There are three objects of the highest veneration in the Buddhist religion: they are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. These three are called the Holy Three Gems (tatanattaya) or the Holy Triple Gem, which implies that they are very precious and invaluable. Buddhists always regard them with profound love and respect.

The Buddhs is the founder of our religion. He was the greatest figure in human history, who lived more than twenty-five centuries ago and whose teaching has become one of the greatest civilizing forces ever known to man. The Buddha possessed the noblest virtues and the highest wisdom, and was worshipped alike by men and deities. Briefly speaking, his virtues are three:

1. Infinete Wisdom
2. Perfect Purity
3. Universal Compassion

We are Buddhists and are, therefore, the Buddha's followers. He is our Spiritual Father, for he gave us spiritual life. Because of this we should always love him, respect him, and be grateful to him.

The Dharma is the teaching of the Buddha. It is the Universal Law which the Buddha discovered and taught to the world. It is the Truth itself. And because the Dharma is Truth, it must be true, valid, and universal at all time and in all places.

The Dharma should be studied, followed and practiced. It should be treated with the utmost respct, as it is very essential for world peace and spiritual progress of individuals. In fact, the Dharma can be practiced by all, whether they are Buddhist or not. We should respect the Dharma, try to study it and put it into practice.

The Sangha is the Holy Order of Monk disciples of the Buddha as a whole, who have attained a high degree of spiritual discipline. These disciples study and practice the Dharma and teach it to lay people. They set good examples in moral conduct and inspire us to do good. We pay respect to the Shangha because they are highly spiritual and always try to do good for others.

The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha are closely interrelated. All the three are essential for the rise and the spread of the religion.

If there were no Dharma, there would not have been a Buddha. But if the Buddha were not there, the Dharma would not have been discovered and taught. If the Shangha were not there, there would be no one to preserve and spread it and the religion would have come to an end with the passing away of the Buddha. The Shangha, however, would not have come into existence without the Buddha and the Dharma. In this way are the three "Gems" interrelated and interdependent.