Quang Trí

Quang Trí, meaning “Clear Mind” is the name I received during my taking of the Three Refuges and Five Precepts ceremony tonight. After years of study and actually practicing for a year, I’m so glad I found a Sangha and a Teacher to “settle down” with and ask for the ceremony.

I accepted and vowed to all five precepts – because you don’t have to take all five. Out of the three of us in the ceremony, I was the only one to vow to abstain from intoxicants! Of course that doesn’t make me better, but because I don’t really drink much or “want” to drink, I feel like it’s “no big deal” to abstain from something I rarely do anyway.

Next Sunday the temple is celebrating Vesak, Prince Siddhartha’s birthday! This will be my first official Buddhist celebration! We’ll be having the traditional ceremonial chanting, followed by a talk by our head monk, and ending with a vegetarian lunch. So it should be real exciting! Though it’s going to be hot outside, but since it’s at 9:30am I’m hoping it won’t be too bad.

 

Smile and be well!

Taking Refuge and Precepts Ceremony

Though I’ve already taken Refuge (on my own), I haven’t officially taken the Five Precepts. When taking Refuge and the Precepts, it’s traditionally done at a temple by the head monk. So that’s what I’m doing this weekend. I’ve waited until I found a Sangha before taking the precepts, because it’s important to find and be apart of a Sangha before asking for such a commitment ceremony.

My temple holds one Precepts ceremony a year, usually on Vesak, or a week before or after Vesak. Since they’re going to be really busy this year for Vesak because we invited the Japanese temple to celebrate with us, I chose this weekend (the week before Vesak) for the ceremony.

I’ve been waiting for this ceremony for a while now and I’m truly excited and happy about it! Some are asking why I waited so long, after have been studying Buddhism for years, to take refuge and the precepts. Or that I should of taken my Bodhisattva vows by now. Maybe I waited long, and maybe I should have taken my Bodhisattva vows by now. But what is taking refuge and the vows? Nothing more than a self-commitment to be a better person, to be compassionate, and to practice loving-kindness – things that I’m already developing and practicing. So I don’t mind waiting long. I don’t mind prolonging “official” ceremonies or commitments. I waited until the time was right, and the time for my precepts is now, and the time for the Bodhisattva vows will come when the Universe sees it fit for me to realize it.

Smile and be well!

Experiences and benefits of going to Temple

It was only this year that I have started to go to a Buddhist Temple. Depending on where you live, there are either very few temples or none at all. Luckily for me, I live in a big city so there are a few around town. Though through research and visiting their websites (if they had one), I crossed off a couple that didn’t suit me. But eventually I found a temple, the Chùa Phước Huệ temple. It is a Vietnamese Buddhist temple. Though I don’t know much of the history of the kind of temple besides its lineage, which is Tianti Buddhism which emphasizes the Lotus Sutra.

Going to temple is a beautiful, happy, and enlightening experience. Every time I leave, I leave with this smile on my face and a sense of happiness and satisfaction. Walking in the beautiful garden filled with statues and flowers. Entering the temple as you bow and come into such a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. Slipping on a robe and sitting down for meditation and listening to the head monk’s discussion. It’s all a wonderful and exciting experience that everyone should experience. Finding your “home” temple, going regularly, participating and being a part of the Sangha is something every Buddhist should do and experience.

There are many benefits to going to a temple. First and probably the most important, the learning experience. The head monk always gives discussions accordingly to his audience and situations. Especially if people bring their children with them, the monk will speak in a way that the youngsters can understand. Another benefit is just having a Sangha. Your community of fellow Buddhists who are there to help and guide you with your practice and answer any questions you may have. You should always treat your Sangha as if they were your family.

Every temple is different with different services, routines, chants, etc. My temple’s main chant service part is mostly from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Chanting from the Heart: Buddhist Ceremonies and Daily Practices. They don’t announce this, but because I have the book and noticed, “Hey, this looks familiar!” The temple skips the very first part from the book and replaces it with the Great Compassion Mantra with a Thousand Hands and a Thousand Eyes Dharani. We go into the chants after the monk has given his discussion, after the chants we all join for a vegetarian meal.

I am so very glad and happy I have found a Sangha. My only regret is that I didn’t find it sooner! I aspire to one day (once I’ve paid off all my debt, which will be a while!) to be ordained as a Monk and live a happy monastic, enlightening life.

I hope everyone has the fortunate opportunity to find, visit, and become part of a Sangha! The feelings, aspirations, rewards, and knowledge you gain from it is like no other, and is truly an amazing experience.

Smile and be well!