Advertisement
Published: January 25th 2011
baby Maya puts a smile on all our faces
at the Panditarama Meditation Centre, Smithfield NSWLorenza and I are lucky to have many wonderful friends. When Mike and Hang asked us if we would take on the role of “Spiritual Parents” for their daughter Maya we were only too happy to accept.
(It occurred to me later that a better description of our role may be the Pali term “kalyana mitta” which means spiritual friend.)
As our first act of spiritual guidance we organised for Maya to be blessed by Sayadaw U Pannathami at the Panditarama Meditation Centre. Mike also explained that Maya had been named after the mother of Gautama the Buddha.
Mike explained to Sayadaw that Hang and he had asked that we try and guide Maya in the right direction over the coming years, much like God-parents would. Sayadaw spent some time talking to them and getting an idea of what form they wanted the blessing to take. Maya was very relaxed and well behaved for a three month old baby. We were also joined at the blessing by their friend Murray.
Sayadaw chanted the Mangala Sutta and then the Metta Sutta (the chant of loving kindness). The Mangala Sutta is a blessing of protection and prosperity and very
appropriate for the day. Maya seemed so happy lying at Sayadaw’s feet while he performed the blessing.
Sayadaw placed a length of saffron coloured wool across Maya and held the other end in his hand as he gave the blessing. The thread I think symbolises unity and connection. Sayadaw explained to Mike and Hang that they should cut this length of wool and attach a piece to Maya’s dress and her pram. Sayadaw also had some water in a bottle, he explained to Mike and Hang that he had blessed the water and they could give it to Maya to drink and keep topping it up before it was ever empty. The water is a symbol of purity and cleansing.
Sayadaw expressed his opinion that Maya was very lucky to have such good parents and friends, and now he could be counted amongst her friends. He also made some suggestions how we could guide her in the future. Then we took some lovely photos so we could remember the day and for Maya when she is older.
While we had not organised a ceremony as formal as a Christening, it was a very moving and personal ceremony
for all of us.
Mike, Hang and Maya have since returned to Vietnam, I know that they appreciated Sayadaw’s kindness and compassion very much – it was a great start to Maya’s spiritual life, may she always be well and happy!
You can find more information about the Panditarama Sydney Meditation Centre on their website
here. The following translation of the Mangala Sutta may be of interest …
Mangala Sutta: Protection I have heard that at one time the Blessed One was staying in Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then a certain deva, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta's Grove, approached the Blessed One. On approaching, having bowed down to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. As she stood to one side, she addressed him with a verse.
A Deva asked the Buddha: Many devas and human beings
give thought to protection,
desiring well-being.
Tell, then, the highest protection.
The Buddha responded: Not consorting with fools,
consorting with the wise,
paying homage to those worthy of homage:
This is the highest protection.
Living in a civilized land,
having made
merit in the past,
directing oneself rightly:
This is the highest protection.
Broad knowledge, skill,
well-mastered discipline,
well-spoken words:
This is the highest protection.
Support for one's parents,
assistance to one's wife and children,
consistency in one's work:
This is the highest protection.
Giving, living in rectitude,
assistance to one's relatives,
deeds that are blameless:
This is the highest protection.
Avoiding, abstaining from evil;
refraining from intoxicants,
being heedful of the qualities of the mind:
This is the highest protection.
Respect, humility,
contentment, gratitude,
hearing the Dhamma on timely occasions:
This is the highest protection.
Patience, compliance,
seeing contemplatives,
discussing the Dhamma on timely occasions:
This is the highest protection.
Austerity, celibacy,
seeing the Noble Truths,
realising Unbinding:
This is the highest protection.
A mind that, when touched
by the ways of the world,
is unshaken, sorrowless, dustless, at rest:
This is the highest protection.
Everywhere undefeated
when acting in this way,
people go everywhere in well-being:
This is their highest protection.
"Maha-mangala Sutta: Protection" (Snp 2.4), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, July 11, 2010,
Access to Insight - Mangala Sutta (A few weeks after the blessing we put
together a small handmade book with photos and the suttas inside as a gift for Maya.)
Advertisement
Tot: 0.123s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 7; qc: 28; dbt: 0.0888s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
liliram
liliram
of traditions and customs
Thank you for sharing this. It is a unique tradition and custom. And I am sure a very meaningful ceremonial rite. I like how people of different convictions and beliefs express their spirituality in different ways. Different, yes, yet there seems to be a common feature that ties everything up. I think it is the spirituality that the tradition and ceremony stirs in each one of us.