Refuge: An Introduction to the Buddha, Dhamma & Sangha
The refuges in Buddhism - both on the internal and on the external levels - are the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, also known as the Triple Gem. They are called gems both because they are valuable and because, in ancient times, gems were believed to have protective powers. The Triple Gem outdoes other gems in this respect because its protective powers can be put to the test and can lead further than those of any physical gem, all the way to absolute freedom from uncertainties of the realm of ageing, illness, and death.