0:00:09.801,0:00:13.967 Good morning, Dear Sangha. Today we speak English. 0:00:15.467,0:00:19.483 Today is March the 10th, 2013, 0:00:19.990,0:00:24.621 and we are in the Still-water Meditation Hall,[br]Upper Hamlet, Plum Village. 0:00:27.330,0:00:30.766 How many will listen to Thay directly in English? 0:00:34.971,0:00:36.233 The majority. 0:00:42.067,0:00:47.133 There will be about 600 people[br]coming for the French Retreat in a few days. 0:00:50.033,0:00:53.233 And Sr. Hai Nghiem has proposed 0:00:58.830,0:01:05.271 some subjects, themes, of teaching and practice. 0:01:06.968,0:01:08.425 First is 0:01:10.658,0:01:16.925 "Le bonheur est possible", "Happiness is Possible". 0:01:19.875,0:01:25.000 The second is "La guèrison c'est possible", [br]"Healing is Possible". 0:01:27.309,0:01:32.114 Because many people need healing. 0:01:33.533,0:01:37.872 Most of the people who come here need healing. 0:01:41.566,0:01:46.167 And then, "Vivre en profondeur", [br]"How to Live More Deeply our Life". 0:01:50.297,0:01:55.733 Then another idea is[br]"Revenir à la maison", "Coming Home". 0:01:56.867,0:02:00.267 Do not wander anymore. Go home. 0:02:01.833,0:02:07.269 That is also an important issue. 0:02:09.244,0:02:10.467 Practice. 0:02:12.000,0:02:13.222 And then, 0:02:14.547,0:02:18.553 "La rivière de la sangha", "Go as a River". 0:02:18.774,0:02:20.875 Not as a drop of water. 0:02:21.233,0:02:24.200 This is very important for the practice. 0:02:26.067,0:02:29.067 We cannot practice unless we have a Sangha. 0:02:29.867,0:02:32.532 And with a Sangha we have to go as a river. 0:02:35.167,0:02:39.267 So not only the people[br]who come for the retreat need that, 0:02:39.569,0:02:44.016 but we also, who stay permanently in Plum Village, 0:02:44.450,0:02:47.283 we also need this practice. 0:02:54.206,0:02:57.400 And the friends who are going to come,[br]who are coming, 0:02:58.842,0:03:04.700 they will also participate in arranging the retreat. 0:03:05.367,0:03:12.000 They will help with the cooking,[br]the washing, the cleaning, and everything. 0:03:12.900,0:03:17.426 So, many people love to 0:03:19.225,0:03:25.192 share the work of the Sangha during the retreat. 0:03:29.143,0:03:35.867 So, we should be able to show them[br]how to cook, to clean, to wash, peacefully, happily, 0:03:36.400,0:03:40.767 because that is a part of the practice, of the learning. 0:03:41.833,0:03:44.584 And we should set an example, 0:03:44.918,0:03:50.451 because we are[br]permanent residents in a practice center. 0:04:01.752,0:04:08.400 Thay will give three Dharma talks in French. 0:04:09.367,0:04:15.133 And maybe one of them will be Questions & Answers. 0:04:18.068,0:04:22.067 So there will be three times[br]when we gather altogether in one hamlet. 0:04:26.600,0:04:30.493 And, on the other days, we stay in our own hamlets 0:04:32.326,0:04:36.659 with our separate Dharma talks[br]and discussions and so on. 0:04:47.585,0:04:49.530 And after the French Retreat, 0:04:49.834,0:04:54.323 Thay and a number of monastics[br]will have to fly to Asia. 0:05:02.026,0:05:08.333 We have a tight schedule[br]in South Korea, in Hong Kong. 0:05:10.700,0:05:12.400 And in Thailand. 0:05:21.533,0:05:27.300 Because people over there[br]they want to make the most of the visit. 0:05:50.500,0:05:53.131 We know that the practice of Plum Village 0:05:54.598,0:06:01.665 can be seen in two points. 0:06:03.231,0:06:06.864 The first point is how to recognize the suffering, 0:06:08.064,0:06:09.597 and embrace it 0:06:11.230,0:06:15.430 and transform it. And that is an art. 0:06:16.673,0:06:21.713 Because life involves suffering, and happiness. 0:06:23.100,0:06:25.075 We cannot avoid suffering. 0:06:26.662,0:06:31.462 So we have to accept suffering.[br]We have to learn how to suffer. 0:06:33.631,0:06:37.038 If we know how to suffer, we will suffer less, much less. 0:06:38.233,0:06:41.543 And we will learn a lot from our suffering. 