One practice I invite us to do now,
Together,
Is to connect specifically with the lineage of African American ancestors,
Who may be genetic ancestors for some of us,
Land ancestors for others of us,
Or spiritual,
Ethical ancestors for yet others of us.
In this practice we open ourselves to touch the suffering our black and African descendant ancestors have endured,
And we also touch the strength,
Resilience,
Wisdom,
And creativity of these ancestors.
Then we aspire to continue this richness in our daily lives,
And to act to bring their beautiful legacy more into the world.
So I'm going to read an excerpt from a longer practice,
Which is Touching the Earth to our Land Ancestors,
And it includes respectful acknowledgement of all the different land ancestors of the United States.
So in addition to African American,
Native American,
Indigenous,
Latinx,
Asian American,
European American,
And a group of practitioners at Deer Park Monastery,
We created this practice in our first retreats for people of color,
Which were taught by the Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh,
My teacher.
This version that we wrote was an expansion of a traditional practice of the five touchings of the earth,
Which you can find online.
A link to this longer practice that I'm drawing from will be included in the resources with this talk,
And you can also find the full practice in the book Together We Are One by Thich Nhat Hanh.
While this practice is particular to the US,
Even if you're not from the US,
We all have benefited from the contributions of African Americans,
So they are ancestors all of us can call on for support and inspiration.
And if this practice speaks to you,
You're welcome to create a version that's more suitable for the land you live in to honor your particular land ancestors.
Normally,
When we do the complete practice,
Or it's like a ceremony of connecting to our land ancestors,
We prostrate and lay our bodies on the earth,
Either in the child's pose with our forelimbs and head touching the earth,
Or lying flat on our bellies.
In the prone position,
You might orient your head towards something you consider sacred,
Something that reminds you of your inherent worth,
Maybe an altar you have at home,
Or in the direction of a place that inspires you.
But it's not necessary to prostrate as you listen to this reading.
You can simply sit comfortably and take a posture of receptivity and openness,
Perhaps with hands in your lap,
With palms turned up in a gesture of receiving,
Surrender,
And letting go.
So taking a few deep breaths,
Allowing your body to settle.
I invite you to listen to these words and simply let them land in you like rain falling on the earth.
I touch my African American and African descendant ancestors,
You who were enslaved and brought to this land,
Who poured your blood,
Sweat,
And tears on this land,
Whose unrewarded labor helped make this country an economic world power.
I am in touch with the crippling violence and inhumanity that my African American ancestors faced every day.
The loss of your land,
Language,
Culture,
Family,
Reproductive sovereignty,
And freedom.
And how nevertheless you always found ways to resist,
To subvert oppression,
To maintain your humanity through soulful singing,
Prayer,
Humor,
Slave revolts,
Maroon communities of those who escaped from slavery and realized self-determination.
As well as ways you insisted on your humanity through political struggle,
A strong commitment to education and economic empowerment.
I aspire to preserve,
Nourish,
And pass on your strength,
Patience,
Perseverance,
Love,
Forgiveness,
Humility,
Your creativity and innovation in agriculture,
Inventions,
History,
Music,
Dance,
Art,
The sciences,
Sports,
Oratory,
Literature,
Religion,
Civil and human rights activism,
And community spirit.
I see Sojourner Truth,
Harriet Tubman,
Toussaint Louverture,
Frederick Douglass,
George Washington Harver,
Garrett A.
Morgan,
W.
E.
B.
Du Bois,
Langston Hughes,
Ernest Just,
Roger Arlener,
Rosa Parks,
Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
,
Malcolm X,
Audre Lorde,
Ella Baker,
Fannie Lou Hamer,
John Henrik Clark,
John Hope Franklin,
Jesse Owens,
Carl Brashear,
Ivan Van Sertima,
Marsha P.
Johnson,
Toni Morrison,
And all others known and unknown inside of me.
And in gratitude,
I honor you all.
Please enjoy a few breaths in silence.
Even now,
If you are prostrating,
You can rise.
Let's take a short pause here and notice what's arising in us in our bodies,
Hearts,
And minds,
Having done this practice together.
Taking time to honor whatever is here in us.
Thank you for joining me in this practice.
