Although everyone hoped that the pandemic would end soon, it was beyond our control. Nevertheless, we did not give up and continued our practices online. Our Dharma teacher emphasized in his lectures the importance of staying calm and not panicking. Regardless of the circumstances, we should persevere in our practices. Quarantine at home could be viewed as a way of retreat, and as Buddhist practitioners, we should train our minds to be resilient to all challenges in order to sustain our study, contemplation, and practice of the Dharma. Only then can we genuinely benefit ourselves and others.
In May 2021, participants in Chiang Mai, Thailand gathered to perform the initiation ritual of the Seven-Day Meditation Retreat. Prior to the ritual, they engaged in a brief session of sitting meditation to calm their minds and bodies.
After the sitting meditation, they drank tea, as part of the Chan tradition.
After drinking the tea, they stand up in front of the Buddha statue with hands putting together to make auspicious prayer to the Three Jewels and mighty Dharma protectors.
Following the prayers, the meditation monitors lined up to perform the actual initiation ritual.
Once the actual initiation ritual was complete, the participants walked around the shrine table in the center while engaging in a brief session of walking meditation.
Once the actual initiation ritual was complete, the participants walked around the shrine table in the center while engaging in a brief session of walking meditation.
At the end of the initiation ritual, they did a short sitting meditation for 20 minutes.
At the end of the initiation ritual, they did a short sitting meditation for 20 minutes.
