Lay Pratimoksha Vow Ceremony
Saturday 12th September
2.00pm
What Is a Vow in The New Kadampa Tradition?
“A vow is a virtuous determination to abandon particular faults that is generated in conjunction with a traditional ritual.
“Just as there are three types of moral discipline, so there are three types of vow: Pratimoksha vows, Bodhisattva vows, and Tantric vows”.
What Are The Lay Pratimoksha Vows?
“Buddha gives extensive instructions on the Pratimoksha moral discipline and the Pratimoksha vows in the Vinaya Sutras. Pratimoksha means `personal liberation’, and so a Pratimoksha vow is a vow that is motivated mainly by the wish to attain personal liberation.
“There are Pratimoksha vows that are lay vows and Pratimoksha vows that are ordained vows.
“Hundreds of Kadampa lay practitioners have taken the lay Pratimoksha vows; and there are now Kadampa monks and nuns worldwide who have taken the ordained Pratimoksha vows.”
(Information taken from the New Kadampa Tradition website).
Attending This Ceremony
The next undertaking of the Pratimoksha Vows with Gen Kelsang Dragden at KMC Plymouth will be on Saturday 12th September 2026, at 2.00pm.
This is a free event and does not require booking. Please ensure you arrive slightly early as the event will start promptly at 2pm. You will need to be present for the whole of this event.
Important Note
Everyone is welcome at this free event but taking vows should not be done without understanding what you are committing to, or taken in a frivolous manner, whilst on the other hand we should not be “heavy” about taking and holding any vows. Please contact the EPC for advice (HERE) if you have any questions.
More About This Event
The Pratimoksha Vow is a moral discipline practice motivated by renunciation that is directly received from a qualified Preceptor; in this case from Gen Kelsang Dragden, Resident Teacher at KMC Plymouth.
The heart of this practice is training in renunciation. Gen Dragden, will explain the nature and great disadvantages of contaminated rebirth, samsara during the ceremony. Through contemplating the meaning of these teachings we will generate the strong wish to attain permanent liberation from taking contaminated rebirth, samsara. This wish is renunciation.
Inspiring Links & Information
Renunciation – information about the mind of renunciation
What is Renunciation? – Podcast with Gen-la Khyenrab
Training in Renunciation– Podcast with Gen-la Dekyong
Prayers for Meditation– a copy of the Prayers to be used during the ceremony. Copies will be available for people to use on the day however, so you do not need to bring your own copy
The Practice of Moral Discipline – Kadampa Buddhism – some insight in vows within the Tradition
Lay Pratimoksha Vow Ceremony Card From Tharpa Publications – a copy of the notes for use by attendees at the ceremony – copies will be available for attendees to use on the day, so you do not need your own copy.
Schedule
Saturday 12th September
2-3pm
Fees & Booking
This is a FREE event and you do not need to book.
Please ensure you arrive a short while before the ceremony starts, which is promptly at 2pm as you need to be present for the entirety of this ceremony
Venue
Kadampa Meditation Centre Plymouth,
48-50 Mutley Plain,
Plymouth,
PL4 6LE
