Practicing Seven-Lotus Steps on the Buddha’s Birthday

Thich nu Tinh Quang

Wherever you are, if you are the Buddhist, on the date of Buddha's birthday, you do not have the opportunity to practice, celebrate in order to honor the memory of this rare day at the Buddhist temple, you and me try to practice seven-lotus steps in the meaning of Cubasakuludayisuttam Sutra on this day to make offering to the Buddha, and also to train for the good action to perfect ourselves, establish a good family and friends in the understanding of love from the heart of peace, and create a peaceful world by seven steps.

1-The Eastern Lotus Step (Full Consciousness of Obligation between Parents and Children) "Every human being under the eastward sun is graciously welcome as the LOTUS." The Very Rev. James P Morton, the Interfaith Center of New York

On Buddha's birthday, early morning you may find a beautiful park, or backyard, or the quiet and romantic country road... and then walk by free and gently steps following with each your breath, pay attention to steps you are going ... you get around yard one time as the right direction of clock cycle, after that stop at there, and turn to eastward, clasp or join your hands at your belly, look at the  skyline ... consider deeply that you and the east are in the intimate relationship, and cannot separate; looking at the east according the colors of the dawn, or the black and white clouds floating…they were the wind and rain that make my presence ... you and the east have closely connections and transmittal in relations of races, ancestors, grandparents, parents, and children. Think about how your duty and love has been for the grandparents, parents and children… Joined hands and bow to the east, aware that today is the day Buddha was born, you vow to live a full day in responsibility and lovingness for my grandparents, parents and children from the first lotus steps.

2- The Western Lotus Step (Full Consciousness of Obligation between Husband and Wife)

“You must be a lotus, unfolding its petals when the sun rises in the sky, unaffected by the slush where it is born or even the water which sustains it!” Sai Baba

You continue to the second round walking meditation, maintaining  regular breath following your steps, smiling calmly; when the second round would complete fully, standing and looking toward the western horizon ... consider that west is the east’s object in the operation of rising and passing away, yin and yiang, heaven and earth. If you’re the female practitioner so think that you are the earth, and the blue sky is in harmony with you. If the male practitioner shall reflect that yourself is the blue sky and the ground is interfering in you. To be conscious the spouse’s morality  is a love song of heaven and earth, there should have much harmony to balance rhythm, reflecting that lotus step is  blooming at your feet as a message of enlightenment on the responsibility of couples to creating a family and society have real happiness. Joined hands and toward west, sense that today is the day Buddha was born, you vow to live a full day duties to my spouse or engager by second step lotus.

3-The Southern Lotus Step (Full Consciousness of Obligation between students and teachers)

"Oh Buddha, my mind is fascinated with the lotus feet as the bumble-bee with the flower; night and day I thirst for them." Guru Nanak (Indian Spiritual leader, 1469-1539)

You go one next round, then stop where you are, turn to the south, pay attention to breathing in and breathing out deeply, look at the electric wire poles, the level field plain, or the beautiful buildings which were made from human’s hands and brains. Conceive that this works as well as public education, spirituality… are invested and transmitted through many generations. Conceive that knowledge, ethics, and behavior which have been fashioned you into a human being are all thanks to teachers’ instructions. Spiritual awakening you opening today is owing to my masters and founders who educated you. Conceive that you are standing on the third lotus step that formerly the Buddha stood when he was just born from. Joined hands and bow to the south, recall education‘s merit and the teachers and pupils’ of the world and religion, and wish to fulfill your duties by transmitting the light of wisdom in which you inherited for the future generations through all your inherent capabilities.

4-The Northern Lotus Step (Full Consciousness of obligation between friendship and colleague)

"The LOTUS stands as a living monument to the Interfaith ideals." Dr. Karan Singh, Member of Parliament (India); Internat'l Chairman of the Temple of Understanding

You continue to walking meditation fourth round, maintaining breathing gently on every your step, end of this round, stop, turn your body to the north, smile; conceiving the clouds are floating toward the north, the leaves are swung by the wind; conceiving the sound of a bird has just sent out so all the birds follow to sing chorally, conceiving swarm of ants crawling on a branch of tree and unite efforts to lift a hard thing to bring to their nest... Maintaining mindful breathing, thinking about your maturity is built by your own peers (good or bad friend) although directly or indirectly they motivated you to strive to learn in order that you have been steady on your legs in this life. Conceive that you are stepping on the fourth lotus step in which the Buddha had stepped on. Bow Joined hands and bow to the north, to be grateful to friendships and take a vow to live in the consciousness of their presence around you on the Buddha’s birthday.

