Wanting to Take Precepts but don’t have temple in my Area

[shiroto]

Hello everyone,

My name is Kiersten and I am 31 years old. I discovered Buddhism about 1 year ago during a very serious situation with my health at that time. I was not finding satisfaction spiritually In Catholic or Greek Orthodox Christianity studying as a nun in both sects.

I was a former student of Elder Ephraim the late Greek abbot which would be a Christian equivalent to a Buddhist lama. I have been discerning for 1 year if I would like to take precepts and feel ready to do so.

There are no zen temples where I live and getting transportation to the nearest temple can take over 2 hours or more by bus or train (depending on traffic) to attend a zazen service less than one hour.

The nearest temple which is about 65 miles away from my home does not return phone calls or emails for some reason. I have decided soto zen is where I feel most at home.

Due to a disability I can faint doing traditional zazen, I must do zazen laying down or sitting. I do zazen a few times a week and have joined zoom sessions on treeleaf several times.

I wish to take precepts and commit seriously to my spiritual practice. However I lack experience and do not have a proper spiritual education.

Can someone please advise what I must I must do or how to get started?

I feel a bit confused about what I must do. Any help or advice is appreciated.

[Jundo]

Hello everyone,

My name is Kiersten and I am 31 years old. I discovered Buddhism about 1 year ago during a very serious situation with my health at that time. I was not finding satisfaction spiritually In Catholic or Greek Orthodox Christianity studying as a nun in both sects.

I was a former student of Elder Ephraim the late Greek abbot which would be a Christian equivalent to a Buddhist lama. I have been discerning for 1 year if I would like to take precepts and feel ready to do so.

There are no zen temples where I live and getting transportation to the nearest temple can take over 2 hours or more by bus or train (depending on traffic) to attend a zazen service less than one hour.

The nearest temple which is about 65 miles away from my home does not return phone calls or emails for some reason. I have decided soto zen is where I feel most at home.

Due to a disability I can faint doing traditional zazen, I must do zazen laying down or sitting. I do zazen a few times a week and have joined zoom sessions on treeleaf several times.

I wish to take precepts and commit seriously to my spiritual practice. However I lack experience and do not have a proper spiritual education.

Can someone please advise what I must I must do or how to get started?

I feel a bit confused about what I must do. Any help or advice is appreciated.

Hello Kiersten,

Well, you can begin right now by sitting Zazen, and living gently. I sent you some information by email, for our new members, which will provide you some basic instruction on Zazen. It points you to our "We're All Always Beginners" talks for new folks (link) and other materials.

Our Jukai preparations start each September for the ceremony in January, with reflections and study on each of the Precepts and sewing a Rakusu. I am afraid that it is a little later to prepare this year, but I invite you to sit with us and do so next time.

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.

And even you will not be formally joining in the ceremony this January, I invite you to informally join in, learning about the Precepts during the coming year, and then more formally joining in next September. In the meantime, keep living gently, in keeping with the spirit of the Precepts.

Please make yourself at home here.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

PS Kierston, please do look at the introductory materials I sent you, and do post a brief "hello" and introduce yourself in our thread for new folks:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?21823-Greetings-by-new-folks-%28October%29