Ordination ceremonies at Amida Mandala temple in Malvern

Namoh Amida Butsu.

It's the 10th of December at Amida Matsu in Malvern, and we're streaming the donation ceremony as some people can't make it because of the snow. So namoh amida butsu, thank you for joining us.

Is this going to be right in front of the camera?

I don't know.

Well, it is, isn't it? I think I'll need to go like this.

I think you'll be called forwards, so yeah, it's fine to start.

So one at the back, or here.

On YouTube. You'll be cool.

Yes.

Do you want to take any photos?

Do you want to?

Yeah.

Are people okay for photos to be taken during?

Yes.

Yes.

Somebody is a mean Amanda.

Uh, is this the one I said? Stare in here, I think, for Namaste.

Namaste. Namaste. Namaste. Namaste. Namoha miyahu. Namoha ji. Namoha miya. Namoha miyahu. Namoha miyahu.

I, Amita Sustama, priest of the Order of Amida Buddha, make these offerings to the Buddhas of the past, Past great spiritual ancestors and all the great sages. To the Buddhas of the present throughout the 10 directions. To the Buddhas of the future and all great bodhisattvas, mahasattvas. She's my little assistant today. May they come to our aid. May they witness our work.

Daddy. Mommy.

Is the community assembled?

Yes, the community is assembled.

Is there harmony in the community?

Yes, there's harmony in the community.

And for what reason is The community assembled today.

The community is assembled today to perform the Sangha Karmen of confirmation as minister of Reverend Amita Sanghamitra and of the ordination as Gankhonen of Kusumavasa and Emma Smith.

Very good, let us proceed.

Will the candidates please come forward.

Ideally, all of you should be on the white dot. So you squeeze in if you like, and just imagine the white path is where you are. You're not in the river of greed and you're not in the river of fire. You're very much on the white path.

Please be seated.

Satya Robyn.

So this is the white path that was in the picture that Lao Tzu painted with— it was a meadow in the West, and the Buddha behind you, but we have it in reverse.

This is the West, literally the West.

We should be facing the other way.

Doesn't matter.

Amida will be there in whatever direction we're facing. We have to trust that he is there.

And he is there. And we can talk out there.

It's wonderful that we could be here together together to celebrate on such a snowy day.

Amazing.

It does feel like Christmas, a white Christmas. The pure land of Buddha is measureless in extent and cannot be fathomed with the worldly mind. Those with faith are assured are assuredly invited to it. Those who entrust themselves will arrive unimpededly, while those who cannot circle eternally. Now you are about to confirm your vocation in the service of the Buddhas, which is the service of all sentient beings. To enter the priesthood is to drink from the unquenchable source of of merit, and you are now under the protection of all this merit without reserve, but with the permission of all other sentient beings.

Mummy! Mummy.

Satya Robyn, could you take Dorian and put his feet at the back?

Okay.

Yeah, I think this is better. I can hear maybe he was walking around the door. He needs something else. These are the other sentient beings. This undertaking is the most pretentious. Those who put on the clothes Those of enlightenment are conspicuous for the Buddha's sake. We are not mistaken for other beings. One who sees us can gain much happiness. Know yourself as of poor taste and simply entrust all to the measureless love of Amida Buddha. Even though your spiritual accomplishments may be meager, you will now raise the foot and cast the eye of old Shakyamuni and be known as one among the most respected in all worlds. Do not fear, for the Buddhas will guide you when you entrust yourself to them. In the drifting, wandering world, it is rare to subordinate selfish ties. Now we are going to throw them away completely and enter emptiness. This is real gratitude. Think of the kindness of your ancestors, all who have nurtured, protected, and inspired you to this day. Tell your ancestors and guardian deity what you are doing. Today you are also setting them free. They too will receive much merit.

Satya Robyn.

So now they will go to the ancestor shrine. They will, in their minds, let their ancestors know what they're doing, and we will chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

Satya Sam Buddha Satya. Namottasa. Dharana So. Aham Ato. Satya Sam Buddha Satya.

And now, I— this is very, very embarrassing— I am going to step into the role of the Buddha. So this is all for the sake of the ceremony.

With your hook-like kindness hold me, through all bardos, through all lives. From fear save me, with power fill me, be by my side, keep me true.

Daddy, go to home. Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy.

