Receiving jukai for me is like undergoing marriage is to those with a loving partner. It is to openly make a public commitment to follow the Sixteen Precepts.

To honor the Buddha, the historical lineage that has gone before, and is a part of everything to this day and will be long after I have left this body.
To live by the Dharma, the teachings of truth and liberation from suffering.
To live in loving kindness with the Sangha, as we truly are not alone but all are a part of all sentient beings, past, present and future.

What particularly moves me to tears is the Verse of Atonement. To me it embodies the reason why I seek refuge…

“All harmful acts, words and thoughts, ever committed by me since of old,
On account of beginningless greed, anger and ignorance,
Born of my body, mouth and mind,
Now I atone for them all”.

(I think I’d like to add a silent line at the end that states that I vow to not do those acts again. To me this is the repentance).