Ceremony to Receive Bodhisattva Vows with Geshe Sonam (In-Person and Online)

Ceremony to Receive Bodhisattva Vows with Geshe Sonam (In-Person and Online)

Zoom Meeting Online

time 10:00 AM

2022-06-12

When: Sunday, June 12th, 10:00 am, and 11:00 am  EDT
NOTE: Due to rain, the ceremony will be held indoors, in our small shrine in two groups at 10 am and 11 am. Spaces are limited.

Where:  In person at Lama Yeshe Ling Centre, 1287 Coric Avenue, Burlington ON L7R 3S4 (recommended for those nearby), and online for those who live elsewhere

We are very pleased that Lama Yeshe Ling will once again be holding in-person events. We ask that certain precautions are taken to protect the health of all of us. This event will be held in our backyard, weather permitting. Please use the gate on the NE side of the house to enter the backyard (house side rather than garage side). Masks will be required (we will have some on hand for those who need them). Please stay at home if you have any symptoms of COVID.

We ask that people register ahead of time if they plan to attend in person as there are a limited number of spaces available.

Those who wish to attend in person are requested to register with the centre so we can make suitable preparations for the number of attendees. 

Please register in advance here to attend in person. (Preferable when possible)
To attend in person at 10 am, please register here
To attend in person at 11 am, please register here

Please be aware that due to our small space and Covid-prevention measures, there could be issues with internet connectivity. We will do our very best to provide quality audio and video.

Please register here to attend on zoom. Note that both the 10 am and 11 am sessions will be shown on Zoom.

This event will not be shown on Facebook.

Ceremony to Generating Aspiring Bodhicitta and Receive the Engaging Bodhisattva Vows

Geshe Sonam will perform a ceremony to confer the aspiring and engaging commitments of bodhicitta. Participants may take the vows in one of two ways, mentally deciding during the ceremony whether: ‘aspiring’ or ‘engaged’ bodhisattva vows.

Taking the vows to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, is one of the foremost milestones in the life of a Mahāyāna Buddhist. Geshe la will give this ceremony in two parts, suitable for two levels of commitment.

The late Lama Thubten Yeshe explained the two types of commitment in this way:

“At the outset I mentioned two ways of taking the bodhisattva vows. The first is the wishful (aspiring) way, wanting to develop the mind that wishes to help other sentient beings as much as possible, realizing that to help others in the best way you have to develop toward liberation as quickly as possible, and trying to maintain that motivation continuously in this, the next and all future lives.

If you take the vows the second (engaging) way, you think, “I shall keep the root and branch vows and actualize the six perfections as much as I possibly can from now until my death, forever.” This is the sort of strong determination that you make.”

Resources:

Teaching by Lama Yeshe: The Bodhisattva Vows

Which Vows Are Which? A Beginner’s Guide – Mandala Publications (fpmt.org)

Please help support Lama Yeshe Ling.    Our programs are given freely, and we rely also on your generosity – this is the traditional and pure way of the Buddha Dharma. Offering support for the Dharma can be a limitlessly powerful act. This is the highest, most long-term form of generosity, which is to share with others the path to full awakening. When we support the Dharma we create causes for us to encounter the Dharma frequently, and we create the merit to be able to easily integrate the teachings in our minds. Offering support deepens our connection to Dharma teachers and connects us as a community.