9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Bell) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Bell) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Bell) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Bell) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Good morning 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 dear Thay dear sangha, Today is the 9th,[br]Sunday, the 9th of December, 2018. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We are in the Assembly of Stars[br]meditation hall in Lower Hamlet, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and this is the last of the Dharma talks 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 before the end of our three month[br]retreat together . 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So I feel a special sense of 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 speaking to that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Most of us have been here[br]for the three month retreat together. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We've been 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 those of you who came 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to Plum Village for three months[br]have experienced 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 going through ups and downs. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And maybe, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 some of the time you wondered,[br]'Why did I come?' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I don't know. Excuse me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's a loud blow. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Maybe you felt, 'Yeah, I'd be better off 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in a cave somewhere'. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Maybe in the Pole, or somewhere, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in some mountain. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 When we practice together,[br]we really 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 have to meet each other, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and get along together. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 If we don't get along together, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because we are living together 24/7, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it really shows up.[br]It is difficult to stay calm and to enjoy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So actually, a lot of the practice that[br]you've been learning these three months 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is how to live in harmony,[br]how to get along. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How to practice loving speech, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but also you have to communicate[br]when there is a difficulty, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but with loving speech. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How to let go 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of your preference[br]and maybe of your irritation. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 How to see the other person[br]is also suffering. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Maybe see that 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 try to understand them[br]so you can let go of judgment. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we have practices, like Beginning Anew[br]that we do regularly. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We do that formally, we sit down 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and practice expressing gratitude,[br]noticing the good things in each other, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and also expressing when we have a regret[br]towards each other. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It is very renewing practice. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We had - It is also,[br]we call it the season of Shining Light. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So because we see each other, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we are rooming together, eating together,[br]working together, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we see each other and we have[br]something called the sangha eye. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because, ourselves, if we are just[br]practising alone, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 there is a number of things that we miss[br]from practising in a community. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One is that because[br]we are not interacting, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 things don't maybe come up[br]in the same way. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So when we are interacting we get to see[br]ourselves, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but also we have blind spots. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And so the it's very helpful for us,[br]for the people we trust, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we open ourselves up,[br]we allow ourselves to be 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 open to receiving their view about us. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that view is expressed[br]with all of the love and appreciation also 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for the whole of us[br]not just pointing to the difficulty. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we also practice this[br]in the three months retreat, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 shining light on each other's practice, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in order to help the other person[br]have more freedom, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 more growth in themselves,[br]and more happiness. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sometimes it can be a bit scary 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to allow ourselves 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to have people share like that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I've known people run away. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But when they allow themselves to[br]they only experience the love. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I'm sure there are[br]some exceptions to that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sometimes people can get hurt also,[br]and then we also have compassion 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that we are learning the practice. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So living together is[br]a practice in itself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And in a sense, it is - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you can say that[br]learning to live together, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 learning to get along is also the fruit[br]of the practice. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Thay has said, brotherhood, sisterhood,[br]there is no religion 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that is higher than that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we are generating[br]brotherhood and sisterhood. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We are going in that spirit. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There was a Harvard study 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 done, it was one of the longest ever[br]studies, 75 years. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It is still going on, I think. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And they interview[br]and get also self-information 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 from standardised groups of men[br]in the States. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Essentially the point is that 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they were looking to see[br]what are the conditions 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for happiness and health 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 looking right through the life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And what they found was[br]if you want to know 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what makes a happy octogenarian,[br]that means, if you are 80 years or over, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because these groups they've been[br]following since they were boys, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and now they are in their 80's. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You look back when they are 50 years old,[br]which is my age, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you can determine whether 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the conditions that seem to be common, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 like the ones that are happy,[br]the ones that are healthy, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the result is only one factor. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It is not how much cholesterol[br]in the blood, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it is not many things you might think, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but the one factor that comes out 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is those people report that they have[br]good relationships. