From Tuesday 25th - Thursday 27th March, we are being visited by Brothers Phap Luu, Phap Lai and Phap Ly, and lay practitioner Luc, from Plum Village. Today our visitors are spending time with each class so that we can all get to know each other; they invited questions from the children and we all sang songs together.
Among the questions the children asked were, “What do you do when you are feeling bored/sad/embarrassed/lonely?”, Brother Phap Luu - who is also known as Brother Stream - explained that the answer was the same with regard to all of these feelings…the monks “return home” to their breath. By focusing on breathing in and out and giving time to ourselves to reflect, we are more able to fully understand our feelings rather than just reacting to them. Then the feeling may pass, or because we are feeling more calm we are better able to understand how to act with clarity.
Breathing in, breathing out
Breathing in, breathing out
I am blooming as a flower
I am fresh as the dew
I am solid as a mountain
I am firm as the earth
I am free
Breathing in, breathing out
Breathing in, breathing out
I am water reflecting
What is real, what is true
And I feel there is space
Deep inside of me
I am free, I am free