Practising the Five Earth Touchings gives us an opportunity to contemplate what has been transmitted to us by our blood, spiritual and land ancestors. We can practise to celebrate the positive and transform what needs to be transformed.
To begin this practice, we invite you join your palms in front of your chest in the shape of a lotus bud. You are then invited to touch the earth - you can do this in whatever way is comfortable - by simply connecting with the earth element in your body and mind; placing your feet, hands or any part of the body on the earth; or - as guided by Brother Phap Linh in the audio - gently lowering yourself to the ground so that all four limbs and your forehead are resting comfortably on the floor, turning your palms face-up. This position represents your openness to the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. When we touch the earth, we breathe in all of her strength and stability, and breathe out our suffering – our feelings of anger, hatred, fear, inadequacy and grief.
Enjoy your practice.
This audio contains sounds of the small bell periodically throughout.
You can find the text version of this practice in the app here.
For a tutorial on how to touch the earth, please click here.