The Ceremonial Swords

Chalice & Blade

Two samurai swords, or a chalice and blade,

will be kept present and used ritually during the

retreat and ordination ceremonies. These objects

symbolize creative energy and invincible commitment

to the practice and way of an awakened life. We must

maintain a true understanding of these instruments.

The chalice represents unreasonable compassion,

the blade the cutting edge of wisdom. In the samurai

monk tradition, and in any true transformational

meditation school, the commitments made must be

total. No escape! Any holding back and clinging to

habitual views will prevent clear understanding and

true realization. In the samurai warrior tradition, if

the individual who took vows failed and broke his

vows, the short sword was used to commit honorable

suicide. The long sword was used by the supporter

and witness of those vows to behead the vow-breaker

should his courage and integrity fail. This level of

commitment to practice is essential if we are going to

succeed and undo the knot at the center of our ego

and stand naked in the freedom of truth. Our ritual

instruments represent this kind of intensity, this kind

of understanding, loving and commitment.

This must be understood!

At the same time our sacred commitment to non-

violence, compassion, and forgiveness must be

honored with the same quality of sincerity and

passion. We need to support each other with the

mutual heart of compassion; we pick each other up

and, together, we carry on. These are some of the

qualities we of the Hollow Bones Order can offer to

the world.

This too must be understood!

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