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Ekyo's Blog Sharing form the heart
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Jukai 2008 |
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November 29, 2008 Harvest sesshin was very special because two Polish friends were taking Jukai. During this ceremony a person accepts Buddhist precepts as a guide for his/her life. Roshi gives everyone a Buddhist name and rakusu. Seeing the photo of Soen Shaku, Nyogen Senzaki’s beloved teacher, on Dharma Hall’s altar reminded me about why I am still coming to sesshins in Dai Bosatsu Zendo. I always look forward to see his penetrating eyes. I would like to share a little about Jukai ceremony. It is very different from Jukai taken many times while practicing in seventies and eighties in Rochester Zen Center. Everyone who would like to take Jukai must participate in Harvest sesshin and at the end there is a ceremony with the feeling almost like a lay ordination. There are some requirements to be allowed to take precepts. They may have changed from days of my ceremony some 17 years ago but generally one has to attend several sesshins and write a letter to Roshi. Roshi takes long time thinking about appropriate Buddhist name for everyone. It seems that he strikes the point each time. I am at awe how each name really expresses either a Dharma quality of particular person or is an inspiration to strive for a missing or weak quality. Each Jukai is slightly different and this year we did notice a few changes in translations or interpretations of precepts. Sounding very passive “I take refuge in Dharma” was chenged to “I give myself to Dharma” and one, which I personally care for much - “I will not deceive” was added. Jukai ceremony is a very transformative experience for those who take precepts and for those who witness. It is a reminder for all of us what we had vowed to do. My friends were very happy after and really liked their names. Their Zen practice got a new meaning. The two pictures below were made and shared by Janusz. His wife and son are receiving rakusus and Buddhist names.
KaRyo meaning Flower Hill
KoZan meaning Cultivate the Mountain
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© 2009 Ekyo's Blog |
