Wedding Rings – Ritual – Responsibility – Freedom

What actually is the meaning of the wedding rings? The wedding rings symbolize a chain. One is chained to one another. With the wedding one chooses voluntarily that one no longer has any choice. Only when you no longer have a choice do you have to give everything (psychologically) what you have, and even a little more. In this way you can become more than you already are and live out your own and common potential.

 

Freedom

Freedom does not mean just doing what you want (chaos), but taking on the greatest possible responsibility.

 

Public

When the wedding rings are worn, the public is informed that there is now a clear outside and inside. The core of the family is a private matter.

 

Family - Wedding Rings

If you have become convinced in faith in the family, you might be able to suddenly rest your doubt. Also, if you have determined will and truly raise righteous comprehension, then you will directly taste and approve that level by yourself. This is the right place to be for the truthful spouse; there would be no further caste or priorities. Because of this it is called Sudden and also said, "By the good motive of faith in the family, when all virtue and merit of parents will accord with yours without the slightest difference." At last, you will accomplish the ultimate and true faith in the family itself.

Habitual Darkness - Wedding Rings

From the beginning to now, ordinary beings have wandered in five realms; Hell, Beasts, Animal, Human and Heaven (psychological states) during the time of birth-coming and death-going they have firmly attached to the form of "I" and have molded the self-nature by converted delusion and habitual darkness. Even though one has realized that our self-nature is originally void and tranquil, still, the old habit is extremely difficult to nullify immediately. Therefore when they are faced with progressive and regressive situation, the anger-pleasure and right-wrong will arise and disappear haphazardly.

So, the rough and delicate bewilderments are not different, but if one does not reexamine them with wisdom, how can he possibly eliminate the habitual darkness and attain the Great Calm-and-Rest in the family life.  (Bodhidharma)

Wedding Rings at the wedding ceremony conducted by abbot Reding