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Plum Blossom Assembly - The Practice of Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels
The Sutra on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone carries the meaning of living with mindfulness, attentively so as not to lose oneself and to keep an appointment with life in the present moment. If we do not look clearly at what is happening, everything will just be a dream. A basic element in the practice is the ability to slow down, to master every step, and to walk only in the style of walking meditation, whether going into the kitchen or out to the vegetable garden. Each leisurely step helps the practitioner master their movements, thoughts, and feelings, and not be swept away by the waterfall of afflictions like red dust in a whirlwind.
The practice of returning to take refuge in the island within helps the practitioner take refuge in the Three Jewels right within themselves: mindfulness is the Buddha, the breath is the Dharma, and the five skandhas are the Sangha. Mindful breathing helps harmonize the five skandhas to create harmony and happiness. The five skandhas include:
- Form (body)
- Feelings (sensations)
- Perceptions
- Mental formations
- Consciousness
Besides contemplating oneself as a fresh flower, a solid mountain, still water reflecting, and spacious space, the practitioner needs to use the “magic mirror” of mindfulness to recognize the true nature of things and not let negative energy enter. Inviting the bell also requires deep practice: the inviter must have a beautiful standing posture, body and mind at ease, and breathe correctly with the gatha: “Body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness, I send my heart along with the sound of the bell.” The sound of the bell needs space and time to bloom like a flower, helping the listener to awaken and transcend the path of sorrow.