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Healing Through Breathing
The practice of mindfulness begins with returning to the breath and steps to establish a sense of safety and security within the environment of the Sangha. By not closing our eyes to suffering, we get in touch with the first holy truth, allowing for transformation and healing. The Sangha functions not as a collection of individuals but as an organism where every member is a cell, and decisions are made through the collective Sangha eyes. This communal harmony serves as a refuge and the main Dharma talk for those seeking peace.
Mindful breathing is a tool for healing both physiological and psychological distress, such as severe depression. Every deep, mindful breath renews billions of blood cells with oxygen, supporting the healthy cells so they can embrace those that are not healthy. Establishing oneself in the present moment allows one to get in touch with the miracles of life, such as the eyes, the heart, and the beautiful Earth. This shift from worrying about the future or regretting the past enables the work of transformation, as seen in the story of a man who transformed a terminal diagnosis into fifteen years of True Life by learning to enjoy a simple cup of tea and the present moment.
The practice of the Three Touchings of the Earth facilitates deep reconciliation:
- The first touching: recognizing the presence of all ancestors and posterity within oneself. We are a continuation of our parents and ancestors, carrying their wisdom and their shortcomings. Understanding this allows for forgiveness and the transformation of negative habit energies.
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The second touching: recognizing all living beings and bodhisattvas in the present moment. This practice of non-discrimination fosters reconciliation between nations and individuals.
Through these practices, we realize the insight of inter-being (tương tức or pratītyasamutpāda). Just as mitochondria live within our cells in symbiosis, we cannot be by ourselves alone; to be is to inter-be with the entire cosmos.