What is a Zen Wedding?Weddings may be the most "Zen" of all ceremonies. They are not only a commitment to giving, caring, and sharing– they are a commitment to the "Great Unknown" and to "not knowing." In marriage you are dedicating your life to the unknown, to something bigger than just yourself. Marriage is a commitment to moving beyond what we think we know, and who we think we are. It is an act of bravery and selfless love. It is the blending of two life paths, and two traditions, forming a new tradition that will be remembered and shared. The Zen weddings I perform are unique to the couple. They can be a blending of tradition and symbolism with the energy and intentions of the couple. Each is a very unique and profound experience. And no two are alike.
What is a traditional Zen Wedding?
There is no traditional Zen wedding ceremony. The traditional Zen ceremonies are the funeral rituals and the taking of precept rituals, which include lay ordination (Jukai, or Jukai Tokudo) and monk ordination (Shukke Tokudo). A religious Zen Buddhist wedding, though non-traditional, will most likely involve the chanting of sutras and/or dharanis and the giving and receiving of the lay ordination precepts. This religious wedding should be preformed by a fully ordained Zen priest, and is usually only preformed for their students or disciples, often with the sangha (the community) in attendance. This is not the type of wedding I have to offer, though I am happy to incorporate aspects of it.
