"The first two steps in the process of becoming a lay disciple of the Buddha are the going for refuge (sarana gamana) and the undertaking of the five precepts (pañca-sila samadana). By the former step a person makes the commitment to accept the Triple Gem — the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha — as the guiding ideals of his life, by the latter he expresses his determination to bring his actions into harmony with these ideals through right conduct."

Kudos. It always almost seems stupid for people to take refuge daily. Perhaps we lost the meaning of taking refuge or perhaps we dont understand the meaning at all.

Taking refuge is akin to the fundamental of a building. Before you can stay in the house, you will need to build the house. So similarly before you can call yourself a BUDDHIST, you have to take refuge. Bit by Bit slowly and steady, we affirm our faith & trust in the Triple Gems.

What is the meaning of taking refuge? A refuge points to an object, a person, an energy etc where we find solace, protection from. Now think of refugees. Isnt it the same? seeking shelter and protection from another country.

Now with money, fame, statuses, Food, clothings, cars and more money. we seldom need to worry about things in our life. and taking refuge become stupid. And we journey towards more AND MORE BARANG amulets to make our life better. Buddha calls this illusion. Due to our limiting beliefs and ideas. we only see what is good. Infact human beings is like an ice-berg. only part of it can be seen on the surface and the rest are submerge deep inside the freezing water. Similarly, on the surface our life looks and seems fine. however always deep inside we are always lost, confused, troubled and worried etc... so wouldnt taking refuge means alot?

How does one take refuge?

Buddham Saranam Gacchami
To the Buddha i take refuge

When we go for refuge to the Buddha we resort to him as the supreme embodiment of purity, wisdom and compassion, the peerless teacher who can guide us to safety out of the perilous ocean of samsara.

Dhamma Saranam Gacchami
To the Dhamma i take refuge

it was said that the Dhamma is the actual refuge. In the light of the distinctions just drawn this statement can now be made more precise. The verbal teaching is essentially a map, a body of instructions and guidelines. Since we have to rely on these instructions to realize the goal, the teaching counts as an actual refuge, but it is so in a derivative way

Sangha Saranam Gacchami
To the Sangha i take refuge

In an unbroken lineage extending back over twenty-five hundred years, the monastic order has served as the custodian of the Dhamma. The mode of life it makes possible permits it to exercise this function. The Buddha's dispensation, as we suggested, possesses a twofold character; it is a path of practice leading to liberation from suffering, and also a distinctive set of doctrines embedded in scriptures expounding the details of this path. The Sangha bears the responsibility for maintaining both aspects of the dispensation. Its members assume the burden of continuing the tradition of practice with the aim of showing that the goal can be realized and deliverance attained. They also take up the task of preserving the doctrines, seeing to it that the scriptures are taught and transmitted to posterity free from distortion and misinterpretation.

Going for refuge is a method of cultivation, a practice of inner development which should be undertaken regularly, repeated and renewed every day as part of one's daily routine. Just as we care for our body by washing it each morning, so we should also take care of our mind by implanting in it each day the fundamental seed for our development along the Buddhist path, that is, the going for refuge. Preferably the going for refuge should be done twice each day, with each refuge repeated three times; but if a second recitation is too difficult to fit in, as a minimum one recitation should be done every day, with three repetitions of each refuge.

Best of lucks!