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The Miracle of Mindfulness
“Breathing in, my mind becomes calm, breathing out, I smile… breathing in, I dwell in the present moment, breathing out, this is a wonderful moment.”
The mini bell is “invited” rather than “struck”: we join our palms in respect, raise the bell to eye level, take three breaths, and recite the four-line gatha:
- “Body, speech, and mind in perfect oneness” (breathing in)
- “I send my heart along with the sound of the bell” (breathing out)
- “May all who hear awaken from forgetfulness” (breathing in)
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“And transcend the path of sorrow and pain” (breathing out)
After the “waking bell” sound, we wait for one breath, then invite the full sound of the bell; usually, we invite the bell three times, each time breathing three breaths. The hand is like a five-petaled lotus, the bell is a precious jewel: “Om mani padme hum.”
Walking meditation is “walking without haste, walking in freedom”: if the path takes five minutes, “give yourself ten to fifteen minutes.” Practice stopping (Samatha) to come to rest, then looking deeply (Vipassanā) to see clearly. The story of Angulimala illustrates, “I have already stopped for a long time, only you have not stopped”; the bandit became “Venerable Harmless,” gentler “than even a clod of earth.”
The period of noble silence extends “from after the evening sitting meditation until after breakfast the next morning.” During the formal meal: take seven grains of rice “to fill the ten directions,” recite “The Buddha’s teachings are truly wonderful…,” then contemplate the five contemplations. Eat the first four spoonfuls of rice with the four aspirations:
- “To find joy”
- “To help relieve the suffering of others”
- “To keep a heart of joy”
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“To learn the practice of letting go”
“All beings struggle to live on this Earth,” so “with hands holding the full bowl,” we nourish loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity; “the healing silence” spreads throughout the Sangha.