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Summer Retreat - The Wondrous Nature - The Pure Land is Here

Thich Nhat Hanh · July 26, 2003 · Plum Village, France
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Recognize the miracle of life right in the present moment: every flower bud, dewdrop, pair of eyes, heart… all contain profound wonders. Buddhism calls this contemplation “body in the body,” belonging to the form aggregate—the first of the five aggregates (form, feeling, perception, mental formations, consciousness). Science and meditation can cooperate to explore the mysteries of the living body, but most important is mindfulness in our breathing, our steps, our meals, so that we can touch those wonders right here and now.

Plum Village practices the Pure Land in the present moment—the Pure Land right in the here and now, not something we have to wait for in the future: the blue sky, white clouds, birds singing, pine trees whispering, flowers blooming… all are the Pure Land if we are not busy chasing after material things and worries. The Sangha, made up of members from 49 countries, is an international family, nourishing brotherhood, sharing suffering through Dharma sharing, removing obstacles so that the Pure Land can be invited to manifest in each breath, each step, and each loving word.

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