Touching the Earth: Intimate Conversations with the Buddha

A guided meditation from Thich Nhat Hanh's book, Touching the Earth, as read by one of his students. In this intimate conversation with the Buddha, we are reminded of what it means to be mindful in our daily lives. 

I vow that in my daily life I shall be more diligent in practicing mere recognition and mindfulness. I shall wash my hands with the awareness that I am washing my hands. I shall wash my bowl with the awareness that I am washing my bowl. When the mental formation of irritation arises I shall be aware that irritation is arising. When the mental formation of attachment arises I shall be aware that attachment is arising. I shall smile and recognize everything that is happening in the present moment without being anxious or having a complex, whether that comple is one of superiority, inferiority, or equality, 

Please begin listening to the recording in a standing postition. At the conclusion of the reading, you will be invited to touch the earth (prostrate) and a brief prompt. You will hear three bell invitations; at each sound, touch the earth 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 as well as the conclusion of the exercise. 

Receive this regularly as an iTunes podcast.

09-Cultivating_Mindfulness.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

09-Cultivating_Mindfulness.mp3 (1.69 MB)

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. 

Get Podcast

08_Nourishing_Love_and_Understanding.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

08_Nourishing_Love_and_Understanding.mp3 (2.13 MB)

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. 

07.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

07.mp3 (2.48 MB)

06.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

06.mp3 (2.06 MB)

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. 

Impermance And Interbeing by Thich Nhat Hanh

(download)

Click here to download:

05 Impermanence.mp3 (2.03 MB)

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

True Happiness by Thich Nhat Hanh

(download)

Click here to download:

04 True Happiness.mp3 (1.62 MB)

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.  

03_-_Outer_Forms.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

03_-_Outer_Forms.mp3 (1.71 MB)

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.  

02.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

02.mp3 (1.54 MB)

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.  

01.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

01.mp3 (1.71 MB)

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.