Plum Village: the morning ritual

I awake from a deep sleep and remain silently under the warm comforter.  I have no clock and so, have no idea of the time.  All I know is that I'm well rested.  After a time and as if from a far distant place, I hear the sonorous sound of the bell, the call to morning meditation.  As if by instinct, I flip back my cover and roll to sit on the side of the bed.  I wait, listening for the next deep sound of the bell.  Maybe the first had been a dream.  I hear the second call and rise quietly, get dressed and begin to make my way to the zendo.  Entering the cool morning air, I stop for a moment, looking up at the stars.  Yes, a restful moment well spent.  I begin the slow walk to meditation.  Each deliberate step sets my mind at ease.  I begin to notice others making their way silently to the zendo.  As I come closer to the meditation hall the bell sounds again but, this time I can hear a monk chanting as the bell's sound disappears into the morning air.  I arrive at the hall and wait outside for a time, listening to the bell and the chanting of the monk, looking up at the star filled sky.  I turn and enter the hall.  I remove my slippers, placing them on the rack in the hall's entry way.  Entering the zendo, I bow to the Buddha at the far end.  The meditation cushions are aligned and waiting.  A few monks have arrived before me.  Silently making my way to a cushion, I bow to it and then turn to bow again to the Buddha.  I sit and close my eyes.  I can hear the rustling of the monk's robes as they take their positions and then all is silent.  Again, as if from a far off place, a small bell sounds.  A monk begins to read a gatha, first in English and then in French.  The bell sounds again and the monk begins to chant in Vietnamese.  As the chanting nears its end the meditation group, en masse, responds three times to the chanting monk.  It is such a lovely sound, so melodious.  With the end of the chanting we begin our meditation, which lasts for 45 minutes.  It's easy to tell when the end of the meditation time is drawing near, people begin to shift their positions.  When sitting is finished another bell sounds.  Everyone stretches a bit and then stands.  Another bell and we bow to each other.  A final bell and we turn to bow to the Buddha.  We make out way silently out of the zendo and walk, without a word, toward breakfast.

On my way to breakfast I stop in my room and sit on my bed.  I prefer to wait here for the ringing of the bell that is the call to breakfast.  The bell sounds, I rise and walk the short distance to the dining hall.  Queues have already formed, each person serving his own breakfast.  This meal is always the same.  Large metal pots of gruel which are supplemented with grains and fresh fruit.  Toasted breads to be covered with jams made in the village.  A cup of tea.  Each takes a bowl for the gruel with grains and fruit.  Each takes a plate for the toasted bread.

I have prepared my breakfast and select a table at which to sit.  I place my dishes on the table and bow to the others already seated at the table.  Each returns my bow.  I take my seat and bow to my food, remembering to be thankful for all that has caused this food to be before me.  Thankful to nature for growing this food and thankful to all of those who worked to bring this food to this very spot.  Lastly, I hope that the way in which I conduct my life will be worthy of receiving the bounty of their toil.  I begin to very deliberately eat my breakfast.  I cut the bread into bite sized portions.  I take my first spoonful of gruel, being careful to place my spoon beside my bowl as a enjoy each bite.  Occassionally I take a piece of bread.  When I have finished eating I rest for a moment, drinking my tea.  Then I move to the end of the dining hall where I rinse my dished and place them in the drying racks.  As I exit the hall I see a roommate and say "Bon Jour", my first words of the day.  The sun is up now.  What a wonderful way to begin each day.