0:00:05.977,0:00:07.506 (Bell) 0:00:12.326,0:00:18.484 (Bell) 0:00:45.623,0:00:51.041 (Bell) 0:01:19.695,0:01:25.889 (Bell) 0:01:49.367,0:01:51.449 Good morning 0:01:52.207,0:01:58.758 dear Thay dear sangha, today is the 9th,[br]Sunday, the 9th of December, 2018. 0:02:00.016,0:02:03.603 We are in the Assembly of Stars[br]meditation hall in Lower Hamlet, 0:02:03.758,0:02:09.023 and this is the last of the Dharma talks 0:02:09.542,0:02:15.892 before the end of our three month[br]retreat together. 0:02:17.299,0:02:20.804 So I feel a special sense of 0:02:25.075,0:02:27.272 speaking to that. 0:02:27.571,0:02:32.030 Most of us have been here[br]for the three month retreat together. 0:02:37.172,0:02:39.182 We've been 0:02:41.572,0:02:44.355 those of you who came 0:02:47.506,0:02:51.656 to Plum Village for three months[br]have experienced 0:02:52.880,0:02:55.689 going through ups and downs. 0:02:57.384,0:02:59.684 And maybe, 0:03:00.703,0:03:06.453 some of the time you wondered,[br]'Why did I come?' 0:03:07.691,0:03:10.293 I don't know. Excuse me. 0:03:11.954,0:03:14.014 It's a loud blow. 0:03:14.217,0:03:15.971 (Laughter) 0:03:18.222,0:03:21.998 Maybe you felt, 'Yeah, I'd be better off 0:03:23.616,0:03:25.837 in a cave somewhere'. 0:03:27.602,0:03:31.539 Maybe in the Pole, or somewhere, 0:03:32.309,0:03:34.387 in some mountain. 0:03:36.111,0:03:39.306 When we practice together,[br]we really 0:03:40.946,0:03:44.134 have to meet each other, 0:03:44.799,0:03:47.625 and get along together. 0:03:49.367,0:03:51.958 If we don't get along together, 0:03:52.586,0:03:56.299 because we are living together 24/7, 0:03:56.601,0:04:03.922 it really shows up.[br]It is difficult to stay calm and to enjoy. 0:04:08.908,0:04:15.221 So actually, a lot of the practice that[br]you've been learning these three months 0:04:15.738,0:04:19.768 is how to live in harmony,[br]how to get along. 0:04:20.985,0:04:27.554 How to practise loving speech, 0:04:30.622,0:04:35.558 but also you have to communicate[br]when there is a difficulty, 0:04:35.976,0:04:38.755 but with loving speech. 0:04:40.553,0:04:42.607 How to let go 0:04:44.772,0:04:49.312 of your preference[br]and maybe your irritation. 0:04:51.955,0:04:57.442 How to see the other person[br]is also suffering. 0:05:00.577,0:05:03.012 Maybe see that 0:05:03.385,0:05:08.414 try to understand them[br]so you can let go of judgment. 0:05:10.878,0:05:17.103 And we have practices, like Beginning Anew[br]that we do regularly. 0:05:19.252,0:05:22.614 We do that formally, we sit down 0:05:23.031,0:05:28.006 and practise expressing gratitude,[br]noticing the good things in each other, 0:05:28.689,0:05:36.009 and also expressing when we have a regret[br]towards each other. 0:05:36.842,0:05:42.261 It is a very renewing practice. 0:05:47.728,0:05:53.398 We had - It is also,[br]we call it the season of Shining Light. 0:05:54.721,0:05:57.819 So because we see each other, 0:05:58.374,0:06:02.325 we are rooming together, eating together,[br]working together, 0:06:02.700,0:06:07.080 we see each other and we have[br]something called the sangha eye. 0:06:09.059,0:06:15.439 Because, ourselves, if we are just[br]practising alone, 0:06:16.590,0:06:22.304 there is a number of things that we miss[br]from practising in a community. 0:06:23.364,0:06:27.361 One is that because[br]we are not interacting, 0:06:27.798,0:06:31.378 things don't maybe come up[br]in the same way. 0:06:31.819,0:06:36.526 So when we are interacting we get to see[br]ourselves, 0:06:36.805,0:06:39.776 but also we have blind spots. 0:06:40.008,0:06:45.221 And so then it's very helpful for us,[br]for the people we trust, 0:06:46.250,0:06:49.775 we open ourselves up,[br]we allow ourselves to be 0:06:50.403,0:06:56.916 open to receiving their view about us. 0:06:57.914,0:07:02.553 And that view is expressed[br]with all of the love and appreciation also 0:07:02.767,0:07:08.234 for the whole of us[br]not just pointing to the difficulty. 0:07:08.711,0:07:12.548 So we also practise this[br]in the three months retreat, 0:07:13.323,0:07:16.921 shining light on each other's practice, 0:07:19.745,0:07:24.731 in order to help the other person[br]have more freedom, 0:07:28.469,0:07:32.089 more growth in themselves,[br]and more happiness. 0:07:35.454,0:07:38.591 Sometimes it can be a bit scary 0:07:39.418,0:07:41.715 to allow ourselves 0:07:44.084,0:07:47.735 to have people share like that. 0:07:49.705,0:07:52.792 I've known people run away. 0:07:54.168,0:07:59.380 But when they allow themselves to[br]they only experience the love. 0:08:00.408,0:08:03.676 I'm sure there are[br]some exceptions to that. 0:08:03.887,0:08:09.153 Sometimes people can get hurt also,[br]and then we also have compassion 0:08:09.584,0:08:13.149 that we are learning the practice. 0:08:13.765,0:08:19.104 So living together is[br]a practice in itself. 0:08:26.636,0:08:29.752 And in a sense, it is - 0:08:30.871,0:08:34.884 you can say that[br]learning to live together, 0:08:35.808,0:08:41.984 learning to get along is also the fruit[br]of the practice. 0:08:43.384,0:08:48.654 Thay has said, brotherhood, sisterhood,[br]there is no religion 0:08:48.859,0:08:51.259 that is higher than that. 0:08:51.500,0:08:56.606 So we are generating[br]brotherhood and sisterhood. 0:08:56.811,0:09:00.810 We are going in that spirit. 0:09:11.008,0:09:13.762 There was a Harvard study 0:09:14.696,0:09:20.996 done, it was one of the longest ever[br]studies, 75 years. 0:09:21.215,0:09:23.816 It is still going on, I think. 0:09:25.391,0:09:30.079 And they interview[br]and get also self-information 0:09:31.865,0:09:36.080 from standardised groups of men[br]in the States. 0:09:39.163,0:09:42.623 Essentially the point is that 0:09:42.830,0:09:46.231 they were looking to see[br]what are the conditions 0:09:46.841,0:09:50.577 for happiness and health 0:09:54.781,0:09:57.942 looking right through the life. 0:09:58.858,0:10:02.559 And what they found was[br]if you want to know 0:10:03.134,0:10:08.170 what makes a happy octogenarian,[br]that means, if you are 80 years or over, 0:10:08.973,0:10:13.351 because these groups they've been[br]following since they were boys, 0:10:13.521,0:10:16.770 and now they are in their 80's. 0:10:18.759,0:10:23.065 You look back to when they are[br]50 years old, which is roughly my age, 0:10:24.512,0:10:28.800 and you can determine whether 0:10:29.784,0:10:33.080 the conditions that seem to be common, 0:10:33.255,0:10:37.132 like the ones that are happy,[br]the ones that are healthy, 0:10:37.692,0:10:41.483 the result is only one factor. 