0:06:46.017,0:06:51.233 And we know how to make use,[br]make good use of the suffering 0:06:51.867,0:06:54.871 in order to create happiness. 0:06:55.900,0:06:58.633 Like the way we grow lotus flowers. 0:06:59.167,0:07:02.560 In order to grow lotus flowers we need mud. 0:07:03.026,0:07:05.993 So suffering is a kind of mud that we need 0:07:07.095,0:07:11.033 in order to generate the feeling of joy and happiness. 0:07:13.267,0:07:19.205 So the first point, the first aspect of the practice is[br]how to recognize suffering 0:07:22.238,0:07:23.763 and to embrace it, 0:07:25.164,0:07:27.030 and to transform it. 0:07:28.330,0:07:34.012 And we speak of the art of suffering. 0:07:35.063,0:07:38.568 It seems that his Holiness the Dalai Lama 0:07:38.922,0:07:43.169 has written a book with the title,[br]"The Art of Happiness". 0:07:44.533,0:07:50.700 We need a book, "The Art of Suffering".[br]We need, we have to learn how to suffer 0:07:52.767,0:07:57.733 because we know that[br]if we know how to suffer, we suffer much less. 0:07:58.066,0:08:03.767 And we can learn from that suffering.[br]And make good use of our suffering. 0:08:09.066,0:08:13.671 As true practitioners, we know that, 0:08:14.626,0:08:19.663 and we have our own experiences as how to suffer. 0:08:21.684,0:08:24.600 We have to learn how to suffer. That is an art. 0:08:26.133,0:08:30.767 We have to be able to smile to our suffering 0:08:34.032,0:08:35.789 with peace, 0:08:36.844,0:08:39.256 like we smile to the mud 0:08:39.355,0:08:44.274 when we know that[br]we have to make good use of the mud to 0:08:44.409,0:08:46.233 grow lotus flowers. 0:08:55.633,0:08:58.400 There are big blocks of suffering, 0:09:02.733,0:09:04.700 "la souffrance masse". 0:09:06.767,0:09:13.267 But there are what we call "les petites misères" 0:09:14.433,0:09:16.675 the little sufferings. 0:09:20.467,0:09:23.400 How to handle the little sufferings. 0:09:26.133,0:09:29.833 And if we know how to handle the little sufferings[br]we don't have to suffer. 0:09:30.633,0:09:33.233 They are daily things,[br] 0:09:37.343,0:09:42.287 "les petites misères de la vie quotidienne". 0:09:44.966,0:09:50.500 And we know how to handle[br]these little moments of suffering. 0:09:51.533,0:09:58.233 And we should be able[br]to share our practice with the people who come 0:09:58.900,0:10:00.433 to us. 0:10:04.067,0:10:13.133 So we are not afraid of these little miseries, little sufferings, because we know how to handle them. 0:10:13.667,0:10:16.433 They are part of our daily life. 0:10:17.300,0:10:20.631 And then when suffering has become a block, 0:10:22.831,0:10:27.819 we should know how to recognize it, how to embrace it. 0:10:28.264,0:10:34.131 And especially how to make good use[br]of the collective energy of the Sangha 0:10:34.527,0:10:36.453 in order to embrace it. 0:10:37.327,0:10:43.000 As a new practitioner, 0:10:45.122,0:10:47.300 as a new person in the practice 0:10:48.373,0:10:51.099 we may not be able to embrace our suffering, 0:10:51.400,0:10:55.203 because our mindfulness is not yet 0:10:57.315,0:11:01.704 vigorous enough, powerful enough. 0:11:02.426,0:11:06.967 So with the Sangha we can borrow[br]the collective energy of mindfulness 0:11:07.299,0:11:08.793 of the Sangha 0:11:09.560,0:11:14.367 in order to recognize and embrace[br]the block of suffering in us. 0:11:15.333,0:11:20.532 That suffering[br]may have been transmitted to us by our father 0:11:21.033,0:11:23.333 our mother, our ancestors. 0:11:30.900,0:11:36.198 And, if we know how to recognize,[br]embrace and transform it, 0:11:36.668,0:11:41.203 we do it for our father, our mother, our ancestors. 0:11:41.859,0:11:50.367 It's very kind of us to be able to do that[br]for our parents, for our ancestors, 0:11:50.933,0:11:55.067 and not to transmit it to our children, and their children. 0:11:56.232,0:11:58.200 The end of samsara. 