Touching the Earth    

{mp3}chantings/TouchingTheEarth{/mp3}

(opening gatha)

The one who bows and the one who is bowed to are both by nature empty
Therefore the communication between them is inexpressibly perfect
Our practice center is the net of Indra reflecting all Buddhas everywhere
And my own person reflects all Budddhas  to whom with my whole life I go for refuge
(bell)

 (prostrations)

Offering Light in the ten directions, the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha, to whom we bow in gratitude.
(bell)

Teaching and living the way of awareness in the very midst of suffering and confusion, Sakyamuni Buddha, the Enlightened One, to whom we bow in gratitude.
(bell)

Cutting through ignorance, awakening our hearts and our minds, Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Great Understanding, to whom we bow in gratitude.
(bell)

Working mindfully and joyfully for the sake of all beings, Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Great Action, to whom we bow in gratitude.
(bell)

Responding to suffering, serving beings in countless ways, Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, to whom we bow in gratitude.
(bell)

Seed of awakening and loving kindness in children, sprouts and all beings, Maitreya, the Buddha to be born, to whom we bow in gratitude.

(bell)

Showing the way fearlessly and compassionately, the stream of all our ancestral teachers, to whom we bow in gratitude.

(bell, bell)