This beautiful prayer written by Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, is chanted by brother Phap Niem.

May the sound of this bell penetrate deep into the cosmos
Even in the darkest spots
Living beings are able to hear it clearly
So that all suffering in them cease
Understanding comes to their heart
And they transcend the path of sorrow and death.
The universal dharma door is already open
The sound of the rising tide is heard clearly
The miracle happens
A beautiful child appears in the heart of a lotus flower
One single drop of this compassionate water
Is enough to bring back the refreshing spring to our mountains and rivers.
Listening to the bell
I feel the afflictions in me begin to dissolve
My mind calm
My body relax
A smile is born on my lips
Following the sound of the bell
My breathe brings me back to the safe island of mindfulness
In the garden of my heart
The flowers of peace bloom beautifully.

Be transported to a place of serenity and hope with this exquisite prayer.

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This spoken word and music montage that drives these gathered images was composed and created by Gary Malkin for a work entitled Graceful Passages: A Companion for Living and Dying. This work was produced by Gary Malkin and Michael Stillwater for WisdomoftheWorld.com and New World Library. For more information about other settings of the world’s wisdom keepers to customized musical tracks, contact Gary at www.GaryMalkinLive.com.