Pujari - Priest
The Brahmajala Priest vows within Five Mountain Zen Order are intended to be universal. They are both rigorous and demanding and they are also ultimately liberating. Because these vows ask much of the person who is receiving them, they must be studied and clarified carefully by those who are called to them. In greater detail, the five vows are:
Vow of simplicity – A vow of restraint, which means monastics are mindful of their actions, consumptions and lifestyle.
Vow of service – Following the guidance of seniors and teachers, monastics vow to give themselves freely.
Vow of stability – This vow requires that monastics have completed major life changes in order to give themselves wholeheartedly to their vows. (this does not preclude stable monogamous relationships, however parenting must be examined closely on a case by case basis).
Vow of selflessness – The realization and actualization of one’s life as the life of all beings, rather than a personal entity.
Vow to aspire to the Buddha way – To act as a model of the manifestation of the moral and ethical teachings of the Buddha, manifesting wisdom and compassion in all actions.
Brahmajala ordination entails a lifetime commitment to these vows. Priest candidates need to personally embrace these vows, investigating their internal motivations and possible limitations within the guidelines that the vows provide.
Priests make the ultimate visible commitment to the teacher, the teachings and practices of the Sangha. This position signifies that they are a senior elder having fulfilled the additional requirements of passing the Advanced Seminary program for Monastics. Monks have the additional responsibility to perform some of the advance Buddhist ceremonies, and are encouraged to enter the service of the community in an interactive role.
To become a Priest, the applicant must have been actively practicing as a Novitiate for at least twenty-four months, have graduated from the Seminary Program and taken and passed the Bodhisattva Priest certification test.
The first requirement is that Priests should dedicate all of their extra energy to helping the Zen community by volunteering in every capacity required there; and must have the approval of the Zen center’s Guiding Teacher.
Ordained Clothing (Kāṣāya)
Priests wear a Jiāshā Summer Brown Bangasa as well as a Summer Brown Full Gasa for ceremonial wear. Monastics also wear the Hǎiqīng 海青 (Long Robe)
The Precepts which a Priest takes have their origin in the Brahmajala Sūtra and have been handed down since at least the time of the Great Indian Ancestor Kumarajiva.
The Fifty Eight Precepts:
11. I vow to respect my teachers and friends in the Dharma
12. I vow to abstain from entering into intoxicating situations or consuming substances intended to distract from this moment.
13. I vow to be conscious of what I consume, the way in which it was produced, and what harm might result from my consuming it. I vow to bring awareness to the impact of what I ingest and take care not harm myself or any other beings in the process.
14. I vow to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the teacher/clergy to student relationship by never entering into a sexual or otherwise inappropriate relationship and thereby violating the trust of the student as well as the entire sangha.
15. I vow to encourage others to view past mistakes as learning opportunities that enable them to make better choices in the future.
16. I vow to always request the Dharma and make offerings to visiting Sangha members
17. I vow to attend Dharma talks and events that will open my heart and mind; thus enabling my practice to grow stronger and allowing me to be of better service to others.
18. I vow not to divide the Dharma into separate vehicles or doctrines by placing one classification as higher or better than another.
19. I vow to always give care to the sick and the needy
20. I vow to abstain from the storing of weapons used to intentionally take away life.
21. I vow to abstain from serving as an emissary of the military, except in non-violent roles such as Chaplaincy, Medical Positions, and other roles that do not directly engage in the violent expression of military service.
22. I vow to conduct my livelihood in a way that that is helpful to myself and others and refrain from business practices that limit the freedom or happiness of others.
23. I vow to communicate in a way that is true, accurate and helpful and to refrain from speech meant to plant seeds of doubt, misinformation, or gossip.
24. I vow to support life by behaving in a way that respects and protects the environment as well as all beings and to refrain from activities that may cause harm.
25. I vow to teach the Dharma in a manner that inspires awakening and well-being for myself and others.
26. I vow to fully understand the Dharma so that I may teach it in a manner that is true, accurate, and helpful.
27. I vow to share the Dharma as freely as I have received it, with no personal gain as my motive.
28. I vow to serve others with commitment, kindness, and integrity.
29. I vow to communicate in a direct and compassionate manner that promotes harmony and to refrain from speech that contains hidden or implied messages meant to cause harm or unhappiness.
30. I vow to liberate all sentient beings from suffering and the causes of suffering.
31. I vow to treat others with respect and to refrain from behaving in a manner that violates, harms, or imposes revenge on others.
