Baptism | Naming Ceremony | Ritual

Through the baptism ceremony the child is being welcomed in society. The baptism helps to build identity and community; it gives this phase of life (entry as a new and minor member into society) a clerical, formal and public frame to consciously carry out and process this important life event. The baptism ceremony is an expression of our gratitude for the child and an inquiry for strength for the way the child has to go and will go. The request for care until adulthood (see adulthood) is directed at the family, the godparents and the society.

Family & Society

What does it mean to be a family, a godparent and a part of society? All these relationships are based on the acceptance of reciprocal responsibilities in six social relationships. The six types of human relationships are those between parents and children, spouses, teacher and pupil, friends, employer and employee, and religious teacher and his disciples. Through fulfilling one's responsibilities, one can achieve harmony, security and prosperity both within the family and in the society as a whole.

Parents

As a parent, you have a moral obligation to encourage your child to go out into the world and be whoever they can be. To be the best they can be and by doing so, encourage them to pursue good. You sacrifice them for good. They don't selfishly keep them to themselves. They tell them that they can go out into the world and live their life and live it right. You don't want for your child what you want for them, you want what would be best for them and the world. You let go in proportion to your desire to achieve it. They encourage the child to become the best possible person they can be. They want it to burst forth into the world as a light on a hill.

Godparents

The godparents are people chosen by the parents who should have an interest in the child's upbringing and personal development. If something happens to the parents, they will take care of the child. They act as guarantors of the child's spiritual upbringing.

The godparents were entrusted with the duty of supervising the child's religious life on behalf of the parents when they were no longer able or doing so. So the godfather has more to do than opening a savings account for the child or giving the child the first silver spoon. Anyone who has once publicly taken on another's education must not abandon him as long as he sees the need for his help and protection.

Your Baptism Ceremony

Since there are no compulsory and complex rituals for the baptism, we will determine its sequences in accordance with your wishes.

For more specific information regarding duration of the ceremony, schedule, additional texts and speeches, we will gladly discuss it with you personally.

We will recite the "Logos from the Heart" for your child. And spoken the blessing for the child.

We cut a strand of hair or a footprint is made.

The baptismal candidates bow (with accompaniment) respectively in front of family, the godparents and the guests representing the society in order to express the request for care.

To symbolize the transience of life and death, each of those present can burn a pinch of incense at the end of the ceremony.

Please note that the number of participants does not matter.

Location

Switzerland & international: Determine the location and type of ceremony, which is best for you.

Non-denominational

The baptism ceremony is non-denominational, i.e. members of all faiths are very welcome.

Oblations

800 CHF

+ Travel Expenses (Reichenburg - Loction - Reichenburg km x 0.85 CHF/km)

+ Voluntary Donation

Sum

Contemplation - Baptism - Naming Ceremony

Now I make a plea: accept the truth. The main message is impermanence.

Faith is the precious wheel, it performs good deeds day and night. Primal awareness is the precious jewel, fulfilling all expectations, mine and others'. Self-discipline is the precious consort, decked out in beautiful adornments. Concentration is the precious minister, accumulating the twin accumulations of merit and wisdom. Restraint is the precious phoenix, he bears the heavy responsibility of truth. Endurance is the precious vehicle, it brings the spirit poisons to the land of unselfishness. Study and contemplation are the precious general, it conquers the enemy force of wrong views.

If my mother hadn't given birth to me, how could I have drunk the sweet milk from her breasts? If I hadn't drunk the sweet milk from her breasts, how could I have eaten other foods later? If I hadn't eaten other foods later, how could my calves have supported my body?
If my calves had not supported the body, how could I have crossed the high doorstep? Had I not crossed the high doorstep, how could I have traversed the whole kingdom? If I hadn't wandered the whole kingdom, how could I have met my master? If I hadn't met my master, how could I have received the teachings of the oral tradition? Had I not received the teachings of oral tradition, how could I have lived in places of power in the mountain wilderness?

Zen Order of Switzerland