0:10:44.410,0:10:48.269 It is not how much cholesterol[br]in the blood, 0:10:48.492,0:10:52.097 it is not many things you might think, 0:10:52.273,0:10:56.023 but the one factor that comes out 0:10:58.156,0:11:06.231 is those people report that they have[br]good relationships. 0:11:07.579,0:11:11.167 Relationships they can trust. 0:11:13.723,0:11:15.997 And that seems to be 0:11:16.220,0:11:20.989 an essential requisite for a happy life. 0:11:22.609,0:11:32.278 So in community we are blessed with having[br]many deep connections to each other. 0:11:37.649,0:11:41.939 There is a lot of trust of each other[br]in the community, 0:11:43.099,0:11:47.184 which allows us to be open,[br]and allows us to be 0:11:48.426,0:11:51.010 free to express. 0:12:01.643,0:12:04.825 And, of course, relationships, 0:12:05.822,0:12:08.597 when we talk about relationships, 0:12:09.820,0:12:14.963 what came to my mind when I[br]heard about this study was, 0:12:15.225,0:12:20.423 what about the relationship[br]we have to ourselves? 0:12:22.871,0:12:25.888 Do we trust ourselves? 0:12:26.459,0:12:29.465 This must also be important. 0:12:31.211,0:12:38.168 And the relationship we have to society,[br]to Mother Earth. 0:12:42.871,0:12:47.187 This must also count[br]as a relationship. 0:12:48.063,0:12:52.792 And it is also clear[br]we know from our experience 0:12:58.281,0:13:02.546 that to the extent that we are[br]in a good relationship with ourselves, 0:13:03.210,0:13:06.427 our relationship with others goes well. 0:13:09.457,0:13:14.459 And when our relationship with ourselves[br]is not so good, 0:13:16.276,0:13:22.050 we find things seem[br]to get reflected to us. 0:13:23.918,0:13:29.523 The sangha is like a hall of mirrors.[br]We keep seeing ourselves reflected. 0:13:33.962,0:13:36.980 So when we have a difficult interaction, 0:13:37.192,0:13:40.851 it's always helpful to ask[br]what is going on in me 0:13:41.117,0:13:44.489 that is connected with[br]that difficult interaction, 0:13:45.283,0:13:49.415 as well as, you know,[br]because there is a tendency maybe 0:13:49.626,0:13:52.938 to blame or put it on the other person. 0:13:57.552,0:14:02.180 We may see interesting things[br]when we do that. 0:14:07.376,0:14:09.553 We may see that, 0:14:11.768,0:14:18.488 'Ah! This reaction I had in the meeting,[br]or in this interaction, 0:14:20.834,0:14:25.396 brought about[br]quite a strong emotion in me. 0:14:25.604,0:14:28.698 It seems a bit more than, 0:14:31.950,0:14:35.675 it is disproportionated[br]to what actually happened. 0:14:36.405,0:14:38.842 Why did I get so angry? 0:14:41.116,0:14:45.499 Why did I feel so anxious?' 0:14:57.907,0:15:06.906 I myself found myself in a situation[br]where some anxiety and fear came, 0:15:07.575,0:15:10.607 and it started actually as anger. 0:15:13.349,0:15:14.969 I was, 0:15:21.753,0:15:26.618 I was feeling somehow slightly let down[br]about something, and then 0:15:27.701,0:15:31.860 this anxiety came.[br]And I asked that question to myself, 0:15:33.903,0:15:36.901 what does this remind me of? 0:15:37.071,0:15:43.161 I asked it to my store consciousness.[br]What does this remind me of? 0:15:45.008,0:15:48.808 I just waited for something to come, 0:15:50.055,0:15:55.379 and I suddenly had an image of myself[br]in kindergarten. 0:15:56.065,0:15:59.821 A memory that I didn't have before. 0:16:00.043,0:16:03.385 It is not one I could remember,[br]but it's suddenly a flash 0:16:04.457,0:16:09.794 of waiting to be picked up. 0:16:12.485,0:16:16.146 But my mother was late that day. 0:16:18.508,0:16:25.012 And there was a fear in me, I guess.[br]And it was amazing how that 0:16:28.015,0:16:31.648 I made the connection just[br]by asking that question. 0:16:32.407,0:16:38.516 So it allowed me to, just having[br]that interaction with the other person 0:16:39.285,0:16:43.771 allowed me to touch something[br]that needed healing. 0:16:45.410,0:16:50.352 And the healing is maybe a continuous 0:16:53.266,0:16:56.333 path of healing that we are on. 0:16:56.523,0:16:59.685 We are not going to heal[br]everything overnight, 0:16:59.858,0:17:03.399 or with one insight. 0:17:05.688,0:17:13.232 But we, each time we have a small healing,[br]we get more energy and more confidence. 0:17:13.977,0:17:17.788 And we feel, wow![br]Okay, this is a good path. 0:17:20.256,0:17:22.447 And actually, 0:17:24.688,0:17:27.238 just understanding ourselves, 0:17:27.674,0:17:31.063 understanding that this is[br]where this is coming from, 0:17:31.341,0:17:34.184 in a sense it can help so much, 0:17:36.014,0:17:42.563 and knowing that we have a practice[br]to also embrace 0:17:45.182,0:17:48.124 ourselves in that moment, 0:17:48.941,0:17:55.073 embrace maybe the little boy,[br]the little girl in us, 0:17:56.585,0:18:00.322 when we see that coming up, 0:18:00.727,0:18:06.356 we recognize that there is[br]some suffering there relating to that age 0:18:06.690,0:18:09.444 when we were very young, 0:18:12.277,0:18:18.331 we have the opportunity to embrace,[br]to smile and with our solidity, 0:18:18.534,0:18:24.399 that we generate through the practice,[br]we can breathe with that emotion. 0:18:24.828,0:18:28.015 So knowing we have a path, 0:18:29.916,0:18:34.894 we have a lot of a kind of - 0:18:37.821,0:18:41.487 We have happiness and we have[br]a sense that the suffering 0:18:41.679,0:18:44.759 doesn't need to be so much now, 0:18:45.911,0:18:50.753 because the biggest suffering[br]is not having a way, having a path. 0:18:53.461,0:18:58.825 So we have a lot of gratitude also[br]for having the practice. 0:19:03.613,0:19:09.369 Even before we've applied it, but when[br]we apply it, and we get the experience, 0:19:10.426,0:19:14.439 every time we are so grateful. 