Its an exciting feeling and also a very natural one – something I’ve built up to fairly gently over the last four years of my involvement with Buddhism and my gradual realisation that I am definitely Buddhist (and not merely Buddhish as Ive been claiming until recently 😉 )
In Buddhist terminology what this involes is going for refuge to the three jewels (the jewels being Buddha, Dharma and Sangha).
What this means is that I recognise the Buddha as a symbol of the ideal of human enlightenment, the Dharma (the body of teaching) as being the route towards that goal and the Sangha (the community of other Buddhists) as being the context in which I want to practice.
In a way, I cant put my hand on my heart and say Im really trying to become enlightened because if I was too make 100% effort to acheive that lofty goal, then I’d probably be meditating all day, not just for one hour in the morning. However, I do believe that any steps I can take in that direction will be of benefit to me and, since I believe we are all fundamentally connected, also to the benefit of all sentient beings.
The Triratna Order is a lay order, so I’m not going off to be a monk or anything, in fact little will change at first other than a strengthening of my resolve to work on myself to become a better and more compassionate person – as those who know me well can confirm, there’s plenty of room for improvement!
Anyway, I’ll share significant moments along the path here as I can, meanwhile, wish me luck!
Xx
Good luck, I have the utmost respect for Buddishism, and never met a Buddhist I didn’t like.
Congratulations! How should I address you now?
Thanks Danny, thats good to hear – Hopefully I can avoid becoming the first 🙂 Xx
Thanks Jake
If/When I get accepted for Ordination (it can take anything from 2 years to forever) I will get given a new name, tho I’ll still answer to the old one or anything you else you feel appropriate 🙂
Rich
Xx
Hi , We do not know one another but I am a Mitra from Brighton and came across your post via google and am potentially interested in your situation ie asking to be ordanined. Dont know if I ever will ask for ordination but mitra friends of mine are. So.
Making Good Use of our life along with letting go of attachment be ours.
Hi Tara
thanks for your message
it took me a while to acknowledge that Buddhism was the way forward for me, but having done so I quickly realised that I wanted to progress as soon and as much as reasonalbly possible (in balance with my other objectives in life). For me this meant asking for Ordination before my Mitra Ceremony even came along.
I feel going thru the process will ensure that I have a good thorough grounding in the basics of Buddhism and the four month ordination retreat promises to be quite an experience.
But others I know are content with being a Mitra and establishing a regular practice and dont feel the need to go through the Ordination process.
All horses for courses Im sure. Best wishes.
Rich
Xx
Hi Rich – I know you wrote this post some time ago now, but your comment above strikes a chord with me. I feel a great sense of clarity that I will go for ordination, but I have not yet become a mitra. I wasn’t sure if I can ask for ordination at the same time/before, whether it will be seen as too quick etc. etc. but I just have an internal knowledge that it’s the right path for me. I wondered a) how all that worked for you and b) how things are going with your ordination training?
(Feel free to reply offline if you’d like!)
Sarah x
Hi Sarah. The way it worked for me was that my decision to become a mitra and to train for Ordination came very close together. Essentially, I decided if Im going to be a Buddhist, to commit to a path of spiritual progress, then Im going to do it as best I can and that means training for Ordination.
I asked to become a mitra, then at some point not long after that, I spoke to an Order Member friend and mentioned that I was thinking of asking for Ordination as well, maybe asking on the day of my mitra ceremony. His reply was “do we have to wait that long?”!
I went away and thought about it for a few days more just to be certain and decided I was, so I went ahead and asked.
In case it helps by the way, the process I went through in making my final decision to ask, was to sit down and start writing the letter, still uncertain whether I would finish writing it or not. I started, and as I wrote it became clear it was a strong and definite intention, so I finished writing it and off it went.
Ive never looked back since then, its been a very fulfilling journey already and I feel is going well.
Hope thats helpful and best wishes in your journey.
Rich
x
That’s really helpful Rich, thank you! I feel very similarly – if I’m going to commit, then I want to commit fully and ordination is the commitment I want to make. I’ve expressed this already to an Order member in my sangha. I’m going on retreat in July for 9 days, so that will give me lots of time to think.
I like what you say about writing the letter – I’ll try that I think.
Glad it’s going well
Metta
Sarah x
Hi Rich, hope you’re well! Just came across this post, as I recently sent the GFR letter myself! And was also interested in a little more information. Thanks 🙂
Hi David – awesome news! Its been a very fulfilling process for me and I hope it is for you too. Fingers crossed, Im hoping for a letter later in the year which brings my process to its conclusion some time next year, but hopefully we’ll get to attend a GFR retreat to two together meanwhile 🙂