Event Blog

“Transmission Ceremony of the Bodhisattva Precepts at DDRC”
Report by C.J.

On July 2-5, 2010, the Transmission Ceremony of the Bodhisattva Precepts was held at DDRC. 75 participants from the United States and Canada received the precepts. A team of 10 monks and 8 nuns, many of whom had traveled overseas especially for the ceremony, as well as lay volunteers and trainers, were present to support the participants.

The ceremonies were presided by Transmission Master Venerable Guo Xing, Abbot of Chan Meditation Center and Dharma Drum Retreat Center in New York, Master Venerable Guo Yuan, Vice Provost of DDM Chan Center in Taiwan, and Master Venerable Guo Chi, Head Teacher of DDM Chan Hall in Taiwan.

The “Transmission Ceremony of the Bodhisattva Precepts” include the receiving of the Ten Virtuous Precepts, the Three Cumulative Pure Precepts, and the Four Great Bodhisattva Vows, and the transfer of merits to all beings.

Venerable Chang-hwa, Director of Chan Meditation Center, trained the group in rehearsing for the two ceremonies. Rehearsals were interspersed with video lectures by the late Master Sheng Yen, and talks by Venerable Guo Xing and Venerable Guo Yuan. Teachings covered the history and background, concepts, and meaning of taking the precepts, and the practice of the precepts in daily life.

After the ceremonies, people had small group discussions on the ceremony and precepts.