32. I vow to conduct myself in a manner that is consistent with the Dharma: to remain humble and accessible and to refrain from arrogant or self-important behavior.
33. I vow to teach the Dharma with generosity and an open heart
34. I vow to put the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma into practice in my everyday life and to teach others how to do the same.
35. I vow to be a Sangha member that acts with integrity and accountability.
36. I vow to share all offerings made to the Dharma or the Sangha
37. I vow to accept invitations given equally to all others and refrain from accepting invitations that exclude anyone based on gender, race, religion, physical condition, age, or sexual orientation.
38. I vow to be inclusive and to invite all people equally regardless of gender, race, religion, physical condition, or sexual orientation.
39. I vow to conduct my livelihood in a way that that is helpful to myself and others and refrain from business practices that limit the freedom or happiness of others.
40. I vow to give all Sangha members equal consideration and respect and to refrain from engaging in any actions that might cause division or conflict.
41. I vow respect all clergy members and Dharmic objects.
42. I vow to extend loving-kindness indiscriminately to all sentient beings, and to greet all experiences with openness, curiosity, and acceptance.
43. I vow to approach all beings with respect and dignity and refrain from objectifying others.
44. I vow to always keep a clear and open mind.
45. I vow to make great vows
46. I vow to make firm resolutions
47. I vow to keep myself safe whenever possible and to refrain from putting myself or others in environments where harm is more likely.
48. I vow to respect all members of the Sangha equally.
49. I vow to cultivate wisdom and good judgment.
50. I vow not to unfairly discriminate against others when conferring the precepts.
51. I vow equanimity in teaching the Dharma and will not to enter into teaching arrangements for the sake of profit.
52. I vow to offer the precepts only to those that wish to take them with an sincere and open heart.
53. I vow to uphold all of these precepts.
54. I vow to value the Sutras and the ethical guidelines set forth by the Buddha.
55. I vow to teach and serve all sentient beings in ways that are appropriate for who they are.
56. I vow to teach the Dharma in ways that are appropriate and helpful and to refrain from teaching in ways that cause harm.
57. I vow to consistently support the Dharma in my daily life.
58. I vow to keep the Dharma fresh, alive, and vibrant and to refrain from any actions that might cause its destruction.
NOTE: These Fifty-Eight Precepts are additions to the previous Ten Precepts.
Vow of simplicity – A vow of restraint, which means monastics are mindful of their actions, consumptions and lifestyle.
Vow of service – Following the guidance of seniors and teachers, monastics vow to give themselves freely.
Vow of stability – This vow requires that monastics have completed major life changes in order to give themselves wholeheartedly to their vows. (this does not preclude stable monogamous relationships, however parenting must be examined closely on a case by case basis).
Vow of selflessness – The realization and actualization of one’s life as the life of all beings, rather than a personal entity.
Vow to aspire to the Buddha way – To act as a model of the manifestation of the moral and ethical teachings of the Buddha, manifesting wisdom and compassion in all actions.
Brahmajala ordination entails a lifetime commitment to these vows. Priest candidates need to personally embrace these vows, investigating their internal motivations and possible limitations within the guidelines that the vows provide.
Priests make the ultimate visible commitment to the teacher, the teachings and practices of the Sangha. This position signifies that they are a senior elder having fulfilled the additional requirements of passing the Advanced Seminary program for Monastics. Monks have the additional responsibility to perform some of the advance Buddhist ceremonies, and are encouraged to enter the service of the community in an interactive role.
To become a Priest, the applicant must have been actively practicing as a Novitiate for at least twenty-four months, have graduated from the Seminary Program and taken and passed the Bodhisattva Priest certification test.
The first requirement is that Priests should dedicate all of their extra energy to helping the Zen community by volunteering in every capacity required there; and must have the approval of the Zen center’s Guiding Teacher.
Ordained Clothing (Kāṣāya)
Priests wear a Jiāshā Summer Brown Bangasa as well as a Summer Brown Full Gasa for ceremonial wear. Monastics also wear the Hǎiqīng 海青 (Long Robe)
The Precepts which a Priest takes have their origin in the Brahmajala Sūtra and have been handed down since at least the time of the Great Indian Ancestor Kumarajiva.
The Fifty Eight Precepts:
11. I vow to respect my teachers and friends in the Dharma
12. I vow to abstain from entering into intoxicating situations or consuming substances intended to distract from this moment.
