On Sunday, October 18, our teacher, Fred, will be conducting a Transmission Ceremony at the FCM Tampa Practice Center for those who wish to formally Take Refuge and receive the Five Mindfulness Trainings, as an expression of their commitment to follow the Buddha’s teachings and the Buddhist path of practice. During this ceremony Fred will also be transmitting the Two Promises for children ages 6-12. The Two Promises are the mindfulness trainings or ethical guidelines developed Thich Nhat Hanh for children.

“I vow to develop UNDERSTANDING in order to live peacefully with people, animals, plants and minerals.”

"I vow to develop my COMPASSION, in order to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals."

For children who are interested in Transmission, there will be a required two-session preparatory class offered from 10:00-12:00 on Sundays, October 4 & 11 at the FCM Practice Center in Tampa, in the Education Building during Sangha.  (The preparatory class for adults will take place after Sangha on different dates. However the preparatory class for children will take place during Sangha.)

During the preparatory class children will explore:
1.   Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels – expressing trust in their own capacity to awaken, in the path of practice and mindful living, and in the sangha community to provide a refuge of safety, guidance, and support.
2.   The Two Promises – developing compassion and understanding as the basis for living in ways that create happiness and relieve suffering for themselves and for others. The Two Promises are not authoritative rules imposed from the outside to be blindly adhered to, but rather gentle guidelines for reflecting on their own aspirations, and on their behavior and its consequences in order to live a more consciously aware life.

Attending the classes does not obligate children to Take Refuge or Transmission.  They are welcome to attend if they are just interested in learning more about these two practices and traditions that are integral to the Buddhist path.

On Sunday, October 18, the children  that have completed the preparatory class and wish for transmission will have the opportunity to receive the Two Promises, in a formal ceremony just before the adults receive the Five Mindfulness Trainings transmission. The children receive a Dharma name and a certificate to remind them of their promises. Before the children receive the Two Promises, they are asked to write about their aspirations and why they want to receive them.

Children that have received transmission of the Two Promises previously are  invited to attend the two preparatory classes and to renew their vows, participating in the
Transmission Ceremony October 18 as well.

Please note that you must register your child and they must attend both classes in order to participate in the Transmission Ceremony on October 18. For more information  email  Betsy Arizu at barizu@yahoo.com.