Our gratitude to the following people whose generous support have made Listening to the Buddhists in Our Backyard possible: Oscar Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang; Jim Shim and Charlene Chen; Peter Currie; Chien Lee. Special thanks as well to Trent Walker, Sarah Jacoby, Robert Forrant, Diana Eck, Ellie Pierce, Tham Tran, and Susannah Poland for on-the-ground research, pedagogical inspiration, and ongoing mentoring.
Land and Lineage Acknowledgement
Inspired by the Five Earth Touchings Ceremony by Plum Village*
Crafted by the high school students of L2BB 2022
In gratitude, I bow to this land and all of the ancestors who made it available.
[bow/touch the earth]
I see that I am whole, protected, and nourished by this land and all of the living beings who have been here and made life easy and possible for me through all their efforts. I see all those who have made this country a refuge for people of so many origins. I see myself touching ancestors of Native American origin, particularly the Penacook Confederacy, Wabanaki Confederacy, and Wampanoag Peoples who have lived on this land for such a long time and know the ways to live in peace and harmony with nature, protecting the land and its inhabitants.
We invite you to reflect on the land you’re occupying and acknowledge your presence on it.
[breath] ~ 20 sec
We also want to acknowledge the lineage in our knowledge of Buddhism. From the oral traditions that shaped the early history of Buddhism to the local Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao, Thai, and Tibetan communities that maintain these traditions in the Merrimack Valley, these teachings have traveled a long way and passed through the hearts of countless individuals who have devoted parts of their lives to making this knowledge accessible.
We invite you to think about your own religious and spiritual lineage.
[breath] ~ 20 sec
We also want to reflect on those who have shaped us as students, including our parents and caregivers even before taking our first steps into a kindergarten classroom. We would like to acknowledge the mentors who have facilitated moments of processing, reflection, and growth throughout our most recent academic journey. We’re here because of the endless generosity of our parents, caregivers, teachers, and educators, and as we graduate and move onto the next phase of our lifelong commitment to learning, we will continue to carry the lessons we’ve learned from our mentors, including a number of people in this room.
We invite you to remember the kindness of parents, mentors, teachers that have facilitated your learning and becoming.
[breath] ~ 20 sec
*“The Five Earth Touchings,” Plum Village, November 20, 2015, https://plumvillage.org/key-practice-texts/the-five-earth-touchings/