Columbia Zen Buddhist Priory http://columbiazen.org Zen Buddhism in Columbia, South Carolina Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:37:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Lay Ordination http://columbiazen.org/?p=100 http://columbiazen.org/?p=100#comments Sun, 25 Mar 2007 14:30:17 +0000 leon http://columbiazen.org/2007/03/24/lay-ordination/ Lay ordination is offered to congregation who have declared their wish to deepen their commitment to training by taking refuge in the Precepts, thus formally becoming Buddhists. This is a moving and helpful ceremony, and all are encouraged to attend.

]]> http://columbiazen.org/?feed=rss2&p=100 0 September 10: Festival of Bhaisajyaguru http://columbiazen.org/?p=75 http://columbiazen.org/?p=75#comments Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:30:37 +0000 leon http://columbiazen.org/2006/09/10/september-10festival-of-bhaisajyaguru-tathagata/ Bhaisajyaguru is the Buddha of Healing, who offers compassionate teaching and blessing to all. His Medicine of the Dharma, found through meditation and training, cures the three poisons of greed, hate and delusion. He is usually associated with the blue-hued gem lapis lazuli (vaiduryd) shot through with flecks of gold, symbolizing the tiny points of Light within the darkness of illness and suffering. In some iconography His body is colored dark blue. (Chinese, Yao-shih-fo; Japanese, Yakushi Nyorai) (Note: Festival descriptions are based on those compiled in Buddhist Festival Ceremonies, copyrighted 2002, Eugene Buddhist Priory.)

]]> http://columbiazen.org/?feed=rss2&p=75 0 August 14: Festival of Kshtigtarbha Bodhisattva http://columbiazen.org/?p=15 http://columbiazen.org/?p=15#comments Sun, 14 Aug 2005 14:30:45 +0000 leon http://columbiazen.org/?p=15 August 14: Festival of Kshtigtarbha Bodhisattva
The gentle Bodhisattva Kshtigarbha appears in the form of a kindly priest holding a monastic traveling staff and the wish-fulfilling gem or pearl. He is looked upon as helping all those in the six worlds who are in dire, disadvantaged, or vulnerable circumstances, and as such has come to be regarded as the special protector of children, expectant mothers, animals, and travelers. Kshtigarbha has also taken an unending vow to stand still at the gate to the hells, offering peace to all those who suffer because of the natural karmic consequence of evil acts. He, along with Avalokiteshvara, is one of the Bodhisattvas often portrayed as coming to greet the faithful trainee at the time of death. His name means “Earth Store,�? “Earth Womb,�? or “Earth Treasury.�? (Chinese, Ti-tsang; Japanese, Jizo)

(Note: Festival descriptions are based on those compiled in Buddhist Festival Ceremonies, copyrighted 2002, Eugene Buddhist Priory.)

]]> http://columbiazen.org/?feed=rss2&p=15 0