This Saturday, our Treeleaf Sangha will be having our first … and what seems to be the …
“World’s First”… ALL ONLINE JUKAI (Undertaking the Precepts) CEREMONY!!
Please come watch, if you have the time. The live netcast will start here (and on this blog) at this link …
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sit-a-long-with-jundo
from
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th 2009 at MIDNIGHT (Saturday/Sunday) JAPAN TIME(which should be SATURDAY 10AM in NY, 7AM on the West Coast, 3pm inLondon, 4pm in Paris).
Now, the fact that this is an “ALL ONLINE” Jukai should not take away from the fact that several dozen people in our Sangha have been working diligently for several months to study and understand each of the Precepts, to sew a Rakusu (a traditional Buddhist robe), and sit in Retreats and such … all in preparation. You can see some of our activities and discussion on our Forum.
The ‘Precepts‘ are at the heart of our Practice. Not hard and fast laws or ‘Commandments‘ from heaven, each is an arrow pointing out a good path.
All basically come down to this …
Seek, as you can, not to do harm … and to live in a way healthful and helpful to yourself and others … (who are not two)
Livingby the Precepts supports and sustains the Practice of Zazen. ThePractice of Zazen supports and nurtures Living by the Precepts. Infact, Zazen is living by the Precepts, Living by the Precepts nothingbesides Zazen.
(remember: recording ends soon after the beginning bells;
a sitting time of 20 to 35 minutes is recommended)
posted January 14, 2009 at 11:49 am
I need my Jundo! I don’t see any video, link… nada. Can you tell me what to do or where to get help?
posted January 15, 2009 at 12:32 am
So does this make them lay Zen priests?
posted January 15, 2009 at 6:58 am
Hi Richard,
I am not sure of the problem with the video, but make sure FLASH is up to date in your computer …
http://www.adobe.com/support/flash/downloads.html
Hi Jamie,
Both priests and lay person can take “Jukai” (unertaking the Precepts) any number of times. I know people who do so each year. Kind of like “Baptism” I suppose, but it is just a personal committal to live as one can not to do harm.
But this particular Jukai is for lay folks. Committing to being a priest has many other steps and stages, ceremonies and hoops to jump through!
Gassho, Jundo
posted January 15, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Jundo,
I am on the online community forum at Tree Leaf.
I am curious about the priest thing. How does that work in your lineage? Can you ordain? At some point are you going to offer this online as well?
posted January 16, 2009 at 10:20 am
Hi Jamie,
I could not imagine that I would ordain anyone online! To be a priest or minister requires so much that can only be learned “hands on” and working with a teacher closely, to “show you the ropes”. In my case, I was fortunate that, after Nishijima Roshi ordained me (and before and after the time I received Dharma Transmission) another Soto Zen priest in America took me under wing (Doshin Cantor), and really was a good example and teacher on everything from bowing to leading a Sangha to dealing with people’s sicknesses and weddings and divorces. I was very fortunate to have two good coaches!
Most things in a Sangha we can do very well online, but I do not think priest training can be online (extra for some parts perhaps).
Gassho, Jundo