0:12:06.767,0:12:11.467 Many people who have read[br]about the practice of Plum Village 0:12:14.000,0:12:17.567 and hear about the peace,[br]the energy of brotherhood, sisterhood, 0:12:20.700,0:12:26.300 and when they come to Plum Village[br]and at least sit with us and walk with us 0:12:28.900,0:12:33.032 they feel that that energy, the collective energy,[br]is something very real 0:12:34.533,0:12:37.433 and not just something people talk about. 0:12:39.767,0:12:42.385 When you allow yourself to be embraced 0:12:42.732,0:12:45.632 by that collective energy of mindfulness and peace, 0:12:46.535,0:12:48.392 you feel much better. 0:12:48.600,0:12:53.032 You feel that your suffering[br]is beginning to transform. 0:12:55.633,0:13:00.633 So, taking refuge in the Sangha[br]is a very crucial practice. 0:13:04.333,0:13:07.967 Monks, nuns, lay practitioners, sitting together 0:13:09.167,0:13:15.200 they come in peace,[br]and their energy of mindfulness can be powerful. 0:13:15.400,0:13:18.302 If we know how to sit among them, 0:13:18.513,0:13:23.410 how to allow the collective energy of mindfulness[br]to embrace our suffering 0:13:23.600,0:13:30.032 then we are like a drop of water flowing in a river,[br]and we feel much better. 0:13:31.067,0:13:34.099 We may not have to do anything, 0:13:34.500,0:13:37.666 we just allow ourselves to be embraced. 0:13:38.067,0:13:42.467 Allowed our suffering to be embraced[br]by the collective energy of the Sangha. 0:13:43.567,0:13:50.438 And that is the greatest gift that the Sangha can make[br]to the people who come. 0:14:04.633,0:14:10.300 Of course, we have to prepare many things 0:14:11.400,0:14:12.833 for a retreat. 0:14:14.133,0:14:16.374 We can do many things. 0:14:20.827,0:14:23.828 We can clean, we can wash, 0:14:25.231,0:14:27.974 we can cook, we can do many things for the retreat. 0:14:28.128,0:14:30.725 We can serve the people. 0:14:32.072,0:14:33.876 We can help them. 0:14:35.344,0:14:38.772 But the best thing we can give them, 0:14:39.303,0:14:41.488 the most precious thing we can give them, 0:14:42.665,0:14:44.564 is not our labor, 0:14:45.144,0:14:48.512 our hard work. 0:14:49.133,0:14:51.376 The best thing we can provide them 0:14:51.933,0:14:56.462 is our collective energy of mindfulness and peace. 0:14:58.701,0:15:02.109 That is why during sitting meditation,[br]walking meditation, 0:15:02.449,0:15:04.844 we should try our best to be present. 0:15:06.469,0:15:12.078 Because that collective energy[br]will help calm them down, 0:15:13.139,0:15:15.282 help embrace their suffering 0:15:15.904,0:15:19.776 so that they can walk, they can sit,[br]they can breathe also. 0:15:20.216,0:15:22.983 Because many of them just cannot breathe, 0:15:23.937,0:15:27.843 just cannot walk, just cannot sit. 0:15:28.639,0:15:32.170 And with that collective energy[br]of mindfulness and peace 0:15:32.473,0:15:34.405 that we have as a Sangha, 0:15:35.039,0:15:38.207 we can give them a chance 0:15:38.604,0:15:41.833 so that they can breathe, 0:15:42.658,0:15:45.137 they can walk and they can sit. 0:15:45.532,0:15:51.917 This is the best thing we can offer them as a Sangha. 0:15:53.532,0:15:55.401 So it is not hard labor 0:15:55.598,0:15:58.761 that is the best thing we can provide, 0:15:59.050,0:16:03.978 but that energy of peace and joy and brotherhood. 0:16:30.752,0:16:33.435 The people who are coming they are lucky, 0:16:33.993,0:16:37.978 because they are capable of arranging so[br]that they have a week 0:16:40.783,0:16:43.167 to spend with us. 0:16:43.728,0:16:46.308 Many other people they like it, they want it, 0:16:46.905,0:16:49.007 but they cannot arrange, 0:16:49.202,0:16:53.615 they do not have time, they do not have money. 0:16:54.688,0:16:58.887 So those who can come this time, 0:16:59.375,0:17:01.097 they are lucky enough 0:17:01.861,0:17:04.682 to have seven days to be with the Sangha. 