Ordination in France
Saturday, 14. July 2007, 17:10:31
Getting ready for Joy's ordination
Joy and I have started going through the precepts together as a way of preparation before ordination. She has been a lay Order member for three and a half years and is ready to take the next step. She has played a key role in setting up and running the project in Delhi and in effect has been working as a minister already. This is characteristic of the Amida way. We don't define what a minister is and then train them to do the job. What usually happens is the reverse; a person starts doing something, or behaving a certain way, and after a while their actions determine what sort of clothes and accessories are necessary for that sort of job.
The process is rather mysterious and fascinating. Why do we get called to do something? In our morning service we recite the Life of No Regret which is a verse that Dharmakara sings in praise of the Buddha of his day, Lokeshvararaja, found in the Larger Pureland Sutra. It goes:
Your radiant face like a mountain peak, catching the first burst of morning light has awesome and unequalled majesty. Like black ink by comparison are the sun, the moon, and the mani treasure.
Tathagata, such is your incomparable face, the melody of your enlightenment fills the world, rare and precious are your precepts, learning, energy, meditation, wisdom and amazing virtue. The oceanic dharma of all Buddhas which you fathom to its deepest depths, dispels the three poisons from the heart, you are like a lion, valiant and divinely pure. Great power, deep wisdom, awesome light, reverberation, a prayer I make a Buddha to become equal to you my Dharma king to lead all beings to the other shore leaving none behind. The six paramitas to perfect with prajna at their head, should I become Buddha I will fulfil this prayer completely to everyone I'll bring great peace. To Buddhas countless as sand grains my offerings I make and do not flinch from the trials of the incomparable way; powerful straight and true. Though Buddha lands and worldly realms be numberless like sand, by sheer power of aspiration I'll fill them all with light. Let me become a Buddha and the multitude of beings will all enjoy my primordial Nirvana world. By indiscriminate compassion I will enlighten all. Reborn here, from no matter where in my country their hearts will lighten and be joyful, happy and at ease. Oh you Buddha, witness my vow, my true aspiration establishing my vow on you gives me the strength to fulfill it. Buddhas throughout space and time, of unimpeded wisdom always witness my hearts practice, no matter the obstacles, the hardships my practice will endure through all without regret.
The Larger Pureland Sutra is a narrative that the Buddha tells Ananda about a king who left his kingdom and became a monk called Dharmakara. Dharmakara went to see Lokeshvararaja, the Buddha of his day, and asked him how he could create a Buddha Land such as his.
The imagery and symbolism of the King leaving his kingdom is important. Each of us is living in our own kingdom. We have built up walls around us, letting in only those loyal to us, acquiring furniture that makes us even more comfortable and feeling at ease within the palace walls. We have a view of our kingdom from a certain vantage point and feel our defenses go up as soon as we see something potentially threatening approach or attack us. The first step is to leave the kingdom. But what would provoke one to leave all of one’s precious possessions and comforts behind?
Usually people start on their spiritual journey, or rather leave their kingdom when they are longing for something more in life. In Dharmakara’s case, as in Joy’s and the rest of the Buddhist Sangha, their longing led them to Buddhism. Dharmakara is fortunate to have come across a Buddha and as soon as he does he asks the Buddha what he can do to create a Buddha land similar to his.
Leaving one’s kingdom behind leaves an opening for someone other than the King to be the most important person. In this instance, the protagonist is replaced with the Buddha, and the King is transformed into a renunciant named Dharmakara who is open and willing to learn and follow the Buddha’s instructions. Dharmakara after meeting Lokeshvara, leaves feeling inspired and alive almost immediately and filled with enthusiasm sings the Life of No Regret and then goes on to create 48 magnificent vows and because his faith and aspiration to create a Buddha land is so great he becomes Amida Buddha who presides over the Land of Peace and Bliss in the Western region of the Universe.
As I assist Joy in preparing for her ordination, it strikes me that both of us are foolish beings who have sought the truth and are filled with aspiration to help those suffering in despair. We are well aware that we cannot do this on our own, and that we will fall short of the ideal outlined in The Larger Pureland Sutra, but we feel inspired by what we have found on this spiritual path and without a kingdom to return to what else is there to do but help Amida create places similar in feel and flavour to her Pure Land.