13. I vow to be conscious of what I consume, the way in which it was produced, and what harm might result from my consuming it. I vow to bring awareness to the impact of what I ingest and take care not harm myself or any other beings in the process.
14. I vow to maintain the integrity and sanctity of the teacher/clergy to student relationship by never entering into a sexual or otherwise inappropriate relationship and thereby violating the trust of the student as well as the entire sangha.
15. I vow to encourage others to view past mistakes as learning opportunities that enable them to make better choices in the future.
16. I vow to always request the Dharma and make offerings to visiting Sangha members
17. I vow to attend Dharma talks and events that will open my heart and mind; thus enabling my practice to grow stronger and allowing me to be of better service to others.
18. I vow not to divide the Dharma into separate vehicles or doctrines by placing one classification as higher or better than another.
19. I vow to always give care to the sick and the needy
20. I vow to abstain from the storing of weapons used to intentionally take away life.
21. I vow to abstain from serving as an emissary of the military, except in non-violent roles such as Chaplaincy, Medical Positions, and other roles that do not directly engage in the violent expression of military service.
22. I vow to conduct my livelihood in a way that that is helpful to myself and others and refrain from business practices that limit the freedom or happiness of others.
23. I vow to communicate in a way that is true, accurate and helpful and to refrain from speech meant to plant seeds of doubt, misinformation, or gossip.
24. I vow to support life by behaving in a way that respects and protects the environment as well as all beings and to refrain from activities that may cause harm.
25. I vow to teach the Dharma in a manner that inspires awakening and well-being for myself and others.
26. I vow to fully understand the Dharma so that I may teach it in a manner that is true, accurate, and helpful.
27. I vow to share the Dharma as freely as I have received it, with no personal gain as my motive.
28. I vow to serve others with commitment, kindness, and integrity.
29. I vow to communicate in a direct and compassionate manner that promotes harmony and to refrain from speech that contains hidden or implied messages meant to cause harm or unhappiness.
30. I vow to liberate all sentient beings from suffering and the causes of suffering.
31. I vow to treat others with respect and to refrain from behaving in a manner that violates, harms, or imposes revenge on others.
32. I vow to conduct myself in a manner that is consistent with the Dharma: to remain humble and accessible and to refrain from arrogant or self-important behavior.
33. I vow to teach the Dharma with generosity and an open heart
34. I vow to put the teachings of the Buddha-Dharma into practice in my everyday life and to teach others how to do the same.
35. I vow to be a Sangha member that acts with integrity and accountability.
36. I vow to share all offerings made to the Dharma or the Sangha
37. I vow to accept invitations given equally to all others and refrain from accepting invitations that exclude anyone based on gender, race, religion, physical condition, age, or sexual orientation.
38. I vow to be inclusive and to invite all people equally regardless of gender, race, religion, physical condition, or sexual orientation.
39. I vow to conduct my livelihood in a way that that is helpful to myself and others and refrain from business practices that limit the freedom or happiness of others.
40. I vow to give all Sangha members equal consideration and respect and to refrain from engaging in any actions that might cause division or conflict.
41. I vow respect all clergy members and Dharmic objects.
42. I vow to extend loving-kindness indiscriminately to all sentient beings, and to greet all experiences with openness, curiosity, and acceptance.
43. I vow to approach all beings with respect and dignity and refrain from objectifying others.
44. I vow to always keep a clear and open mind.
45. I vow to make great vows
46. I vow to make firm resolutions
47. I vow to keep myself safe whenever possible and to refrain from putting myself or others in environments where harm is more likely.
48. I vow to respect all members of the Sangha equally.
49. I vow to cultivate wisdom and good judgment.
50. I vow not to unfairly discriminate against others when conferring the precepts.
51. I vow equanimity in teaching the Dharma and will not to enter into teaching arrangements for the sake of profit.
52. I vow to offer the precepts only to those that wish to take them with an sincere and open heart.
53. I vow to uphold all of these precepts.
54. I vow to value the Sutras and the ethical guidelines set forth by the Buddha.
55. I vow to teach and serve all sentient beings in ways that are appropriate for who they are.
56. I vow to teach the Dharma in ways that are appropriate and helpful and to refrain from teaching in ways that cause harm.
57. I vow to consistently support the Dharma in my daily life.
58. I vow to keep the Dharma fresh, alive, and vibrant and to refrain from any actions that might cause its destruction.
NOTE: These Fifty-Eight Precepts are additions to the previous Ten Precepts.