Touching the Earth

Touching the Earth

Touching The Earth  //  Guided meditations from the Thich Nhat Hanh book "Touching The Earth." Published by Parallax Press.

 
Jan 6 / 11:20am

Nourishing Love and Understanding

by Kenley Neufeld

A guided meditation from Thich Nhat Hanh's book Touching the Earth, read by one of his students.  

In this meditation, we look deeply at nourishing love and understanding in ourselves and others.

When I live the present moment deeply and I only think, speak, and do what can bring more understanding, love, peace, harmony, and freedom into the present situation, then I have already done everything that I can to lay the foundation for a bright future. 

Please begin listening to the recording in a standing postition. At the conclusion of the reading, you will hear three bell invitations; at each sound, touch the earth (prostrate) and bring your mind to the reading and connect with the energy of the earth. A muted bell sound will indicate when to stand after each prostration. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.

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Nov 4 / 7:30am

Living in the Present

by Kenley Neufeld

A guided meditation from Thich Nhat Hanh's book Touching the Earth, read by one of his students.  

In this meditation, we can see that it is possible to live happily in the present moment. There are so many elements around us to bring us back to the present to be thankful for being alive. 

We do not recognize that our two ears are two wonderful sense organs. If we were to listen attentively with these two ears, we would hear the soft rustling of the wind in the branches of the pine, the twittering of the golden oriole or the sound of the rising tide as it plays its compelling music on the seashore in the early morning. Our hearts, lungs, brains, as well as our capacity to feel, to think and observe are also wonders of life. 

Please listen to the main reading, either standing and prostrating. This is followed by a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes. 

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Sep 20 / 7:00am

Everything is Manifestation

by Kenley Neufeld

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A guided meditation from Thich Nhat Hanh's book Touching the Earth, read by one of his students.  

In this meditation, we look deeply at permanence and annihilation and see they are both extremes. We are often caught with this ideas and we can practice to see clearly our own five skandhas and everything around us is impermanent. 

Lord Buddha, I shall listen to your advice and look deeply into impermance, interdependence, emptiness, and interbeing, in order to arrive at the deep realization that all that exists has the nature of no birth and no death, no coming and no going, no being and no nonbeing, no permanence and no annihilation. 

Please listen to the main reading, either standing and prostrating. This is followed by a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes. 

 
Sep 8 / 4:48pm

Impermanence and Interbeing

by Kenley Neufeld
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A guided meditation from Thich Nhat Hanh's book Touching the Earth, read by one of his students. 

In this meditation, we have the opportunity to see the impermanent nature of all things. We have the tendency to think we are the same person we were yesterday, but this is not true. 

The day has now ended.
Our lives are shorter.
Now we look carefully.
What have we done?
Noble sangha, with all our heart,
let us be diligent,
engaging in the practice. 
Let us live deeply,
free from afflictions,
aware of impermanence
so that life does not
drift away without meaning.

Please listen to the main reading, either standing and prostrating. This is followed by a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.  

 
Sep 5 / 10:40am

Thich Nhat Hanh - True Happiness

by Kenley Neufeld

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A guided meditation from the book Touching the Earth is read by a student of Thich Nhat Hanh. 

What does it mean to be truly happy? What practice can we use to understand and nourish our happiness? 

Your great understanding and compassion gave you great freedom and happiness. My deepest desire is to follow in your footsteps. I vow that I shall not seek happiness in the five sense pleasures. I shall not think that wealth, fame, sex, power, and luxurious food and material objects can bring me true happiness. 

Please listen to the main reading, either standing and prostrating. This is followed by a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe (fixed link here) using iTunes.  

 

 
Mar 18 / 6:20pm

Thich Nhat Hanh - Outer Forms

by Kenley Neufeld

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Taking the teachings and reminding ourselves of our promise is what this practice is about. What happens when we forget to practice with all our mindfulness and right concentration? We may practice with only the outer form and become caught by the past, present, or future.

Lord Buddha, with body, speech, and mind in oneness, I touch the earth in gratitude to you, the one who has crossed wonderfully to the other shore and can show me the way, in order to remember the promise I have made. 

The recording begins with a sound of the bell. Please bow down and touch the earth with earth at this first sound to listen to the reading. After the main reading is complete, a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.  

 
Mar 13 / 7:09pm

Thich Nhat Hanh - The Buddha and the Original Sangha

by Kenley Neufeld

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In this practice, we bring our attention to the sangha of monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen. We reflect on people, writings, poetry, architecture, music, and other works of art and forms of culture influenced by the Buddha.

Lord Buddha, with body, speech, and mind united, I touch the Earth to be in touch with the Awakened One in myself, in the Sangha, in the teaching and practices of the Dharma, and in the wonderful opportunities that you have created for my spiritual life. 

The recording begins with a sound of the bell. Please bow down and touch the earth with earth at this first sound to listen to the reading. After the main reading is complete, a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.  

 
Mar 1 / 6:09am

Thich Nhat Hanh - Visualizing the World Honored Buddha

by Kenley Neufeld

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After a long hiatus, six months, I am attempting to resume this podcast series. From the book Touching the Earth by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In this meditation entitled "Visualizing the World Honored Buddha" we connect with the historical Buddha and his family. 

I see you as a monk practicing samadhi solidly at the foot of the bodhi tree. I see you as a wandering monk whose mindful steps left their mark in the small kingdoms that lay in the valley of the Ganges River. 

The recording begins with a sound of the bell. Please bow down and touch the earth with earth at this first sound to listen to the reading. After the main reading is complete, a small bell sound is made, rise and listen to the short verse before touching the earth again. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.  
 
Sep 5 / 6:04pm

Thich Nhat Hanh - Riding the Waves of Birth and Death

by Kenley Neufeld
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From the book Touching the Earth by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In this meditation entitled "Riding the Waves of Birth and Death" we touch the Tathagata and realize his unborn nature.

The changing appearances of birth and death do not touch the Tathagata because the Tathagata has realized the unborn. I know that if i continue to be in touch with my own nature of not birth and not death I shall also see that my life span is immeasurable.

This meditation is the final one in the book, but since we did not begin at the beginning, look for more podcasts started with the first meditation. If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.  

 
Aug 2 / 6:28am

Thich Nhat Hanh - Limitless Life

by Kenley Neufeld
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From the book Touching the Earth by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. In this meditation entitled "Limitless Life" we see the no birth no death nature of ourselves. 

I am one with all species whether they are peaceful and joyful or suffering and afraid. I am present everywhere in this world. I have been present in the past and will be there in the future. The disintegration of this body does not touch me, just as when the petals of the plum blossom fall it does not mean the end of the plum tree.

If you would like to receive this podcast regularly in iTunes, you can subscribe using iTunes.