Vow Wows

Namaste!! After a wicked amount of requests, Lisa and I have agreed to post the vows we exchanged last week for you all on the blog. We are not posting the video capture publicly, so if you want the link to see it, please contact us personally or leave a comment.
As many of you are aware, I'm all about freedom of speech, expression, and having unfettered equality, so I say this before it goes ANY further -

If you have issues with SSM or CU's, then you need go no further, and please refrain from negative commenting, as it will simply be deleted.

If you like the vows and want to use them or some capacity please feel free. They are my own adaptation from a personal wedding ceremony by Lama Thubten Yeshea traditional lama.

We invoke the "No Thelma Thursday" rule. If it's Thursday, and you're name is Thelma - your laptop will self destruct in fifteen seconds.


On this note, Please enjoy!

Barbara and Lisa's Buddhist Wedding Ceremony


Rev Hatton: “Barbara and Lisa, in the future, happy occasions will come as surely as the morning. Difficult times will come as surely as the night. When things go joyously, find peace within yourselves. When things go badly, find that same peace. To say the words "love and compassion" is easy. But to accept that love and compassion are built upon patience and perseverance is not easy. With this in mind, is it your intention to continue this journey together?”
“It Is”

Buddhist Wedding Prayer

Today we promise to dedicate ourselves completely to each other, with body, speech, and mind.
In this life, in every situation, in wealth or poverty, in health or sickness, in happiness or difficulty, we will work to help each other perfectly.
The purpose of our relationship will be to attain enlightenment by perfecting our kindness and compassion toward all sentient beings.
Lama Thubten Yeshe

Vows
Barbara and Lisa, do you pledge to help each other to develop your hearts and minds, cultivating compassion, generosity, ethics, patience, enthusiasm, concentration and wisdom as you age and undergo the various ups and downs of life; and to transform them into the path of love, compassion, joy and equanimity?
“We do”

Do you pledge to see all difficult circumstances as a challenge to help you grow, to open your hearts, to accept yourselves, and each other; and to generate compassion for others who are suffering? Do you pledge to avoid becoming closed or opinionated, and to help each other to see various sides of situations?
“We do”

Do you pledge to seek to understand yourselves, each other, and all living beings, to examine your own minds continually and to regard all the mysteries of life with curiosity and joy?
“We do”

Do you pledge to preserve and enrich your affection for each other, and to share it with all beings? To take the loving feelings you have for one another and your vision of each other's potential and inner beauty as an example and to radiate this love outwards to all beings?
“We do”

When it comes time to part, do you pledge to reflect on your time together with thankfulness and joy that you met and shared what you have, and acceptance that we cannot hold on to anything forever?
“We do”

Do you pledge to support each other's journey, to continually shine light on each other's virtue, and support individual intuitions, even when it doesn't directly benefit yourself?
“We do”

Do you pledge to remember the disadvantages of ignorance, anger and attachment and instead focus on the kindness of all other beings and your connection to them? Do you pledge to work together for the welfare of others, with all of your compassion, wisdom and skill?
“We do”

Do you pledge day to day, to be patient with yourselves and others, knowing that change comes slowly and gradually, and to seek inspiration from your teachers not to become discouraged?
“We do”

Do you pledge to continuously strive to remember your own Buddha nature, as well as the Buddha nature of all living beings? To maintain the awareness that all things are temporary, and to remain optimistic that you can achieve your greatest potential and lasting happiness.
“We do”


Exchanging of Rings
Rev Hatton: “These rings are the outward and visible symbols of the inward and spiritual bond which unites two loyal hearts in partnership.”
Barbara: “I am honored you wish to be with me.”
Lisa: “I am honored you wish to be with me.”

Pronouncement
Rev Hatton: “By the power vested in me through the wishes of Barbara and Lisa, as well as the blessing of the lineage of their Spiritual Friends, I now pronounce you Loving Wives.” (Brides kiss)
Rev Hatton: “Namaste!”

Presenting and Congratulating the Couple
Rev Hatton: “May I present and congratulate Barbara and Lisa. May the world now see in this unity evidence of your connection, which previously existed only between your hearts.”