The Three Gems are the Gem of the Buddha, the enlightened one, the Gem of Dhamma, the teachings given by the Buddha, and the Gem of Sa?gha, the Order of the Buddha's monastic disciples. These three are called gems (ratana) because they can lead people to stop doing evil and to perform kindness, to free themselves from suffering and to gain happiness. The title of "The Three Gems" also shows the great value placed on them. When the Buddha initially turned the wheel of Dhamma, Ko??a??a and others, five of them in all, followed the Buddha, renounced lay life and became the Buddha's disciples, thus forming the Sa?gha Order. Therefore, the Three Gems have been cherished since that time.
佛陀是佛寶。佛所說的法是法寶。佛的出家弟子的團(tuán)體——僧伽(Sa?gha)是僧寶。稱之為寶,是因為它能夠令大眾止惡行善、離苦得樂,是極可尊貴的意思。佛初轉(zhuǎn)法輪,憍陳如等五人都?xì)w依佛,出家為弟子,于是形成了僧伽。所以說,從那時起開始具足了三寶。