The foundation of a good community is a daily life that is joyful and happy. Each of us needs to "belong to" a place where each feature of the landscape, the sounds of the bell, and even the buildings are designed to remind us to return to awareness.
The people who live there should emanate peace and freshness, the fruits of living in awareness. They will be like beautiful trees, and the visitors will want to come and sit under their shade. Even when they cannot actually visit, they only need to think of it and smile, and they will feel themselves becoming peaceful and happy.
We can also transform our own family or household into a community that practices harmony and awareness. Together we can practice breathing and smiling, sitting together, drinking tea together in mindfulness. If we have a bell, the bell is also part of the community, because the bell helps us practice. If we have a meditation cushion, the cushion is also part of the community, as there are many other things that help us practice mindfulness, such as the air for breathing. All these efforts can help us establish a community at home. From time to time we can invite a friend to join us. Practicing mindfulness is much easier with a community.
Wisdom from PEACE IS EVERY STEP - Thich Nhat Hanh
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