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The Bell of Mindfulness Guiding Us Home to the Island Within
Inviting the mini bell is the initial practice: first, we bow to the bell, raise it to our eyebrows, contemplate our hand as a lotus holding a jewel, and recite the gatha:
Body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness
I send my heart along with the sound of this bell
May all who hear it awaken from forgetfulness
And transcend the path of sorrow and pain
with two breaths (this can be repeated until concentration is steady). Then, we gently tap the bell (keeping the striker close to the rim to avoid startling), breathe in, and then invite three full sounds of the bell—each sound separated by a breath so the sangha has time to prepare, totaling nine breaths of stability. For other types of bells:
- The small bell placed horizontally on the cushion: join our palms in respect, recite the gatha for the three karmas as above, then invite three full sounds.
- The assembly bell: bow, invite seven sounds with increasing frequency, keeping intervals, then three full sounds with two shorter intervals.
- The wooden fish: bow, lift it upright, invite the first sound, wait for a breath, then invite a full sound; for the next sounds, lifting is not necessary if the sangha is already attentive.
Establish a stable sitting meditation posture (cushion at a suitable height, back and head straight, hands interlaced or resting on each other), keeping the body like a mountain, the mind like a still lake. Mindful breathing follows these steps:
• In – out (breathing in, I know I am breathing in; breathing out, I know I am breathing out)
• Deep – slow (the breath has become of higher quality)
• Calm – light (the joy of meditation is nourishment)
• Still – smiling (breathing in, the mind is calm; breathing out, a gentle smile)
• Present moment – wonderful moment (dwelling in the wondrous present)
In walking meditation, we join our palms as if holding a lotus flower, each step in harmony with the breath, applying all the above practices to “I have arrived, I am home – In the here, in the now – Solid, free – I take refuge” in the island within, ending the wandering and drifting, touching the Dharma body and nirvana right in this very moment.
