Gratitude For Our New Bell

In August we applied to receive a grant from the Thich Nhat Hanh (TNH) Foundation for the purposes of buying a larger bell to use during our program events and retreats here at Empty Mountain. We were informed recently that our request was approved. So we went ahead and placed our order and our new 12” bell arrived in the mail just a few days ago.

We ordered from the website Soundtopia. They have a large variety of styles, sizes, and sounds of bells and we were very happy with the quick service and the quality of the bell we received. If you’re looking for a bell, I would recommend checking them out.

We feel very fortunate to have received this grant from the TNH Foundation. A big thank you to the TNH Foundation and the generous donors who contributed to them. We are grateful for this lovely addition to help support our programs and our community here at Empty Mountain.

In the Plum Village practice tradition, bells are a vital member of the sangha (spiritual community). We include and incorporate bells throughout specific programming, to accompany chanting, and to start and end sitting meditation sessions. During retreats, bells are also used to call people in when meals are ready. When a bell is sounded, our practice is to stop whatever it is we’re doing or saying and get in touch with our breathing for a moment or two.

Listen, listen this wonderful sound
brings me back to my true home
in the here and the now

In the Plum Village tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, we are also encouraged to use other things as bells of mindfulness. A phone ringing, a red light, or even an emergency vehicle sirening can all be opportunities for us to come back home to our body in the present moment. To pause in our thinking and connect deeply with the sensations of our breathing. We can make use of really anything to help remind us. This is one of the many ways we can bring mindfulness to life in our everyday lives.

Breathing in, I know I am breathing in
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out

Regardless of how long we’ve been practicing, we all need ongoing reminders to help support us in our practice. Some people choose to install a mindfulness bell app on their phone to go off every so often throughout the day, while others opt to appoint certain specific actions as a reminder to come back home to our breathing. And some of us like to post written notes or gathas (mindfulness verses) around in places we are most likely to see them. Point is, almost anything can be a bell of mindfulness to help us connect with the present moment. Which is the only place in space and time where we are truly alive.

Breathing in we send our gratitude to the bell makers
Breathing out we are aware our practice is supported by countless beings