So this is sangha mitra, offering incense to me, the Buddha, and I am now offering it to all the Buddhas that that have transmitted the Dharma in the past, and that is this light at the very end. In a very, very dark, dark time, we can only see that bit of light, and it's come all the way down to us to this day. And we pray that they will never leave us, and that we will always try to keep it going. I am now going to cut your hair. Only a Buddha can do it. Do you permit me to cut your hair? Satya Robyn. And there's a ritual that we do this 3 times, and that way we know that there's no mistake in what you are about to do, no hesitation. I am now going to cut your hair. Only a Buddha can do it.

Do you permit?

Permit me to cut it or not?

I do.

I am now going to cut your hair. Only a Buddha can cut it. Do you permit me to cut it or not?

I do.

And there's a very special place on the very top of the head where the light of the Buddhas is said to pass through into our entire core. It's right here at the very top, so I'm not going to cut all of it off. I'm just going to take a little bit so that there's a little entrance.

Great Bodhisattvas, think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple Amitasanghamitra, I now have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teachings, that he may help all living things.

And again, we do this 3 times.

Great Bodhisattvas, think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple Amitasanghamitra, now have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teaching, that he may help all living things. Great Bodhisattvas, think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple Amitasanghamitra, now have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teaching, that he may help all living things.

So that passage is something that we all say before we put our robes on.

There's always some difficulty with this part of the story from the very beginning.

I know, I know, it doesn't work.

Try it again.

No, it has to go round the other way. So we were up until very late doing this, and I'm afraid I think we put the button in the Oh, that's definitely on the left shoulder.

Is that so? Yes, right, you just put your arm in the wrong place.

Just need to move my arm, not the button.

There is a story about a disciple who had to cut off his arm.

Minor adjustments later.

We shall not amputate. His arm might come in heavy. You have taken refuge and received the Dharma Vinaya of the Buddhas. Now you yourself will know how to follow the practice and adore in a pure life.

Thank you very much.

With your hook-like calmness, hold me. You're Through all bardos, through all lives.

From fear, save me.

Through power, fill me.

Be by my side.

Great Bodhisattvas, think so hard for you. Thank you. So, welcome back, Peter. This is your second time. You have one more chance. And then you're definitely in.

Great Goddess Satya Robyn, think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple, perceive of myself, now have the clarity of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the truths of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teachings that he may help all living things. Think wholeheartedly, I, the disciple Kusumavasa, now have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teaching that you may have all living things. Great Bodhisattvas, think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple, Kusumavasa, now have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every shape. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teachings that he may help all living beings.

This is a lot easier.

Okay!

I am now going to cut your hair; only Buddha can do this. Do you permit me to cut your hair?

Yes or no?

No— Okay... Only Buddha can cut it. You permit me to cut your hair?

Yes or no?

Thank you.

I'm now gonna cut your hair; only Buddha can do that. Do you permit me to cut your hair?

Yes or no?

You have taken refuge and received the Dharma Vinaya of all the Buddhas. Now you yourself will know how to follow the practice and adorn pure mind.

Keep you true.

As I know very well, it's not how well you do the castration, it's the intent, it's the spirit, thank you, sincerity in which you do them. I am now going to cut your hair. Only a Buddha can cut it. He permitted me to cut your hair. I am now going to cut your hair. Only a Buddha can cut it. Do you permit me to cut your hair? I am now going to cut your hair. Only a Buddha can cut it. Do you permit me to cut your hair?

This is your name in this unopened envelope.

Satya Robyn.

Anita Kamasalini, which means possessing peace or tranquility or endowed with calm.

So all of us have Ammita has her family— women are part of the Ammita family.

Yes?

Kema is peaceful, safe, tranquil, calm, just like nature. Kemashalini or Shalin or Shanin? Possessing, abounding in full love, abounding in compassion. So you are abounding in all that nature.

And lots of smooth. Very, very appropriate.

Nice and simple.

Pray for the Satyas.

Think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple, Kamsarili, now I have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teaching that he may help all living beings. Great Bodhisattvas, think wholeheartedly. I, the disciple, Khenma Tsering, now have the clothes of Buddha. How great and wondrous are the clothes of enlightenment, formless yet embracing every treasure. I wish to unfold the Buddha's teaching, that he may help all living beings. Greet Bodhisattvas, think wholeheartedly, I, the disciple of every treasure, I wish to unfold the Buddha's teachings that he may help all living beings.

