IntakingrefugeintheThreeJewels,ideally,oneisnottakingrefugeinanindividualperson.Forus,theprimaryfocusof\"buddha\"isShakyamuniBuddha.Itisimportanttorecognizethebuddhaofthistime.Thebuddhaofthistime,whohastaughttheteachings,isShakyamuniBuddha.SoShakyamuniBuddhahastobetheprincipalfocusofrefuge,notanypersonordeitytakingthatplace.Also,theteachingoftheBuddhamentionsthatoneisone\'sownprotector.Thepointtobeunderstoodhereitisnotthat,inyourconfusedsamsaricstate,youareyourownprotector.TheBuddhahasshownthepath.TheBuddhaisanobjectofrefuge,undoubtedly.YettheactualobjectofrefugeistheDharma,whichtheindividualmustintegratefortheirpotentialtobecomemanifestthroughthesupportoftheSangha.ByapplyingthepracticeoftheDharma,thecentralmessageoftheBuddha,onecangainliberation.Itisinthiswaythatonecanbecomeone\'sownprotector.