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First Schism
Every morning, sit in meditation for at least 5–20 minutes before the scheduled time, keeping your body upright, relaxed, making no noise, and sitting inside so as not to disturb those who come later. Each Dharma talk of 1–2 minutes serves as a compass for the whole day—breathing in is to return to the present moment and to feel ease and peace, and that peace is not only for ourselves but also radiates to our parents and ancestors. The practice of mindfulness can be applied at any time and in any place—walking, standing, sitting, lying down, washing 200 dishes, sweeping the meditation hall—every action is an opportunity to stop and find happiness right in the present moment.
The essence of meditation is stopping (samatha): “stopping” to end the wandering of the mind, placing ourselves in the Pure Land, touching the wonders of life and our ancestors; when we stop, we have already “become a Buddha,” there is nothing more to attain. If a tradition does not bring joy, it is useless, and if we do not renew the way we present, the language and the forms to suit the times, the Dharma will become a “mummy”—the meditation hall now does not need pillars and the temple must be as flexible as the Buddha, who always adapted the teachings to respond to the suffering and questions of his time.