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Relationships they can trust. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that seems to be 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 an essential requisite for a happy life. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So in community,we are blessed with having[br].many deep connections to each other. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There is a lot of trust of each other[br]in the community, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 which allows us to be open,[br]and allows us to be 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 free to express. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And, of course, relationships, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when we talk about relationships, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what came to my mind when I[br]heard about this study is, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what about the relationship[br]we have to ourselves? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Do we trust ourselves? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This must also be important. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And the relationship we have to society,[br]to Mother Earth. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This must also count[br]as a relationship. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And it is also clear[br]we know from our experience 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 That to the extend that we are[br]in a good relationship with ourselves, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 our relationship with others goes well. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And when our relationship with ourselves[br]is not so good, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we find, things seem[br]to get reflected to us. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The sangha is like a hall of mirrors.[br]We keep seeing ourselves reflected. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So when we have a difficult interaction, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it's always helpful to ask[br]what is going on in me 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that is connected with[br]that difficult interaction, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as well as, you know,[br]because there is a tendency maybe 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to blame or put it on the other person. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We may see interesting things[br]when we do that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We may see that, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 'Ah! This reaction I had in the meeting,[br]or in this interaction, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 brought about[br]quite a strong emotion in me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It seems a bit more than, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 kind of disproportionated[br]to what actually happened. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Why did I get so angry? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Why did I feel so anxious?' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I myself found myself in a situation[br]where some anxiety and fear came, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and it started actually that anger. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was feeling somehow slightly let down[br]about something, and then 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 this anxiety came.[br]And I ask the question to myself, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what does this remind me of? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I should ask it to my store consciousness.[br]What does this remind me of? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I just waited for something to come, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I suddenly had an image of myself[br]in kindergarten. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 A memory that I didn't have before. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It is not one I could remember,[br]but it's suddenly a flash 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of waiting to be picked up. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But my mother was late that day. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And there was a fear in me, I guess.[br]And it was amazing how that 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I made the connection just[br]by asking that question. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So it allowed me to, just having[br]that interaction with the other person 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 allowed me to touch something[br]that needed healing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And the healing is maybe a continuous 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 path of healing that we are on. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We are not going to heal[br]everything overnight, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or with one insight. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But we, each time we have a small healing,[br]we get more energy and more confidence. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we feel, wow![br]Okay, this is a good path. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And actually, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 just understanding ourselves, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 understanding that this is[br]where it is coming from, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in a sense it can help so much 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 knowing that we have a practice[br]that also embraces 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 ourselves in that moment, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 embraces maybe the little boy,[br]the little girl in us, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when we see that coming up, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we recognize that there is[br]some suffering there relating to that age 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when we were very young, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we have the opportunity to embrace,[br]to smile and with our solidity, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that we generate through the practice,[br]we can breathe with that emotion. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So knowing we have a path, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we have a lot of kind of 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we have happiness and we have[br]a sense that the suffering 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 doesn't need to be so much now, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because the biggest suffering[br]is not having a way, having a path. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we have a lot of gratitude also[br]for having the practice. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Even before we've applied it, but when[br]we apply it, and we get the experience, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 every time we are so grateful. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I also had an opportunity in this winter,[br]this three month retreat, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we don't call it the winter retreat now[br]because for the very first time 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is more the autumn period. I also had[br]an experience this three month retreat 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of connecting with my 14 year old in me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And, yeah. At that time[br]when he felt very isolated 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and not enjoying school,[br]and feeling 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 pretty in a bit of a hostile environment[br]he found. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I knew, I know about this time, and I[br]know t somehow shows up in my interactions 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but I took sometime to try to talk[br]with the boy. And he showed up. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I, he said, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 he asked, I asked, 'Would you like[br]to spend time with me? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Now I'm an adult'. And he said,[br]'You are too busy'. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 'You got too many things going on. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I cause you[br]all sorts of problems anyway, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 so I don't want to cause you[br]any more problems. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I don't want to take up your time.' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It was very fascinating[br]to hear this response. