Buddhist weddings at World Pride Toronto 2014
By Yönten, on July 25th, 2014
Reverend Christina Yanko from the Toronto Buddhist Church was one of the officiants at the mass wedding which took place at World Pride in Toronto recently. I asked her for a bit of info about it and here’s what she told me…
“I have attached 3 pictures. They are by the Westend Studio. I don’t think the couple will mind since their pictures were in the paper quite a lot. Sorry the cardinal kind of photo-bombed me but that maybe adds a fun dynamic. One is me doing Sanbujo : calling the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in to witness the auspicious occasion (we scatter paper lotus petals called keiha, which you can see in the air). Lastly is me with the cardinal. I think the photographers liked taking pictures of us together because we had the fanciest outfits and a Catholic and a Buddhist together makes for a nice photo op.
“First there was a big mass ceremony. Each of the officiants were asked to perform a blessing from their religious tradition. We don’t really believe we have any authority to bless people since we ourselves are not perfect, so I simply chanted Sanbujo (as you can see in the picture). Following the mass ceremony, each of the couples had to have their own service where we did the vows, I do’s and paperwork with their witnesses. I performed ten. We had 10 minutes for each one so prior to the day I was informed whom my couples were and consulted with them to find out what they would like. Some wanted to have their own vows, some wanted to just repeat after me, and a couple wanted me to focus on Buddhism within marriage. I tried to tailor things as much as I could.”
Thanks, Reverend Christina, for your service to the LGBTQ community and for your telling us how it went. Gassho.
More on this wonderful blogsite-Source: http://www.sumeru-books.com/2014/07/buddhist-weddings-world-pride-toronto-2014/
Dear friends,
We have a lay Pastor‘s tradition in Kechara and I wish this to expand further. Not everyone can be a monk or nun, but many are still qualified and committed to do spiritual works as a lay Pastor. Therefore it is wonderful to see Reverend Christina Yanko doing her Buddhist duties to serve the public. I am happy to see Buddhist Ministers/pastors bringing more happiness and spirituality to the general public. Whatever services they perform and to what groups of people is not for me to say, but the fact they are benefitting others makes me happy. I am happy when they simply benefit others without labels. This is wonderful and a good trend.
I wish to see more and more Buddhist Pastors, Priests and Ministers throughout the world as there are many Buddhists who are in need of their services. Again, this is a wonderful trend which is people committed enough to become ordained. I rejoice in dharma works carried out by committed individuals. I send my felicitations, good wishes and prayers to Reverend Christina. May her works and many like her continue to grow, expand and reach millions.
Sinerely, Tsem Rinpoche
Related links:
1st Pastor Ordination in Kechara House
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=31207
Recent Pastor Ordination at Kechara Forest Retreat!
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/?p=43973
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Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. It’s glad to see that ‘Buddhist Wedding culture’ is in growing stage in the western country. Besides that, It’s a good sign which shows Buddhism is spreading widely. I am rejoice to Reverend Christina efforts , may her able to promote Buddhism widely to the sentient beings .
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful article. It’s so great that newly wed couple able get blessing from Buddhist pastors during the ceremony. Thank you Rinpoche for started the Pastorship in Kechara, all Pastors have been working very hard to benefit others.Hopefully there will always be more pastors in Kechara in the future .
Thanks for Rinpoche’s sharing. It will be wonderful if the wedding is perform by Buddhist style. Thank you Rinpoche introduce Pastorship and can reach out to public to meet their need.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the picture of Reverend Christina Yanko as well as the article. I wish there could be more Buddhist wedding ceremony service available throughout our country and other countries as this is one of the many ways to introduce and spread Buddhism and Dharma practice.
The Buddhist Pastors are very good for spreading Dharma without taking many many years to train and become a monk and nun. They can still work towards being a monk or nun whilst being a pastor which is very useful too. Hope there will always be more pastors in Kechara in the future.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this wonderful news with us. Pastors is someone that very committed in their spiritual grow they want to advance in their mind so to think less for themselves practice the Buddha qualities, this is our practitioner goal so that for us to create the cause to be a nun or a monk in the future. I truly rejoice for our Kechara pastors who work so hard for others I hope I can accumulate enough merits to be one of them in the future. Thank you Rinpoche for ordained all theses pastor and may in the future there will more people inspire to be one of them.
