Taking Refuge in the Triple and Observing the Five Precepts Ceremony

The “Taking Refuge in the Triple Gem and Observing the Five Precepts Ceremony” was held at the temple on 3rd July. All 130 new Preceptees and Re-applying Preceptees arrived early at the temple for this important day despite the chilly weather, where frost lent a thin icy film all over the grass in the courtyard.

Under the sound of drum and gong, 12 representatives lined up to usher the Venerables and Presiding Ceremonial Master Venerable Abbess Manshin into the venue. They also offered flowers to welcome Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, made repentance and gave rise to faithful hearts. After adorning their Precept Robes, each Preceptee aspired to become good disciples who can uphold the Five Precepts and Ten Wholesome Actions, as a Humanistic Bodhisattva should.

Then the Abbess gave everyone a lecture on “Buddhism’s Precepts” This lecture covered different categories of Precepts, meaning of the Five Precepts and the most important point that states that “Precepts is the foundation of all wholesome Dharma”. She further explained that “Upholding the Precepts” means true freedom, because only through the action of breaking Precepts and the law can one lose their freedom. The Abbess also shared details of: “Precepts were established during the appropriate moment, where they were sometimes enforced and sometimes relented.”; “Spirit of Precepts is to stop evil and promote good, and to benefit sentient beings”; “Precepts in action is to mitigate risks and to benefit self and others”; “Final goal of observing Precepts is to perfect one’s character and perfectly accomplish one’s Bodhi”. The Abbess encouraged the Preceptees to cultivate the right view and attitude toward observing Precepts and to use the Precepts for self-discipline. She also reminded everyone to use “Precepts, Meditative Concentration and Wisdom” to deal with the three poison of “Greed, Anger and Ignorance”. By managing one’s thoughts and intentions one can purify the mind and elevate one’s character and moral fibre. By serving others we can accumulate enough energy to uncover our own wisdom.