0:19:19.371,0:19:24.437 I also had an opportunity in this winter,[br]this three month retreat, 0:19:24.578,0:19:28.669 we don't call it the winter retreat now[br]because for the very first time 0:19:29.785,0:19:39.037 is more the autumn period. I also had[br]an experience this three month retreat 0:19:39.328,0:19:45.043 of connecting with my 14 year old in me. 0:19:47.841,0:19:52.420 And, yeah. At that time[br]when he felt very isolated 0:19:53.543,0:20:00.259 and not enjoying school,[br]and feeling 0:20:03.616,0:20:10.504 pretty in a bit of a hostile environment[br]he found. 0:20:15.020,0:20:22.356 I knew, I know about this time, and I know[br]it somehow shows up in my interactions 0:20:23.172,0:20:30.728 but I took sometime to try to talk[br]with the boy. And he showed up. 0:20:37.056,0:20:39.276 And he said, 0:20:43.129,0:20:48.314 he asked, I asked, 'Would you like[br]to spend time with me? 0:20:49.342,0:20:53.970 Now I'm an adult'. And he said,[br]'You are too busy'. 0:20:54.374,0:20:56.184 (Laughter) 0:20:56.298,0:20:59.642 'You got too many things going on. 0:21:00.575,0:21:04.589 And I cause you[br]all sorts of problems anyway, 0:21:04.723,0:21:07.740 so I don't want to cause you[br]any more problems. 0:21:07.868,0:21:10.728 I don't want to take up your time.' 0:21:10.857,0:21:14.497 It was very fascinating[br]to hear this response. 0:21:15.906,0:21:21.512 And actually, it gave me quite[br]some insight into myself. 0:21:22.816,0:21:26.338 Because, of course, that is part of me. 0:21:27.421,0:21:30.270 So I share that because 0:21:30.448,0:21:37.815 it is part of our journey[br]that we are on to 0:21:41.395,0:21:45.300 heal all the parts of ourselves. 0:21:47.201,0:21:52.353 Inside as well as outside.[br]Inside we also have a kind of sangha. 0:21:53.896,0:21:56.122 Different voices. 0:21:56.450,0:22:01.944 And we also need to bring harmony to[br]those different voices inside ourselves. 0:22:03.312,0:22:08.471 But when I was deciding to become a monk, 0:22:11.195,0:22:13.233 I remember 0:22:14.338,0:22:17.606 the Dharma teacher[br]from the UK Martin Pitt, 0:22:18.083,0:22:22.399 he gave me that advice, he said,[br]'In making the decision, 0:22:23.031,0:22:27.162 check with your internal sangha, and[br]make sure everybody -' 0:22:27.323,0:22:30.771 So it's a real sangha koan,[br]a real decision. 0:22:30.869,0:22:34.667 Because there are[br]these many voices in you. 0:22:34.898,0:22:39.352 Some of the voices of doubt,[br]I had to say, 'Please, I hear you, but 0:22:39.865,0:22:46.613 we've touched something deeper[br]than doubt at this moment', 0:22:47.220,0:22:49.822 and the doubt had to agree. 0:22:52.844,0:22:56.222 The Christians say, the doubting Thomas. 0:23:04.206,0:23:06.075 So, 0:23:08.672,0:23:13.271 isn't a fascinating journey, isn't it?[br]The spiritual path. 0:23:13.385,0:23:16.055 And we do it together. 0:23:16.677,0:23:22.554 And somehow, being together as a community[br]brings so much joy and insight, 0:23:22.738,0:23:25.039 it is so rich. 0:23:25.587,0:23:31.272 Some others are going away,[br]going back to the real world. 0:23:33.871,0:23:38.516 I always find slightly ironic[br]to use that term, 0:23:39.570,0:23:42.345 because it seems like out[br]in the real world 0:23:42.498,0:23:46.504 is where people are busy, very busy,[br]running away from reality. 0:23:47.294,0:23:51.583 Whereas the idea here in Plum Village[br]is we touch reality 0:23:51.857,0:23:55.286 both in us and in nature. 0:23:58.182,0:24:04.006 But we go back out, and[br]we want to maintain our practice. 0:24:08.747,0:24:15.987 One of the things we need to draw on is[br]the connections we made here, 0:24:16.580,0:24:19.915 to keep them in our heart, and know 0:24:20.541,0:24:24.869 when we think we are isolated,[br]and all around out there, 0:24:25.026,0:24:30.199 remember that is not true.[br]Because the connections we make 0:24:33.355,0:24:35.501 that are real, 0:24:36.006,0:24:43.786 they are not subject to dissolving simply[br]because we are in a different place, 0:24:44.516,0:24:47.236 they are non-local. 0:24:51.248,0:24:56.446 So we always remember[br]the sangha has our back. 0:24:56.713,0:24:59.300 They are behind us. 0:24:59.498,0:25:02.411 People visualize it in different ways. 0:25:09.186,0:25:12.917 Connected with the Harvard study[br]I mentioned, 0:25:13.792,0:25:21.681 loneliness is the biggest killer. That is[br]a medical fact, that loneliness kills. 0:25:25.958,0:25:29.885 And we are so blessed that we don't - 0:25:33.182,0:25:36.372 We have so many conditions[br]to not be lonely 0:25:36.662,0:25:41.785 through the practice of[br]being there for ourselves, 0:25:42.218,0:25:47.656 and learning how to be there with[br]other people and the connections we make. 0:25:47.862,0:25:50.579 The relationships we make. 0:25:56.950,0:26:02.030 Because even you can be in a relationship,[br]you can be in a family, 0:26:02.218,0:26:09.597 you can be with many people,[br]but, as the 14 year old boy, 0:26:10.592,0:26:14.553 in a boarding school,[br]lots and lots of people. 0:26:15.998,0:26:20.245 They are not dissimilar to Plum Village's.[br]Living in a dormitory, 0:26:21.232,0:26:28.250 sharing rooms. But I felt isolated[br]and lonely at that particular time. 0:26:32.166,0:26:36.502 So it's not exactly[br]that you are next to people 0:26:36.705,0:26:39.347 that you don't feel lonely. 0:26:39.525,0:26:44.620 It can also be that you can feel lonely[br]even in Plum Village. 0:26:45.514,0:26:47.601 Again, if you 0:26:49.248,0:26:55.452 somehow are not in good relationship[br]with what is going on in you. 0:27:02.832,0:27:07.659 And in those cases, where[br]that is happening in Plum Village, 0:27:08.789,0:27:12.024 the encouragement is to stay. 0:27:13.753,0:27:17.329 And you may feel[br]you don't have 0:27:20.204,0:27:22.944 your smile any more. 0:27:23.703,0:27:26.330 I'll always remember reading 0:27:26.546,0:27:31.446 Thay saying,[br]'The dandelion keeps your smile.' 