Meditation - Sunday, January 6, 2008

Members:
Jenny, Helen, and Robert.

We began with the bell invitation and a gatha from Thich Nhat Hanh:

"Body, speech, and mind held in perfect oneness,
I send my heart along with the sound of the bell.
May the hearers awaken from forgetfulness
and transcend all anxiety and sorrow".
(from Chanting From the Heart: Buddhist Ceremonies and Daily Practices by
Thich Nhat Hanh and the Monks and Nuns of Plum Village)

We did our usual sitting quietly and settling in followed by a few simple stretches.

We looked deeply into the precepts as presented by Diane Eshin Rizzetto in Waking up to what you do.

Helen read from The Long Road Turns to Joy: A Guide to Walking Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh. These readings included thoughts on how we heal the earth and ourselves when we touch the earth mindfully with each step. There was a visualization of flowers blooming each place we step as the Lotus flowers that grew in each of the first steps taken by the Buddha. There was instruction on following our breathing as we step as well as being aware of each step.

After Helen's reading we practiced walking meditation.

This was followed by a reading from Bodhidharma's "Breakthrough Sermon" translated by Red Pine. The reading explained how there is an impure and a pure aspect to our minds and we alternate between these aspects depending on conditions. Sages are those unaffected by the impure aspect. Those who understand the mind find it easy to achieve enlightenment but those who do not continue on in darkness life after life. This is why we must meditate and look into our minds which are the root from which all things grow.

Our silent meditation followed. We sat for 15 minutes.

We had a final reading from the introduction to WAKE UP TO YOUR LIFE by Ken McLEOD.
In this section Ken explains that the book is not about mystical states but deals with overcoming the illusion that we are separate from the world. He advises us not to try to avoid suffering and death by searching for meaning but to enter fully into the the mystery of life.

We concluded with open discussion and comments.

Our Closing Circle Ceremony:
May the hearts of all beings be filled with loving-kindness.
May the hearts of all beings be filled with compassion for those suffering.
May the hearts of all beings be filled with co-rejoicing and joy for those who have found the path out of suffering
May all beings live in equanimity
May our practice be beneficial to all beings.

With Metta,

Robert