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To Practice is to Know How to Live 1
We are born with a precious body and consciousness transmitted by our parents and ancestors, carrying within us their genes and seeds; human life is limited, perhaps lasting only 70, 80, or 90 years, so we need to sit quietly and ask ourselves: what do I want to do with this life? Our ancestors are not only present behind us but also in every cell, every breath, and through the question “what do you wish for me to do in this life,” we will discover a deeper meaning of life, continuing the unfinished dreams of our mothers and grandparents. In a seven-day retreat, the corn seed and the seeds in our consciousness are likened to the stream of life that never disappears: wholesome seeds such as love and faith will sprout when watered, while unwholesome seeds such as anger and hatred, if nourished, will bring suffering.
Practicing mindfulness in every moment — eating, drinking, brushing our teeth, walking meditation, sitting meditation — helps us generate joy and happiness right in the present moment. The method of “returning to take refuge in the island within” with the breath: as we breathe in, we remember “returning to take refuge”; as we breathe out, we remember “the island within”; this can be combined with our steps: four steps for the in-breath, six steps for the out-breath, or three steps/five seconds. Mindfulness is the Buddha, the breath is the Dharma, the five aggregates are the Sangha — these three energies protect us, help our body and mind to be at peace, and teach us to make use of suffering as mud so that the lotus of happiness may bloom.