0:27:32.912,0:27:38.866 You know, the flower you see on the lawn,[br]it has your smile for you. 0:27:40.278,0:27:45.404 And like so in the sangha we can feel 0:27:46.865,0:27:52.841 not doing well, but we should try[br]to become aware 0:27:53.531,0:27:56.598 that there is a lot of love 0:27:58.904,0:28:03.503 and care. People are giving us space,[br]but they care. 0:28:06.609,0:28:10.515 And sometimes the care comes[br]in a way we don't want, 0:28:10.654,0:28:15.181 maybe somebody comes into our space,[br]and tries to shake us up a bit. 0:28:15.343,0:28:18.111 And we don't want that. 0:28:18.391,0:28:21.847 Maybe it wasn't so skilful of them. 0:28:22.025,0:28:27.248 But nevertheless we can recognize it[br]as a good intention, as care. 0:28:35.617,0:28:42.138 So we may have taken different themes[br]for this three month period, 0:28:42.138,0:28:48.640 as well. I know some of the brothers in[br]Upper Hamlet were studying the Anapanasati 0:28:51.136,0:28:53.153 for instance. 0:28:56.996,0:29:01.240 Some brothers were studying[br]the 40 tenets of Plum Village. 0:29:04.043,0:29:09.466 The Manifestation Only teachings[br]was one subject I was engaged with. 0:29:11.062,0:29:16.194 And I think many other topics.[br]But they all, somehow, 0:29:17.460,0:29:21.016 connect to the same point 0:29:22.758,0:29:31.596 of how to come into relationship[br]with myself, to be there, 0:29:33.516,0:29:40.209 and really understand what is going on[br]in my body, in my mind. 0:29:44.019,0:29:47.976 And see my nature of interbeing. 0:29:49.981,0:29:56.447 And Thay has said that even just[br]practising the first 4 of the Anapanasati, 0:29:57.318,0:30:00.408 awareness of the breath,[br]awareness of the body, 0:30:01.447,0:30:05.279 we touch all of the other aspects, 0:30:05.756,0:30:08.940 because of the nature of interbeing. 0:30:09.210,0:30:13.159 So in connection when we are[br]just aware of our body, 0:30:13.414,0:30:18.948 as we really realize that,[br]oh, here is my body 0:30:19.246,0:30:23.297 and I'm really get to be in my body, 0:30:23.549,0:30:26.989 experiencing it with the breath, 0:30:27.573,0:30:32.605 I also naturally become aware[br]of my feelings. 0:30:33.781,0:30:37.347 They are part of what is going on, 0:30:37.909,0:30:41.170 and there is a correspondence in the body. 0:30:44.112,0:30:46.882 And also mental formations, 0:30:47.182,0:30:50.366 perceptions and consciousness. 0:30:54.967,0:30:57.046 I remember, 0:30:59.933,0:31:03.224 yes, we'll have one sound of the bell.[br]Thank you. 0:31:06.555,0:31:07.869 (Bell) 0:31:11.933,0:31:18.040 (Bell) 0:32:01.447,0:32:04.008 I was just reflecting 0:32:05.370,0:32:10.486 that one of the earliest winter retreat 0:32:11.250,0:32:15.442 I can recall, I can't remember[br]specifically which one it was, 0:32:16.616,0:32:20.700 but Thay said at the very opening talk[br]of the retreat, 0:32:20.886,0:32:24.281 'This retreat is an opportunity 0:32:25.259,0:32:31.394 and we should practice to be there[br]for every mental formation 0:32:32.372,0:32:34.576 as it arises.' 0:32:36.047,0:32:37.860 And this was, 0:32:38.469,0:32:42.416 I just remember being astounded[br]by the possibility of that. 0:32:42.758,0:32:46.808 Every mental formation that will arise,[br]I will be there, 0:32:47.027,0:32:50.306 and embrace, and take care, and recognize. 0:32:55.143,0:33:00.441 And I guess that was[br]a very wonderful thing to set 0:33:00.788,0:33:05.746 as an aim for myself. 0:33:07.585,0:33:12.158 To try to be there for what is going on. 0:33:12.812,0:33:18.349 Always being aware[br]what mental formations come and go 0:33:18.547,0:33:21.345 and watching the impermanence of them, 0:33:21.525,0:33:25.630 and watching them in relation to[br]what is happening in me, 0:33:26.750,0:33:28.799 around me. 0:33:29.037,0:33:32.107 And in my interactions. 0:33:32.375,0:33:42.227 But we sometimes get forgetful and lost,[br]so just like on the cushion, 0:33:43.120,0:33:46.673 we recognize and[br]we have to keep coming back. 0:33:56.880,0:34:00.443 One of the themes[br]of the three month retreat 0:34:00.594,0:34:03.880 has been the 14 mindfulness trainings. 0:34:05.395,0:34:08.844 And the ones that were left to me[br]to share about 0:34:10.851,0:34:13.878 were concerning 0:34:15.241,0:34:23.536 right compassion and action, it has to do[br]with right livelihood, reverence for life 0:34:35.492,0:34:37.688 and generosity. 0:34:37.861,0:34:41.125 So it is 11, 12 and 13. 0:34:43.871,0:34:47.741 The 14 mindfulness trainings, 0:34:50.167,0:34:53.611 Thay wrote them in 1964. 0:34:54.596,0:34:58.479 And it seems to me[br]they are as relevant today 0:35:00.658,0:35:03.846 as they could ever had been. 0:35:04.475,0:35:08.816 They were written[br]in the time of the Vietnam War. 0:35:13.719,0:35:16.512 And they have been revised. 0:35:20.423,0:35:27.541 So that we try to make them more and more[br]relevant and skilful, appropriate 0:35:28.129,0:35:34.149 to our time and with the insight[br]that we have. 0:35:39.419,0:35:41.249 Ethics 0:35:43.603,0:35:48.624 is a big subject, and in a sense, 0:35:48.855,0:35:52.528 the trainings, be they[br]the 5 mindfulness trainings or the 14, 0:35:52.696,0:36:00.040 they are a contribution to what we hope[br]is a good contribution to a global ethic. 0:36:03.243,0:36:07.170 And they do not need to be 0:36:08.000,0:36:12.659 religious or include Buddhist - 0:36:15.310,0:36:19.611 Kind of, things specific to Buddhism. 0:36:20.570,0:36:27.003 They can be put into the language that[br]is for anybody can feel comfortable with. 0:36:27.268,0:36:31.274 But hopefully, they are universal. 0:36:31.518,0:36:34.500 They speak to the universal. 0:36:35.849,0:36:38.551 And they are about 0:36:40.300,0:36:42.721 they are about love, 0:36:42.909,0:36:47.849 they are about the actions[br]and interactions 0:36:49.655,0:36:52.419 that come about when we are 0:36:52.553,0:36:55.931 coming from a place of true love. 0:36:57.596,0:37:01.432 True love we know[br]has a number of ingredients. 0:37:03.764,0:37:08.176 True love has brotherhood and sisterhood, 0:37:09.263,0:37:13.828 kindness in it, loving kindness. 0:37:16.417,0:37:20.153 It has that friendship element. 0:37:20.460,0:37:24.964 Spiritual friendship,[br]being there for each other. 