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Three Touchings of the Earth: Ancestors, Bodhisattvas, Nirvana
The first touching of the earth is represented by a vertical line, symbolizing time which is made of space. In every cell of the body, all generations of ancestors—both blood and spiritual—are fully alive. Whether these ancestors are close to being perfect or far from being perfect, they are accepted, allowing the illusion of a separate self to melt away and return to the stream of life. This practice includes seeing children, grandchildren, and disciples already present in the now, making peace with the past and future.
The second touching of the earth is represented by a horizontal line, symbolizing space. This involves connecting with great beings, Bodhisattvas, and Mahāsattvas alive in the present moment to derive energy, stability, and courage. Simultaneously, one touches those who suffer, the victims of injustice, hunger, and violence, recognizing that we are both the frog swimming happily and the snake feeding on the frog. Relying on the stability of Bodhisattvas prevents burnout while embracing the suffering of the world.
The third touching of the earth is represented by a circle, the substance of the other two. This touching embraces the Three Dharma Seals:
- Impermanence.
- No-self.
- Nirvana.
Nirvana is the extinction of all notions, particularly ideas of birth, death, coming, going, being, and non-being. Just as water is the ground of waves, free from the notion of high or low, Nirvana is the ground of being. Zen Master Tăng Hội taught that to touch Nirvana, one must release two notions: that this body is self, and that this lifespan is one’s lifespan. Reality is the nature of no birth and no death; as Lavoisier noted, “Nothing is born, nothing dies.” The talk concludes with the transmission of the Buddha eyes to look deeply, the Buddha feet to walk with stability, and the Buddha heart to offer love and tolerance.