0:17:09.417,0:17:11.664 We should be aware of that. 0:17:13.971,0:17:16.261 We should try our best in order to 0:17:16.600,0:17:20.531 give them a chance for transformation and healing. 0:17:25.680,0:17:27.835 Thay is going to tell them 0:17:28.411,0:17:30.445 in the first retreat (day), 0:17:30.844,0:17:32.491 that healing is possible 0:17:33.147,0:17:35.038 right in the retreat. 0:17:37.837,0:17:40.902 Not after the retreat but right during the retreat. 0:17:42.479,0:17:44.745 Because if they follow the instructions 0:17:46.347,0:17:48.726 to breathe, to sit and to walk, 0:17:49.048,0:17:52.701 and healing is possible with every step, 0:17:53.072,0:17:55.568 healing is possible with every breath. 0:18:01.073,0:18:02.877 And this is the truth. 0:18:03.600,0:18:06.877 There is no way to healing, healing is the way. 0:18:12.003,0:18:16.462 We should tell them[br]that in order to heal, they have to stop. 0:18:18.048,0:18:22.251 Il faut relâcher pour pouvoir guérir. 0:18:22.776,0:18:26.254 If they don't stop, there is no hope to heal. 0:18:30.730,0:18:36.158 They have not healed because they have not stopped. 0:18:37.086,0:18:40.330 So the five mindfulness trainings[br]is a very important teaching. 0:18:41.813,0:18:46.569 The five mindfulness trainings is to stop 0:18:48.042,0:18:52.645 the kind of action, the kind of thinking, that can create 0:18:55.170,0:18:56.744 ill-being, 0:18:57.332,0:18:58.870 sickness. 0:19:00.676,0:19:06.621 The five mindfulness trainings[br]are also the kind of thinking and acting 0:19:07.387,0:19:09.482 that have the power to heal. 0:19:10.803,0:19:15.714 So without the five mindfulness trainings[br]healing is not possible. 0:19:20.608,0:19:23.281 Stopping is very important. 0:19:25.492,0:19:27.451 Stop and heal. 0:19:28.479,0:19:35.340 That is also the theme that we offer,[br]the teaching, in South Korea. 0:19:41.483,0:19:46.603 If we know how to stop,[br]healing can take place right away. 0:19:47.021,0:19:48.604 With every step. 0:19:51.901,0:19:54.079 Every breath, and so on. 0:19:55.176,0:19:57.595 So we should be able to convince them 0:19:58.518,0:20:00.051 to stop. 0:20:01.766,0:20:04.108 To stop whatever they are doing 0:20:04.665,0:20:06.313 that can lead 0:20:07.077,0:20:08.735 to suffering, 0:20:10.236,0:20:12.243 to anger, to despair. 0:20:18.943,0:20:21.453 They will know what to stop 0:20:22.772,0:20:24.451 in order to heal. 0:20:27.204,0:20:28.764 We will tell them 0:20:29.575,0:20:35.283 how have we been able to stop 0:20:36.435,0:20:38.336 and to start healing. 0:20:38.959,0:20:42.105 We have to share our experience with us. 0:20:44.807,0:20:49.320 The moment when you decide to stop[br]you feel very light. 0:20:49.980,0:20:52.951 You feel the healing taking place right away. 0:20:53.786,0:20:55.775 That is a great moment. 0:20:56.146,0:20:58.606 The determination to stop. 0:21:15.734,0:21:17.841 And then, we will tell them 0:21:18.625,0:21:24.179 that it is possible[br]to create moments of happiness in our daily life. 0:21:26.185,0:21:27.507 There are 0:21:30.279,0:21:32.045 small 0:21:32.910,0:21:34.594 happinesses 0:21:35.121,0:21:38.527 that we can create at any moment of our daily life. 0:21:38.912,0:21:40.819 That is an art, also. 0:21:42.048,0:21:43.538 The art 0:21:44.428,0:21:46.248 of happiness. 0:21:47.670,0:21:50.261 Whether you drink a cup of tea, 0:21:50.973,0:21:54.127 or take a walk, or just sit down and look, 0:21:54.440,0:21:58.476 you can create happiness during that time. 0:21:59.813,0:22:04.917 A little bit, the ingredients that you need[br]in order to create a moment of happiness 0:22:05.547,0:22:07.494 can be recognized. 0:22:13.132,0:22:18.110 We know that mindfulness[br]is a source of joy, a source of happiness. 0:22:23.285,0:22:25.147 People complain that 0:22:26.335,0:22:28.644 they do not have happiness. 0:22:31.080,0:22:32.904 We should be able to tell them 0:22:33.313,0:22:37.270 that they have conditions to be happy. 