www.wildrosesangha.ca

This is a list of practices that we share in the Wild Rose Sangha.  Thich Nhat Hanh has said that there is no love without understanding.  We hope this will give an opportunity for understanding why we practice the way we do. 

We have a usual format of practice but it may change depending on the evening.

We set up our meditation space together.  Gather cushions, chant sheets, heat water for tea and greet newcomers.

Evening Meditation Chant

Meditation for 25 minutes.

(walking meditation outside depending on weather)

Tea meditation

Sutra Opening Verse Chant

Heart Sutra Chant

Reading from Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings

Dharma Discussion

Sympathetic Joy

Sharing the Merit Chant

Explanation of our Practices

Chanting

We chant along to the Plum Village verses from the Breath by Breath CD.

Listening to the Bell

Listening to bell at the beginning of meditation brings us home. “Listen, listen. This wonderful sound brings me back to my true self.” –Thich Nhat Hanh. Listening to the bell we realize we are a part of something larger than ourselves and this is our true home.

Sitting Meditation

We sit mediation upright and open.  This develops the habit of being both steady and relaxed regardless of external circumstance.  Sometimes it is difficult to find our true home of awakening in the midst of trying circumstances.  Sometimes things around us might sway us into feelings of anger or misunderstanding.  We need to have a strong back and an open heart to sit upright. 

Our steadiness does not close us off from the reality of our interconnection with others.  We only sit upright because we sit upright with others.  We don’t hunch over or lean because we have nothing to protect.  Our hearts are open and we welcome circumstances exactly as they appear.

Focusing on the Breath

Our meditation consists of enjoying our breathing.  We enjoy our breathing because it is our true home.  We return again and again no matter how many times we fall away from it.  We welcome awareness as we return to our true home.  We know this is the only time to practice and we are lucky to have the opportunity to practice with our friends.

Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know this is a wonderful moment.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Bowing

We bow at the end of meditation in gratitude.  Thank you for the practice, thank you for the company, thank you for trying to be here, thank you for the wonder of life, thank you this practice. 

Drinking Tea

We drink tea in order to drink tea, not distracted by other thoughts or ideas.  It is a gift to enjoy our tea.  Serving tea is a gift of generosity in which we offer ourself to ourself.  We drink tea with attentiveness and appreciation for the long work that brought us the tea and the life of the tea leaves that are offered to us.  Our gratitude of attentiveness is what we return to what we are offered.

Reading the Dharma

We read from Thich Nhat Hanh’s books to develop our understanding of practice. We know that we are surrounded by teachers- whether we find them in the rain, the trees, our cat or our neighbour.  We are grateful to have readings from Thay who can help to guide us.  We read with respect to Thay, to ourselves and so that the words penetrate throughout time and space.  We are attentive to our reading and the blessing of teachings. 

Listening to the Dharma

It is rare to hear words that will truly relinquish our suffering.  Many things are said in life which do not have depth or do not resonate to our heart. It is a great gift to be able to hear the words which will allow us to be free.  If we don’t understand then the words can fall like rain on a newly seeded field.  Some will penetrate the soil and allow the seeds to grow.  We don’t need to grasp them to understand.  We know that the beneficial parts will nurture our well being even if we do not understand.

Dharma Discussion

Practicing discussing the dharma helps us in mindful speech.  When we have something to say we put our palms together and bow.  When we are done speaking we put our palms together and bow. Responding to dharma talks and discussing our practice helps us to understand our own practice and is beneficial for others to hear.  It shows both generosity and sincerity to offer our words about our own practice.  We try to speak from our own understanding and experience.  Sometimes we don’t realize that we have a gift to give in saying something that someone else needs to hear too.

Mindful Speech

The practice of the fourth mindfulness training requires that the words we speak are truthful and inspire self-confidence, joy and hope.  We know that harmful words have caused us suffering in the past that may well outlast any physical violence that has happened to us.  For this reason we try to use words that will not cause violence to ourselves or to others. We do not speak ill of any others and try to refrain from speaking about those not present.  We try to speak only what we know and let go of that which we are uncertain.

Sympathetic Joy

At the end of the evening we practice feeling joy for another’s joy- sympathetic joy.  We try to think of something joyful that happened to us over the last week and share it with the sangha so everyone can enjoy it with us.

Practicing speaking of ones own joy helps us to develop awareness that there are simple joys in our own life and requires that we pay some attention to the joyfulness of life. Listening to another persons joy we are happy for that person because we know that if this person is joyful it can only be beneficial to ourselves and others.  We feel joy for that person not because of what we can get out of it but because we sincerely wish for that person to live a happy life.

For more information see the Practices section on the Plum Village Website: www.plumvillage.org.