  The processes involving low energy $\bar{K}N$ and $Y\pi$ interactions (where
$Y= \Sigma$ or $\Lambda$) are studied in the framework of heavy baryon chiral
perturbation theory with the $\Lambda$(1405) resonance appearing as an
independent field.
  The leading and next-to-leading terms in the chiral expansion are taken into
account. We show that an approach which explicitly includes the $\Lambda$(1405)
resonance as an elementary quantum field gives reasonable descriptions of both
the threshold branching ratios and the energy dependence of total cross
sections.
