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The Program > Precepts/Ordination

The Precepts

The practice of the precepts enfolds over several successive steps, beginning with the precepts of personal liberation (pratimoksa lay-vows), and moving on to the precepts of compassionate action (bodhisattva vows).

Rather than intellectual platitudes, or moral imperatives, the precepts are engaged, internalized… “worked with” rather than passively “observed.” The activity of the Precepts is the enlightened activity of the Buddha.

If students have not yet received the householder precepts (either with Five Mountain, or another Buddhist lineage), they are required to do so within the first year after acceptance into the Seminary. Householder Precepts will be made available at all retreats.

Ordination - The Zen Priest Track

It should be noted that seminary students are not required to pursue ordination as a Zen Priest as a part of their program. Ordination is optional, and at the discretion of the student and the seminary.

Students who wish to enroll and specifically pursue ordination as a Zen Priest within the Five Mountain Sangha enter what we call the "Zen Priest Track." The program and curriculum is the same as that for non "priest track" students, but there is a stronger focus on Five Mountain's particular forms and practices, and interaction with the Order's teachers.

All persons eighteen years old or older, regardless of race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation, are eligible to join the Five Mountain Order if they have shown the capacity of learning and practicing the Order’s Teachings and have passed through the traditional Order barrier gates.

The three barrier gates are:

Participation in at least one Five Mountain Order retreat, and receiving the Five Householder Precepts.

Meeting with at least one Order Teacher, to articulate one's reasons for practicing Buddhism and wanting to become a formal member of the Order.

Novice Ordination requires the completion of the requisite Core Buddhist Studies program, while Zen Priest Ordination requires graduation from the Five Mountain Buddhist Seminary (5MBS).

Bodhisattva (full Priest) Ordination requires further practice and study beyond graduation.

It is not necessary for Order members to be in residence at a Monastery or live near-by an Order Temple, Dharma Center, or group. Most members practice at home, maintaining a relationship with the teachers and Order through visits, retreats, and distributed learning training sessions.

Members of the Five Mountain Order are either novices or Priests, there are no “lay” members of the Five Mountain Order.