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Protecting Mother Earth
During the winter retreat of 2011 at the Full Moon Meditation Hall, Tu Nghiem Temple, Plum Village, the practice of sitting meditation and walking meditation together nourishes the collective energy. The morning and evening meditation sessions are precious gifts; with just a few gentle breaths, we can:
- Generate the energy of mindfulness – to know that we are present.
- Generate the energy of peace – to release tension in the body.
- Generate the energy of joy in living – to touch the wonders of life around us.
Sitting meditation and the four postures (sitting, walking, standing, lying down) radiate the image of a body and mind at ease, solid and unmoving like a flower blooming from a crack in the rock. Thanks to the internet, the image of the community practicing meditation simultaneously in Europe or around the world can be broadcast live, helping those without a sangha to still be nourished by the energy of peace. Sitting meditation, walking meditation, and mindful breathing become gifts that cannot be bought or sold, but can only be offered through daily diligent practice.
Mother Earth – the planet that has existed for about five billion years, sheltering and nurturing life – is seen as a great Bodhisattva. Each step of walking meditation is a contact with the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air, transcending the dualities of matter and mind, birth and death. In the Buddha’s teaching, the Dharma body of each person helps us to transform suffering and create joy; walking meditation with “breathing in for three steps, breathing out for five steps” is a method of deep connection with our roots, bringing peace, healing, and contributing to the happiness of the world.