Joy and I have started going through the precepts together as a way of preparation before ordination. She has been a lay Order member for three and a half years and is ready to take the next step. She has played a key role in setting up and running the project in Delhi and in effect has been working as a minister already. This is characteristic of the Amida way. We don't define what a minister is and then train them to do the job. What usually happens is the reverse; a person starts doing something, or behaving a certain way, and after a while their actions determine what sort of clothes and accessories are necessary for that sort of job.
The process is rather mysterious and fascinating. Why do we get called to do something? In our morning service we recite the Life of No Regret which is a verse that Dharmakara sings in praise of the Buddha of his day, Lokeshvararaja, found in the Larger Pureland Sutra. It goes:
Your radiant face like a mountain peak, catching the first burst of morning light has awesome and unequalled majesty. Like black ink by comparison are the sun, the moon, and the mani treasure.
Tathagata, such is your incomparable face, the melody of your enlightenment fills the world, rare and precious are your precepts, learning, energy, meditation, wisdom and amazing virtue. The oceanic dharma of all Buddhas which you fathom to its deepest depths, dispels the three poisons from the heart, you are like a lion, valiant and divinely pure. Great power, deep wisdom, awesome light, reverberation, a prayer I make a Buddha to become equal to you my Dharma king to lead all beings to the other shore leaving none behind. The six paramitas to perfect with prajna at their head, should I become Buddha I will fulfil this prayer completely to everyone I'll bring great peace. To Buddhas countless as sand grains my offerings I make and do not flinch from the trials of the incomparable way; powerful straight and true. Though Buddha lands and worldly realms be numberless like sand, by sheer power of aspiration I'll fill them all with light. Let me become a Buddha and the multitude of beings will all enjoy my primordial Nirvana world. By indiscriminate compassion I will enlighten all. Reborn here, from no matter where in my country their hearts will lighten and be joyful, happy and at ease. Oh you Buddha, witness my vow, my true aspiration establishing my vow on you gives me the strength to fulfill it. Buddhas throughout space and time, of unimpeded wisdom always witness my hearts practice, no matter the obstacles, the hardships my practice will endure through all without regret.
The Larger Pureland Sutra is a narrative that the Buddha tells Ananda about a king who left his kingdom and became a monk called Dharmakara. Dharmakara went to see Lokeshvararaja, the Buddha of his day, and asked him how he could create a Buddha Land such as his.
The imagery and symbolism of the King leaving his kingdom is important. Each of us is living in our own kingdom. We have built up walls around us, letting in only those loyal to us, acquiring furniture that makes us even more comfortable and feeling at ease within the palace walls. We have a view of our kingdom from a certain vantage point and feel our defenses go up as soon as we see something potentially threatening approach or attack us. The first step is to leave the kingdom. But what would provoke one to leave all of one’s precious possessions and comforts behind?
Usually people start on their spiritual journey, or rather leave their kingdom when they are longing for something more in life. In Dharmakara’s case, as in Joy’s and the rest of the Buddhist Sangha, their longing led them to Buddhism. Dharmakara is fortunate to have come across a Buddha and as soon as he does he asks the Buddha what he can do to create a Buddha land similar to his.
Leaving one’s kingdom behind leaves an opening for someone other than the King to be the most important person. In this instance, the protagonist is replaced with the Buddha, and the King is transformed into a renunciant named Dharmakara who is open and willing to learn and follow the Buddha’s instructions. Dharmakara after meeting Lokeshvara, leaves feeling inspired and alive almost immediately and filled with enthusiasm sings the Life of No Regret and then goes on to create 48 magnificent vows and because his faith and aspiration to create a Buddha land is so great he becomes Amida Buddha who presides over the Land of Peace and Bliss in the Western region of the Universe.
As I assist Joy in preparing for her ordination, it strikes me that both of us are foolish beings who have sought the truth and are filled with aspiration to help those suffering in despair. We are well aware that we cannot do this on our own, and that we will fall short of the ideal outlined in The Larger Pureland Sutra, but we feel inspired by what we have found on this spiritual path and without a kingdom to return to what else is there to do but help Amida create places similar in feel and flavour to her Pure Land.
