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44 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

monastery all year around. At despair, pride, etc. then my actions In our monastery, before the monks
times we play string quartets by may be categorized in what you’d and nuns offer a chant, we recite
Mozart in the monastery garden on call a “worldly pursuit.” this contemplation:
a summer afternoon, and on other
occasions, we collaborate with hip- In the spring of 2023, a group of The Sangha is invited to come
hop and jazz musicians, to bring monastics went on a teaching tour to back to our breathing so that the
inspiration to the young generation the US and Canada where we offered collective energy of mindfulness
of practitioners. In the Plum Village music and spoken Dharma sessions, will bring us together as an
tradition, we also have the practice incorporating hip-hop and jazz. We organism, going as a river with
of deep relaxation, in which we also offered Dharma events not in no more separation. Let the whole
invite everyone to lie down and temples but in urban art spaces for Sangha breathe as one body, chant
relax their whole body and practice youths and in universities so that as one body, listen as one body--
body scan. In these sessions, I play we could introduce mindfulness transcending the boundaries of a
soft, relaxing and healing music. for young people to learn how to delusive “self,” liberating ourselves
And when I play lullabies from handle strong emotions, reconcile from the superiority complex,
different countries, it touches deep with their family members, and the inferiority complex, and the
memories in people’s consciousness find purpose in their daily life. If equality complex.
where the listeners are able to you don’t understand our intention
experience healing by coming in behind these events, they may seem In true giving of the practice
contact with their inner-child and very worldly, and I’m sure there of Dāna, there is no distinction
touch the insight of impermanence, are Buddhist monastics who would between giver, receiver, and the
non-self, and interbeing, especially frown at our events, but being gift. When we offer music, whether
with their parents. an authentic continuation of our we’re the ones creating the sound
teacher, who remained very youthful of listening, we practice the same
I see everything I do in the in spirit until the very end of his life, way so that there is no separation
community as an opportunity we need to be experimental and and we’re all united as cells of
for me to generate the energy of sometimes push the boundaries one body by the vibration of the
mindfulness, concentration, and of accepted status quo from time sound; just as the trees and other
insight (三学). Thus, no matter what to time; and by doing so, we are organisms of a forest are connected
kind of music I play, I see it as an ready to receive criticisms. In my by an invisible and intricate web of
opportunity for me to deepen my view, this is the spirit of engaged mycorrhizal network.
own practice and as an offering to Buddhism 契理契機: “The living
others. I ask myself, what kind of dharma is adaptable in space and One of the chants I accompany
seeds in our store consciousness ( time and has at least 84,000 different often on the violin is the invocation
阿頼耶識) am I watering in myself manifestation bodies.” of the bodhisattva of great
and in others with this music? And compassion, Avalokiteśvara. It
as long as I know that the music Did the Buddha teach that we is a chant that lasts for about 20
is watering our wholesome seeds should also have compassion minutes, and during the chant,
of joy, togetherness, inclusivity, for ourselves or is compassion both the chanters and listeners are
understanding, compassion, and so always for others? Is there such invited to come back to themselves,
on, I know that what I am offering a thing as self-compassion? to be in touch with their own
is in line with the monastic code of Buddhism teaches that all breathing and body, to recognize
conduct. But even if I play the same inherent existence is empty of the suffering we’re holding in
set of music, if what I’m watering self. So who do we direct our ourselves, and by recognizing that
in myself and others are seeds of compassion to if there is no self there is suffering in us, we also
craving, lust, jealousy, competition, to receive our compassion? generate the energy of compassion