The Sanskrit name for the Buddhist ideal of the Three Jewels is Triratna. The three refuges are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha: the awakened teacher, the teaching, and the community that preserves and practices it.
Taking refuge in the Three Jewels is a central expression of Buddhist identity. In Pali, the corresponding term is Tiratana. A person traditionally recites formulas taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, often alongside ethical commitments such as the Five Precepts.
The Three Jewels should not be confused with the Tripitaka, the “Three Baskets” of Buddhist scriptures. Trikaya, meaning “Three Bodies,” is another separate Mahayana doctrine describing dimensions or aspects of Buddhahood. The term Triratna also appears in Buddhist art as a symbol representing the threefold refuge.