Jukai Requirements

[Ganshijue]

What are the requirements for jukai?

[Shujin]

Hi Ganshijue,

It's a bit too late to jump into jukai this year, although you can find a summary of what's involved here. Definitely not too early to start thinking about if for next year, however. We're happy you're here, but is it possible to upload an avatar photo for yourself? Although Treeleaf is online, we like to see people's smiling faces.

Gassho,
Shujin
st/lah

[Onkai]

To take Jukai, you need to sew a rakusu, a bib like piece of clothing to represent the Buddha's robe, and study and take part in the discussions about the Precepts. Jundo or a transmitted priest will send a backing for the rakusu with a stamp and your assigned Dharma name. If you're physically incapable of sewing a rakusu, one can be gifted to you.

It is too late for you to prepare for the upcoming Jukai this January, but you can look at and take part in the Precept discussions if you like, although the early discussions are closed to new comments. The Precept discussions can be found under the Practices section of the forum.

Taking Jukai is not required, and is not a different level of membership. It's an acknowledgement of the importance of the Precepts, and a statement of something that is true whether or not you take Jukai.

Gassho Onkai

[Bion]

Hey Bryan! To add to what´s been said already: the main requirement is to feel called to receive jukai, or the Precepts!
With that, you're good to go. We make a lifelong commitment to live gently, following the example of the Buddha, for the benefit of all beings and we mark that commitment with a lovely ceremony in which an authorized teacher entrusts you with the Precepts, for you to learn, study and maintain. It sounds to me like you're on the perfect track!

Gassho
sat lah

[Jundo]

And I also add this ...

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 next Fall 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.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah