Sugae Shik (The Precepts Ceremony) Entry 1

Having already taken our precepts-- meaning we made promises to live compassionate, mindful, and upright lives; and having formally petitioned for the Dharma, or The Teaching of the Buddha, promising to try to attain enlightenment and to save all beings from ignorance--Chong Go Sunim, our teacher and the ordained monk of the Chogae Order of Korea who transmitted our new names from Dae Heng Kun Sunim to us--prepares to make the incense marks in our arms that will serve to remind us of the precepts.

From right to left on the cushions are Dharma Brothers Joseph Bengivenni, Joe Siemion, me-Carl Atteniese Jr.--and Marcus, kneeling before Our Inherent Buddha Nature and the Oneness of All Things, or Juingong as it is called by Dae Heng Kunsunim, the head nun at Han Maum Seon Won, or One Heart/One Mind Zen Center in Anyang, South Korea.

Chong Go Sunim presenting Marcus with his new Dharma name.

Chong Go Sunim presenting Joe Siemion with his new Dharma name.

Chong Go Sunim presenting Joe Joseph Bengivenni with his new Dharma name.

Chong Go Sunim handing Joseph Bengivenni his new Dharma name as they bow to one another's Inherent Buddha Nature.

Dharma Brother Joe Siemion (now "Cheon-do"), one of the founders of the Saturday Sangha at the Buddhist Library of Seoul, near Anguk Station. The study and Dharma talk there is lead by Chong Go Sunim, our teacher. Joe is a teacher himself, and a degreed student of comparative religions. Here he is taking his precepts at Han Maum Seon Won, or One Heart/One Mind Zen Center in Anyang, South Korea.

Bowing--in my interpretation--to Our Inherent Buddha Nature, and The Oneness of All Things, Juingong, at Han Maum Seon Won, or One Heart/One Mind Zen Center in Anyang, South Korea. From right to left are Joseph Bengivenni (now "Gil-do"), Joe Siemion (now "Cheon-do"), me-Carl Atteniese Jr. (now "Man-do") , and Marcus (now "Seok-cheong"),

Smiling Dharma Brother Joseph Bengivenni (now "Gil-do"), a teacher and photographer from Nova Scotia, and an officianado of teas, taking his precepts at Han Maum Seon Won, or One Heart/One Mind Zen Center in Anyang, South Korea.

Dharma Brother Marcus (now "Seok-cheong") , a teacher and writer--and an all-around amazingly cheerful fellow from Britain--reading his statement on what it means to take the precepts, to be given a Dharma name from the great Dae-Heng Kunsunim, via our wonderful Zen Master and friend, Chong Go Sunim, and expounding eloquently on what it means to formally declare oneself a Buddhist.

What Dharma Brother Seok-cheong wrote was remarkably beautiful, moving, and appropriate. I will post it here later. Thank you Brother Seok-cheong, and thank you my other Dharma Brothers and Sisters; of course, in the Dharma, thank you Dae-Heng Kunsunim and Chong Go Sunim (our Sangha teacher) and thank you to my first teacher here in Korea, Hong-Mak Bosal Nim.

W FOR SOME COMIC RELIEF:

Thank you Brother Seok-cheong; smashing job of it! .../'What; a smashing job did he do; is 'at whut ya said, eh? 'No, I beg ta diffah! It wasn't any such thing!'/'Ah you daft? Yes it was!'/'No, I'm not, and no it most certainly wasn't!'/'It certainly was; it was mah-vulous!'/'Oh come on! That was never a good statement given just then!'/'You styoooopid git ya; it was too; it was'imply BRILL-iant!'/'Who you callin a git ya right wankah? Was not!'/'Was too!'/'Was not!''Oh shut up; I've 'ad enough!'/'You 'ave not!'/'Yes I 'ave!'/'Then get out!'/'Ah think I will! Ah see no reason ta stick around heah an be insulted by the likes o'you, even if it is a byoo-eful temple!'/'Good'./'Good.'/'Oh, em,...'/'Yes, whut'ya want?'/'Em, may you become a Buddha.'/'What?'/'Ah said: ''may you become a Buddha.'''/'Oh, well...why thank you....You too.'/ 'Now em, get out.'/'fine.'

AND NOW, BACK TO THE CEREMONY

(small, barely adible applause from the gallery)

__________________________

Joseph Bengivenni (now "Gil-do"), Joe Siemion (now "Cheon-do"), me-Carl Atteniese Jr. (now "Man-do") , and Marcus (now "Seok-cheong")

Chong Go Sunim, Our Teacher (at center), and (from left, flanking him) Joseph Bengivenni (now "Gil-do"), Joe Siemion (now "Cheon-do," one of the founders of the Sangha), Marcus (now "Seok-cheong"), and me-Carl Atteniese Jr. (now "Man-do")

Chong Go Sunim, Our Teacher, and Joe Siemion (now "Cheon-do," one of the founders of the Sangha)

This is "Dahb-dori," or walking-meditation--around the "tahb" pedestal, which contains relics. As I learn more accurately about this structure around which I have done my walking meditation many times, I will include it here. Suffice it to say, it represents among other things, the interconnectedness and "oneness" of all things. At its top are a series of spheres representing the stars of the Big Dipper. You can learn more about it and Buddhism in general at http://hanmaum.org/.

The colored lanterns are for Buddha's Birthday, called "Butcha Nim Oshin Nal" in Korean. The white lanterns are for the deceased. The papers hanging beneath are offerings in petition for blessings, like prayer requests. Correct me here please, Chong Go Sunim and/or Dharma brothers and Sisters, if I am making any blunders--until I can research this more thoroughly.

Some of The Members of The Sangha (and all who either took the precepts this day, and those who came to celebrate our taking the precepts); from left to right: "Amita," Joe Siemion's Wife, Joe Siemion (now "Cheon-do"), Chong Go Sunim (Our Teacher), Marcus (now "Seok-cheong"), me-Carl Atteniese Jr. (now man-do), and Mr. Park (whose Dharma name I have forgotton; sorry mr. Park!). In front: Joseph Bengivenni (now "Gil-do"), and an administrator at Han Maum Seon Won (Han Maum Zen Center) whose name I also need to acquire--Sorry Bosal Nim!

This is my Dharma Brother, Marcus and me, before Chong Go Sunim, waiting to receive our insence marks in our forearms.

Me, Carl Atteniese Jr. (now "Man-do") , after taking my precepts, receiving my Dharma Name, or Beob Myeong, and the three incense marks in my forearm. Surprisingly, the markings did not hurt all that much at all.

And though it was a very pleasant and fulfilling ceremony--and a lovely day--I confess that at the moment of taking my new name, I had some bitter-sweet feelings to deal with, like I was transferred into the lines of a living haiku, where there is sudden delight, and at the same time, sudden mundanity, or slight melancholy, to call me back to reality....

For I fought some elements of this philosophy at first, before seeing the light fully, and it hurt someone.

And though this recollection was cause for some solemn moments, all in all, it made the event; this moment meant to transform our lives a partially glorious one, yet a partially sad one, thus putting the event into the balance of real life--as an event that is...such as life is made of most of the time...

Reminding me of the Chinese symbol, Yin and Yang, or Eum~Yang in Korean...

And making the moment a complete Dharma lesson;

Everything has a cause, and an everything has an effect; everything.

With Palms Together,

Mando (만도)