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The Chant of Mindful Walking
The seeds of happiness are watered through the chanting of the Happiness Gatha on page 47 of the Chanting Book for Meditation Halls. When we chant and are able to feel happiness, that means we are practicing correctly; if not, we need to look deeply into ourselves. The Dharma of Dwelling Happily in the Present Moment helps us to live peacefully right in the here and now; happiness does not only come after we have transformed our suffering, but we can nourish the seed of happiness even when suffering is still present. Similarly, the teaching of “rebirth with remaining karma” in the Pure Land tradition shows that we do not need to transform all our karma in order to experience peace. The image of a boat illustrates that even though there are afflictions and suffering, like a stone on the boat that does not sink, we can still dwell in happiness in the present moment without having to transform all our suffering.
The transformation of body and mind is like an orange ripening gradually under the sun and rain; it cannot be forced. Gentle, natural practice, based on wisdom and mindfulness, is what allows for deep transformation. The environment of walking meditation, mindful breathing, silent meals, and the support of the sangha place us in favorable conditions for natural transformation. When we encounter a crisis in body or mind, we need a “survival kit”—methods of self-care such as contemplation cards—to timely recognize and take care of ourselves. For example, the card includes three reminders:
- I am angry – that is normal
- But that does not mean no one loves me
- I can press the button to change the channel, to look for the good things around me
