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young people’s PRACTICE
Opening the Ceremony
Three Bells
Sitting Meditation, five minutes
Incense Offering
(Plum Village Chanting and Recitation Book, page 315)
Introductory Words
“Children are the flowers of the Sangha. Today the community
has gathered to recognize two new flowers. We begin by expressing
gratitude to our ancestors so that we can recognize that these dear
children are the continuation of our spiritual and blood relations.
Please open your hearts to these children and to the teaching they can
provide us. They will also need our guidance and support along the
paths they follow as they live their lives.”
Naming the Children
“Dear parents, please state clearly the name of the child you present
this day.” (Each name followed by a bell). Each child is sprinkled
with water.
“May your name lead you and us to realize the beauty of your
suchness and may it be a continual bell calling you to an understanding
of your true nature.
“The water on this branch is the clear fresh balm of compassion.
May these children be treated with compassion in their lives and thus
learn to have compassion for themselves and others.
“Parents, please tell how the child you present today has come
to be known by his or her name.” (Parents tell us why they chose the
names they did.)
(two bells)
The Five Awarenesses
“Dear parents, you have become the special guardians of these
precious children. If you choose, you can be supported greatly by the
Three Gems. The Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha will provide
you spiritual support. The Five Awarenesses provide the context of
your understanding of your special role. Know that this community
will continue to support you in this practice. Consider reciting these
awarenesses on the full moon each month. Hearing the sound of the
bell, please say the five awarenesses in the presence of this community
that wishes to support you.”
We are aware that all generations of our ancestors and all future
generations are present in us. (bell)
We are aware that blaming and arguing can never help us and only
create a wider gap between us; that only understanding, trust, and
love can help us change and grow. (two bells)
Welcoming the Children into the
Sangha
(Said by all) “Dear Children, we welcome you into our family and
promise to allow you to flourish in our midst. We honor you for the
gift you are. May you always experience the true refuge of compassion
when you are with us. To help manifest the energy of compassion, we
now invoke the name of Avalokiteshvara twenty-one times. While we
chant, please enjoy assembling a community of flowers in the empty
vase as a symbol of our own community’s flowering. One at a time,
take a flower from the basket and place it in the vase.”
Each Sangha member bowed first to the altar and then to each
of the children. At the end, the parents added the children’s flowers
to the vase.
(Sing Recitation of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara’s Name from PV
Chanting and Recitation Book, page 343, second variation.)
Hugging Meditation
“Participants are invited to turn to each other and practice hugging
meditation as a form of Beginning Anew to close the ceremony
and demonstrate that we are welcoming these new flowers with open
hearts and harmony between each other.”
The ceremony unfolded in a lovely mix of formality and informality.
At one point one of the children helped invite the bell. He
did this several times, each time listening to the results of his actions.
The other baby found the written program quite tasty and chomped
down with great enthusiasm. Laughter came with great ease when
something tickled our funny bones. A festive potluck lunch marked
the end of the day’s events.
Note: The water
was consecrated by
a few of us before
the ceremony using
the form in the
Blessing Ceremony
found in the PV
Chanting and
Recitation Book,
page152.
We are aware of the expectations that our ancestors, our children,
and their children have of us. (bell)
We are aware that our joy, peace, freedom, and harmony are the joy
peace, freedom, and harmony of our ancestors, our children, and
their children. (bell)
We are aware that understanding is the very foundation of love.
(bell)
The Plum Village
Chanting and
Recitation Book is
available through
Parallax Press,
iamhome.org.
photo by Emily Whittle
the Mindfulness Bell 33