0:22:37.705,0:22:42.650 And help them to recognize[br]this conditions of happiness that they do have. 0:22:45.839,0:22:48.888 The cherry blossoms are there, 0:22:56.676,0:23:00.427 but they are not capable of 0:23:02.611,0:23:05.916 contemplating, enjoying the cherry blossoms. 0:23:08.267,0:23:10.396 The sunshine is there, 0:23:10.856,0:23:13.179 spring is coming, all this things 0:23:14.353,0:23:16.553 are wonders of life. 0:23:16.879,0:23:19.581 And yet, they are caught in something. 0:23:20.042,0:23:21.874 They are not capable of 0:23:23.379,0:23:25.271 recognizing this 0:23:27.583,0:23:29.481 conditions of happiness. 0:23:29.809,0:23:32.152 They have a body. 0:23:33.138,0:23:35.857 And yet they do not have access to their body. 0:23:36.570,0:23:40.245 It's funny. You have a body,[br]but you don't have access to your body. 0:23:43.647,0:23:45.983 You cannot go home to your body. 0:23:46.655,0:23:49.668 You cannot touch your body and say: 0:23:49.952,0:23:51.745 this is my body. 0:23:52.875,0:23:55.010 Because they don't have mindfulness. 0:24:00.109,0:24:02.840 When they spend three hours with their computer, 0:24:03.269,0:24:05.752 they completely forget that they have a body. 0:24:07.515,0:24:09.215 They stay in a 0:24:10.699,0:24:12.415 world of 0:24:14.834,0:24:16.775 unreal world. 0:24:23.271,0:24:25.522 And that is why in Plum Village 0:24:27.908,0:24:29.974 our brothers and sisters 0:24:32.629,0:24:37.438 like to program a bell of mindfulness in the computer, 0:24:37.951,0:24:42.033 so that from time to time we are reminded 0:24:42.510,0:24:45.045 to stop and go back to our body 0:24:45.736,0:24:47.393 and breathe in 0:24:50.042,0:24:53.720 using the mindfulness of breathing in order to 0:24:53.995,0:24:57.797 recognize our body and get in touch with it. 0:24:59.545,0:25:01.880 Maybe our body is calling us 0:25:04.160,0:25:06.541 but we don't hear. 0:25:07.806,0:25:10.646 Our body need us, but we don't hear. 0:25:13.053,0:25:15.369 If we can get in touch with our body 0:25:16.232,0:25:18.629 we can get in touch with our feelings also. 0:25:18.786,0:25:21.257 There are many feelings calling us. 0:25:22.002,0:25:29.181 Suffering is like a child calling us,[br]a suffering child is calling us. 0:25:31.060,0:25:36.842 But we ignore the voice of the child within. 0:25:37.846,0:25:40.749 Because every feeling is a child. 0:25:48.205,0:25:51.384 So mindfulness help us to get in touch 0:25:52.334,0:25:56.452 not only only with the suffering, [br]in order for us to embrace and transform, 0:25:56.990,0:25:59.183 mindfulness also help us to 0:26:01.227,0:26:04.504 to touch the wonders of life, including our body. 0:26:07.980,0:26:09.985 Breathing in can be 0:26:13.743,0:26:15.388 can be a delight. 0:26:17.042,0:26:19.317 Breathing out can be a delight. 0:26:19.858,0:26:21.706 You enjoy your breathing. 0:26:24.497,0:26:28.579 Just visualize a monk sitting on the grass. 0:26:29.312,0:26:34.949 He does not do anything.[br]He just breath in and enjoy his in-breath. He is free. 0:26:35.627,0:26:37.764 He is free from worries, 0:26:40.911,0:26:42.504 from anger, 0:26:43.655,0:26:45.411 from craving. 0:26:47.953,0:26:51.346 He is capable of getting in touch with his body 0:26:52.060,0:26:53.842 and the blue sky, 0:26:54.349,0:26:59.802 the green color, with the spring coming. 0:27:01.676,0:27:07.833 So we should be able to do that[br]in order to remind the people who are coming 0:27:08.501,0:27:12.118 that they can also create moments of happiness. 0:27:12.982,0:27:16.203 Les petits bonheurs de chaque jour. 0:27:20.866,0:27:24.302 Learn how to enjoy. 0:27:24.861,0:27:29.514 Learn how to savor the little happinesses 0:27:30.073,0:27:31.812 in our daily life. 0:27:32.214,0:27:33.811 And that is possible. 0:27:59.616,0:28:01.538 There are many talented people. 0:28:03.118,0:28:05.615 They can get a diploma. 