Quotes/readings for a wedding

A discussion on all aspects of Theravāda Buddhism
Post Reply
Theocat
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:22 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by Theocat »

Hi - I"m getting married in a few months. Although it will be a very secular ceremony, I am "sort of" a Buddhist and would like to include some appropriate readings or quotations if I can find any. I've got a few ideas but you all know the texts much better than I do, perhaps you can suggest a few. Note that these are for readings during the ceremony, not for vows. Thanks for any help!
I will act as though what I do makes a difference.
santa100
Posts: 6811
Joined: Fri Jun 10, 2011 10:55 pm

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by santa100 »

some quotes that might be helpful. Congrats and good luck..

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... #to-spouse" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by Ben »

Congratulations Theocat and I wish you and your fiance all the very best of health and happiness now and in the future!
kind regrds

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global ReliefUNHCR

e: [email protected]..
User avatar
cooran
Posts: 8503
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:32 pm
Location: Queensland, Australia

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by cooran »

Hello Theocat,

Something here may be useful:

(Buddhist readings for weddings - a reminder of how to live with others.)
Khp 9
Karaniya Metta Sutta: The Buddha's Words on Loving-kindness translated from the Pali by The Amaravati Sangha
This is what should be done
By one who is skilled in goodness,
And who knows the path of peace:
Let them be able and upright,
Straightforward and gentle in speech,
Humble and not conceited,
Contented and easily satisfied,
Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.
Peaceful and calm and wise and skillful,
Not proud or demanding in nature.
Let them not do the slightest thing
That the wise would later reprove.
Wishing: In gladness and in safety,
May all beings be at ease.
Whatever living beings there may be;
Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,
The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,
The seen and the unseen,
Those living near and far away,
Those born and to-be-born —
May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,
Or despise any being in any state.
Let none through anger or ill-will
Wish harm upon another.
Even as a mother protects with her life
Her child, her only child,
So with a boundless heart
Should one cherish all living beings;
Radiating kindness over the entire world:
Spreading upwards to the skies,
And downwards to the depths;
Outwards and unbounded,
Freed from hatred and ill-will.
Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down
Free from drowsiness,
One should sustain this recollection.
This is said to be the sublime abiding.
By not holding to fixed views,
The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,
Being freed from all sense desires,
Is not born again into this world.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .amar.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sound File of monks chanting the above sutta:
http://wn.com/Aruna_Ratanagiri_Monks__M ... ndness_wmv" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.i-do.com.au/wedding-tips/wed ... ings/1701/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mahayana Buddhist wedding ceremony
http://www.fpmt.org/teachers/zopa/advic ... itedkm.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

with metta
Chris
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
User avatar
retrofuturist
Posts: 27848
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Contact:

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,
cooran wrote:Karaniya Metta Sutta: The Buddha's Words on Loving-kindness
I agree. That would be nice.

Metta,
Retro. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Theocat
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:22 pm
Location: New Hampshire, USA

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by Theocat »

Thank you everyone for the help and good wishes.
I will act as though what I do makes a difference.
Neinteresnayawe
Posts: 14
Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:44 am

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by Neinteresnayawe »

thanks for the list guys. it'll really help me.
meindzai
Posts: 595
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:10 pm

Re: Quotes/readings for a wedding

Post by meindzai »

Congrats!

I didn't use any Buddhist verses for my wedding, but I visited a Buddhist temple that morning and took my five precepts. My wife was with me, and though she doesn't practice to the extent that I do, she was very supportive, and the monk gave us both a little dharma talk, just for the two of us. It was beautiful, and really set the tone for our marriage.

I'm not sure if this answers your question, but I felt like bragging/sharing and it is something to think about doing. I believe it is a tradition in some places (Thailand?) to do something like this. If you aren't ready for the precepts, you might find something similar.

BTW the place I went was called Dhamma wheel. Very auspicious! http://www.dhammawheelmeditationsociety.org/

-Dave K
Post Reply