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The Living Zen Tradition of Buddhism: Practices at Plum Village Method of Bowing
Mindfulness through breathing and daily activities
The practice of dwelling happily in the present moment reminds us that happiness does not need to wait for the future, but can be present right in this very moment. When we are mindful of our in-breath and out-breath and smile, we already experience the joy of the Dharma from the very first breath; when we sit and listen to the Dharma, opening our hearts like the earth receiving the rain of the Dharma, the seeds of happiness, faith, love, and forgiveness in our hearts are watered and bloom. During a slow meal of 45 minutes, focusing only on the food and the Sangha, we live each spoonful of rice fully as an offering; daily tasks—washing pots, cleaning, chopping wood—when practiced with mindful breathing and a gentle smile, also become walking meditation, helping us to dwell peacefully in the present moment.
The Three Doors of Liberation and aimlessness (no expectation)
The three doors of liberation are:
- emptiness—non-attachment to fixed forms
- signlessness—not clinging to external appearances
- aimlessness (no expectation)—not running after results before acting
Aimlessness means recognizing that happiness is already available, stopping all running, fulfilling our responsibilities without setting up an object to chase after or waiting for a result. The mind of aimlessness is a mind at ease: whether nurturing a child, organizing the Sangha, or teaching, when we let go of expectation, we become truly light and at peace.