0:37:25.864,0:37:29.330 True love also has compassion. 0:37:31.029,0:37:36.872 We really can have empathy[br]for the other person, 0:37:37.149,0:37:42.889 but we don't get overwhelmed[br]by the suffering, 0:37:44.602,0:37:47.052 so we can truly be there. 0:37:47.185,0:37:50.899 Even when somebody is suffering,[br]we can maintain our stability 0:37:51.028,0:37:54.996 and be there for that person[br]and help them. 0:37:56.197,0:37:59.145 True love also has joy. 0:38:00.421,0:38:05.828 Without joy, we can () so lone. 0:38:07.883,0:38:11.703 Joy is something very important. 0:38:13.827,0:38:18.840 And it arises[br]from unusual places sometimes. 0:38:20.002,0:38:25.446 Sometimes it is the joy that comes[br]when we are able to 0:38:27.076,0:38:30.881 be there with our suffering in such a way[br]that we think, oh! 0:38:31.566,0:38:35.592 This is a kind of joy,[br]because I get to be with - 0:38:36.499,0:38:41.727 I'm in the most important place,[br]where I need to be. 0:38:41.893,0:38:45.242 And there is a sort of[br]underlying joy to that, 0:38:45.434,0:38:48.659 even though you are maybe[br]experiencing the suffering. 0:38:48.810,0:38:52.805 So I'm using that example to show[br]joy doesn't always show up, 0:38:54.194,0:38:58.921 it's not always what we think[br]in terms of excitement, joy, 0:38:59.076,0:39:04.006 although expressions of joy and smiles[br]is also 0:39:07.115,0:39:09.198 very good. 0:39:10.908,0:39:15.471 I said to a brother before I came[br]to the talk this morning, 0:39:17.163,0:39:23.708 'I need to have a laugh before I go.'[br]I need to generate that joyful energy. 0:39:25.156,0:39:27.875 Sometimes we need to - 0:39:29.977,0:39:36.156 Sometimes I think of something funny[br]just to generate that joy. 0:39:36.768,0:39:42.777 But the real joy coming from friendship, 0:39:45.888,0:39:51.297 from insight,[br]from our mindfulness practice, 0:39:52.593,0:39:58.772 that is a very deep kind of joy.[br]And we need that. 0:39:59.824,0:40:03.106 And then there is inclusiveness. 0:40:03.950,0:40:10.540 We include all that is in us and[br]we take care of what is going on, 0:40:11.041,0:40:14.638 and we don't set up[br]an internal battle field. 0:40:18.393,0:40:23.248 So even we see a part of ourselves[br]is seemingly 0:40:25.526,0:40:30.766 causing us suffering, maybe[br]doing something which brings us - 0:40:31.828,0:40:36.092 makes us feel ashamed,[br]or it is a bad habit, 0:40:38.225,0:40:41.454 or we've spoken to somebody in a bad way, 0:40:41.610,0:40:45.733 we somehow have to still have compassion[br]for that part of us too, and say, 0:40:45.894,0:40:48.752 Okay, I accept. 0:40:49.631,0:40:55.816 I accept everything that is there,[br]I love and accept myself just as I am. 0:40:55.912,0:40:59.266 I know that there are[br]causes and conditions 0:40:59.408,0:41:05.040 for why it is like this right now.[br]Maybe I'm frustrated with myself. 0:41:06.059,0:41:11.792 I also accept my frustration with myself.[br]Okay, I'm frustrated with myself. 0:41:12.275,0:41:16.391 So whatever is there, you say, Okay,[br]I get it. If you are there, 0:41:16.524,0:41:20.746 you are there for a reason.[br]And I accept you. 0:41:20.999,0:41:25.480 It doesn't mean we have to be[br]again overwhelmed, or pushed, 0:41:25.690,0:41:30.952 but we accept and we smile to that.[br]And we try to generate our stability 0:41:32.400,0:41:39.595 so we can be with that part of ourselves[br]without being carried away. 0:41:41.425,0:41:44.642 And so too with our relationships[br]with other people, 0:41:44.746,0:41:47.950 and when we get frustrated and upset[br]with other people, 0:41:48.130,0:41:55.358 to have this capacity to include and[br]to stay with, to be there for each other. 0:41:56.951,0:41:59.937 And there is 0:42:02.044,0:42:09.605 in the Discourse on Love, we are invited[br]to extend our love to all beings 0:42:10.094,0:42:14.327 across the entire cosmos.[br]It's very grand. 0:42:18.133,0:42:25.042 A new chant that Thay Phap Linh[br]has been doing with a group of us 0:42:25.245,0:42:28.656 is on the CD, a new chanting CD. 0:42:31.259,0:42:35.519 I'm very embarrassed with the video[br]they made to go with that, by the way. 0:42:36.113,0:42:41.960 I don't know if anybody saw it, but[br]I got very self-conscious seeing myself, 0:42:42.554,0:42:46.780 To look like very, very sincere. 0:42:47.403,0:42:52.989 Anyway, on this chant, 0:42:55.846,0:43:01.203 there is the line,[br]'showing love and concern for 0:43:01.905,0:43:05.438 one and all as for our very own family'. 0:43:07.347,0:43:12.125 So bringing that spirit of[br]being concerned for 0:43:13.385,0:43:16.265 anybody we meet 0:43:16.921,0:43:20.429 as if they were our own family.[br]That is the spirit. 0:43:20.639,0:43:26.088 And it's not totally beyond our capacity. 0:43:26.670,0:43:32.041 We know when we are in a good place[br]we can have that openness of heart. 0:43:37.424,0:43:42.174 There is a quote I heard about 0:43:46.228,0:43:50.857 a husband whose wife came back[br]after being on a Buddhist retreat. 0:43:51.403,0:43:55.315 And the husband was asked, 'Sorry,[br]have you seen any change in your wife 0:43:55.452,0:44:01.699 since she came back? - Yes, she is in love[br]with the whole universe, 0:44:04.034,0:44:06.471 but nobody in particular.' 0:44:06.621,0:44:08.389 (Laughter) 0:44:08.576,0:44:11.201 And I think that meant 0:44:11.532,0:44:15.691 we have to be careful to just be[br]in this place of thinking about 0:44:16.502,0:44:21.967 the grand love for everything, but then[br]we don't actually apply it to 0:44:22.397,0:44:25.378 what is this relationship[br]going on right now. 0:44:25.824,0:44:28.155 Yes, I can't deal with this one, but, 0:44:28.277,0:44:29.739 (Laughter) 0:44:29.894,0:44:33.525 I love - I feel so much for[br]all the suffering in the world, 0:44:33.659,0:44:36.331 but I can't deal with you. 0:44:36.679,0:44:40.501 So that is also why a sangha is important. 0:44:41.415,0:44:46.610 We meet the - It is where the rubber hits[br]the road, hits the real, we rub it. 0:44:46.969,0:44:51.855 The expression is, the chopsticks we use,[br]to clean chopsticks 0:44:52.509,0:44:55.497 you get a bunch[br]and you rub them all together, 0:44:55.634,0:44:58.714 rub and then clean them individually. 