Renewal of vows ceremony

Ameeta! Ameeta! Ami—

Most of you know the context to why we're here. Those of us in this corner of the room, and Sujata, some of you can see peeking over Kema's corner on the screen, over Kema's shoulder. We're already ordained ministers, but we want to reconfirm our vows this morning, like a renewal of wedding vows. But we're also recognizing that the context has changed, that we're moving from one community into a new community configuration.

That's why I felt important to mark today.

And I think there's three parts to the ceremony. We're going to tell you who we are and what we're doing. Well, I guess I've already started doing that now, but we'll do it more formally in a second as well. Then we're going to do what we're going to do and then we'll affirm that we've done it. It's like the classic structure of a talk— say what you're going to say, then say it, and then tell people what you've said. What we are going to do is recite the refuges, the precepts, the bodhisattva vows together, as we do on the Wednesday and Saturday. Then we will stand up and make prostrations to the name trying, expressing our gratitude to the teachings and the wisdom that's been handed down to us from many places. Then we'll in turn sense the waggessas. We'll move them through some incense that Jyameng will light, and we will put them on. Waggessa means small robe, and you can see the form of it is very different to the form that the of the robe that the Buddha would have worn. It's much more practical, and what am I? But it is a link back through the generations to the same robe that the Buddha wore, and represents renunciation, or making a choice to move from a more worldly life into a more spiritual life. And that is the nub of the whole ceremony. A moment of choosing to move from something more worldly to something more spiritual, or something that includes both, maybe. And your role is to witness and affirm that. That's what we're doing today. But in this moment of our choosing, it presents an opportunity for you to reflect on those choices in your own life, the movement from the worldly to the spiritual, or a movement from the worldly to the worldly and the spiritual. Anyway, that's my introduction. Let's go. Oh, uh, please start.

Sprinkled throughout 3,000 worlds, though its nature is clear and without form, its virtues benefit all living beings, cleansing offenses and settling faults. The Dharma rain waters the lotus. We dedicate this water to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. We call on their presence to witness our ceremony.

Is the community assembled?

Yes, the community is assembled.

Is Amida present in the community?

Yes, Amida is present in the community.

For what reason is the community assembled today?

The community is assembled to perform the confirmation of ordination of Diami Donsbe, Kaspalita Thompson, Kema Charlene Snead, Kusumavasa Hart, Satya Robyn, and Sujatin Johnson as ministers of the Bright Earth Buddhist Order, and recognizing Sujatin as a guiding teacher of the Bright Earth Temple.

Let us proceed. Please sit.

We see Amida Buddha and ourselves more clearly. Faith and contrition arise together. We will now all recite Sanghaimon, the verse of contrition, which you will find at the top of your— Sangye Mon.

I now entirely repent all the harmful actions I have perpetrated in the past, arising from beginningless greed, anger, and delusion, and manifested through body, speech, and act minds.

Our ceremony is the reaffirmation of our vocation. Amida Buddha and the Pure Land are beyond human comprehension. They are limitless love itself. We entrust ourselves completely to the unimpeded light and pray that all may become aware of its completely encompassing presence.

Bright Earth ministers help to create the conditions in which people are more likely to wake up to the spiritual reality. We champion engaged Buddhism, we have an emphasis on ecological Buddhism, and we encourage spiritual practice in our everyday lives.

We are in service to the Dharma. We understand that we are spiritually equal to others. We will also find ourselves in positions of responsibility where people who may be vulnerable will look up to us and trust us. Therefore, we take our role seriously. We hope to empower others to find their own connection with the Infinite.

We aim to remain humble and aware of our limitations whilst recognizing the value of our training and experience. We also aim to live grounded, meaningful, and happy lives, becoming role models through refuge in the Three Jewels. The light of compassion illuminates us from afar. Those beings it reaches, it is taught, attain joy of Dharma. So take refuge in Amida. The Great Consolation. We will now reconfirm our vows and precepts. Please recite with us. So we're just going to not do call and response today, so we just read through the whole thing together.

For refuge I go to the Buddha, the one who is awake and full of love. Namo Buddha. For refuge I go to the Dharma, all that guides us to wisdom and compassion. Namo Dharma. For refuge I go to the Sangha, those who live in the Buddha's light. Namo Sangha. With faith in the Three Jewels and in the light of our human tendencies, I pray that I may become aware of when I take life. I pray that I may become aware of when I steal what is not freely given. I pray that I may become aware of when I fall into sexual misconduct. I pray that I may become aware of when I fall into wrong speech. I pray that I may become aware— of when I become intoxicated.

Innumerable are sentient beings.

We vow to restrain them all.

Inexhaustible are deluded passions.

We vow to transform them all.

Immeasurable are the Dharma teachings.

We vow to the Master and the Buddha.

Infinite is the Bodhisattva faith.

We vow to obey completely.

From my heart, I bow to Amitabha, the embodiment of love and compassion. From now on, Satya Robyn, I surrender. Hook me with your great love and kindness to liberate me.

Please remain seated while the ministers make 3 prostrations to the Buddha. Please do join, feel free to join in chanting in the usual way.

Namaste. Namaste.

We have reconfirmed our vows of respect.

Our dedication to the Bodhisattva path.

The ministers will now share their personal vows.

May I embody grace authentically and step into the roles that allow me to serve effectively. Ramachandra's will and love for all beings.

I pray that I may hear the nameless name everywhere.

Amen.

To entrust myself to the guiding grace and love of Amida. To vow to continue my nature practice, to walk barefoot upon this earth, receiving the gifts of wisdom, joy, open-heartedness, healing, remembering always the Three Jewels and Amida's infinite light. I vow to try and see the Dharma in the ordinary things in life, to be a vessel for Amida's light shining the way out of the darkness for those who want to awaken to your loving kindness. May I remember Amitābha's love.

Through the grace of Amitabha Buddha, I pray that I may heed the call of the eternal through all beings great and small, seen and unseen, throughout the cosmos, upon, above, and below Mother Earth. All wise teachers, human and creatures, fur, scale, and feather, of forest and flower, mountain, river, and ocean, rainbow and tempest. And thus inspired, held, and guided by great love, I pray that I may live a life of gratitude, acceptance, devotion, and service.

Namu Amida Butsu.

Please now stand and bow to our newly confirmed ministers.

Having realized true entrusting majestic and boundless. By the working of unhindered light, the ice of blind passion melts without fail to instantly become the water of enlightenment.

As when Dharmakara made his vows to create the pure land and become a Buddha, the entire earth now shakes in six ways, and a rain of wonderful flowers falls from heaven. Scattering everywhere. Spontaneous music is heard, and a voice in the sky says, 'Surely you will attain the highest perfect awakening. Please bow.' We have now confirmed our ordination and our vocation as ministers of the Bright Earth Buddhist order. This concludes our ceremony.

And then it says on our bit of paper, hugs, optional, optional hugs. And we've got to get a group photo. Oh, group photo. Well, it'd be nice to have a group. She can't hear anymore anyway.