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Returning to the Ocean of Tea to Take Care of the Body
During the three-month winter retreat of 1999 at Phap Van Monastery, each day was one of ninety days of diligent practice – lowering the staff of diligence – which means to pour all of our body and mind into daily practice, with two main functions:
- The practice of nourishment (so that body and mind have health, joy, and happiness)
- The practice of transformation (to heal suffering and afflictions)
Practice is not only for the individual, but also for the sangha, for our ancestors, and for future generations. Every breath, every step, every meal, washing the dishes, sweeping the floor… when there is mindfulness, each becomes an act of nourishment and healing, bringing happiness not only to ourselves but to the whole world, manifesting the spirit of interbeing and non-self.
The solid refuge is the island within (Attadīpa) – the place that contains the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha – with just one mindful breath or one mindful step, we return to the present moment, ending the feeling of drifting and homelessness. Breathing, walking, sitting, eating, working… always become the means to bring us back to the island within, nourishing mindfulness, concentration, and insight.
