Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
in North America 2011
Stepping Into Freedom, Savoring Life Retreat
at Blue Cliff Monastery in New York
Dear Friends, Welcome to Blue Cliff Monastery. We are very happy to have friends joining us on our path of understanding and love. We hope you will enjoy your stay with us. This booklet is to help you understand the practices of the community. We hope that you can bring this booklet to all your activities throughout your stay here at Blue Cliff. We wish you much happiness on your path of practice. A lotus for you, the community of
Blue Cliff Monastery 3 Mindfulness Road Pine Bush, NY 12566 www.bluecliffmonastery.org Blue Cliff Monastery was founded in 2007 and is an extension of Plum Village meditation center in France, founded by the Venerable teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh. Copyright © 2011 by Unified Buddhist Church All Rights Reserved. Printed in United States of America This booklet is for “Stepping into freedom, Savoring Life” retreat organized by Blue Cliff Monastery during Thích Nhất Hạnh’s 2011 North American teaching tour.
Contents Practicing Together 4 Breathing 4 Bells of Mindfulness 5 Noble Silence 5 Waking Up in the Morning
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Sitting Meditation 6 Walking Meditation 7 Listening to a Dharma Talk
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Eating Together 8 Dharma Discussion (Sharing)
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Songs for the Practice
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The Two Promises 16 The Five Mindfulness Trainings
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Beginning Anew 18 Going Home 20
Practicing Together Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present and at one with those around you and with what you are doing. We bring our body and mind into harmony while we wash the dishes, drive the car or take our morning shower. Here in the retreat, we do very much the same things as when we are at home – walking, sitting, eating, etc. - except now we learn to do them with mindfulness, with the awareness that we are doing it. We practice mindfulness throughout every moment of the day and not just in the meditation hall, but also in the dining hall, the toilet, in our rooms and on the path leading from one place to another. In practicing together as a Sangha, as a community, out practice of mindfulness becomes more joyful, relaxed and steady. We are bells of mindfulness for each other, supporting and reminding each other along the path of practice. Dear friends, let us try to be intelligent and skillful in our practice, approaching every aspect of the practice with curiosity and a sense of search. Let us practice with understanding and not just for the form and appearance. Enjoy your practice here with a relaxed and gentle attitude, with an open mind and receptive heart.
Breathing Our breathing is a stable solid ground that we can take refuge in. Regardless of our internal weather – our thoughts, emotions and perceptions – our breathing is always with us like a faithful friend. Whenever we feel carried away, or sunken in a deep emotion, or scattered in worries and projects, we return to our breathing to collect and anchor our mind. We feel the flow of air coming in and going out of our nose. We feel how light and natural, how calm and peaceful our breathing functions. At any time, while we are walking, gardening, or typing, we can return to this peaceful source of life. We may like to recite: “Breathing in, I know that I am breathing in.
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Breathing out, I know that I am breathing out.� We do not need to control our breath. Feel the breath as it actually is. It may be long or short, deep or shallow. With our awareness it will naturally become slower and deeper. Conscious breathing is the key to uniting body and mind and bringing the energy of mindfulness into each moment of our life.
Bells of Mindfulness On your arrival you might hear a bell sound and suddenly people around you have stopped still, stopped talking, and stopped moving. It might be the clock chiming or th dining bell sounding. These are our bells of mindfulness. When we hear the sound of the bell we relax our body and become aware of our breathing. We do that naturally, with enjoyment, and without solemnity or being stiffed. When we hear one of these mindfulness bells ring, we stop whatever we are doing and bring our awareness to our breathing. The ringing of the bell has called out to us: Listen, listen, this wonderful sound brings me back to my true home. By stopping to breathe and restore our calm and our peace, we become free, our work becomes more enjoyable and the friend in front of us becomes more real. Bach home we can use the ringing of our telephone, the local church bells, the cry of a baby, or even the sound of fire engines and ambulances as our bells of mindfulness. You may also install the mindfulness clock in your computer to remind you to stop and breathe (www.mindfulnessdc.org/mindfulclock.html). With just three conscious breaths we can release the tensions in our body and mind and return to a cool and clear state of being.
