What is the triple gem
The Tirple Gem are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as Taking Refuge. The Triple Gem can also be called the three jewels, three treasures or three refuges. The three jewels of Buddhism are the Buddha, meaning the mind’s perfection of enlingtenment; the Dhamma, meaning the teachings and the methods of the Buddha; and the Sangha, meaning the monastic community who provide guidance and support to followers of the Buddha.
In Thai, we usually use the term “Pra Ratanatrai” to refer to the triple Gem. The word “Pra “ refers to “high” or “sacred” things while the word “Ratana” means gem, and “Trai” means triple. Also, the Triple Gem is one of the major practice of mental “reflection” in Buddhism; the reflection on the true qualities of the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. These reflecting qualities are called the “Mirror of Dhamma” in the Maha Parinibbana Sutta and help the practitioner attain the true “mind like a mirror”. The Three jewels are:
Buddha
The Buddha: the Enlightened One or Awakened One. It depends on one’s interpretation as the Buddha can mean the historical Buddha (Siddhartha) or the Buddha nature – the ideal or highest spiritual potential that exists within all human beings.
“Gautama Buddha” , also known as Siddhartha Gautaha, Shakyamuni, or simply the Buddha, was a sage on whose teahcings the religion of Buddhism has been founded. Historically, more than 2,600 years ago, the Buddha lived and preached mostly in northeastern India. In most Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (Sammasambuddha) of the present age. His teaching is about the middle way between sensual indulgence and the severe asceticism found in the sramana movement common in the his region. After the enlightenment, He taught throughout the regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kosala.
Gautama Buddha is the primary figure in Buddhism and account of His life, discourses and monastic rules that are believed by all Buddhists to have been summarized after His death and memorized by followers. Many collections of teaching attributed to Him were passed down by an oral and first committed to writing about 400 years later.