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Opening Dharma Talk of the Summer Retreat
Mindful breathing is like drawing fresh water from a well on the in-breath, then pouring it over one’s body and mind on the out-breath. Imagining oneself as a mountain watered by the rain, this practice brings freshness and beauty. The sound of the bell is an invitation to stop, to calm one’s thoughts, and to return to oneself. Three sounds of the bell invite us to practice nine mindful breaths to preserve our freshness and beauty, especially in the face of irritation or anger.
To invite the bell, we should first establish ourselves in calmness by reciting a four-line poem synchronized with our breathing:
- Body, speech, and mind in perfect harmony (for the in-breath)
- I send my heart along with the sound of this bell (for the out-breath)
- May all who hear me awaken (for the in-breath)
- And transcend forgetfulness, suffering, and death (for the out-breath)
After a bow, the bell is held in the left hand like a five-petaled lotus flower. We first produce a half-sound to prepare people to stop, then we invite the full sound, allowing time to take three full breaths.
True spirituality is lived in the present moment, because there is no path to spirituality, peace, or awakening: spirituality, peace, and awakening are the path itself. The mindful in-breath reunites body and mind, immediately offering peace, solidity, protection, and freshness. This practice of stopping also applies to daily actions, such as chewing bread or drinking tea in mindfulness, transforming each moment into spiritual nourishment to avoid the false nourishment of intellectual studies or the pursuit of positions.
Part of the following collection
No Birth, No Death (Teaching for Children)