A Guided Meditation on Aimlessness in the Plum Village Tradition
You might enjoy listening to the 2014 translation of the Heart Sutra by Thich Nhat Hahn chanted by the Plum Village monastics via this YouTube video which shows the lyrics.
I have based this guided meditation on parts of the Heart Sutra. I invite you to find the most comfortable posture for your body to practice in, in the present moment.
I’ll offer a half bell to begin each verse and a whole bell to end each verse. And I will offer two bells at the end of the meditation.
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.
In, Out.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I relax my body.
Breathing out, I calm my body.
Relaxing body; Calming body.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I know insight comes unexpectedly.
Breathing out, I know it comes in the course of daily life.
Unexpected Insight; In the Course of Daily Life.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I see that without delusion and suffering, there can be no insight.
Breathing out, I see that without interbeing, true insight isn’t possible.
Delusion and Suffering; No True Insight without Interbeing.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I practice to stop chasing after things—even enlightenment.
Breathing out, I know that chasing after anything causes suffering.
Stop the chasing; It causes suffering.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I recognize I don’t need to run after anything anymore.
Breathing out, I recognize I already have what I’m running after.
No need to run after anything; Because I already have it.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I realize I don’t need to become something else.
Breathing out, I realize I am already what I want to become.
No need to become something; Because I already am.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I know I don’t need to be a Buddha.
Breathing out, I know I already have Buddha-nature.
No need to be a Buddha; I already have Buddha-nature.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I understand there is no longer anything to be attained.
Breathing out, I understand that Aimlessness is the Third Door of Liberation.
Nothing to attain; Aimlessness leads to Liberation.
(bell) (5 breaths)
(½ bell)
Breathing in, I am in the present moment.
Breathing out, this is a wonderful moment.
(breath)
Present Moment; Wonderful Moment.
(breath)
(2 bells)