This coming weekend we’re going to celebrate the Jukai Ceremony for Michael Stoffel and Madison McClintock. Friends, family and children are all welcome.
The ceremony is at 8:30 Saturday, March 25 at the Tea House. Please be 15 minutes early.
Jukai is a somewhat more formal welcoming into our Buddhist community of these dear friends that we’ve known for a while now. This weekend is an opportunity to embody our commitment to one another by supporting Michael, Madison, and each one of us by our coming together as one, the true meaning of sangha. Please make every effort to prioritize your presence at the Tea House as a gift to our Jukai recipients and the sangha and as a manifestation of our solidarity.
Receiving Jukai is joining the Buddha family. It is an acknowledgement that we are buddhas. This is something that unfolds through out our whole lives in our practice and living moments as ever deeper realizations. Jukai expresses the commitment and intention of the student to become a disciple of the teachings and a disciple of the teachers in a most serious manner. It makes clear this precious being is making a significant outward commitment to the practices, the sangha, their teacher and themselves. This person is now joining the whole ancient lineage, the actual heart-to-heart direct and unbroken line of transmission of the teachings back to Sujata and Gautama Buddhas. The blood and marrow of the Buddhas is clearly acknowledged to be that of the one taking Jukai.
The commitment the students both inwardly and outwardly make is to uphold the Three Treasures; the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Also to embody the the Three Pure Precepts as Dogen describes them: “To not commit evil; this is the abiding place of laws and rules of all buddhas, this is the very source of laws and rules of all buddhas. To do good: This is the dharma of Sammak-sam-bodhi; this is the Way of all beings. To do good for others; This is to transcend the profane and to be beyond the holy; this is to liberate oneself and others.”
The rakusu, representing the patchwork robe of the buddha, sealed and inscribed by the teachers along with the Great Sila (lineage chart) now containing the student’s new dharma name is presented. The Verse of the Kesa becomes an internalized sacred vow, recited and renewed each time the rakusu is worn. The vows blossom in the heart of each one of us:
Vast is the robe of liberation.
A formless field of benefaction
I am the Tathagata’s teaching.
Intimate with all Being.
This weekend’s Jukai Ceremony is an opportunity to be in solidarity with the principal of No Separation, to be one with the vows you have already taken or may be about to take, to show your love, support and commitment to Michael and Madison, the Sangha and teachers and revisit and renew your own Buddhist path; in short to be present.
~ Issan
SCHEDULE MARCH 19-26
MONDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT TEA HOUSE, DAVID KEKANSAN OPENING
MONDAY, 7PM, DREAM KOAN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM
Drag your body to the Zendo, or Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81182899201?pwd=UVU4MnJhMG1ZUGJaOHhaSndwQ2dYQT09
TUESDAY, 6:30AM, ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM, WITH ZENHO. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86265616603?pwd=WHZEQWNDQnZPS1VicDl6VVlEdmxFZz09
WEDNESDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE OR ZOOM WITH ZENHO
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89605039197?pwd=VTVubW5pUnBCNFBqQjBieERvNDd5QT09
THURSDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN AT THE TEA HOUSE WITH ISSAN
DOKUSAN WITH ISSAN SENSEI
FRIDAY, 6:30AM: ZAZEN & SERVICE WITH ZENHO AT THE TEAHOUSE DOKUSAN WITH ZENHO SENSEI
SATURDAY, 8:30AM, JUKAI CEREMONY, AT THE TEA HOUSE
POTLUCK AT ISSAN’S HOUSE AFTERWARD.
10601 CALLE LINDA, CORRALES, NM 87048
Deep peace & Great Love,
Issan and Zenho
No Gate Zen Center 