0:44:59.513,0:45:01.758 It is a good image. 0:45:11.740,0:45:15.556 Yes, I was going to share something. 0:45:15.891,0:45:20.994 I have emailed Christiana Figueres. 0:45:22.606,0:45:29.804 She is the lady[br]that brought together 195 countries 0:45:30.334,0:45:39.379 for the Paris Climate Change Agreement.[br]Do you remember her? 0:45:40.361,0:45:44.551 She has been to Plum Village[br]quite a few times, 0:45:44.851,0:45:51.423 and she has spoken quite a few times[br]to young Wake Up groups 0:45:52.354,0:45:55.751 that were here[br]when we had a Wake Up retreats. 0:45:56.934,0:46:00.363 She has come with her daughter. 0:46:02.164,0:46:05.372 And she loves Plum Village. 0:46:07.102,0:46:12.530 But when she was doing the work, 0:46:13.702,0:46:17.524 I emailed her to just check[br]if she was Okay that I share this story. 0:46:18.207,0:46:21.980 Because when she was[br]in the middle of her work 0:46:23.707,0:46:26.912 of bringing together these countries 0:46:27.196,0:46:31.232 for the Paris, they call it, 0:46:32.202,0:46:35.385 is it COP 21? Yes. 0:46:35.982,0:46:40.707 COP 24 is going on right now in Poland. 0:46:45.620,0:46:52.787 So it is a momentous thing[br]that she achieved, and it sets, 0:46:53.263,0:46:56.781 gave everybody quite a sense of Okay, 0:46:56.954,0:47:00.818 at least these countries coming together, 0:47:00.983,0:47:07.503 there is a certain sangha harmony[br]in the world to take climate change 0:47:08.642,0:47:16.532 as an issue to really do something.[br]And it was a great start that was - 0:47:16.920,0:47:24.073 In all of the other previous times,[br]we couldn't get to the starting block. 0:47:26.741,0:47:30.395 So it was a wonderful thing[br]she was able to achieve, 0:47:30.542,0:47:35.523 and she did it with Thay's teachings.[br]And she practised listening. 0:47:35.689,0:47:40.174 She said that was the main factor[br]that helped to get to that. 0:47:40.706,0:47:46.319 This listening to really understanding[br]what was the situation, 0:47:46.673,0:47:51.117 what was the obstacles[br]for these countries, 0:47:51.331,0:47:54.986 be they Saudi Arabia, China, etcetera. 0:47:58.122,0:48:03.521 But there was a period in that build up[br]of five years leading up to 0:48:04.376,0:48:06.914 2015 Paris, 0:48:07.128,0:48:13.326 when she had a crisis,[br]a personal crisis. 0:48:16.809,0:48:20.454 And she was in Bonn at that time,[br]in Germany, 0:48:21.255,0:48:25.502 and she somehow, miraculously[br]found out about Plum Village. 0:48:25.685,0:48:28.886 She knew nothing before[br]about Plum Village. 0:48:31.870,0:48:37.614 And she knew she needed to go somewhere.[br]She was very, very - 0:48:38.530,0:48:41.099 Yeah, in a crisis. 0:48:41.705,0:48:48.480 And she found the EIAB,[br]our centre in Germany, it was close enough 0:48:51.159,0:48:54.899 and she made an emergency booking. 0:48:56.293,0:48:58.572 And she just went. 0:48:59.259,0:49:08.629 Nobody knew who she was.[br]She said to us that it saved her. 0:49:10.957,0:49:13.746 It really saved her. 0:49:14.556,0:49:19.334 And that the Vietnamese sisters,[br]with their kindness, that were there, 0:49:19.865,0:49:26.701 she was staying in the sister's place,[br]they don't know what they did for me. 0:49:27.325,0:49:33.829 They didn't know who I was. She is a[br]retreatant. What else do you need to know? 0:49:34.711,0:49:39.132 It's probably good sometimes[br]we don't know who is here. 0:49:40.210,0:49:42.440 I may get scared. 0:49:42.604,0:49:44.316 (Laughter) 0:49:48.325,0:49:50.381 But it- 0:49:53.250,0:49:58.413 So just the simple kindness,[br]and the joy, 0:50:00.445,0:50:05.148 was enough to support and[br]get her back into a good place. 0:50:05.873,0:50:12.074 And then she was able to bring[br]this amazing result. 0:50:15.746,0:50:17.475 Part of - 0:50:17.707,0:50:22.904 So we never know, it is part of the story. 0:50:23.113,0:50:29.710 We never know our simple connection[br]to people, every action 0:50:30.423,0:50:34.186 we don't know what ripple effect[br]there may be. 0:50:39.235,0:50:45.908 On the - On one level,[br]we would just being here 0:50:46.535,0:50:50.279 and welcoming, and doing our thing,[br]doing our practice. 0:50:50.503,0:50:53.671 But that can save somebody. 0:50:54.446,0:50:58.313 And it is just everybody,[br]not just Christiana Figueres of course 0:50:58.744,0:51:03.025 that is important. Everybody, each person[br]that comes 0:51:05.696,0:51:11.188 is precious that they come here[br]and that we can support them. 0:51:12.729,0:51:15.497 And what we do for them,[br]we also do for ourselves. 0:51:20.866,0:51:23.769 Another element of love is 0:51:27.514,0:51:29.431 trust. 0:51:30.693,0:51:34.253 Really knowing that[br]we are there for each other. 0:51:37.429,0:51:42.336 So even we do have times[br]when we bicker and fall out. 0:51:45.371,0:51:48.711 Finally we know that[br]we are there for each other. 0:51:49.032,0:51:51.513 That is the important thing. 0:51:54.477,0:51:59.966 Sometimes we can't help, we get a bit[br]angry, we say the words that we regret. 0:52:00.625,0:52:02.645 We are not perfect. 0:52:02.905,0:52:06.555 And in a sense, we shouldn't[br]try to be too perfect. 0:52:06.927,0:52:08.716 Sometimes 0:52:10.628,0:52:13.395 it's when you lose it a little bit 0:52:13.683,0:52:18.747 that you get a real conversation with[br]the person that you needed to have. 0:52:19.719,0:52:24.634 Sometimes life is messy like that.[br]It is not always going to go perfectly, 0:52:25.389,0:52:30.206 with a loving speech. But we have[br]as the background, 0:52:30.501,0:52:36.786 the basic intention is loving speech[br]as the support for our community. 0:52:37.281,0:52:39.968 Without that we fail. 0:52:40.542,0:52:43.831 And listening, being there for each other. 0:52:46.598,0:52:49.142 And reverence is the other one, 0:52:49.381,0:52:54.469 which is also the name of one of[br]the trainings that I was given. 0:52:54.748,0:53:00.262 Reverence is this quality of wonder,[br]this quality of awe. 0:53:02.904,0:53:09.006 If we are to act for Mother Earth,[br]we should be in love with Mother Earth. 