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Dear Sangha,

This week, following our meditation period, we will practice together the Five Touchings of the Earth and share on the theme of letting go.

In the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, the practice of Touching the Earth involves some form of prostration. In Stepping into Freedom, Thich Nhat Hanh describes the practice:

While you are touching the Earth, turn the palms of your hands upwards to express your openness to the Buddha. Let go of all ideas you have about yourself. Remember that your body, health, skills, intelligence, and knowledge have been transmitted to you by your spiritual and blood ancestors, so allow yourself to enter the stream of life and be with all of them. When you do, you will see that you are not a separate self, that your suffering or happiness is not yours alone.

For me, prostration is special opportunity to let go. When I prostrate, I am not bowing to the Buddha, the dharma, or the Sangha, or anyone in particular – I am bowing to everyone and everything. I’m inviting myself to feel my oneness with the earth and all that is.

This practice helps me to loosen my attachment to my concept of a separate self and all the ideas that go along with it, like “I must be right” and “I need to be special.” As I prostrate my body, releasing it to the earth, I feel great relief when I let go of my illusion of a separate and idealized self.

I look forward to sharing this practice with you on Thursday.

Warmest wishes,

Rachel