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Kyoto 1 Day Retreat — Living With Mindfulness in The Buddha Land

Thich Nhat Hanh · April 30, 1995 · Kyoto, Japan · Audio Only

The sound of the bell is the voice of the Buddha calling us back to our breathing. The Buddha is like a loving parent who never gets angry, and when we breathe in and out, we say “Lord Buddha, I am here.” In times of family conflict, children can help stop the difficult moment by inviting the bell or practicing the “Cake in the Refrigerator.” By announcing there is a cake and taking time to prepare it, the atmosphere changes, allowing parents and children to practice breathing and diffuse the war. Children are like flowers, and their freshness can transform the family.

Our true home is in the present moment, not the past or future. The essential practice is to stop getting lost in regrets or worries and to live deeply now. Through selective touching, we contact refreshing and healing elements like the full moon, cherry blossoms, or a cup of tea. We possess “Buddha eyes,” the energy of mindfulness that allows us to see deeply and appreciate the basic conditions of happiness already available, such as having eyes in good condition or a healthy heart. The greatest miracle is to be alive and to walk on earth, receiving the gift of twenty-four brand new hours each day.

Walking meditation is practiced with no intention to arrive, as we have already arrived in the present moment. Indoors, one step is taken with one breath, using the words “I have arrived, I am home.” Outdoors, the pace is faster, matching steps to lung capacity, such as three steps per in-breath. The practice shifts to the phrases “In the here, In the now,” which is the address of our true home. Walking mindfully on the earth is a celebration of life, capable of releasing anger and bringing peace, transforming the environment into the Pure Land.

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