Noble Silence Noble silence is observed during the retreat. This is very healing. We allow the silence and the calm to penetrate our flesh and bones. We allow the energy of the Sangha and its mindfulness to penetrate our body and mind. After the evening activities we go back to our dormitories slowly, aware of every step. We breathe deeply and enjoy the stillness and the freshness. We can stay alone outside with the trees and the stars
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for about ten minutes, then go inside to use the bathroom, to change and go to bed right away. Lying on our back, we can practice Deep Relaxation until sleep comes. In the morning, we move mindfully and silently, taking time to breathe, to go to the bathroom and then proceeding right away to the meditation hall. We do not have to wait for anyone. When we see someone along the path, we just join our palms and bow, allowing him or her to enjoy the morning the way we do.
Waking Up in the Morning “Waking us this morning, I smile knowing there are 24 brand new hours before me. I vow to live fully in each moment, and look at being with eyes of compassion.” As we wake up in the morning and open our eyes we may like to recite the above gatha. We can startour day with the happiness of a smile and the aspiration to dedicate ourselves to the path of love and understanding. We are aware that today is a fresh, new day, and we have 24 precious hours to live. Let us try to get up from bed right away after following three deep breaths to bring ourselves into mindfulness. Let us not delay our waking. We may like to sit up and gently massage out head, neck, shoulders, and arms to get your blood circulating. We might like to do a few stretches to loosen our joints and wake up our body. Drinking a cup of warm water is good for our system first thing in the morning. Let us wash up or do what we need to before heading towards the meditation hall. Allow ourselves enough time so we will not have to rush. Take deep breaths and enjoy the cool, fresh air. As we walk slowly towards the hall, let the morning fill our being, awakening our body and mind to the joy of a new day.
Sitting Meditation Sitting meditation is like returning home to give full attention to and care for our self. We sit upright with dignity, and return to our breathing. We bring our full attention to what is within and around us. We let our mind become spacious and our heart soft and kind. Like the peaceful image of the Buddha on the altar, we too can radiate peace and stability. The purpose of sitting meditation is to enjoy. Don’t try to attain anything!
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Sitting meditation is very healing. We realize we can just be with whatever is within us – our pain, anger, irritation, or our joy, love, and peace. We are with whatever is there without being carried away by it. Let it come, let it stay, then let it go. No need to push, to oppress, or to pretend our thoughts are not there. Observe the thoughts and images of our mind with an accepting and loving eye. We are free to be still and calm despite the storms that might arise in us. If our legs or feet begin to hurt during the sitting, we are free to adjust our position quietly. We can maintain our concentration by following our breathing and slowly and attentively change our posture. At the end of the sitting meditation session, allow a few minutes to massage your legs and feet before standing up again. In between sessions of sitting meditation, we practice indoor slow walking meditation. We take one step with each in-breath and each out-breath. We become aware of th contact between our footsteps and the ground. Following our breathing, each step we make is like a seal stamping peace and solidity on the ground. Become aware of the Sangha walking with us too. Everybody is moving together slowly and mindfully like a river. We can feel in harmony with the larger body. *
Walking Meditation Wherever we walk, we can practice meditation. This means that we know that we are walking. We walk just for walking. We walk with freedom and solidity, no longer in a hurry. We are present with each step. Walking in this way should not be a privilege. We should be able to do it every moment. Look around and see how vast life is, the trees, the white clouds, the limitless sky. Listen to the birds. Feel the fresh breeze. Life is all around and we are alive and healthy and capable of walking in peace. Let us walk as a free person and feel our steps get lighter. Let us enjoy every step we make. Each step is nourishing and healing. As we walk, imprint our gratitude and our love on the earth. We may like to use a gatha as we walk. Taking two or three steps for each in-breath and each out-breath, Breathing in, “I have arrived”; Breathing out, “I am home” * We can find suggestions for guided meditations in Thay’s book “ The Blooming of a Lotus”
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Breathing in, “In the here”; Breathing out, “In the now” Breathing in, “I am solid”; Breathing out, “I am free” Breathing in, “In the ultimate”; Breathing out, “I dwell”