0:28:06.979,0:28:13.684 They can get invent a new machine. 0:28:15.873,0:28:17.900 They can do many things. 0:28:23.632,0:28:25.482 We will ask them: 0:28:27.225,0:28:30.364 Can you create a moment of happiness? 0:28:32.352,0:28:34.431 Can you make use of your body, 0:28:36.553,0:28:38.983 can you make use of your in-breath, 0:28:39.832,0:28:42.243 can you make use of your mindfulness 0:28:42.542,0:28:45.269 in order to create a moment of happiness? 0:28:45.482,0:28:46.916 A feeling of happiness? 0:28:50.129,0:28:51.625 The way we 0:28:53.500,0:28:55.426 make a soup. 0:28:55.774,0:29:00.174 In order to make a soup we need some water,[br]some vegetables, some tofu and so on. 0:29:02.286,0:29:04.842 Most of us are able to make a good soup. 0:29:08.080,0:29:12.682 Un petit bonheur, a little happiness[br]is like that, is like a soup. 0:29:13.705,0:29:16.768 And with some ingredients[br]we are capable of making 0:29:17.403,0:29:20.643 a moment of happiness for us and for the other person. 0:29:22.586,0:29:26.177 You can offer some of your soup to the other person. 0:29:27.171,0:29:31.203 If you know how to invent,[br]to create a moment of happiness 0:29:31.783,0:29:36.280 you can enjoy that happiness[br]and you can offer that to the other person. 0:29:37.805,0:29:39.583 So that is an art. 0:29:40.077,0:29:42.978 The art of happiness. 0:29:45.050,0:29:47.519 You have to learn to enjoy. 0:29:53.889,0:29:55.626 And to fabricate 0:30:02.322,0:30:06.122 this feelings of joy and happiness in our daily life. 0:30:43.359,0:30:47.710 Il faut apprendre à savourer les petits bonheurs. 0:30:51.278,0:30:53.224 To learn how to savor 0:30:54.774,0:30:58.346 the little happinesses in our daily life. 0:30:59.852,0:31:01.485 And to create them. 0:31:06.955,0:31:08.679 And we know 0:31:10.850,0:31:12.628 how to stop 0:31:14.412,0:31:19.165 the Non Stop Thinking radio, NST, 0:31:20.604,0:31:22.495 in order to do so. 0:31:22.865,0:31:27.608 If you allow the radio inside to continue, 0:31:27.914,0:31:29.965 then you cannot do anything. 0:31:34.969,0:31:42.002 Because there is always that mental discourse[br]going on day and night in your head. 0:31:43.374,0:31:47.071 You think of the past, you invoke the past, 0:31:48.446,0:31:50.272 you are afraid of the future, 0:31:50.704,0:31:52.882 and the thinking goes on. 0:31:53.776,0:31:56.924 And it takes away all space in you. 0:31:57.238,0:31:59.594 You have no time to live your life. 0:32:00.990,0:32:02.669 It is very important 0:32:03.757,0:32:06.509 to stop the radio inside, 0:32:06.952,0:32:10.484 the non stop NST, Non Stop Thinking. 0:32:13.028,0:32:15.270 Because that is the practice of 0:32:17.381,0:32:18.990 rumination. 0:32:24.274,0:32:29.299 We eat and we chew again and again 0:32:30.173,0:32:31.745 our suffering, 0:32:32.243,0:32:35.522 our worries, and that is not good for your health. 0:32:37.222,0:32:39.378 So we should be able to help them 0:32:41.881,0:32:46.534 not to continue to eat their own consciousness. 0:32:47.779,0:32:49.118 That is about 0:32:50.848,0:32:52.539 the fourth nutriment. 0:32:53.571,0:32:55.600 Consciousness as food. 0:32:56.111,0:32:58.505 In our consciousness there are suffering, 0:33:01.053,0:33:02.869 regret, sorrow. 0:33:06.385,0:33:10.851 We have the habit of bringing them up again 0:33:11.352,0:33:15.534 from the depth of our consciousness[br]and chew and eat them again and again and again. 0:33:16.205,0:33:17.846 That is not healthy, 0:33:18.690,0:33:20.565 a healthy kind of food. 0:33:22.057,0:33:23.514 So stopping 0:33:24.544,0:33:27.913 the mental discourse is very important in the practice. 0:33:33.301,0:33:34.768 It's funny that 0:33:35.230,0:33:41.137 in Plum Village not only we don't drink alcohol, 0:33:42.609,0:33:47.176 eat meat, but we advice not to talk and not to think. 