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Buddhist marriage vows do not centre on promises to make romantic love last a lifetime, but rather on personal and mutual growth between partners.
Buddhist wedding ceremonies typically start with meditation or prayers to the Buddha (Representative image: Shutterstock)
Buddhist marriage vows are unique in their focus on spiritual growth, compassion, and oneness with all beings. Unlike most other
culture
s, Buddhist marital promises are not centred on eternal romance; they are taken with great seriousness and are considered sacred in nature. This wedding season, let’s delve into the world of Buddhist
wedding
s.
The Nature of Buddhist
Wedding
Wedding
Vows
Buddhist
wedding
ceremonies typically start with meditation or prayers to the Buddha, setting the tone for mindfulness and reflection. The person conducting the
wedding
usually asks a series of questions to which the
couple
answers, reflecting on their vows, not only to each other but also to the wider community and the tenets of Buddhism. The responses often come as collective affirmations, such as “We do,” symbolising unity in purpose and intention.
ALSO READ: The Significance Of Buddhist Wedding Rituals And Symbols
Key Components Of Buddhist Vows
- Commitment To Growth: With this commitment, both partners express and promise that they will help each other be better through building characteristics or qualities such as compassion, patience and wisdom that should accompany a lifetime together.
- Recognition Of Challenges: Realising that life will bring many challenges,
couple
s pledge to embrace them as opportunities for growth and understanding, rather than stumbling blocks.
- Interconnectedness: The vows primarily consist of promises to extend love and compassion beyond the
couple
to all beings, reflecting the Buddhist view of the interconnectedness of life.
Structure Of Buddhist
Wedding
Wedding
Vows
Buddhist
wedding
vows generally have elements of both individual and combined:
- Personal Vows: Here, both parties may say vows that speak best to them about what they promise or pledge in the marriage.
For example: “I take you to be my partner in life, today and always, to cherish our friendship and love.”
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- Joint Vows: These are the vows said in response to questions asked by the celebrant. They are on aspects of life together:
“Do you pledge to help each other develop your hearts and minds?”
“Do you pledge to remember the disadvantages of ignorance, anger, and clinging attachment?”
To each question, there is one answer from the
couple
: “We do”.
Philosophical Underpinnings
The philosophy supporting Buddhist
wedding
vows is deeply rooted in essential Buddhist teachings:
- Compassion and Altruism: Buddhist doctrine focuses on dispelling suffering, whether within an individual’s self or that of another.
Couple
s should develop in themselves a feeling of compassion– first within a relationship and then towards all other living entities.
- Presence and Mindfulness: The ups and downs in life are to be kept in mind. The
couple
promises to stay present for each other, creating a spiritual growth environment for both.
- Impermanence: By realizing that everything in life is impermanent, a
couple
commits to valuing the time they have with each other, knowing change is the natural course of life.
