Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

Gurum saranam gacchami (in the Vajrayana only);
Buddham saranam gacchami;
Dharman saranam gacchami;
Sangham saranam gacchami (the three taught in all
the exoteric schools).
This formula is repeated three times, adding before the
second repetition: "Dvitiyampi" on all four; and before
the third time: "Triyampi." It is sometimes explained
that taking the refuges three times represents taking
them with the mind, speech, and body, and therefore
that one has taken them with all of one's being.
B. Prostrations
As we have already given an explanation of the benefits
of the practice in answer to one of Venerable
Khantipalo's questions, there is no need to repeat the
matter here (see Appendix I, Part One, A, 5). We may
consider prostration under the same headings as we
have used above.
a. Outwardly. Even the exoteric tradition of Mahayana
differs from the Southern Hinayana tradition and we do
not consider here the latter's kneeling prostration. In
Chinese Mahayana one must do this:
Mr. Chen rose and, adopting a slow, swinging
majestic gait, approached us, saying, "When
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