Dear friends, please join Rose, Tim and Ling this Saturday as we enjoy the wonders of the Touching the Earth meditation practice.
This is a practice of connection with our blood, spiritual and land ancestors. It’s also a practice of compassion and understanding. The first three Earth Touchings focus on connecting us with our blood and spiritual ancestors, and the land, Mother Earth. We let go, and breathe out our pain and hurt. In Earth Touchings four and five we transmit the energy that we have received from our ancestors to those we love. We also listen deeply to recognise our own suffering and difficulties, we open our hearts and send our understanding and love to those who have caused us hurt.
Touching the Earth we recognise that we are connected with all life because all life is in us. With our energies of mindfulness and concentration we become our own source of nourishment.
We breathe in the strength, and stability of Mother Earth.
We feel her solidity and take refuge in it.

Our topic for the month of November is:
The Fourth Dharma Seal of Plum Village

- Ripening moment by moment.

We receive the teachings that we are ready to receive. … We are always growing and changing from moment to moment (Brother Phap Hai, Nothing to It, p76).
How does this Plum Village Dharma Seal relate to the Three Buddhist Dharma Seals?

The Buddhist Seal of impermanence is present in this practice, as it is in the Plum Village Seal. However, our Plum Village seal also contains interbeing. We ripen because we have a Sangha to support us and kind spiritual friends to guide us. So, we also practise with no-self. and possibly moments of nirvana.
Ripening takes time.