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What Happens

We meet a Buddhist nun. She talks about the community of Buddhists (the sangha) who live at the Vajrapani Buddhist Centre. Some are ordained, whilst others are lay members.

She explains that one of the main differences between ordained and lay Buddhists is that those who are ordained take a number of additional vows and will often wear robes.

The Wishfulfilling Jewel Puja is then introduced.

Background Information

Buddhist Robes

The different aspects and elements of a Buddhist’s robes are symbolic, representing the teachings of the Buddha and the path to enlightenment.

Those worn by members of the Kadampa tradition are red and yellow. Red represents compassion and yellow, wisdom. Buddhists believe that enlightenment is attained by practicing both compassion and wisdom.

The upper garment is called the donka. The ‘v’ neck symbolises the jaws of a crocodile, or the Lord of Death, reminding Buddhists that because as humans, we might die at any time, each moment of life should be used meaningfully.

The sleeves of the donka remind Buddhists of the need to overcome the ignorance of self-grasping - that true and lasting happiness cannot be attained by attachment to worldly possessions.

The shamtab, or lower robe, symbolises moral discipline, the four folds of the cloth symbolising the four noble truths.

The zen, a red robe warn during puja under the yellow robe, symbolises concentration.

The uppermost yellow robe, the chogyu, symbolises wisdom and is worn during teachings. The one cloth is made up of many pieces. This reminds Buddhists that nothing exists in its own right. In other words, there is a dependant relationship between one action or phenomenon and another.

Monks and nuns shave their heads. This reminds them to renounce worldly attachment, rather than being obsessed too much with their appearance.

Buddhist Vows

There are many vows and commitments that both lay and ordained Buddhists can take. All guests who visit the centre are also asked to respect the Five Precepts during their visit. These are:

  1. No Killing
    Buddhists try to care for all living beings and never to intentionally harm others or take a life
  2. No Stealing
    Buddhists respect property and never take what is not theirs or what has not been freely given to them
  3. No lying
    Buddhists try to speak honestly and kindly
  4. No taking intoxicants
    Buddhists refrain from alcohol, smoking, and drugs to keep their mind clear and focussed
  5. No sexual misconduct
    Buddhists are faithful to their partners and respect other people’s relationships. Monks and nuns promise to follow a life of celibacy

Classroom Activities

Positives, Minuses and Interesting

Some Buddhists are lay Buddhists and others have taken ordination. From what you know of Buddhism, what do you think would be the good things (the positives) about being ordained; what things would be not so good (the minus points) and what would you find interesting? Work in pairs to complete the PMI sheet.

PDF Document Download the PMI sheet for this activity