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And actually, it gave me quite[br]some insight into myself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because, of course, that is part of me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So I share that because 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it is part of our journey[br]that we are on to 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 heal all the parts of ourselves. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Inside as well as outside.[br]Inside we also have a kind of sangha. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Different voices. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we also need to bring harmony to[br]those different voices inside ourselves. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But when I was deciding to become a monk, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I remember 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the Dharma teacher[br]from the UK Martin Pitt, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 he gave me that advice, he said,[br]'In making the decision, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 check with your internal sangha, and[br]make sure everybody -' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So it's a real sangha, a real decision. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because there are[br]these many voices in you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Some other voices of doubt,[br]I had to say, 'Please, I hear you, but 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we've touched something deeper[br]than doubt at this moment', 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and the doubt had to agree. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The Christians say, the doubting Thomas. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 isn't a fascinating journey, isn't it?[br]The spiritual path. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we do it together. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And somehow, being together as a community[br]brings so much joy and insight, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it is so rich. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Some others are going away,[br]going back to the real world. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I always find slightly ironic[br]to use that term, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because it seems like out[br]in the real world 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is where people are busy, very busy,[br]running away from reality. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Whereas the idea here in Plum Village[br]is we touch reality 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 within us and in nature. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But we go back out, and[br]we want to maintain our practice. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One of the things we need to draw on is[br]the connections we made here, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to keep them in our heart, and know 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when we think we are isolated,[br]and all around out there, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 remember that is not true.[br]Because the connections we make 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that are real, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they are not subject to dissolving simply[br]because we are in a different place, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they are non local. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we always remember[br]the sangha has our back. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They are behind us. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 People visualize it in different ways. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Connected with the Harvard study[br]I mentioned, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 loneliness is the biggest killer. That is[br]a medical fact, that loneliness kills. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we are so blessed that we don't - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We have so many conditions[br]to not be lonely 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 through the practice of[br]being there for ourselves, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and learning how to be there with[br]other people and the connections we make. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The relationships we make. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because even you can be in a relationship,[br]you can be in a family, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you can be with many people,[br]but, as the 14 year old boy, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in a boarding school,[br]lots and lots of people. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They are not dissimilar to Plum Village's.[br]Living in a dormitory, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 sharing rooms. But I felt isolated[br]and lonely at that particular time. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So it's not exactly[br]that you are next to people 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that you don't feel lonely. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It can also be that you can feel lonely[br]even in Plum Village. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Again, if you 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 somehow are not in good relationship[br]with what is going on in you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And in those cases, where[br]that is happening in Plum Village, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the encouragement is to stay. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And you may feel[br]you don't have 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 your smile anymore. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I'll always remember reading 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Thay saying,[br]'The dandelion keeps your smile.' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 You know, the flower you see all alone,[br]it has your smile for you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And like so in the sangha we can feel 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 not doing well, but we should try[br]to become aware 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that there is a lot of love 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and care. People are giving us space,[br]but they care. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And sometimes the care comes[br]in a way we don't want, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 maybe somebody comes into our space,[br]and tries to shake us up a bit. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And we don't want that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Maybe it wasn't so skilful of them. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But nevertheless we can recognize it[br]as good intention, as care. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we may have taken different themes[br]for this three month period, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as well. I know some of the brothers in[br]Upper Hamlet were studying the Anapanasati 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for instance. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Some brothers were studying[br]the 40 tenets of Plum Village. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The Manifestation Only teachings[br]was one subject I was engaged with. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I think many other topics.[br]But them all, somehow, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 connect to the same point 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of how to come into relationship[br]with myself, to be there, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and really understand what is going on[br]in my body, in my mind. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And see my nature of interbeing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And Thay has said that even just[br]practising the first 4 of the Anapanasati, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 awareness of the breath,[br]awareness of the body, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we touch all of the other aspects, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 because of the nature of interbeing. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So in connection when we are[br]just aware of our body, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as we really realize that,[br]oh, here is my body 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and I'm really get to be in my body, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 experiencing it with the breath, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I also naturally become aware[br]of my feelings. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They are part of what is going on, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and there is a correspondence in the body. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And also mental formations, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 perceptions and consciousness. