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Cells, Ancestors, and Environment: A Spiritual Journey and Compassion
In our body there are two kinds of cells: germ cells and somatic cells. Somatic cells arise from germ cells, but have specialized to perform functions such as brain, heart, lungs, and liver. Modern science can create artificial fertilization from germ cells and can also return somatic cells to the state of germ cells through fasting, showing the limitless potential of each cell. In every cell, whether germ or somatic, is contained the genetic and spiritual inheritance of our ancestors—talents, intelligence, suffering, and experiences—like seeds stored in the store consciousness. Our living environment and practice determine which seeds are watered and developed into talents, virtue, or manifest as illness. Building a Sangha, a healthy community, is a way to create a Pure Land in the midst of daily life, to nourish wholesome seeds and prevent unwholesome seeds from arising.
The practice of Touching the Earth is a concrete method to manifest the insight of impermanence, non-self, and nirvana, to deeply touch both our blood ancestors and spiritual ancestors, as well as the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha in every cell. The first three Touchings of the Earth—
- represent the vertical line from past through present to future, recognizing our blood and spiritual ancestors present in every cell
- represent the horizontal line of space embracing time, receiving the energy of compassion and wisdom from the Bodhisattvas, the Sangha, and those who are serving and saving living beings
- are directed toward transcending birth and death, attaining the insight of signlessness (though not fully presented today)
Through the Three Touchings of the Earth, we embrace and reconcile with our ancestors, parents, children, and at the same time, we touch and receive the energy of compassion to transform our suffering, feel less lonely, and live each breath fully in mindfulness.