In the beginning period of Buddhism that wasn't always so formalized. In several cases the person first hears the Dharma and realizes its meaning, i.e. attains stream-entry. Only afterwards he takes refuge and becomes a lay-disciple or a monk/nun. For example, when Ashvajit recited one verse of Dharma to Shariputra, and the latter immediately understood its meaning.Malcolm wrote: ↑Tue Nov 23, 2021 12:44 pmBut in Shravakayana, not everyone can perform the rite of ordaining a male or female upasaka, only a bhikshu can do this. In Mahayana, however this restriction does not apply.Aemilius wrote: ↑Tue Nov 23, 2021 9:25 am OK. I intended it [mod note: the quote from Dhammapada - https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.p ... 61#p608961] as an answer that it is your own self who attains Refuge by realizing the Four noble truths, i.e. by following and realizing the Dharma. According to Buddha any member of the Sangha can teach you the Dharma. In the Sravakayana sutras even a laywoman can act as a teacher, as in the case of the lay-woman Visakha, who converted her father-in-law, wealthy merchant Migara, into Buddhism. Thereafter she was called "Migara's mother", being his "mother" in the spiritual sense, because she had caused Migara's spiritual birth in Buddhism.
There have been and there are still cases when a person hears the Dharma from a non-buddhist and realizes its meaning.