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Inviting the Bell: Waking Up to the Pure Land in Every Sound

Thich Nhat Hanh · March 24, 1995 · Taiwan

There is the practice of inviting the bell and the practice of listening to the bell. In the Buddhist circle, the term “inviting the bell” is used rather than “hitting the bell.” Before inviting the bell to sound, body, mind, and speech must be purified. This involves bowing to the bell and breathing in and out three times, thinking of nothing else except the in-breath and out-breath. A specific gatha can be recited while looking at the bell:

Body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness.
I send my heart along with the sound of this bell.
I wish that everyone who listens to this sound will wake up.
And transcend all anxieties and sorrow.

If the poem is not remembered, mindful breathing is sufficient to become a bell master. The bell is first woken up with a small sound so as not to surprise those around, followed by the full sound. Upon hearing the bell, all talking, thinking, and doing must stop, as the sound is the voice of the Buddha calling us back. Listening deeply involves taking one in-breath and one out-breath. When breathing in, recite: “I listen, I listen to the bell.” When breathing out, recite: “This wonderful sound brings me back to my true home.”

The true home is the Pure Land, the land of the Buddha located in the heart, offering peace and protection. Returning to this home provides the protection of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This practice creates a powerful atmosphere of peace and tranquility. If joy is felt during the practice, a smile signifies presence in the Pure Land. This practice can be applied to other sounds, such as a telephone ring, treating it as the voice of the Buddha without discrimination.