Meditation and practicing the Buddhist Precepts are the foundation of Zen Buddhist Practice. The lay ordination ceremony is a way to formally commit to keeping the precepts; to take the precepts, in this way, is to formally become a Buddhist. At today’s ceremony five people will be taking the precepts and you are welcome to join us in supporting them in taking this step. The ceremony is full of teaching about the precepts and will be followed by a festive tea.