Listening to a Dharma Talk We have the opportunity to attend Dharma Talks by our teacher. Please arrive early for the talk so that we may have enough time to find a seat and establish ourselves in a peaceful state of mind. Please listen to the talks with an open mind and a receptive heart. If we listen only with our intellect, comparing and judging what is said to what we already think we know or what we have heard others say, we may miss the chance to truly receive the message that is being transmitted. The Dharma is like rain. Let it penetrate deeply into our consciousness, watering the seeds of wisdom and compassion that are already there. Absorb the talk openly, like the earth receiving a refreshing spring rain. The talk might be just the condition our tree needs to flower and bear the fruits of understanding and love. Out of respect for the teachings and the teacher, we are asked to sit in a cushion or a chair during the teachings and not to lie down. If we feel tried during the talk, mindfully shift our position and practice deep breathing and gentle message for one or two minutes to bring fresh oxygen to our brain and the areas of fatigue in our body. Please refrain from talking, or making disturbing noises in the hall during the Dharma talk. If it is absolutely necessary to leave the hall during the talk please do so with a minimum of disturbance to others.
Eating Together Eating a meal together is a meditative practice. We should try to offer our presence for every meal. As we serve our food we can already begin practicing. Serving ourselves, we realize that many elements, such as rain, sunshine, earth, air and love, have all come together to form this wonderful meal. In fact, through this food we see that the entire universe is supporting our existence.
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Before eating, the bell will be invited for three sounds and we can enjoy breathing in and out while practicing the Five Contemplations. Introducing the Five Contemplations [Bell, Bell, Bell] [Wake-up Sound] The Buddha, the Awaken One, invites us to enjoy our meal in mindfulness, establishing ourselves in the present moment so that we can be aware of the food in front of us and of the community surrounding us. We eat in such a way that makes peace, joy, brotherhood and sisterhood possible during the whole time of eating. Dear friends, at the sound of the bell, pleace practice the Five Contemplations. [Bell] The Five Contemplations 1. This food is the gift of the while universe, the earth, the sky, numerous living beings, and much hard and loving work. 2. May we eat and live in mindfulness and gratitude so as to be worthy to receive this food. 3. May we recognize and transform unwholesome mental formations, especially our greed, and learn to eat with moderation. 4. May we keep our compassion alive by eating is such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet, and reverse the process of global warming. 5. We accept this food in order to nurture our brotherhood and sisterhood, build our Sangha, and nourish our ideal of serving living beings. [Bell] We should take our time as we eat, chewing each mouthful at least 30 times, until the food becomes liquefied. This aids the digestive process. Let us enjoy every morsel of our food and the presence of the dharma brothers and sisters around us. Let us establish ourselves in the present moment, eating in such a way that solidity, joy and peace be possible during the time of eating. Upon finishing our meal, we take a few moments to notice that we have finished, our bowl is now empty and our hunger is satisfied. Gratitude fills us as we realize how fortunate we are to have had this nourishing food to eat, supporting us on the path of love and understanding.
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We may also like to recite the following gatha: “This meal is finished. My hunger is satisfied. I vow to live for the benefit of all beings.”
Dharma Discussion (Sharing) Dharma discussion (sharing) is an opportunity to benefit from each other’s insights and experience of the practice. It is a special time for us to share our experiences, our joys, our difficulties and our questions relating to the practice of mindfulness. By practicing deep listening while others are speaking, we help create a calm and receptive environment. By learning to speak our about our happiness and our difficulties in the practice, we contribute to the collective insight and understanding of the Sangha. Please base our sharing on our own experience of the practice rather than about abstract ideas and theoretical topics. We may realize that many of us share similar difficulties and aspirations. Sitting, listening and sharing together, we recognize our true connections to one another. Please remember that whatever is shared during the Dharma discussion (sharing) time is confidential. If a friend shares about a difficulty he or she is facing, respect that he or she may or may not wish to talk about this individually outside of the Dharma discussion (sharing) time.
