It is not enough to just participate in a refuge ceremony and receive a refuge certificate–you need to behave like a Buddha, following the precepts and not holding any of the 128 views that have been discussed on this blog.
Erroneous View #90: THE VIEW THAT ONE WHO HAS TAKEN REFUGE IS DEFINITELY A BUDDHIST
Those with this view think that if they took refuge, participated in a refuge ceremony, and received a refuge certificate, they are Buddhists. That is incorrect. Taking refuge does not mean that one is necessarily a Buddhist. Can one represent Buddhism if he kills people and sets fires after taking refuge? If after taking refuge one does all kinds of bad deeds all day long, humiliates people, deceives people, practices heretical ways, and spreads heretical ideas, is he a Buddhist? No he is not. Only those who abide by the precepts in their practice are true Buddhists. Only those who do not follow these 128 evil and erroneous views are pure, orthodox, outstanding Buddhists and are greatly virtuous cultivators. This is extremely important.
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