Taking Refuge in the Three Roots

by Lama Dudjom Dorjee

In addition to taking refuge in the Three Jewels, Vajrayana practitioners take refuge in the Three Roots — the lama, the yidams, and the dharma protectors. We take refuge in the first root, the lama, as a being who possesses supreme realisations, and someone that we can rely upon for instruction in dharma practice.

We take refuge in the second root, the yidam deities because we rely upon their transmissions and blessings to progress along the tantric path.

We take refuge in the third root, the dharma protectors because we rely upon the protection of their blessings as we continue along the Vajrayana path.

We don’t only take refuge in these Three Roots, we actually consolidate them into one — our root lama, or “root guru.” When we have a genuine guru whom we see as the embodiment of the Buddha himself, then we also have yidam deities and dharma protectors and all their blessings and protections. When we have the ultimate view of our guru as a Buddha, we have the Vajrayana.