0:33:49.379,0:33:54.091 Because while walking if we talk or think, 0:33:55.230,0:33:57.735 we allow that radio to continue 0:33:58.700,0:34:00.312 and you are victim, 0:34:01.681,0:34:05.502 you are victim of the past, of the future, of worries. 0:34:06.038,0:34:08.136 We are not living our life. 0:34:08.385,0:34:12.157 In order to be able to live our life[br]we have to stop the radio inside. 0:34:15.850,0:34:17.783 Le discours intérieur. 0:34:20.358,0:34:25.576 And then, how can you enjoy your steps 0:34:26.472,0:34:29.074 if you allow the radio to continue? 0:34:29.613,0:34:32.639 That is why it is very important to stop the radio inside. 0:34:35.153,0:34:36.706 To feel, 0:34:38.131,0:34:39.828 rather than to think. 0:34:41.299,0:34:45.455 When we touch the ground with our foot 0:34:46.591,0:34:48.310 we should be able to feel. 0:34:49.310,0:34:51.368 And the feeling can bring insight. 0:34:55.111,0:34:57.670 We are concentrated on that feeling. 0:34:58.481,0:35:00.370 I am touching mother Earth 0:35:00.885,0:35:03.171 with my left foot. 0:35:06.016,0:35:09.612 And in no time at all[br]you touch all the wonders of life 0:35:10.104,0:35:11.572 that are available 0:35:13.104,0:35:16.696 during the time you touch the ground with your left foot. 0:35:17.610,0:35:19.210 And you have the feeling, 0:35:19.629,0:35:21.894 a wonderful feeling of joy, 0:35:22.277,0:35:24.114 of well-being. 0:35:26.840,0:35:29.404 And by doing so, you can stop the thinking. 0:35:30.539,0:35:35.080 Stop the thinking in order to do that,[br]to do that in order to stop the thinking. 0:35:39.051,0:35:43.254 So to feel rather than to think is our practice. 0:35:44.628,0:35:46.203 To feel your body. 0:35:48.174,0:35:50.291 To be aware of each feeling. 0:35:52.591,0:35:54.215 To embrace them. 0:35:56.155,0:35:57.962 That is our practice. 0:35:58.486,0:36:00.509 And the healing is possible. 0:36:03.519,0:36:07.792 And we provide ourselves with a kind of healthy food. 0:36:11.113,0:36:15.558 We do not chew again and again[br]our sorrow, our fear, our anger, 0:36:15.910,0:36:18.112 which is not good for our health. 0:36:19.097,0:36:24.728 But we begin to get[br]the kind of healthy, sane food that we deserve. 0:36:26.034,0:36:27.982 And the Sangha around us 0:36:28.951,0:36:31.587 is there to remind us of our practice. 0:36:37.691,0:36:39.032 So we learn 0:36:41.953,0:36:45.546 how to walk joyfully and happily. 0:36:47.445,0:36:50.621 Walking meditation is not a hard labor. 0:36:54.999,0:36:57.478 Is not a duty that we have to perform. 0:36:57.852,0:36:59.846 That is an opportunity 0:37:00.376,0:37:02.999 to create moments of happiness. 0:37:03.540,0:37:08.916 That is a good opportunity[br]to create moments of happiness 0:37:09.883,0:37:11.924 and to heal. 0:37:13.153,0:37:14.962 Walking meditation. 0:37:15.416,0:37:19.287 Whether you walk with a Sangha or you walk alone. 0:37:22.101,0:37:24.509 Walking with a Sangha you inherit, 0:37:25.515,0:37:28.886 you profit from the collective energy of the Sangha. 0:37:30.708,0:37:32.294 And walking alone 0:37:32.621,0:37:35.900 you radiate the energy of peace and mindfulness 0:37:36.942,0:37:38.721 and you remind people 0:37:39.838,0:37:41.837 to walk like you. 0:37:45.576,0:37:47.221 Any moment of practice 0:37:48.737,0:37:52.352 can heal and help heal other people. 0:37:53.334,0:37:56.821 Not only you yourself, but to help heal other people. 0:37:57.356,0:38:01.759 It's very pleasant to see a brother or a sister[br]walking mindfully and happily 0:38:02.621,0:38:04.220 on a campus. 0:38:04.840,0:38:07.199 That is very nourishing and healing. 0:38:09.336,0:38:13.230 So whether you walk with a Sangha or you walk alone 0:38:13.804,0:38:17.174 your steps are very important for us. 0:38:21.019,0:38:25.075 And the people who come to us,[br]when they see us walking like that 0:38:25.282,0:38:28.102 they have faith in the practice, in the Dharma. 