on sunday, june 11th i along with others of my community will commit to "become" Buddhists by taking the Vows of Refuge:
I take refuge in the Buddha. {example}
I take refuge in the dharma. {path}
I take refuge in the sangha. {companionship thru community}
taking the Refuge Vows {The Three Jewels} is about my commitment to freedom & acceptance of this path. it represents my final decision to follow this way of life. it is particularly personal for me, a cancerian child FOREVER in search of her shell/security, because the vow alone means that i will no longer be bound by the need for security {which from a Buddhist perspective is a mere illusion anyway}.
in this path i am acknowledging that the work begins with me. not that this path or choice or acknowledgment differs from my daily practice, this is just the spiritual ceremony that sanctions it. it represents my covenant.
as i prepare for the ceremony, i think of family/friends close to me who "know me" BUT don't really "know me". do they know what i practice really? or why? or how? it is rare that anyone other than a complete stranger will even ask me to share the slightest insight into my practice.
i wonder how this will change {if at all} in the days & years to come. i would like it to. i would like to know that their "acceptance" is not really kindly cloaked avoidance. i would like them to grasp how deeply i am affected by this path & how serious the journey is to me. i would like them to know how vital their well being & enlightenment is to me... how heavily their names saturate my daily prayers & meditations.
wow... how amazing the ride that has brought me here! i wonder too how this pentacle will change me. i am excited... boy... i have ALOT of work to do.
Peace & OM!:-)
Mechie
You know, just last night I was reading about these vows of Refuge, the Three Refuges on www.buddhanet.net where I've been reading through the guides to Buddhism. It's a funny world full of crossing connections and pathways! It sounds like you are coming to a beautiful milestone in your path and I wish you peace in it.
<---- mechie says ---->
greetings kell! yep, life is truly amazing... when i take a minute to reflect, i can see that all paths led to here. all life is intertwined & constantly weaving its own pattern.
Posted by: Kelly | 23 April 2006 at 11:32 PM
I'm grinning like a cheshire cat over here Mechie...
"a cancerian child FOREVER in search of her shell/security" - mechie you know this is/was me right?
"family/friends close to me who "know me" BUT don't really "know me". do they know what i practice really? or why? or how? it is rare that anyone other than a complete stranger will even ask me to share the slightest insight into my practice" - and this too...
darn it mechie....
I'm proud of you
<---- mechie says ---->
hey soul! now you know that i know we are two peas in a pod!:-) i am not surprised one bit... it's a lunar thing! BTW - how's your travel planning?:-)
Posted by: soul | 24 April 2006 at 05:45 AM
I'm so happy for you! I will write down the date in my calendar and send you blessings on June 11th.
<---- mechie says ---->
thank you so much mahala. to say that i am excited sounds weird. i'm excited 'anticipating', not excited 'happy', you know? without a doubt, this is the path for me...
Posted by: mahala | 24 April 2006 at 08:48 PM
planning is going along fine. Things even are starting to re-align themselves for my convenience. (smile)
May is just round the corner.. I'll be there :) clear the 20th... if you can :)
Posted by: soul | 25 April 2006 at 08:00 AM