The first-ever registration of marriage was conducted on 17 November 2012 in Kechara and officiated by Pastor Chia, our official Marriage Registrar.
Since then Pastor Chia had “married” many couples.
It’s wonderful to see Buddhist Reverend and a Catholic Cardinal performing prayers to the newly weds.
In Kechara we have Pastor Chia who is officially recognized to perform and solemnize couples wishing to have their wedding done the Buddhist way, after they have registered with the Malaysian Registrar of Marriage.
Weddings are indeed beautiful affairs. Personally I like them very much. And to have blessings from Pastors/Reverends is only more auspicious to seal the love. In Kechara I have witness lovely wedding blessings by our Pastor Chia. Other than weddings, the Pastors also have baby blessings. Pastors are committed people who dedicate their time and motivation for others. I totally respect them.
It is encouraging and inspiring to see how the western world is now adopting Buddhism and incorporating into their various cultures. Buddhism does not discriminate. Buddha’s teachings are pervasive, it transcends era, race and culture. It is the fastest growing religion in the West.
Einstein supposedly quoted “The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description.”
Tsem Rinpcohe pioneered lay pastorship in Kechara, Malaysia in 2011 with much criticism even from within the Buddhist community. Now we see in the West many Buddhist churches and ministers, terms historically associated with Christianity. What’s in a term? As time goes by human has always redefined the meaning of certain words to suit the current society.
Kechara pastors provide services such as bereavement, baby blessing/baptism, car blessing, house blessing, wedding unions and many more. The lay pastors help bridge the gap between sangha and lay people in today’s society.
I rejoice in Reverend Christina work. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this news and article on Rinpoche’s blog. Rinpoche has always shown support to good deeds regardless of religion, race or culture by sharing with people and raising awareness to these deeds and causes through social media.
Wow, a wonderful yet holy wedding scene…
May the new wedding couple may blessed by 3 jewels always, hence able to keep their vows on track forever…
Seeing the picture of a Buddhist Minister, standing side by side with a Catholic Cardinal, and looking so ‘right’, makes one realize how the world has changed so much from its conservative outlook on different faiths of just a few years ago.
Tsem Rinpoche was truly a visionary, when he took the bold step of ordaining lay Buddhist pastors of Kechara to serve the community as a ‘bridge’ between the lay people and the monastics.Pastors conduct marriages, give baby blessings, blessings of homes and offices and factories. Pastors visit the sick and the dying. Pastors serve the community in various ways in answer to their needs.
When Rinpoche first spoke of Buddhist Pastors and our Gompa (temple) to be a Buddhist Church, it was mind blowing. Out of ignorance, I said how will that work? However, Kechara House went ahead and Rinpoche ordained the first set of Pastors. Since then we had 4 pastors ordination and the work done by our Pastors had been admirable and inspiring.
What modern way to disseminate the Dharma and what a wonderful way for ”lay” Buddhist who are very devoted and have great faith in the Dharma to reach out to so many ordinary lay people in Malaysia
What I had thought to be controversial as created by Rinpoche is now mainstream in USA and the results of acceptance in Malaysia of Kechara Pastors and their good work, shows the visions Rinpoche has to have the Dharma serve and be available to many Buddhist Malaysians.
May the Dharma grow in leaps and bounds due to the ingenious ways Rinpoche has His mission fulfilled.
i like thisone
I like it very much. It is very hard at the beginning when Rinpoche started the lay pastors in Kechara. People tend to compare the pastors to the monks and nuns. I must say Kechara’s Pastors are very knowledgeable and hard working serving and benefiting others day and night. The effort of the pastors have proven themselves to others that they are genuine and sincerely serving and benefiting others with Dharma here. Now they gained the public respect and trust. Many people started to look for Pastors advice for many matters. I have seen our Pastors patiently explained and advised them the solutions with Dharma value to them. We will have more and more Pastors to come to be Rinpoche’s hands and legs to benefits more and more people. Thank you Rinpoche for started the Pastorship in Kechara and also the first in Malaysia. Rejoice!
It is wonderful to see that Buddhist weddings are receiving such wonderful ceremonies. It is also very nice to see that they respect everyone’s traditions at this ceremony. I would definitely love to see this happen more often.
