When is Date and Time for January Jukai Ceremony?

[johns]

I may be missing where it is stated, what is the date of the Jukai ceremony?

Gassho
John
SatTodayLAH

[Bion]

I may be missing where it is stated, what is the date of the Jukai ceremony?

Gassho
John
SatTodayLAH

Not yet decided. It’ll be January, no set date yet. We’ll know soon enough.

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

Hi,

Based on prior years, it is most likely for Sunday, January 19th, 2025, at New York 10am, Los Angeles 7am (Sunday morning), London 3pm and Paris 4pm (Sunday afternoon). The ceremony will last about 1 hour:

So, let us pencil that in.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Kotei]

Sunday, January 18th, 2025, at New York 10am, Los Angeles 7am (Sunday morning), London 3pm and Paris 4pm (Sunday afternoon). The ceremony will last about 1 hour:

As I tried to enter this into the calendar...
The 18th seems to be a Saturday. Sunday is the 19th.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Jundo]

Ccorrected. My ambiguous relationship with calendars.

Gassho, Jundo
Stlah

[Gean]

Hello! I am new to Treeleaf Sangha and Soto Zen in general. What is Jukai precisely? If you don't mind my asking.

[Antonio]

Hello! I am new to Treeleaf Sangha and Soto Zen in general. What is Jukai precisely? If you don't mind my asking.

Hi Gean,

I am not a teacher, so consider this explanation a grain of sand in the ocean of wisdom.

Jukai is a ceremony which a practitioner receives the Buddhist precepts, a set of standards which are often considered the moral compass that steers the individual in the Buddha way. To each of the syllables, the word “jukai” symbolizes ‘jū’ which can be translated as receiving and ‘kai’ meaning precepts.

During the jukai ceremony, participants promise to uphold the Bodhisattva precepts, which include do not harm, practice generosity, speak without lies, and respect life.

Gassho!
SatLah

[Seiko]

Hello! I am new to Treeleaf Sangha and Soto Zen in general. What is Jukai precisely? If you don't mind my asking.

Hi Gean and welcome!

There is helpful information here including Jundo's explanation of what Jukai is: https://forum.treeleaf.org/forum/tre...ukai-time-2024

Please do let us know if you have any wiestions after reading this.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah

[Gean]

Thank you very much for the insight! I have considered taking the precepts in the temple available to me (Fo Guang Shan tradition) but the abbess politely rejected me, citing that the ceremony is large and that only I have inquired about it for a long time so they don't see themselves holding any ceremonies any time in the future, but she added I "don't need to take the ceremony and that practicing is enough to follow the Buddhadharma."
I've largely taken her word for it, but if the venerable priests here all offer to give the precepts, then I would be eternally (re. transiently, lol) grateful. I take it though that I would be too late to join for the scheduled Jukai seeing the commencement started already on September? Do correct me if I'm wrong and there is still room for me to join the preparation practices.
I look forward to joining in the future if so.
May you be well and happy!

[Jundo]

Thank you very much for the insight! I have considered taking the precepts in the temple available to me (Fo Guang Shan tradition) but the abbess politely rejected me, citing that the ceremony is large and that only I have inquired about it for a long time so they don't see themselves holding any ceremonies any time in the future, but she added I "don't need to take the ceremony and that practicing is enough to follow the Buddhadharma."
I've largely taken her word for it, but if the venerable priests here all offer to give the precepts, then I would be eternally (re. transiently, lol) grateful. I take it though that I would be too late to join for the scheduled Jukai seeing the commencement started already on September? Do correct me if I'm wrong and there is still room for me to join the preparation practices.
I look forward to joining in the future if so.
May you be well and happy!

Hi Gean,

Since we are well along in our preparations, study and sewing a Rakusu, might I invite you to begin preparations with us next Fall, if you feel it right then.

Our Jukai preparations start each September for the ceremony in January, with reflections and study on each of the Precepts and sewing a Rakusu, and you are more than welcome to join in if it feels right to you.

However, in my book, the most important thing is -not- the ceremony itself, which alone works no magic by itself. The ceremony is just a celebration and affirmation of our seeking to live gently, and to learn from the Buddhist teachings, right now and each day. The ceremony just celebrates and confirms that fact. More important is that you do your best, today, to live gently in a way helpful and healthy to oneself and others (who are "not two," by the way), avoiding harm such as excess desires, anger, violence, jealousy, ugly speech and the like. That is the real Jukai, undertaking the Precepts, each day.

I am so sorry that the timing was just a bit late this year.

I also invite you to "unofficially" join and audit the ceremony in January, taking the vows in your heart. Then, you can join more formally in the coming Fall. Would that be okay?

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[Green Ben]

I also invite you to "unofficially" join and audit the ceremony in January, taking the vows in your heart. Then, you can join more formally in the coming Fall.

This invitation wasn't pointed at me, but I fall into this category, and this is pretty much my plan.

Gassho

stlah

[Bion]

Hello, Gean! May I first just ay how wonderful I think it is to see you feel called to take the Precepts?
To add to Jundo's reply, one other thing you can also do in the meantime, is try to attend our Fusatsu ceremony, which happens every month (this month it'lll be next Sunday, I believe, you can always check our Practice calendar HERE>>) where we go over the Precepts together and recite them, to be reminded of them and their importance in our practice. That special ceremony is open to both those who have already taken the Precepts and those who aspire to do so.
I hope to see you around and hopefully next year for jukai.

Gassho
sat lah

[Gean]

Thank you venerable sirs. I will do my best to attend, and waiting is no issue.

[Seiko]

Hi Gean and Ben,
It is always a pleasure to find new people who intend to take the Bodhisattva Precepts. So I am delighted that you both plan to be here for Ango, Rohatsu and Jukai next year

I will do my best to attend, and waiting is no issue.

This invitation wasn't pointed at me, but I fall into this category, and this is pretty much my plan.

And Ben, of course the doors are open and you most certainly ARE invited, come in, sit by the fire, have a cup of tea. It will be lovely to see your involvement in precept study, sewing and Jukai next year.

Until then, you are both warmly invited to -
* Sit with us whenever you can - in person or via the recordings;
* Continue to post in the forums - comments, questions and begin new topics if you are moved to. This is how we get to know you.

Thank you both for your practice.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah