1.Homage to the Buddha
Make three prostrations in homage to the Buddha.

2.Recitation of Amitābha Buddha’s Name
Recite “Namo Amitābha Buddha” ten, one hundred, or one thousand times.

3.Declaration of Resolve
(Kneeling, with palms joined.)

Officiating Master:
Good men and good women, today, of your own free will, you have resolved to take refuge in the Buddha, to take the Buddha as your teacher, and never again to take refuge in non Buddhist religions.Can you uphold this resolve?

Refuge-takers: Yes, we can.

Officiating Master:
Good men and good women, today, of your own free will, you have resolved to take refuge in the Dharma, to take the Dharma as your teacher, and never again to believe in or follow non-Buddhist scriptures. Can you uphold this resolve?

Refuge-takers: Yes, we can.

Officiating Master:
Good men and good women, today, of your own free will, you have resolved to take refuge in the Sangha, to take the Sangha as your teacher, and never again to follow the adherents of non-Buddhist paths. Can you uphold this resolve?

Refuge-takers: Yes, we can.

4.Repentance (three times)

All the unwholesome karma I have created in the past has arisen from greed, anger, and ignorance since beginningless time, manifesting through body, speech, and mind.
Before the Buddha, I now repent of it all. 

5.Making Vows (recite the Four Great Vows and Pure Land Buddhism Guiding Principle three times.)

Sentient beings are boundless; I vow to deliver them.
Afflictions are endless; I vow to eradicate them.
Dharma paths are immeasurable; I vow to learn them.
The Buddha’s Way is unsurpassed; I vow to accomplish it.

Faith in, and acceptance of, Amitabha’s deliverance
Single-minded recitation of Amitabha’s name
Aspiration to rebirth in Amitabha’s Pure Land
Comprehensive deliverance of all sentient beings

6.Formal Conferral of the Three Refuges
(The officiating master recites one line; the refuge-takers repeat each line after him. Each of the three refuge declarations is followed by a prostration.)

I, disciple             ,

For the rest of my life take refuge in the Buddha,
most honored for perfect merit and wisdom;
never again shall I take refuge in non-Buddhist religions.

For the rest of my life, I take refuge in the Dharma,
most honored for freedom from desire;
never again shall I believe in or follow non-Buddhist scriptures.

For the rest of my life, I take refuge in the Sangha,
most honored among all assemblies;
never again shall I follow the adherents of non-Buddhist paths.

Taking refuge in the Buddha,
I shall not fall into the realm of hells.

Taking refuge in the Dharma,
I shall not fall into the realm of hungry ghosts.

Taking refuge in the Sangha,
I shall not fall into the realm of animals. 

My taking refuge in the Buddha is complete.
My taking refuge in the Dharma is complete.
My taking refuge in the Sangha is complete.

7.Explanation of the Benefits and Concluding Exhortation
The Officiating Master explains the benefits of taking refuge and offers concluding words of encouragement and instruction.

8.Dedication of Merit
May the merit of this practice
be bestowed equally upon all beings.
May we all aspire to perfect enlightenment for the sake of all beings,
and be reborn together in the Land of Peace and Joy.

End of ceremony

(Translated by Householder Fojin)