Another great Buddhist organisation that can offer such services is Kechara. The Pastors are well equipped and qualified to arrange marriages. I am sure they do it much better than most religious groups (I am looking at you, Vegas weddings hehe).
I believe that it should not be odd or uncommon for Buddhist weddings. It should become the norm for it to receive wonderful ceremonies. It is the unification of two lovely people. I would love to have a nice Buddhist ceremony if I marry.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing on Buddhist weddings.Well I think it is great to have a buddhist wedding solemnized by buddhist pastors in a modern fashion with traditional values intact.
Would it be great to be able to invite all the buddhas to be your witness and bless you during this most important day in your lives to embark on your journey as husband and wife.
In the process of the wedding we could also educate or promote dharma to invited friends and family members who are present during the ceremony.
Thank you Rinpoche and Kechara team to make such practice available in Malaysia too.
There’s definitely a need for Pastor and of the Buddhist religion. The Buddhist Pastors is a bridge between the lay and the ordained who has decided to dedicate their lives to serve the public with dharma. They perform rituals, blessings, hospital and house visits, counselling etc, of course wedding blessings 🙂
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche first introduced the Buddhist Pastor to Malaysia in 2011. It was not well accepted and there were obstacles from various external parties. It is now being accepted widely thanks to His Eminence’s blessings and the Pastors’ hard work.
Here’s a short video of what the Kechara Buddhist Pastor is about
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO6kbzBUgl0. Please watch and we look forward to serving you soon.
Thanks Rinpoche for sharing this article with us.Its heart warming to see how us Buddhism too practice blessing for the newly wed couples.In Malaysia there’s lack of Buddhism pastor, due to its lack of numbers not many Malaysian practice Buddhism blessing here.But I believe they are growing in number.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Indeeds Kechara brought me here as today, without Kechara, I don’t know where to get more information about Buddhism. I pray Kechara continually to flourish and able to reach out to people and sentient beings. I salute Kechara Pastors, they are so committed, very resourceful, having good knowledge and they are so willing to share and spread the Dharma teachings. Once again, thank you Pastors, Kecharian and Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche,
I know that Rinpoche used to face lots of opposition in the beginning because having lay Buddhist pastors was not practised by the Buddhists in Malaysia. I am glad rinpoche went ahead to do it anyway because it sets a great example and opens new vistas for sincere students of Rinpoche’s to teach, do rituals and benefit the general public. Kechara Pastors are doing a great job in various fields. The idea and implementation allows a great stepping stone for those who are want to be monks and nuns so the transition from lay to monastic life is seamless. Rinpoche is indeed visionary in thinking of various ways to benefit others and further Buddhism in Malaysia and beyond.
Thank you Rinpoche for your kindness. Pastorship benefits many people. The Pastors have been working very hard working day and night to benefit others.
It’s great to have Buddhist pastors give blessing to the newly wed couple, In Malaysia, we also had pastor service who not only give blessing to the wedding couple, they also go perform house blessing, do prayer for people who are sick, baby blessing, etc.
Few years back when Rinpoche ordained the first batch of pastors, it is very new to me and I believe to many people as well, but then, Rinpoche always work before the time, he always has many new way to spread and promote Dharma to different people in different way, ordaining pastor also the same, because since at this age it’s very difficult to ordain monk or nun, then one step before is pastors, at least they still can work for Dharma and yet as a lay person.
This is some description of pastor, their service and their responsibilities. http://www.kechara.com/kechara-house/pastors/
I had my wedding / marriage blessed by Pastors from Kechara 🙂 .
We usually see on TV or attend friends’ weddings in Churches where we witness Catholic Priests or Ministers uniting the couples together, and hardly witness any Chinese or Buddhist style as it seems “weird” in the past. But I believe it is catching on. Traditional Chinese will hold their ceremony in Temples where Taoists Priests will bless them.
As Buddhism spreads further, I believe many will hold a Buddhist style marriage vows and blessing ceremonies by Buddhist Pastors or Reverends 😀
Taking vows in front of our gurus or Buddha statues / images will further strengthen our vows and commitments as it will seem to lie to Buddhas if we do not hold the vows 🙂