“Ceremony is our pule (prayer) - it ascends and is heard by your land, our kupuna (ancestors), by our akua (god). It unifies us with one intention - connects us to our kupuna, their ‘ike (knowledge); elemental forces that surrounds - land, water, wind, rain, lava. We put aside shame and self-consciousness to unite our leo (voice), na’au (gut, mind, heart) and intention - altogether. Ceremonies are passed down - it’s a lineal connection and commitment to the kupuna.”
June Ryushin Tanoue and Linda Gyokuzan Warring
I just took part in a beautiful Zen novitiate priest ordination called Shukke Tokudo this past Sunday for a member of our Zen community. To prepare for the ceremony, Linda shaved her head. This is a big step for many people. It’s what novitiates do traditionally. It’s a letting go of vanity and fear. It’s not required.
To be a zen priest is to renounce - to let go of everything you have and thereby to see that everything you are and have is in the service of dharma. For me dharma, like hula, means life.
It’s about healing and helping others. We offer the merit of our prayers to people who are ill or dying. We practice loving kindness with all we meet including ourselves when needed. It’s feeding hungry people with food as well as friendship.
Another important practice is humility/ha’a ha’a. It’s sacrificing the need to be right all the time. It’s practicing being open and ok with not knowing. It’s respecting everyone and seeing that everyone is your teacher.
As Linda took her vows on Sunday, it was an opportunity for all in the community to remember why we practice and to consider again our universally applicable values. Affirm life, don’t kill. Be giving, don’t steal. Honor the body, don’t misuse sexuality. Manifest Truth, don’t lie. Proceed clearly, don’t cloud the mind. See perfection, don’t speak of others’ errors or faults. Realize Self and Other as One. Don’t elevate the self and blame others. Give generously, don’t withhold. Actualize harmony, don’t indulge in anger. Experience the intimacy of things-as-they-are, don't defile the Three Treasures.
This is the fourth time I’ve shaved my head as part of my practice as a zen priest. There is always a sense of freedom when I do it. As I let go of my hair, I also let go of thoughts: about how I look better with hair, or that people might think it’s weird, or have cancer, or whatever. Afterwards I enjoy the direct feel of water on my head as I shower, the cool morning air on my scalp as I sweep the front sidewalk, the sandpapery feel against my pillowcase or hand as the hair quickly grows back.
But more than that, it’s an opportunity to remember my vows. Vows that seem impossible yet spur me on to do my best to live them. I was moved when I heard Leilani Lindsey-Ka’apuni talk about ceremony as pule/prayer. She is one of the ki’ai/protectors of Mauna Kea and the 'aina/land. I too believe that ceremony as prayer ascends and pervades - heard by our land, our ancestors, our god. It unifies us with one intention to connect with our ancestors, their knowledge, and the essential elements. Ceremonies are our lineal connection and commitment to the ancestors in service to life.
Malama pono (take good care of body, mind, and heart),
June Kaililani Ryushin Tanoue
Kumu Hula, Sensei
P.S. Here's a slide-show of the behind the scenes and ordination ceremony for Linda Gyokuzan Warring. Mahalo to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole for his timeless song and Liz Carabello for her photographs.