Five and Eight Precepts Ordination Ceremony – June 24, 2018

​IBMC held a five and eight precepts ordination ceremony on June 24, 2018. Steven Anthony Martin Nunez (religious name: Subodha) was given the three refuges and eight precepts. Russell Charles Leong (Jagat) and Adrian Mathew Gross (Sugat) were given the three refuges and five precepts. 

Taking Refuge confirms that one wants to become a Buddhist, and one accepts the Buddha as the enlightened teacher, the Dharma as the guide to the spiritual path and the Sangha (Buddhist community of monks, nuns, and novices) as the supporting spiritual community. Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha are also known as the Triple Gems. 

Three Refuges

1. I take refuge in the Buddha 
2. I take refuge in the Dhamma 
3. I take refuge in the Sangha

Buddhists live by the Five Moral Precepts. These are the most basic code of ethics undertaken by upāsaka and upāsikā (male/ female lapeople). 

The five precepts
I undertake to observe the rule:

• to abstain from taking life  
• to abstain from taking what is not given 
• to abstain from sexual misconduct  
• to abstain from false speech 
• to abstain from intoxicants

The eight precepts are an enhanced version of the Five Precepts. Eight precepts are consisting of five precepts with three additional precepts.