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Songs for the Practice 1. Breathing In, Breathing Out Breathing in, Breathing out Breathing in, Breathing out I am blooming as a flower I am fresh as the dew I am solid as the mountain I am firm as the earth I am free Breathing in, Breathing out Breathing in, Breathing out I am water, reflecting What is real, what is true And I feel there is space Deep inside of me I am free, I am free, I am free
There are birds, sunshine and fresh air. Breathing out, I feel safe. I enjoy going back to my island. 4. In Out In out, Deep slow Calm ease, Smile release Present Moment, Wonderful Moment.
2. Being An Island
5. I Have Arrived, I Am Home
Being an island unto myself As an island unto myself Buddha is my mindfulness Shinning near, shinning far Dharma is my breathing, Guarding body and mind. I am free Being an island unto myself As an island unto myself Sangha is my skandhas, Working in harmony Taking refuge in myself Coming back to myself I am free, I am free, I am free
I have arrived, I am home In the here and in the now (2x) I am solid, I am free I am solid, I am free In the ultimate, I dwell In the ultimate, I dwell
3. The Island Within Breathing in, I go back to the island within myself. There are beautiful trees within the island. There are clear streams of water.
6. Arrived Arrived, arrived At home, I am at home Dwelling in the here And dwelling in the now Solid as a mountain Free as a white cloud The door to no birth and no death is open Free and unshakable 7. Gatha For Walking Meditation The mind can go in a thousand directions
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But on this lovely path, I walk in peace. With each step, a gentle wind blows With each step, a flower blooms. 8. Here Is The Pureland Here is the Pureland, The Pureland is here I smile in mindfulness and dwell in the present moment The Buddha is see in an autumn leaft The Dharma is the floating cloud The Sangha body is everywhere My true home is right here Breathing in, flowers are blooming Breathing out, I am aware that Bamboos are swaying My mind is free and I enjoy every moment. 9. Take Your Time Take your time, breathing in, breathing out. Look deeply, as you say “This is me�. You and your breath, you and the air, As hummingbird and flower Have always been together Take gentle step, Feel the ground, burl your toes. Is there a line between you and this path? You and your steps, you and the Earth, As butterfly and blossom Have never been apart.
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10. I Like The Roses I like the roses, I like the daffodils I like the mountains, I like the rolling hills I like the twinkling stars when the sun goes down doo ba dee doo ba dee doo ba dee doo ba dee doo ba dee doo ba dee doo ba dee doo ba dee doo (2x) 11. Standing Like A Tree Standing like a tree with my roots down deep, And my branches wide and open. Come down the rain, Come down the sun, Return to the Earth, return to the One... You are so tall, you leaves are so green How could we live without you... Trees... give us shades and... Tress... give us air to breathe... We are one family, we are all related... 12. One We are all the leaves of one tree (2x) The time has come for all to live as One We are all the leaves of one tree We are all the waves of one sea (2x) The time has come for all to live as One We are all the waves of one sea
We are all the stars of one sky (2x) The time has come for all to live as One We are all the stars of one sky We are all the leaves of one tree We are all the waves of one sea The time has come for all to live as One We are all the stars of one sky 13. I Am A Cloud I am a cloud, I am the blue sky, I am a bird spreading out its wings I am a flower, I am the sunshine, I am the earth receiving a seed. And I am free when my heart is open Yes I am free when my mind is clear Oh dear brothers, oh dear sisters, Lets walk to together mindfully (joyfully). (2x) 14. In Gratitude In gratitude, you have watered seeds of love in me, in gratitude... In gratitude, I will water seeds of love in someone new... I know you’re there for me And I am so happy... In gratitude, you have watered seeds of love in me, in gratitude... In gratitude, I will water seeds of love in someone new... And when you suffer some, Please call and I will come...
