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Core teachings

Be an Island unto Yourself

Attadīpā viharatha attasaraṇā anaññasaraṇā

"Dwell with yourselves as an island, yourselves as refuge, with the Dhamma as an island, the Dhamma as refuge, with no other refuge" — and the Buddha himself explained how.

5 points

This teaching appears in several places. The best known is after the Buddha fell gravely ill at Beluva in his final rains retreat. When he recovered, Ānanda said that seeing him ill, he had felt as though the directions had gone dark. The Buddha replied that the Tathāgata has no closed teacher's fist holding back teachings, and told them to dwell with themselves as an island, the Dhamma as an island, with no other refuge.

Crucially, he immediately explained how: a monk dwells contemplating the body in the body, feelings in feelings, mind in mind and phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending and mindful — that is, the four foundations of mindfulness.

In the Attadīpa Sutta of the Khandha Saṁyutta he adds that one who is an island to oneself should investigate wisely: from what are sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair born?

  1. 1

    Yourself as island, yourself as refuge Attadīpā attasaraṇā

    Relying on your own seeing, not on others deciding for you — like an island that floods cannot reach.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before asking others what to do, first ask your own mind what it sees, then use their advice to check.

  2. 2

    The Dhamma as island, the Dhamma as refuge Dhammadīpā dhammasaraṇā

    Relying on truth and teachings that can be verified, not purely on your own feelings or preferences.

    Applying it in daily life

    Self as refuge must always go with Dhamma as refuge. Relying on yourself alone without principles is just following your moods.

  3. 3

    No other refuge Anaññasaraṇā

    Not entrusting your liberation to anything external — whether a person, a ritual or a sacred object.

    Applying it in daily life

    You can respect a teacher fully, but don't wait for them to practise for you. The Buddha himself said the Tathāgata only shows the way.

  4. 4

    How — the four foundations of mindfulness Kāye kāyānupassī viharati

    The Buddha explained that having yourself and the Dhamma as island means contemplating body in body, feelings in feelings, mind in mind and phenomena in phenomena, with energy, clear comprehension and mindfulness.

    Applying it in daily life

    This refuge is built daily — a few minutes each day returning to your breath, feelings and state of mind. See "The Four Foundations of Mindfulness" for detail.

  5. 5

    Wisely investigate the source of sorrow Yoniso upaparikkhitabbaṃ

    Investigate from what sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair arise, and you'll see they come from clinging to aggregates that change.

    Applying it in daily life

    When grieving, ask "What changed from how I wanted it to be?" Seeing the cause clearly is standing on your own island.

Try it in daily life

"Being your own refuge" is often taken to mean believing in yourself or relying on your own abilities. In the discourse, it means mindfully seeing your own body, feelings, mind and mental phenomena as they are — a refuge no one can take away.

In practice, it means not waiting for a teacher, fortune-teller or anyone else to tell you why you're suffering, but looking at your own mind first every time. Teachers and teachings point the way, but you are the one who walks.

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Sources in the Tipiṭaka

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