0:53:13.716,0:53:16.882 We should have that sense of connection 0:53:17.099,0:53:21.956 which gives us a feeling of[br]wonder and respect. 0:53:27.773,0:53:29.578 And that is 0:53:35.562,0:53:41.210 something I hope we all have[br]and we all experience, 0:53:41.496,0:53:45.770 but when we are out of connection[br]with Mother Earth, 0:53:46.234,0:53:51.017 we may realize I need to give more time, 0:53:51.368,0:53:55.424 like my 14 year-old boy said to me,[br]'Ah! But you are too busy!' 0:53:55.982,0:54:01.396 If we say - Just Mother Earth says,[br]'It seems you are too busy'. 0:54:02.655,0:54:05.508 I walked the other day, I had this sense, 0:54:05.679,0:54:09.448 I was walking around the lake at Son Ha, 0:54:09.601,0:54:12.380 and it was lovely and muddy. 0:54:14.916,0:54:18.745 And it was raining, and it reminded me[br]of when I used to walk in Scotland, 0:54:18.873,0:54:21.375 it is often raining in Scotland. 0:54:21.625,0:54:26.235 But it is a kind of nice memory.[br]And the Earth was there. 0:54:27.431,0:54:30.756 And it's like she said to me,[br]'I'm still here!'. 0:54:31.038,0:54:34.964 Like if you've gotten -[br]I'm still here, 0:54:36.371,0:54:39.254 patient. I'm here for you. 0:54:39.505,0:54:43.182 The question is whether we[br]make ourselves available. 0:54:45.482,0:54:47.267 So, 0:54:48.876,0:54:53.830 building our connection is so important.[br]With Mother Earth. 0:54:56.186,0:54:57.804 It is - 0:55:05.773,0:55:08.039 For me in Scotland, 0:55:08.319,0:55:13.833 I had such a great feeling sometimes[br]hiking in the hills there, 0:55:14.620,0:55:17.561 and I would sometimes 0:55:18.961,0:55:22.675 really feel like, oh! There is really[br]a relationship, there is really - 0:55:22.813,0:55:26.156 It is a non verbal thing,[br]but it really felt like connection, 0:55:26.378,0:55:28.366 like there was a - 0:55:28.654,0:55:31.898 And I also experienced that in Deer Park. 0:55:36.588,0:55:40.322 I sometimes experience it here[br]but maybe a bit less. I don't know. 0:55:40.801,0:55:42.671 I think it is - 0:55:44.989,0:55:50.123 That is also my responsibility. Because[br]it is also very beautiful here. 0:55:51.438,0:55:54.378 But sometimes I made[br]very profound connections 0:55:54.551,0:55:57.432 and I think it was also because 0:55:58.450,0:56:01.231 there was a sense of wilderness, 0:56:01.551,0:56:05.842 when I would be really in the wilderness.[br]I could touch it. 0:56:14.201,0:56:19.337 That is something we need a bit more of,[br]a bit more wilderness in the world. 0:56:19.852,0:56:22.093 Since I was born, 0:56:23.170,0:56:29.482 half the wild animals have disappeared[br]in terms of biomass. 0:56:29.853,0:56:33.246 This is the World Wildlife[br]Fund's statistic. 0:56:34.377,0:56:38.118 But it is a very sad situation 0:56:40.389,0:56:45.757 that we are losing our wilderness,[br]we are losing our wild animals. 0:56:47.736,0:56:49.419 And 0:56:52.956,0:56:54.559 this is 0:56:56.686,0:57:00.477 while I was very inspired to see this - 0:57:02.277,0:57:10.662 A couple that had a fairly sizeable part[br]of big land in England, 0:57:11.353,0:57:15.630 and for 17 years they tried to do 0:57:15.862,0:57:21.147 the regular intensive[br]agriculture and dairy on this farm. 0:57:21.752,0:57:24.577 But they couldn't make it a profit. 0:57:25.708,0:57:30.077 And then they came across this method,[br]this idea, 0:57:30.376,0:57:35.860 this way to rewild their land 0:57:37.095,0:57:40.878 introducing old animals that used to roam. 0:57:41.093,0:57:45.926 In England there used to be[br]all sorts of animals, and bisons, 0:57:47.163,0:57:52.628 and oryxes, and even lions[br]used to be. 0:57:52.878,0:57:57.238 It was more like the Serengeti[br]in England. 0:57:57.706,0:57:59.560 Or a kind of - 0:58:00.127,0:58:06.730 It's amazing when you study these things. 0:58:07.287,0:58:11.171 You find out that there were lions[br]in Trafalgar Square, real ones. 0:58:17.762,0:58:22.197 So she set about rewilding, basically[br]letting Mother Nature do its thing, 0:58:22.428,0:58:27.821 and introducing these animals that also[br]added dynamism and shaped the landscape. 0:58:28.237,0:58:31.986 And then there would be water features[br]naturally appearing 0:58:32.097,0:58:35.002 and it was a very muddy ground. 0:58:37.205,0:58:39.937 It was beautiful to see 0:58:41.425,0:58:47.540 the change from intensive agriculture[br]to returning to this wilderness area. 0:58:48.106,0:58:51.396 And now I think she runs safaris. 0:58:51.574,0:58:54.152 It's actually right where my mother lives, 0:58:54.324,0:58:58.691 so I think I'm going to take my mother[br]on a safari to see this place. 0:59:00.967,0:59:06.377 But the regeneration of the soil[br]and the land by this, 0:59:06.647,0:59:10.542 contributes so much back to the health[br]of the country. 0:59:11.114,0:59:14.154 I think we need to do more of that. 0:59:14.334,0:59:18.962 And they actually[br]do make a living from the land as well. 0:59:20.962,0:59:25.521 If we continue the way we are going[br]with the land use, 0:59:25.979,0:59:31.340 in the UK they estimate there will only be[br]a hundred harvests left 0:59:31.774,0:59:33.924 because all of the top soil 0:59:34.097,0:59:38.229 and all of the richness of the soil is[br]being depleted by the intensive farming. 0:59:38.647,0:59:46.652 So this rewilding thing is becoming more[br]and more understood to be a good thing. 0:59:51.932,0:59:59.076 So, we look at the 14 mindfulness[br]trainings these three months, 0:59:59.668,1:00:04.494 and we see that they all inter-relate.[br]We have to practise them together. 1:00:04.727,1:00:09.779 They inter-are. They arise[br]from the insight of interbeing, 1:00:10.352,1:00:14.867 and when we practise them [br]we practise them with that spirit. 1:00:15.161,1:00:21.019 When we have the awakened kind of view, 1:00:23.937,1:00:28.159 naturally we want to go in this direction. 1:00:30.075,1:00:34.960 And we practise them from[br]being right in the heart of life, 1:00:36.095,1:00:39.619 and also being in love,[br]as I was describing. 