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I remember, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 yes, we'll have one sound of the bell.[br]Thank you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Bell) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Bell) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I was just reflecting 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that one of the earliest winter retreat 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I can recall, I can't remember[br]specifically which one it was, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but Thay said at the very opening talk[br]of the retreat, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 'This retreat as an opportunity 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and we should practice to be there[br]for every mental formation 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as it arises.' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And this was, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I just remember being astounded[br]by the possibility of that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Every mental formation that will arise,[br]I will be there, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and embrace, and take care, and recognize. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I guess that was[br]a very wonderful thing to set 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as an aim for myself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 To try to be there for what is going on. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Always being aware[br]what mental formations come and go 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and watching the impermanence of them, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and watching them in relation to[br]what is happening in me, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 around me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And in my interactions. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But we sometimes get forgetful and lost,[br]so just like on the cushion, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we recognize and[br]we have to keep coming back. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 One of the themes[br]of the three month retreat 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 has been the 14 mindfulness trainings. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And the ones that were left to me[br]to share about 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 were concerning 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 right compassion and action, it has to do[br]with right livelihood, reverence for life 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and generosity. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So it is 11, 12 and 13. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The 14 mindfulness trainings, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Thay wrote then in 1964. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And it seems to me[br]they are as relevant today 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as they could ever had been. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They were written[br]in the time of the Vietnam War. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And they have been revised. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So we try to make them more and more[br]relevant and skilful, appropriate 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to our time and with the insight[br]that we have. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Ethics 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is a big subject, and in a sense, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the trainings, be they[br]the 5 mindfulness trainings or the 14, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they are a contribution to what we hope[br]is a good contributions to a global ethic. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And they don't need to be 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 religious or include Buddhist - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Kind of, things specific to Buddhism. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They can be put into the language that[br]is for anybody can feel comfortable with. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But hopefully, they are universal. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They speak to the universal. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And they are about 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they are about love, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 they are about the actions[br]and interactions 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that come about when we are 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 coming from a place of true love. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 True love we know[br]has a number of ingredients. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 True love has brotherhood and sisterhood, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 kindness in it, loving kindness. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It has that friendship element. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Spiritual friendship,[br]being there for each other. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 True love also has compassion. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We really can have empathy[br]for the other person, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but we don't get overwhelmed[br]by the suffering, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 so we can truly be there. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Even when somebody is suffering,[br]we can maintain our stability 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and be there for that person[br]and help them. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 True love also has joy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Without joy, we can () so (). 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Joy is something very important. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And it arises[br]from unusual places sometimes. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sometimes it is the joy that comes[br]when we are able to 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 be there with our suffering in such a way[br]that we think, oh! 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This is a kind of joy,[br]because I get to be with - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I'm in the most important place,[br]where I need to be. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And there is a sort of[br]underlying joy to that, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 even though you are maybe[br]experiencing the suffering. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So I'm using that example to show[br]joy doesn't always show up, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 it's not always what we think[br]in terms of excitement, joy, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 although expressions of joy and smiles[br]is also 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 very good. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I said to a brother before I came[br]to the talk this morning, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 'I need to have a laugh before I go.'[br]I need to generate that joyful energy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sometimes we need to - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Sometimes I think of something funny[br]just to generate that joy. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But the real joy coming from friendship, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 from insight,[br]from our mindfulness practice, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that is a very deep kind of joy.[br]And we need that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And then there is inclusiveness. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We include all that is in us and[br]we take care of what is going on, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but we don't set up[br]an internal battle field. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So even we see part of ourselves[br]is seemingly 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 causing us suffering, maybe[br]doing something which brings us - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 makes us feel ashamed,[br]or it is a bad habit, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 or we've spoken to somebody in a bad way, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we somehow have to still have compassion[br]for that part of us too, and say, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Okay, I accept. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I accept everything that is there,[br]I love and accept myself just as I am. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I know that there are[br]causes and conditions 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for why it is like this right now.