24 Hour Mahayana Vows
Experience the sacred mindfulness of keeping the basic monastic precepts (the eight Mahayana precepts) for twenty-four hours. This is akin to Buddhist ordination for a day. Domo Geshe Rinpoche will bestow the vow ceremony before dawn on Saturday and give teaching/commentary on their meaning. There will be time for individual meditation practice as well. One meal will be provided on Saturday, and breakfast will be provided Sunday. Participants are welcome to do an overnight vigil in the Dharma Hall at Joyful Path or find other accommodations.
Taking these vows is a unique experience that deepens one's existing practice and is also a purification practice in itself. Once the vow ceremony is completed under a qualified teacher, they can be taken again on one's own.
The eight precepts are:
1. Avoid killing, directly or indirectly.
2. Avoid stealing and taking things without the permission of their owner.
3. Avoid sexual contact.
4. Avoid lying and deceiving others.
5. Avoid intoxicants: alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs (you may take prescription drugs).
6. Avoid eating more than one meal that day. The meal is taken before noon, and once one has stopped eating for thirty minutes, the meal is considered finished (special consideration is given for those with medical conditions). Avoid eating meat, chicken, fish, eggs, onions, garlic and radishes.
7. Avoid sitting on a high, expensive bed or seat with pride. Also avoid sitting on animal skins.
8. Avoid wearing jewelry, perfume, and make-up. Avoid singing, dancing or playing music with attachment.
We will gather at 5:15, before sunrise on Saturday. The scheduled activities will end at 5:00 Saturday, though participants will be welcome to spend time at Joyful Path if they choose to remain in an environment that will facilitate carefully holding the vows. We will gather Sunday morning at 7:15 for a ceremony to be released from the vows and will then enjoy breakfast together, followed by a teaching from Rinpoche at 10:00. The program will end at 11:00 Sunday morning.