15. And When I Rise And when I rise, Let me rise like a bird, joyfully And when I fall, Let me fall like a leaf, gracefully, without regrets. (And when I sit, Let me sit like a mountain, solidly And when I lay, Let me lay like a lake, calm and still, reflecting all.) (And when I work, Let me work like a bee, lazily And when I play, Let me play like the rays, of the sun, rejoicingly.) 16. Joy Whatever illumines your path, I will consider as my friend. There are no enemies, no barriers in the heart. There is only wishing you well. Your joy is my joy, my joy is your joy. Your joy is my joy, for sure. This is the song in my heart, sing along, sing along. This is the song in my heart, sing along. 17. Peacefully Free I’m so free because I can be me look at the clouds at play passing over everyday inside the sky so blue
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immense, spacious and true I’ll be tall like the sky wide enough to embrace what’s inside just like the clouds passing by flying high in the grand open sky everything around me will be loved, embraced and peacefully free everything inside me will be loved, embraced and peacefully free 18. Please Call Me By My True Names My joy’s like spring so warm. It makes flowers bloom all over the Earth, My pain’s like a river of tears, so vast it fills the four oceans. Please call me by my true names, So I can hear all my cries and laughters at once. So I can hear that my joy and pain are one. Please call me by my true names, So I can wake up And the door of my heart could be left open. 19. Happiness Happiness is here and now I have dropped my worries Nowhere to go, nothing to do No longer in a hurry. Happiness is here and now I have dropped my worries Somewhere to go, something to do But I don’t need to hurry.
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20. Dear Friends Dear friends, dear friends, Let my tell you how I feel. You have given me such treasures, I love you so. 21. No Discrimination The sun, it shines on everyone (2x) No discrimination, no discrimination The rain, it falls on everyone (2x) No discrimination, no discrimination My heart belongs to everyone (2x) No discrimination, no discrimination 22. What Is The Greatest? What is the greatest? What is the greatest? What is the greatest wisdom of all? Kindness, kindness. That is the greatest wisdom of all. 23. No Coming, No Going No coming, no going No after, no before I hold you close to me I release you to be so free Because I am in you and you are in me (2x)
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The Two Promises The First Promise I vow to develop understanding In order to live peacefully with people, animals, plants and minerals. The Second Promise I vow to develop compassion. In order to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals.
The Five Mindfulness Trainings Sisters and brothers in the community, this is the moment when we enjoy reciting the Five Mindfulness Trainings together. The Five Mindfulness Trainings represent the Buddhist vision for a global spirituality and ethic. They are a concrete expression of the Buddha’s teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the path of right understanding and true love, leading to healing, transformation, and happiness for ourselves and for the world. To practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings is to cultivate the insight of interbeing, or Right View, which can remove all discrimination, intolerance, anger, fear, and despair. If we live according to the Five Mindfulness Trainings, we are already on the path of a bodhisattva. Knowing we are on that path, we are not lost in confusion about our life in the present or in fears about the future. The First Mindfulness Training: Reverence For Life Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I am committed to cultivating the insight of interbeing and compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to support any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, or in my way of life. Seeing that harmful actions arise from anger, fear, greed, and intolerance, which in turn come from dualistic and discriminative thinking, I will cultivate openness, non-discrimination, and non-attachment to views in order to transform violence, fanaticism, and dogmatism in myself and in the world. The Second Mindfulness Training: True Happiness Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing, and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking,
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speaking, and acting. I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering; that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion; and that running after wealth, fame, power and sensual pleasures can bring much suffering and despair. I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy. I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on Earth and reverse the process of global warming. The Third Mindfulness Training: True Love Aware of the suffering caused by sexual misconduct, I am committed to cultivating responsibility and learning ways to protect the safety and integrity of individuals, couples, families, and society. Knowing that sexual desire is not love, and that sexual activity motivated by craving always harms myself as well as others, I am determined not to engage in sexual relations without true love and a deep, long-term commitment made known to my family and friends. I will do everything in my power to protect children from sexual abuse and to prevent couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. Seeing that body and mind are one, I am committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of my sexual energy and cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness – which are the four basic elements of true love – for my greater happiness and the greater happiness of others. Practicing true love, we know that we will continue beautifully into the future. The Fourth Mindfulness Training: Loving Speech and Deep Listening Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will
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speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness. The Fifth Mindfulness Training: Nourishment and Healing Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivating good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I will practice looking deeply into how I consume the Four Kinds of Nutriments, namely edible foods, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness. I am determined not to gamble, or to use alcohol, drugs, or any other products which contain toxins, such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books, and conversations. I will practice coming back to the present moment to be in touch with the refreshing, healing and nourishing elements in me and around me, not letting regrets and sorrow drag me back into the past nor letting anxieties, fear, or craving pull me out of the present moment. I am determined not to try to cover up loneliness, anxiety, or other suffering by losing myself in consumption. I will contemplate interbeing and consume in a way that preserves peace, joy, and well-being in my body and consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family, my society and the Earth.
