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Buddhist Wedding Ceremony

happyhippo13happyhippo13
edited September 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Does anyone know of a traditional Buddhist Wedding Ceremony? Or are they all basically just local traditions?

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited September 2010
    I think Buddhist wedding ceremonies are a relatively recent phenomenon in the West, and some wedding ceremonies have been cobbled together to satisfy this great Western-minded need for a commitment to another person.
    Which is a paradox, because the essence of Buddhism is understanding that suffering happens due to craving and clinging to that which is impermanent....

    If any concrete ceremonies exist, I think they are pre-arranged with a Lama, Guru or Ajahn, and "enacted" simply to satisfy this human need for a ceremony!

    as far as I know.....:)
  • KikujiroKikujiro
    edited September 2010
    I remember in "Everyman: The Buddha Comes to Sussex" (1979) Ajahn Chah gave a blessing to a couple who left the group to marry. It was very nice, but it seemed a very family like thing. Sorry that might not be much help, but i'm not sure how nessasary a buddhist wedding is. If your part of a sanga just say your getting married and there might be some blessing. I don't know.

    If anybody wants the docu The Buddha Comes to Sussex I spoke of, just pm me.
  • treederwrighttreederwright
    edited September 2010
    Chanting from the Heart book By Thich Nhat Hanh has a great wedding ceremony. This is a book that is used at Plum Village where Thich Nhat Hanh resides in France.
  • ShutokuShutoku Veteran
    edited September 2010
    Shin buddhism has been in the US and Canada for over 100 years now, and most of the members of my temple were married in the temple...most in the 50's and 60's.
    I played piano for one Shin wedding and overall it was pretty much the same as any other wedding except vows of faith in Amida and reciting Nembutsu were of course part.
    Pretty sure there was a Sutra chanted as well, but I could be wrong.
    Also the Bride and Groom traditionally have a special set of wedding Nenju's (malas)
  • EngyoEngyo
    edited September 2010
    The service we use in Nichiren Buddhism is pretty much Japanese in origin; there are sutra recitation and chanting of Odaimoku, some readings from the founder, and a san san kudo (3 x 3 cups) ceremony which can utilize tea, juice or sake. There are some western elements as well; speaking of vows to each other, etc.
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited September 2010
    It seems that Buddhist weddings are more of a social event than a religious event, as compared to say Christian and Hindu weddings. This is how I understand it, but I could be wrong.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited September 2010
    sukhita wrote: »
    It seems that Buddhist weddings are more of a social event than a religious event, as compared to say Christian and Hindu weddings. This is how I understand it, but I could be wrong.

    My Buddhist wedding was definitely a combination of both.
    We made offerings and re-took our refuge vows etc. during the ceremony.
    It was awesome.
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