NAMO DÖ NE LHÜN DRUB NYUG ME TSA WA SUM
NAMO The primordial, self-existing, innate three roots

KÜN TU RANG SEM MA YÖ CHAB SU CHI
Are always, without wavering, one’s own mind. Thus, I take refuge.

“The first part of the practice is taking refuge. NAMO is a Sanskrit word that signifies “joyful body, joyful speech, and joyful mind.” The sound of NAMO is an expression of your feeling great devotion and joy toward the objects of refuge.

These two lines express taking refuge from the absolute point of view. You are taking refuge in the primordially pure and spontaneous nature of the mind as being the innate three roots. The three roots—the guru, the yidam, and the dakinis and dharmapalas—are naturally inherent and primordially present as the nature of your mind.

This inherently accomplished primordial nature is the same as the coemergent vajra hero of the sadhana’s title. Taking refuge in the primordial nature is the same as taking refuge in the vajra hero. Since the primordial nature is none other than Vajrakilaya and Guru Padmasambhava, this inherent primordial awareness is symbolized by the guru or Guru Padmasambhava.

Primordial awareness contains the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and loving-kindness, which are symbolized by the deity or yidam. By having compassion, loving-kindness, and wisdom, one performs beneficial activities from that awareness, and the activities are symbolized by the dakinis and dharmapalas. All the three roots are none other than the self-born awareness or the “coemergent vajra hero.” This is the Dzogchen understanding of self-born wisdom.

The second line explains the manner in which we are taking refuge: we are always taking refuge in the primordial nature with an unwavering mind. This has nothing to do with a subject taking refuge in an object. This refuge is simply being in the natural state, without moving away from or going beyond that state. Maintaining one’s awareness of the primordial nature all the time is the ultimate state of taking refuge.”

Venerable Khenpo Rinpoches
The Dark Red Amulet: Oral instructions on the Practice of Vajrakilaya (pg 53)

Photo of Ven. Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche drawing the Three Jewels during the 2013 PBC NYC New Years Vajrasattva and Vajrakilaya Meditation Practice.