Beginning Anew To begin anew is to look deeply and honestly at ourselves, our past actions, speech and thoughts and to create a fresh beginning within ourselves and in our relationships with others. At the practice center we practice Beginning Anew as a community every two weeks and individually as often as we like. We practice Beginning Anew to clear our mind and keep our practice fresh. When a difficulty arises in our relationships with fellow practitioners and one of us feels resentment or hurt, we know it is time to Begin Anew. The following is a description of the four-part process of Beginning Anew as used in a formal setting. One person speaks at a time and is not interrupted during his or her turn. The other practitioners practice deep listening and following their breath.
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1. Flower watering - This is a chance to share our appreciation for the other person. We may mention specific instances that the other person said or did something that we had admired. This is an opportunity to shine light on the other’s strengths and contributions to the sangha and to encourage the growth of his or her positive qualities. 2. Sharing regrets - We may mention any unskillfulness in our actions, speech or thoughts that we have not yet had an opportunity to apologize for. 3. Expressing a hurt - We may share how we felt hurt by an interaction with another practitioner, due to his or her actions, speech or thoughts. (To express a hurt we should first water the other person’s flower by sharing two positive qualities that we have trully observed in him or her. Expressing a hurt is often performed one on one with another practitioner rather than in the group setting. You may ask for a third party that you both trust and respect to be present, if desired.) 4. Sharing a long-term difficulty & asking for support - At times we each have difficulties and pain arise from our past that surface in the present. When we share an issue that we are dealing with we can let the people around us understand us better and offer the support that we really need. The practice of Beginning Anew helps us develop our kind speech and compassionate listening. Begin Anew is a practice of recognition and appreciation of the positive elements within our Sangha. For instance, we may notice that our roommate is generous in sharing her insights, and another friend is caring towards plants. Recognizing others positive traits allows us to see our own good qualities as well. Along with these good traits, we each have areas of weakness, such as talking out of our anger or being caught in our misperceptions. When we practice “flower watering” we support the development of good qualities in each other and at the same time we help to weaken the difficulties in the other person. As in a garden, when we “water the flowers” of loving kindness and compassion in each other, we also take energy away from the weeds of anger, jealousy and misperception. We can practice Beginning Anew everyday by expressing our appreciation for our fellow practitioners and apologizing right away when we do or say something that hurts them. We can politely let others know when we have been hurt as well. The health and happiness of the whole community depends on the harmony, peace and joy that exists between every member in the Sangha.
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Going Home There is no coming and no going, for we are always with you and you, with us. When we go home we remember to return to our breathing, we will know that the friends of Blur Cliff and our Sangha Body all over the world are breathing too. Any time we like, we can take refuge in the practices of conscious breathing, mindful eating, loving speech, and many other wonderful practices. When we do, we will fill very connected and not alone. We become as large as the Sangha Body. Let us continue our practice as we return to our homes, our families and society. As we have learned to live in harmony with the Sangha in Blue Cliff, we can also cultivate harmony in our families and in society. As we have learned to understand and appreciate our friends in the practice, we can also learn to understand and appreciate our co-workers and our neighbors. We can practice loving speech with strangers on the city bus, just as we do with the sisters and brothers at Blue Cliff. Mindfulness practice is everywhere we go. A lotus for you, A Buddha to be.
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Blue Cliff Monastery Pine Bush, New York