Why Did I Formally Take Refuge in the Triple Gem and the Five Precepts?

It's because of many factors:
1. I had the advantage of learning about Theravada Buddhism since the age of 15, from the Brickfields 1996 School Holiday Dhamma Camp. I had learned to take refuge since then, or rather the chanting ritual of taking refuge, which I would do once a year or whenever I attend Buddhist camps.
2. I came across a book by Master Sheng Yen of Dharma Drum Mountain, "Why Take Refuge in the Three Jewels" - which at first turned me off because the book mentions that those who do not take the three jewels formally are not real Buddhists, but still I continued to read the book till the end, and I like how it explains the inter-connection between the three jewels, and I read it again this year.
3. This year, I also had the opportunity to attend the training on Buddha Puja led by Datuk Dr Victor Wee, and also Bro Nee Wern. I saw the ritual in a different perspective, I like it, and I started to do my own daily Buddha puja using the leader's text. Today, I will still do a simple daily puja consisting of paying reverence to the Buddha, taking refuge in the triple gem, and taking the five precepts (or using my own version of the five enobling virtues / aspirations).
4. A friend once told me, that at minimum, a Buddhist should take refuge and five precepts on daily basis, and that whenever he runs into trouble, he will look back to the 3 refuges. I remember what he said,and I was curious with his practice of going back to the 3 refuges whenever he needs an answer to life's problems, but I didn't really practise it seriously back then.
5. Somehow, the combination of the few factors above, transformed into a kind of faith in the Triple Gem this year, which also prompted me to study a few sutra texts.
6. I've also been "craving" for many years to have my own Buddhist name. I call it craving because it was influenced by other people. I see other people have it, and I wanted one too for myself.. To be honest I think I wanted it more for the reason of having what others have, rather than for any other more beneficial reasons.
7. The Plum Village Retreat in Genting, finally provided the conditions for the seeds to grow. It offers the participants a chance to take the 5 Mindfulness Trainings, which is actually the 5 precepts, in a formal manner. Not much background is given about this ceremony, but we learn a bit about it from the form we need to fill up, and Brother Canon also kindly explains what we need to fill in for each field and the importance of providing our commitments and aspirations for taking the 5MT, so that it helps the Dharma teachers to give us a suitable Dharma name, which will help us in our practice.

I happily took the opportunity to register for the transmission ceremony, happy to be able to take this formally, as I believe it will enhance and deepen my faith and devotion. It's also funny that I find it normal to use "faith and devotion" in Buddhism now, I used to see Buddhism as a philosophy and I would identify faith and devotion to religions with god/god(s). I was of course also very happy that I will finally get my own Buddhist / Dharma name! A few people I spoke to, wasn't ready to take it, and I think perhaps they aren't ready to commit to it. Well, this is based on my own perception combined with what I've read of why some people are not willing to take the 5 precepts formally. Anyway, nevermind, each being will act to his own karma.. which is ok..

The night before the 5MT, we had the ceremony for the 14MT for 6 other brothers and sisters, which I have to admit, looks a bit scary. So much of kneeling and standing up and bowing.. I hope 5MT will be of less ceremonious...

That morning, I tried to reach our meditation hall before 6am, so that I won't be late for the 5MT. I find that there were 9 cushions in the middle, 6 already taken.. and I was like.. oh dear, so few people are taking the 5MT? But since I was determined and I have registered, I took my place.. and it was right at the front row. Then it began, the chanting followed by the transmission ceremony which is equally ceremonious as the 14MT, the only difference is the number of mindfulness trainings we take.

I sweated so much during the ceremony.. I think I might have felt anxious, I was seated at the front row, and I thought there's only 9 of us, and I was conscious that I will usually sweat when I feel anxious. After going through the initial opening verses, when the monks and nuns on both sides, together with the rest of the participants chant the Heart Sutra, that was when I was really sweating profusely.. which actually doesn't make that much sense. I have calmed down a bit by then, but I still feel the heat, and I was just wondering why am I sweating so much? CA told me later it could be due to the energy generated from the chanting, and those who are receiving the transmissions are right in the middle.. And after this part, my sweating lessens and my body temperature decreases, or I find it cooler after sweating it out.. well, it could be for various reasons to explain why I sweated so much during this part of the ceremony.

So we had the ceremony, and when it's over, when I stood up and turned back, I realized there were about 50 of us taking the 5MT... it wasn't only me! The rest have either arrived slightly later or taken their places in the middle after I did so. We then took our certs from our group faci.. in my group, Morning Dew, besides me there were 5 other people, all from one family, which is actually amazing, I would think it's indeed a very auspicious event for the whole family to take the 5MT together.

The Dharma name I've been given is "Realized Tranquility of the Heart", which I like very much.. could be due to my aspiration for peace, or because I stated too many aspirations / commitments, that the teacher(s) decided that I would benefit from realizing tranquility of the heart :) Thank you for the name!

~ttg @ Realized Tranquility of the Heart~