This is a meditation I wrote that was inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Art of Living, where he discusses eight different bodies we all posses. I abridged that for us, in order to fit in the allotted time. May we all practice connecting with our different bodies.
- Breath
- Breathing in, I am aware that I am breathing in
- Breathing out, I am aware that I am breathing out
- Expand awareness to our whole body
- Breathing in, I become aware of my whole body.
- Bring the mind home to the body
- Realize that you are alive, still alive, and this is a wonder.
- To be alive is the greatest of all miracles.
- In, Aware of Body
- Out, Smiling to Body
- Spiritual Practice Body, dharma body
- Breathing in, I become aware of my dharma body, my spiritual practice body
- This is the part of us with the capacity to be awake and fully present, to be understanding, compassionate, and loving.
- Every time you take one peaceful step or one mindful breath, every time you embrace a strong emotion with mindfulness and restore your clarity and calm, your spiritual practice grows.
- People can steal your phone, computer, or money, but they can never steal your spiritual practice. It is always there to protect and nourish you.
- In, Aware of my dharma body
- Out, resolved in my spiritual practice
- Sangha body
- Breathing in, I become aware of my sangha body
- I am a cell in the body of a sangha, of many sanghas, offering my gifts and nourishment, contributing to the well being of the sangha, and being nourished in turn
- I am aware that we friends are all practicing together, right now.
- I am aware that right now, many other members of Plum Village and the greater Buddhist sangha practice around the world.
- I am aware that this sangha has been practicing for many generations, going back all the way to the buddha and the monks and nuns who practiced with him, and even beyond into the sangha of practitioners that proceeded the Buddha.
- In, aware of my sangha body
- Out, rejoicing for sangha
- Continuation Body
- Throughout our life we produce energy. Every thought, every word, every act, every product we create continues to influence the world, and that is our continuation body.
- We are like stars whose light energy continues to radiate across the cosmos millions of years after they become extinct.
- Thay says that the true art of living is to see our continuation body while we’re still alive and to cultivate it to ensure a beautiful continuation.
- In, aware of my continuation body
- Out, ending out love to all my dear ones
Continuing to Walking Meditation
As we walk, I invite you to continue this practice by focusing on connecting to a greater body – whether that is the small ecosystem of our home, the land we live on, the entirety of the earth.