Golden Wind Zen Group Precepts Ceremony January 2005

Lay Ordination and Precepts

Precepts–Lay Students

A practitioner who decides to dedicate him or herself to Zen does so by taking the five precepts in a ceremony at the Zen Center. The formal student–teacher relationship is reserved for those who are concerned with “the great question of birth and death,” have a genuine spiritual aspiration to come to awakening, are willing to exert themselves in their practice including yongmaeng jongjin attendance, and feel a genuine rapport with the Guiding Teacher. Entering into a student–teacher relationship is not necessarily a lifelong commitment, but nevertheless represents a deep level of commitment to working together spiritually on the part of both the student and the Guiding Teacher.

Five Precepts—Lay Practitioner

1. I vow to abstain from taking life.
2. I vow to abstain from taking things not given.
3. I vow to abstain from misconduct done in lust.
4. I vow to abstain from lying.
5. I vow to abstain from intoxicants, taken to induce heedlessness.

Lay Ordination–Golden Wind Order

The Golden Wind Order is an American Chögye Sŏn Buddhist religious order that has been developed within the Zen Group. The student ordains in the Golden Wind Order as a Priest. There are two levels of commitment and precepts within this category but all are reserved for only the very serious students. The requirements for entrance into this order are rigorous and the ongoing responsibilities of ordained members are demanding. Membership in the Golden Wind Order represents the highest commitment that one can make at our Center to realizing the Buddha–dharma and to live out of that clear understanding for the benefit of all sentient beings.

Members of the Golden Wind Order work with the Guiding Teacher to develop training forms and lead the Sangha in spiritual practice at the Center. In addition to their own personal practice duties, ordained members lead ceremonies and may be asked by the Guiding Teacher to answer questions at Dharma talks. Dharma Priests also make themselves available to perform wedding ceremonies, birth ceremonies and memorial ceremonies for the general public as their faith moves them. Lay ordination in the Golden Wind Order involves a lifelong commitment to the practice and realization of the Dharma within the context of the life of the householder.

The entry into the Golden Wind Order evolves from a committed relationship with the Guiding Teacher. The Dharma Priest program is similar to becoming a Novice Monk and is an opportunity to deepen the commitment to practice and to live the vow to help others. It encourages its members to widen their focus from being largely a questioner and receiver, to being also able to guide, inspire, and educate others. As a Dharma Priest, the relationship to the teacher and the Zen Center will have the opportunity to mature.