When the Buddha was nearing the end of his life, he shared a profound message with his attendant Ananda and future generations: Be your own light, your own refuge. Don’t seek refuge outside yourself.
In his final words, the Buddha emphasized that our ultimate sanctuary lies within us. There’s a brilliance inside each of us, a guiding awareness that is always present. We’re never detached from this luminous awareness, much like waves are always part of the ocean. Even in moments of shame, loneliness, confusion, or reactivity, this awakened state within us remains constant.
This teaching is both powerful and beautiful. The Buddha’s message was that this inner light is not unique to him alone; every ordinary person possesses it. Our deepest nature is this open, loving awareness. We don’t need to become someone else or go somewhere else to find refuge—it’s already within us. Trusting this can lead to a sense of freedom.
Buddhist monk Sayadaw U. Pandita describes the blessings of this realization as having a heart ready for anything. When we trust that we are like the ocean, we are not intimidated by the waves. We develop a confidence that whatever comes our way is manageable. We don’t need to spend our lives preparing for challenges or defending against them. This freedom allows us to fully engage with the present moment and respond wisely.
You might wonder: What would it be like to have a heart ready for anything?
When our hearts are open to any experience, we can face our inevitable losses and sorrow. We can mourn the loss of loved ones, youth, health, and abilities, recognizing this as part of our human experience and our love for life. By bringing a courageous presence to the truth of loss, we remain open to the many ways love manifests in our lives.
With hearts ready for anything, we instinctively reach out to others in pain. While living ethically makes us aware of others’ needs, an open heart cares naturally and unconditionally, addressing fear and suffering wherever they appear.
Having a heart prepared for anything also means being free to be ourselves. This creates space for our wild, passionate, playful sides, as well as for intimacy, understanding, creativity, and productivity. It allows the light of awareness to permeate our moments. The Tibetans refer to this confidence to be ourselves as “the lion’s roar.”
When our hearts are ready, we become more sensitive to the beauty, poetry, and mystery of life. Vipassana meditation teacher Munindraji practiced so he could notice the tiny purple flowers by the roadside during his walks.
With an open heart, we can fall in love with life over and over each day, feeling like children full of wonder. We become grateful for every step we take on this earth and for our connections with others and all of creation. In every moment and every breath, we can find our true refuge.