Taking refuge is seeking protection from suffering (dukkha), the unsatisfactoriness characterizing unenlightened existence in Samsara. It is a response to the transient nature of worldly phenomena.

• Buddha: As the enlightened teacher, taking refuge in the Buddha means aspiring to achieve the wisdom, ethics, and compassion he embodied.
• Dharma: The Dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha, provides a path to enlightenment. Embracing and practicing these teachings is taking refuge in the Dharma.
• Sangha: The Sangha, or the community of practitioners, offers support and guidance. Taking refuge in the Sangha involves seeking support from this spiritual community.

Relative Refuge involves the physical and symbolic aspects of taking refuge, such as participating in rituals and being part of a community.

Ultimate Refuge is a deeper level of refuge, internalizing the qualities of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha within oneself.

• Buddha and Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ serves as a spiritual guide, similar to the Buddha. His life and teachings provide a path to spiritual liberation.
• Dharma and the Holy Bible: The Bible offers a moral and spiritual framework, akin to the Dharma in Buddhism.
• Sangha and the Christian Community: The Christian community offers support and shared spiritual practice, similar to the Buddhist Sangha.

In both Buddhism and Christianity, these elements guide and support the spiritual journey, offering a path to inner peace, wisdom, and compassion.