Today we learn how to practice pebble meditation with six pebbles—each pebble bearing the name of someone or something that brings us safety, solidity and joy. Before sitting, the bell master “invites the bell to sound” three times—bowing to the bell as a bodhisattva, visualizing the bell as the “jewel in the lotus,” breathing in and out three times with a four-line Vietnamese poem, then offering a half-sound wake-up tone followed by three full sounds. With each full sound, the community breathes in and out three times, reciting in Vietnamese “Lắng lòng nghe… Tiếng chuông huyền diệu đưa về nhất tâm.”

Sitting in meditation, we place six pebbles on our left and invoke, in turn, each name during the in-breath and respond “Here I am” on the out-breath. Choose any six names—people or inspiring elements—that when called make you feel protected and happy:

1. Mother (or father, teacher, friend…)
2. The Buddha or another spiritual guide
3. The full moon (or blue sky, ocean…)
4. A beloved teacher or student
5. A close sibling or family member
6. Any other refuge—nature, a practice, a virtue

With each pebble, we look at it, smile, breathe in calling the name to make it real, and breathe out “Here I am,” thereby cultivating presence, love and confidence.