[br]Maybe I'm frustrated with myself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I also accept my frustration with myself.[br]Okay, I'm frustrated with myself. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So whatever is there, you say, Okay,[br]I get it. If you are there, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you are there for a reason.[br]And I accept you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It doesn't mean we have to be[br]again overwhelmed, or pushed, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but we accept and we smile to that.[br]An d we try to generate stability 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 so we can be with that part of ourselves[br]without being carried away. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And so too with our relationships[br]with other people, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and when we get frustrated and upset[br]with other people, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 to have this capacity to include and[br]to stay with, to be there for each other. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And there is 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 in the Discourse on Love, we are invited[br]to extend our love to all beings 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 across the entire cosmos.[br]It's very grand. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 A new chant that Thay Phap Linh[br]has been doing with a group of us 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is on the CD, a new chanting CD. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I'm very embarrassed with the video[br]they made to go with that, by the way. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I don't know if anybody saw it, but[br]I got very self-conscious seeing myself, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 To look like very, very sincere. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Anyway, on this chant, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 there is the line,[br]'showing love and concern for 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as for our very own family'. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So bringing that spirit of[br]being concerned for 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 anybody we meet 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as if they were our own family.[br]That is the spirit. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And it's not totally beyond our capacity. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We know when we are in a good place[br]we can have that openness of heart. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 There is a quote I heard about 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 a husband whose wife came back[br]after being on a Buddhist retreat. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And the husband was asked, 'Sorry,[br]have you seen any change in your wife 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 since she came back? - Yes, she is in love[br]with the whole universe, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but nobody in particular.' 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And I think that ment 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 we have to be careful to just be[br]in this place of thinking about 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 the grand love for everything, but then[br]we don't actually apply it to 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what is this relationship[br]going on right now. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Yes, I can't deal with this one, but, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I love - I feel so much for[br]all the suffering in the world, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 but I can't deal with you. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So that is also why a sangha is important. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 We meet the - It is where the rubber hits[br]the world, hits the real, we rub it. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 The expression is, the chopsticks we use,[br]to clean chopsticks 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 you get a bunch[br]and you rub them all together, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 rub and then clean them individually. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It is a good image. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Yes, I was going to share something. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I have emailed Christiana Figueres. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She is the lady[br]that brought together 195 countries 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for the Paris Climate Change Agreement.[br]Do you remember her? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She has been to Plum Village[br]quite a few times, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and she has spoken quite a few times[br]to young Wake Up groups 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 that were here[br]when we had a Wake Up retreats. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She has come with her daughter. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And she loves Plum Village. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But when she was doing the work, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I emailed her to just check[br]if she was Okay that I share this story. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Because when she was[br]in the middle of her work 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 of bringing together these countries 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 for the Paris, they call it, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 is it COP 21? Yes. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 COP 24 is going on right now in Poland. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So it is a momentous thing[br]that she achieved, and it sets, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 gave everybody quite a sense of Okay, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 at least these countries coming together, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 there is a certain sangha harmony[br]in the world to take climate change 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 as an issue to really do something.[br]And it was a great start that was - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 In all of the other previous times,[br]we couldn't get to the starting block. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So it was a wonderful thing[br]she was able to achieve, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and she did it with Thay's teachings.[br]And she practised listening. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She said that was the main factor[br]that helped to get to that. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 This listening to really understanding[br]what was the situation, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 what was the obstacles[br]for these countries, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 be they Saudi Arabia, China, etcetera. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But there was a period in that build up[br]of five years leading up to 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 2015 Paris, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 when she had a crisis,[br]a personal crisis. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And she was in Bonn at that time,[br]in Germany, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and she somehow, miraculously[br]found out about Plum Village. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 She knew nothing before[br]about Plum Village. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And she knew she needed to go somewhere.[br]She was very, very - 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Yeah, in a crisis. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And she found the EIAB,[br]our centre in Germany, it was close enough 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 and she made an emergency booking. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And she just went. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 Nobody knew who she was.[br]She said to us that it saved her. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It really saved her. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 And that the Vietnamese sisters,[br]with their kindness, that were there, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 she was staying in the sister's place,[br]they don't know what they did for me. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 They didn't know who I was. She is a[br]retreatant. What else do you need to know? 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 It's probably good sometimes[br]we don't know who is here. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 I may get scared. 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 (Laughter) 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 But it- 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 So just the simple kindness,[br]and the joy, 9:59:59.000,9:59:59.000 was enough to support and[br]get her back into a good place.