddhahood. Yet if one does not encounter the noble Dharma, does not encounter the Three Jewels, and does not practice within the supreme Dharma, one can never attain buddhahood. It is like a family possessing a buried treasure hidden deep in the ground: without the guidance of a noble person, one can never see the treasure and enjoy the pleasure of that wealth.