5-The Below Side Lotus Step (Full Consciousness of responsibility between employer and employee)

"I appreciate the LOTUS which promotes understanding among all people and among all religions. May we all come to the path of unity that will allow us to overcome the enemy of separation that is now trying to destroy all of the earth." Sun Bear, Founder and Medicine Chief of the Bear Tribe Medicine Society

You continue to walking meditation fifth round completely, then stop where you are, bend your head, look down your feet, recognize these plants are curling beneath your feet, think about them, love them, do not walk heavy that would be torturous for them. If you are a boss of a corporation, a company, a workshop, or a villa, conceive this is the time helping you to practice kindness. If without the green grass under your feet, you could not walk smoothly. If you are an employee, observe that you are fresh grass which made to cool for the ground, the employer as the ground that helps an opportunity for your survival. Whether an owner or a servant, you should conceive in existential interdependence to generate the love (of the employer) and the gratitude (of employee). Amnesty ground by your joined hands, conceive that you are standing on the fifth lotus step, and vow to live in the full sense of the owner and servant on the Buddha’s birthday.

6-The Above Side Lotus Step (Full Consciousness of obligation between the believer and Spiritual Master)

"The Lotus is a 'Statue of Spirituality' equal to the Statue of Liberty. It unites spirituality into the reality of the Oneness of Buddha and Light and gives everybody unity in diversity." Yogi Bhajan, Sikh Dharma Chief Religious and Administrative Authority for the Western Hemisphere

You continue to walking meditation until the end of sixth round. Maintain regular, gentle breathing, smile, and then stop when you are, looked up to see the vast sky, colors like mysterious things and you do not understand at all. Conceive that your mind is a mystery which like the sky is shimmering. You will never understand it if you do not have the guidance to practice and enlighten. Want to explore this mystical mind’ sky you cannot do without true spiritual teacher. Conceive that you are the believer, the disciple, the student of the Buddhist monk or nun who lives in the pure happiness that you would come back to lean on in order to enlighten your spiritual sky. Joined hands bow the sky. Conceive that you are standing on the sixth lotus step,  and vow to live in the consciousness of a believer to complete all duties, respects, and protections to the noble spiritual teachers you confide on the Buddha’s birthday.

7- The Lotus Step at Here and Now

"The Lotus is a visual Testimony to Interfaith understanding and stands as a beacon of Truth and Peace."

-The Venerable Dharma Prabhasa, Founder of the International Zen Center; 45th generational Heir of the Vietnamese Lam Te (Rinzai) Zen Lineage

Continue to walking meditation until the end of seventh round, then you sit down in lotus pose (your legs are crossed, if you have problem feet, you may change), eyes slightly looking down, the arms should rest comfortably on the thighs, or the hands overlap before the abdomen, add mindfulness  that at Here you are a blooming lotus on the ground and the baby Buddha’s feet are standing on your shoulders with his both hands one point at the heaven and other hands point at the earth as following with him. Realize that blue sky with white clouds flying over your head, and the sound vibrations of water in the spacious oceans are ringing beneath the ground where you are sitting. Add mindfulness to your breath and heart beat at Now harmonizing in the vast universe, concentrate on breathing in, breathing out;  breath coming in so count one, breath coming out so count two ... until seven, then count go back from the first. Conceive that every breath is a pink blossoming lotus, or silent reading certain poem you like, every sentence is a breath, for example:

The mind shakes with current breath’s rhythm

The sorrows are melting as keeping mindfulness at breathing in and out

Now, this is the Nirvana realm

The pink lotuses open in mystical space.

So impure thoughts or memories would be weakened, disappear, or no longer appear inside subjectively. Only a realm of shimmering flowers is present with mind and body’s unity in the mystery.

Wish full peace and bliss to you Buddhists on a vesak day!

Merry Buddha’s Birthday!