Even if we farm and kill animals, we can take refuge without taking any of the five lay vows. Because Buddha is compassionate, even if we are unable to stop committing major harm, such as killing, we can abandon smaller harmful actions, for example, a second of anger.

The purpose of the vows is to protect our and others’ minds from suffering and to bring peace and happiness for ourselves and others, but if we can’t keep the five vows, there are many other smaller harmful actions that we can stop, such as harsh speech.

If we can stop committing any harmful actions, this offers protection to others and is the root of happiness and peace, so we don’t receive the result of negative karma and we have happiness in this and future lives.

Buddha is so compassionate in the way he guides us, and we can still take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Even Tibetan soldiers used to take refuge and then go out and do their job. In our case, besides taking the tantric and bodhisattva vows, we still harm others every day with anger, bad words, etc.