grow up and don't be crysexual 😀 |
However, let me try again. So, dear crybabies, to define sexual misconduct is NOT the same with condemning people! It’s just a definition. Please repeat after me – ITS JUST A DEFINITION.
Orthodox Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Teachings. Official website of Amidaji organization.
grow up and don't be crysexual 😀 |
However, let me try again. So, dear crybabies, to define sexual misconduct is NOT the same with condemning people! It’s just a definition. Please repeat after me – ITS JUST A DEFINITION.
Whenever there is something my ego does not like in the Buddhist morality (I can honestly say that I am an animal possessed of myriads of blind passions and attachments) I don't try to change the teaching to make it more agreeable, but humbly recognize that I am incapable to follow it, ask for apology and bow down gratefully to Amida Buddha for saving me as I am.
The
Nembutsu of faith and gratitude is the only answer when comparing my limited
capacities with the Buddhist precepts and the example of virtuous Masters of
the past.
It is extremely important to never change anything from the Dharma, not even as small as a particle of dust. The Dharma is perfect even if our ego doesn’t find it agreeable and there is already a way out of samsara especially made for such wretched people like us – the Primal Vow of Amida Buddha, so we don’t need to change anything to be accepted.
Photo from the first wedding ceremony officiated at Amidaji temple |
The woman should pay attention and contemplate what He said about the duties of a good wife and the man should pay attention and contemplate the duties of a husband.
The followers of our tradition should empty their cup (mind) of modernist and worldly ideologies and listen deeply to the Buddha’s teaching. To those who argue that such teachings on couples should be changed and adapted to our so-called “modern times” and “modern views” I say that the reason we have so many marriage problems, broken couples, destroyed families and neglected children nowadays is especially because such teachings and instructions are not carefully observed anymore. It is because men are not willing to assume the role and duties of husbands and women are not capable to assume the role and duties of good wives.
The happy couple - Myoko Adelina and Monshin Sorinel |
Here are some photos and explanations.
The service started with a short Nembutsu recitation followed by the Three Invitations when we invited Amida, Shakyamuni and all Buddhas to enter the Amidado (Hall of Amida) and spread petals of roses to welcome them.
Then we continued with the Nembutsu liturgy of our temple with the couple making oshoko (offering incense), bowing towards the altar and to each other, saying their vows and drinking together bitter tea from the same cup.
Marriage ceremonies can be held at Amidaji temples on the following conditions[1]:
Many people try to "escape" suffering through drugs, alcohol or other addictions. However, there is a better way. Think to whatever happens to you as events in a dream and to Amida Buddha and His Name as the only reality. Then change the focus from those dreamlike experiences to the true and real.
Do
not empower your feelings and various thoughts that appear in your mind, do not
bother about them, do not pay attention to them, but change the focus to Amida
and the saying of His Name (Nembutsu).
Your
experiences, feelings, wandering thoughts and obsessions will naturally
dissolve into the space of your mind if you do not focus on them. It is in
their nature to appear and disappear like mist or clouds in the sky, however we
prolong them indefinitely because of our clinging and identifying with them.
Please
do not run from a dreamlike experience (your suffering and obsessions) to
another dreamlike experience (drugs, alcohol, etc). If you do that you will
only multiply your suffering.
Better
recognize the difference between real and unreal, then chose the real. Change
the focus on Amida and His Name.
Namo
Amida Bu
The editorial policy of this website is to present only the orthodox teachings of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Before I link to any other website, I investigate that website to make sure that they share the same attitude. I reject any website that presents false or divergent teachings, or that links to other websites that present false or divergent teachings.
(Rev Josho)