You have now taken refuge and received the Dharma Vinaya of all the Buddhas. And actually, you are liberated as well, because you took the pratimoksha last night, which means liberation. Now you yourself will know how to follow the practice in a Dharma pure land. So they are now in the pyramid. These are The new Buddhas. Yes, why not?

I changed my form but kept my vow, cutting off worldly attachment in order to be free to do the Buddha's bidding for the benefit of all.

Now is the right time. Stir and delight the assembly. Roar the lion's roar. Hearing this, other bodhisattvas will practice this Dharma and so fulfill innumerable great vows.

I beg you, grant me your attention. I will fully proclaim my vow. I vow to be honest about my shortcomings and failures. To grow into an assertive adult and leave childish ways behind. To act with courage and maturity. To share whatever talents I may have and the Dharma generously.

Namaste.

To trust the guiding grace of Amida's love and infinite light on my spiritual path. To remember to ask for help and to be realistic of what's I'm able to offer others, to walk in nature and to say the Nembutsu in nature every day, to open my heart to spaciousness, to continue exploring my relationship with nature, her beauty, her wisdom, her healing power, and to be able to share the Dharma and support others with nature-based practice.

I beg you, grant me your attention. I fully proclaim my vow. Dear child that cannot speak, place your tiny hand in mine. Let me speak for you when you cannot be heard. Let me sing to to you the Dharma so that the light of Amida can shine upon you. For your mother and father, I offer my support, a shoulder to cry on, a witness to the pain that they feel for you. I will listen to their fears without judgment in their darkest hour. I will act like a lamp guiding them to Amida's door. This is the vow I make to help all sick children to find the light of you, Amida. Let them feel your spirit within their heart and know that they are loved.

they would come and they would walk around the Buddha 3 times. I'm not sure if they made prostrations, but instead of walking around the new Buddhas 3 times and then they sat down to one side, we will make 3 prostrations to these Buddhas. If everyone could please stand and come around to this side so that we're all in front. Now the universe rejoices, the earth trembles and flowers fall. Bodhisattvas in other worlds ask their Buddha, "What does this mean?" And the Buddha replies that in the realm of Shakyamuni Buddha, a new bodhisattva disciple has sprung up from the earth. This disciple, being of innocent faith in Amida Tathagata, will enter the pure land your land, will serve myriad Buddhas, will benefit myriad beings through infinite transformations, and will become a Buddha in the future. Therefore, the universe rejoices. The bodhisattvas, on hearing this explanation, bowed toward you, saying, 'If this is so, then you are the same as we. You are making the Buddhas your master and the bodhisattvas your friends. Settled in faith, you obtain this unbreakable support. This is to possess the pure body of the Dharma and be among the truly assured. Is this not so? To whom do we offer this merit? To where do we offer it? The source of this merit is immaculacy itself. And it is copious without limit. Therefore, there is nothing to be feared and nothing to be desired. Let us, together with all living things, offer this merit to the Highest Truth, that all may enter the Land of Bliss.

Thank you very much.

You may now step down. We'll now go back to our places.

Please be seated.

So we've got a little extra job to do.

Find somewhere to sit. It's, um, now the next part of the ceremony, very important.

Does the light still protect you? You know that there's a few words in a book that's not of our tradition at all, but which seems quite appropriate. And it's said by a character who— you had to stand in for the Buddha, but I'm going one up. Or maybe it's one down, depending on your theology. But anyway, somebody said, "This is my beloved son." This little path here, where do you think we are on it? 'Cause to be a teacher of the Dhamma, one day you're conducting the coronation for the Emperor, the next day you're cleaning the drains. And it's all the same, really.

It's all the same.

All the same.

Hello.

And then people show up, you know, that you didn't expect. You have to think whether to knock them on the head or the bottom. Usually they need a bit of shaping up, you know. Yes, well, you're doing a pretty good job already. So let's take a little walk up to the other end together, because this is what it's all about. I think we've got something to put around your neck. It's not going to be a springboard. Thank you, my dear.

It's getting, getting— we have a new, uh, acharya, new teacher in the, uh, order.

Namamiyo. And now, we can all greet each other cordially.

Amazing!