Only when we have known taking refuge, we can differentiate between what is Buddhism and what is not. The Venerable Atiśa always preached about the merits of taking refuge after he came to Tibet, so he was nicknamed “Refuge Pandita”. The Venerable didn’t feel unhappy when he heard this, but rather joyful because he knew he had truly started to bring benefits to all beings in Tibet already. If the being does not know taking refuge, how can s/he generate genuine confidence in Buddhism?

只有知道了皈依，才能區分什麼是佛教、什麼是外道。阿底峽尊者來到藏地後一直宣講皈依的功德，所以被稱為“皈依班智達”。尊者聽到這個稱呼後沒有不高興，反倒很歡喜，因為他知道自己已經真正開始為藏地眾生帶來利益了。如果連皈依都不知道，又怎麼會對佛有真正的信心呢？