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St Michael's Retreat Opening Talk
Evoking the name of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara produces the energy of healing and transformation, allowing the sound of the bell to guide the breath back to the safe island of mindfulness. A Sangha is a community of practice that carries within itself the Buddha and the Dharma. Taking refuge in the Sangha is not a declaration of faith but a practice of confidence, allowing oneself to be held by the collective energy like a drop of water in a flowing river. The first element of practice is to stop the struggle and allow oneself to just be. The Dharma is found not just in spoken words but in the sight of a sister walking with peace or a brother smiling.
The practice is not intensive but pleasant; if a step brings peace and joy, it is done correctly. During meals, there are two objects of mindfulness:
- The Sangha around the table.
-
The food.
Eating is a deep practice where each morsel is an ambassador from the cosmos. When looking at a piece of vegetable or an orange, one sees the sunshine, rain, and earth within it, recognizing the time taken for it to grow from a blossom to a fruit. Chewing is done without inserting projects, worries, or fear into the mouth. Silence is maintained to enjoy presence, creating a powerful, thundering silence that is nourishing.
Walking meditation involves printing peace, solidity, and freedom on the ground, similar to how a seal prints on paper with ink. This practice applies everywhere, from the meditation hall to airports and railway stations. Every mindful step is for the sake of the whole world, ancestors, and future generations. The sound of the bell serves as the voice of the Buddha inside, calling one back to the true home of the here and the now.