The Tri-ratna or Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) and their outer and inner meanings. Includes an exposition about the nature of the Emptiness (Void or Absolute). "To really understand what it means to Take Refuge, to find one's safe haven in these Three Jewels, we have to go deeper than the literal meaning.  We have to penetrate into the inner meaning, and then into the secret meaning.  And these are of course, levels of understanding what the Triple Gems signify." Read the lecture transcription. Course Description: More than 2,500 years ago, a man decided to find out why there is suffering, and how to overcome it. He succeeded, and became known as "The Buddha," which means, "One who is awake." Since then, there have emerged many variations and interpretations of what he taught, with some believing that his teachings were something he invented or created on his own. Contrary to this belief, he said, "I have seen an ancient path, an ancient road traversed by the rightly enlightened ones of former times. And what is that ancient path, that ancient road? It is just this noble eight-fold path." - Buddha Shakyamuni, Samyutta Nikaya ii.106 Therefore, his knowledge — what in Greek is called Gnosis — existed before he did, and he only taught what he understood of that ancient knowledge. This course examines Gnosis through the lens of the Buddhist Dharma. These lectures were originally given live and unscripted on Gnostic Radio.