Earth Day 22 April 2013

A beautiful Buddhist Earth Prayer I would like to share to celebrate Earth day:

"We gently caress you, the Earth, our planet and our home.

Our vision has brought us closer to you, making us aware of the harm we have done to the life-network upon which we ourselves depend.

We are reminded that we have poisoned your waters, your lands, your air.

We have filled you with the bones of our dead from war and greed.

Your pain is our pain.

Touching you gently, we pray that we may become peace-bringers and life-bringers so that our home in its journey around the Sun not become a sterile and lonely place.

May this Prayer and its power last forever."

                                                  - Sensei Ulrich, Manitoba Buddhist -

- Breathe -

Photo taken at Kaapschehoop, Mpumalanga

You are a tree, and that strong emotion is the storm that is approaching. If you don’t prepare for it, you may be blown away. To prepare means to begin mindful breathing and to bring your attention down from the level of thinking to the level of the belly, just below the navel. This is called belly breathing. Just focus all your attention on your belly and become aware of the rise and fall of your abdomen, which is the trunk of your tree. Don’t stay on the level of the brain because that is where the storm winds are blowing the hardest. It’s dangerous to stay at the level of your thinking. Go down and embrace the trunk of the tree below the navel, where you will be safe. This is a simple practice, but it is effective. You’re aware that an emotion is only an emotion. It’s just a small part of your whole being. You are much more than your emotion. An emotion comes, stays for a while, and goes away, just like a storm. If you’re aware of that, you won’t be afraid of your emotions. 

~ Thich Nhat Hanh