0:38:38.090,0:38:41.393 When we have lunch, when we eat, 0:38:44.284,0:38:45.951 there must be a way of eating 0:38:46.683,0:38:53.221 in order for every moment of the meal[br]can be healing, can be nourishing. 0:38:54.305,0:38:58.931 We do not only get the nutriment from the food, 0:38:59.259,0:39:01.739 but from the Sangha. 0:39:02.510,0:39:06.193 Because together, sitting together and eating 0:39:06.488,0:39:11.391 we generate energy of mindfulness,[br]collective energy of mindfulness and brotherhood. 0:39:11.756,0:39:15.046 And that is very healthy, that is very healing. 0:39:16.631,0:39:19.374 So eating like that you stop the thinking. 0:39:21.070,0:39:24.766 And you became aware of[br]the members of the Sangha around you. 0:39:26.480,0:39:30.837 Everyone is generating[br]the energy of peace, brotherhood. 0:39:31.256,0:39:34.526 That is healing, that is good food. 0:39:37.376,0:39:39.600 So eating together is a practice. 0:39:40.950,0:39:44.689 Is not hard labor, is not a duty to perform. 0:39:46.804,0:39:48.220 Also, 0:39:49.045,0:39:50.881 sitting meditation. 0:39:51.697,0:39:53.580 Sitting meditation is 0:39:54.924,0:39:57.203 an opportunity to heal, 0:39:58.597,0:40:01.192 to create moments of joy also. 0:40:02.323,0:40:06.009 And not a moment when you have to be there 0:40:08.381,0:40:14.390 waiting for the bell to sound[br]announcing the end of the sitting. 0:40:14.946,0:40:17.107 No. That would be a waste. 0:40:18.488,0:40:20.761 C'est du gaspillage. 0:40:23.977,0:40:25.474 It is very 0:40:26.331,0:40:29.709 very rare, very precious moments. 0:40:30.572,0:40:35.950 People in the world, they don't have[br]the time to sit and do nothing like that. 0:40:37.826,0:40:41.189 They consider it to be uneconomic. 0:40:44.026,0:40:45.471 A luxury. 0:40:46.783,0:40:48.456 Time is money. 0:40:49.365,0:40:51.053 But we know that sitting 0:40:53.140,0:40:54.814 can be very healing. 0:40:56.050,0:41:00.046 So we have to learn how to enjoy[br]every moment of our sitting. 0:41:00.564,0:41:04.313 How to breath, how to sit,[br]so that every moment of sitting 0:41:04.670,0:41:06.840 can be nourishing and healing. 0:41:10.974,0:41:13.170 And if we know that 0:41:16.037,0:41:18.996 that schedule is made by ourselves 0:41:19.512,0:41:22.701 and not imposed on us by a political party, 0:41:25.024,0:41:26.834 or by the King. 0:41:30.233,0:41:35.314 It is the Sangha who has created the schedule 0:41:36.279,0:41:39.403 so that we can make good use of the schedule 0:41:40.318,0:41:43.122 for our transformation and healing. 0:41:44.545,0:41:49.036 The schedule is not imposed on us[br]by anyone, including Thay. 0:41:50.815,0:41:54.196 The schedule has been designed by the whole Sangha 0:41:54.729,0:41:57.814 so that everyone has equal chance 0:41:58.634,0:42:00.978 to transform and to heal. 0:42:02.438,0:42:04.330 So we should not complain 0:42:04.592,0:42:06.778 that the schedule is too tight. 0:42:07.292,0:42:10.048 Only beginners need a tight schedule. 0:42:14.245,0:42:16.113 That is the raison-d'être 0:42:17.306,0:42:21.144 of a practitioner, to have a schedule. 0:42:21.564,0:42:24.776 And we know that doing with a Sangha, 0:42:25.439,0:42:27.218 doing together with a Sangha, 0:42:28.419,0:42:31.712 is better, is easier, is more pleasant. 0:42:33.188,0:42:36.549 So the bell and the Sangha coming to the sitting 0:42:36.787,0:42:38.439 is helping us. 0:42:41.958,0:42:46.009 Is a great help that everyone is going to the sitting 0:42:46.938,0:42:50.630 so we are going to the sitting.[br]That is something very natural. 0:42:51.546,0:42:53.853 We don't have to make any effort. 0:43:02.066,0:43:03.927 It is said in many sutras 0:43:04.296,0:43:06.012 that the Dharma 0:43:06.425,0:43:09.256 is lovely, is pleasant, 0:43:10.108,0:43:13.187 in the beginning, in the middle, at the end. 0:43:13.546,0:43:17.292 So every minute of the practice[br]should be pleasant, should be healing 0:43:18.996,0:43:20.884 and transforming.