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Sitting Meditation - The Sangha is Family
Sitting meditation and walking meditation are two precious methods that help body and mind to be at ease, allowing joy and happiness to arise naturally. Sitting upright, relaxed under the Bodhi tree in our heart, letting go and embracing mindful breathing, we stop all thinking and touch the inner stillness. Just five to ten minutes, and that stream of peace will overflow, helping us to see our situation clearly and act rightly. When breathing in, we bring our mind entirely to the breath, noticing the belly rising for two or three seconds, then breathing out for four to six seconds, dwelling in a moment of joy and happiness; or when practicing walking meditation, breathing in for two steps, breathing out for three steps (or breathing in for five seconds, breathing out for eight seconds) to bring body and mind back to dwelling peacefully in the present moment.
- Meditation posture: Sitting upright and stable, the back straight but relaxed, generating the intention of happiness for all beings, with a mind free from attachment
- Skillfully caring for body and mind like a child tending a buffalo, not forcing but gently guiding towards ease, joy, and happiness
- The natural breath lengthens to nine or ten seconds, only two breaths per minute, nourishing deep peace and allowing energy to flow through the spine
The Sangha is our second family, where the energy of peace, joy, and brotherhood is generated through every breath, every step, every meal, and each act of mindfulness. Like a termite nest, an anthill, or the cells in a body, each member naturally harmonizes, without competition, creating the strength of community. The mission of a monastic is to nourish that collective energy, to train teachers and the Sangha—train the trainers—to spread mindfulness, heal suffering, and build lasting happiness.