How to Become an Ordained Zen Buddhist
Zen is a sect of Buddhism common in Far Eastern countries such as Japan and China. A few different schools of Zen thought exist, including Soto and Rinzai. The United States and other countries around the world have Zen centers, retreats and monasteries. Each sect has different ordination practices, and it might take many years to become ordained. Becoming a member of the Zen clergy requires training for the rest of your life. Zen Buddhism is not a goal-oriented practice. As the Treeleaf Priest Training Program says about Zen ordination, "This training begins with lay practice without thought then being given to any goal of future ordination."
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Instructions
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Begin a lay practice of Zen Buddhism. All ordained Zen Buddhists first started with a long practice as students. Student practice might occur for many years before the possibility of training as a priest or nun arises. The student will discuss ordination with his or her teachers in depth before proceeding to the next step.
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Undertake novice ordination. This period could also last for a number of years, and students must understand that the novice stage does not guarantee full ordination. As a novice, students will learn to deepen their Zen practice, learn more about the traditions of their sect and become knowledgeable of Zen texts.
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Continue training. Candidates for the Zen clergy will continue to train until their teachers feel they are ready to become fully ordained. The path to ordination is highly personal, dependent on the student, the teacher and the paths taken in Zen practice. Training can include visiting other Zen centers worldwide, learning Zen rituals, further reading into the culture's texts and attendance at numerous meditation retreats.
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Participate in ordination. Only when both you and your teacher have decided that you are ready for ordination, will the final step in the process begin. An important part of this step is Dharma transmission, or taking on the responsibility of teaching the next generation of Zen students about the practice. Dharma transmission is also not a guaranteed process.
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