Practicing with the Bell

Listening to the Bell

From time to time, we need a sound to remind us to return to our mindful breathing. We call this sound the “mindfulness bell.” At Plum Village, whenever we hear the bell of a clock, the phone bell, or the bell in the monastery, we stop. These are mindfulness bells. When we hear the bell, we stop everything—our speech and activities. We release tension from our bodies and bring our awareness to our breath. We do this naturally, with joy, without rigidity. When we stop to breathe and regain our energy and calm, we feel free. The tasks we are doing become more enjoyable, and the people before us seem more “real.”

Sometimes, our body is here, but our mind is somewhere else. Therefore, we are not truly present in our true home. The sound of the bell can help bring our mind back to our body. This is the practice we follow in the monastery. The bell helps us return to ourselves, to the present moment. The bell is like a friend, like a Bodhisattva, awakening us.

At home, we can also use the sound of a phone bell, a church bell, the cry of children, or even the sound of a siren or ambulance as our mindfulness bell. Just three mindful breaths can help us release tension in both body and mind and return to our fresh and clear state.

In Vietnam, I often heard the temple bells. But when I came to the West, the temple bells were no longer there; only the church bells remained. One day, after living in Europe for a few years, while walking in meditation in a square in Prague, I suddenly heard the church bells ringing. It was the first time I truly connected with the ancient soul of Europe. Since then, whenever I hear church bells—whether in Switzerland, France, or Russia—I deeply connect with the soul of Europe. For those who do not practice, the sound of the bell may not have much meaning. But for those of us who practice, the bell carries a profound spiritual significance, capable of awakening the most mysterious aspects within us.

We do not say “strike the bell”; we say “invite the bell.” The person who invites the bell is called “duy na” (bell master), and the mallet used to invite the bell is called the “inviting mallet.” There are many types of bells: the great bell, which when invited, is heard by the entire village; the bell for the monastic schedule, which when invited, can be heard throughout the monastery; the bell in the meditation hall, which is invited during Dharma talks, sitting meditation, chanting, etc., to help us practice returning to the breath. Then, there is the small bell (khanh) , which fits neatly in a bag and can be carried anywhere.

We must train ourselves to invite the bell properly, and this is very important. If we are grounded, mindful, relaxed, and present, the bell we invite will help others connect with the deepest aspects within themselves.

The Practice

When acting as the bell master and preparing to invite the bell, the first thing we need to do is bow to the bell. The bell is our friend, helping us return our mind to the body. When body and mind unite, we naturally become present in the moment, right here, right now, and we can live our lives more deeply.

A small bell rests gently in the palm of the hand. Imagine your hand as a five-petaled lotus, and the small bell as a precious jewel nestled within the lotus. While holding the bell in this way, we practice breathing mindfully. We can use a chant to help bring our mind back to our body, to truly be present in the moment. If we are not truly present, we cannot be a good bell master. Therefore, after breathing in and out twice with the chant, we are ready to invite the bell.

Gatha

Body, speech and mind in perfect oneness,

I send my heart along with the sound of the bell. 

May the hearers awaken from forgetfulness 

and transcend the path of anxiety and sorrow.

The gatha has four lines: one for inhaling, one for exhaling, one for inhaling, and one for exhaling again. Of course, the gatha is beautiful, but if you forget it, that’s okay. Just follow the breath: inhale mindfully, knowing the breath is coming in, exhale mindfully, knowing the breath is going out. Breathing to calm the body and mind will help you become a good bell master. Now, you have the qualities necessary to invite the bell.

We invite the bell softly to awaken it gently. This is an important signal for the bell and for everyone present. We must be gentle with the bell so that it does not startle, and we also signal to everyone that a full, resonant bell will be invited shortly, so they can prepare to listen with their full presence. In meditation halls, the sound of the bell is the call of the Buddha within us, calling us to return. When the bell is invited, everyone stops their thinking, speaking, and activities, returning to the breath to listen. We must give everyone enough time to prepare themselves mentally and physically to receive the sound of the bell. They may be eager, talking, or lost in thought, but when they hear the bell’s invitation, they know they must stop everything and prepare to listen with full presence.

Then we invite the bell. Breathe in and out three deep breaths. If the breaths are gentle, after three breaths, we will become relaxed, still, peaceful, and mindful. We can silently chant while breathing in and out:

Gatha:

Listening to the bell,

I feel my afflictions begin to dissolve. 

My mind is calm, my body relaxed, 

a smile is born on my lips. 

Following the sound of the bell,

my breath guides me back 

to the safe island of mindfulness. 

In the garden of my heart, 

the flower of peace blooms beautifully.