1:00:41.732,1:00:45.892 So they are also an expression[br]of love and insight. 1:00:47.298,1:00:51.589 When we look at the ones[br]that are concerned with 1:00:51.871,1:00:55.269 reverence for life and generosity,[br]and right livelihood, 1:00:55.691,1:01:01.211 we are also touching a lot of suffering.[br]The damage to the environment, 1:01:02.230,1:01:08.203 the suffering caused by war and conflict,[br]by exploitation and social injustice. 1:01:09.073,1:01:14.724 And it can be overwhelming[br]when we touch this kind of suffering, 1:01:14.952,1:01:17.837 because it seems so vast. 1:01:23.149,1:01:32.507 And with the latest report from the[br]Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 1:01:33.657,1:01:38.132 saying the next 12 years[br]is very, very crucial 1:01:38.434,1:01:43.311 if we are to prevent catastrophic[br]effects of climate change. 1:01:43.806,1:01:49.015 We have this - The aim would be 1:01:49.746,1:01:55.090 they propose to try to keep [br]the temperature from rising too much, 1:01:57.747,1:02:02.588 keep to 1,5 C above the[br]pre-industrial levels. 1:02:06.455,1:02:10.473 But the effort we need to do that,[br]the transformation of society 1:02:11.826,1:02:15.898 going, switching all the way to renewables 1:02:16.124,1:02:19.215 it seems like a massive task. 1:02:19.640,1:02:24.993 Actually, technology-wise,[br]we probably can do it. 1:02:25.322,1:02:30.312 I saw Elon Musk the guy[br]that makes the Tesla cars saying that 1:02:31.029,1:02:35.563 quite easily, for instance China, because[br]it has a lot of free land, 1:02:36.383,1:02:40.259 could meet all its energy supplies[br]with solar easily, he said. 1:02:40.433,1:02:43.731 So I don't know, but he seems to know. 1:02:45.884,1:02:50.245 And I think - But when we get[br]this kind of reports, 1:02:51.670,1:02:56.207 there is a sense of urgency[br]that comes up. 1:02:57.124,1:02:59.237 And a sense of 1:03:00.726,1:03:07.120 we have to name it,[br]there is fear that arises. 1:03:08.511,1:03:10.758 Maybe despair. 1:03:11.188,1:03:14.200 Because we feel like it is not possible. 1:03:20.792,1:03:25.787 And certainly the way the politics are,[br]it doesn't feel so possible, 1:03:26.190,1:03:32.529 because the real problem seems to be[br]that the politicians are not able to 1:03:34.578,1:03:37.289 take hold of the situation. 1:03:37.619,1:03:44.493 In Poland they met, the COP24, 1:03:44.779,1:03:49.927 and they couldn't agree to take on[br]this report and act on it. 1:03:52.255,1:03:56.652 So if we can't rely on the politicians, 1:03:59.001,1:04:03.919 we have to come to a more[br]regional level, perhaps. 1:04:04.676,1:04:09.669 And more local level, even in Plum Village[br]we need to go solar. 1:04:11.655,1:04:17.104 We need to also be the change[br]that needs to happen. 1:04:18.357,1:04:23.313 And we already do one of the main things[br]that is recommended, 1:04:23.856,1:04:26.589 that can make a massive difference 1:04:27.114,1:04:30.722 to empower us as individuals[br]and communities. 1:04:30.912,1:04:34.140 But if it is done at societal level[br]all the better, 1:04:34.377,1:04:37.154 that is individuals to go vegan. 1:04:37.428,1:04:40.617 It's being said to be the plant based diet 1:04:40.808,1:04:45.398 is really the biggest contribution[br]we can make as individuals 1:04:46.823,1:04:53.064 to reducing[br]the amount of emissions of CO2. 1:04:54.633,1:04:57.048 It turns out that the - 1:05:00.502,1:05:03.317 The impact of the animal industry, 1:05:04.033,1:05:08.127 the livestock is huge.[br]And it's not really surprising 1:05:08.489,1:05:12.277 when you consider the numbers involved. 1:05:12.837,1:05:17.062 70 billion animals a year. 1:05:18.214,1:05:25.042 Our human population is 7.6 billion,[br]but 70 billion is 10 times that. 1:05:25.275,1:05:28.451 And it is rising. The demand is rising. 1:05:28.757,1:05:32.198 So we really need to bring it[br]in the other direction. 1:05:32.714,1:05:35.928 I don't think that the meat industry[br]will disappear, 1:05:36.164,1:05:42.316 but without a collective awakening[br]and insight 1:05:44.690,1:05:48.177 which needs to be global, 1:05:48.854,1:05:51.558 but we do our part. 1:05:52.108,1:05:57.484 If you are a meat eater,[br]and you come to Plum Village for say, 1:06:00.443,1:06:04.081 10 days, it is a rough calculation, 1:06:04.699,1:06:06.509 you save - 1:06:07.461,1:06:10.319 Suppose you are eating[br]a steak every night, 1:06:11.590,1:06:13.536 I think you would. 1:06:14.449,1:06:18.091 But by coming to Plum Village and[br]being eating a vegan diet, 1:06:18.271,1:06:22.369 for ten days you would save a ton[br]of carbon dioxide. 1:06:22.578,1:06:25.154 That is how significant it is. 1:06:25.301,1:06:30.638 We do more by going to the vegan diet than[br]for instance, 1:06:30.874,1:06:34.370 by changing our travel methods. 1:06:38.794,1:06:44.257 I was talking with a brother, joking about[br]how do we stop Plum Village monks 1:06:44.518,1:06:48.900 the flying thing. Because we do[br]fly to places. 1:06:50.938,1:06:54.060 But we are doing very good things.[br]So we don't want to stop. 1:06:54.266,1:06:58.277 There is a trip going to Uganda[br]in January. 1:07:00.474,1:07:04.112 They are going to be dealing with 1:07:05.395,1:07:09.164 some serious things going on there[br]with violence in schools 1:07:09.327,1:07:12.441 and things like these.[br]So we want to go. 1:07:12.786,1:07:15.747 And I was discussing, maybe we - 1:07:16.235,1:07:21.691 People that invite us should plant trees[br]for every time monks and nuns go out. 1:07:23.137,1:07:26.237 And the brother said, ' Maybe the people[br]invite us out, 1:07:26.400,1:07:29.083 they have to go vegan for 10 days'. 1:07:30.426,1:07:34.668 But we can get creative, we can look[br]how can we become 1:07:35.870,1:07:39.640 zero carbon by 2025, Plum Village. 1:07:41.642,1:07:44.972 We can look. See what we can do. 1:07:49.814,1:07:54.680 But this sense of fear and urgency[br]is very real. 1:07:55.069,1:07:58.324 And it generates a kind of energy, 1:07:58.609,1:08:02.346 even those who are already[br]wanting to do something active, 1:08:02.549,1:08:04.935 which isn't always 1:08:06.854,1:08:10.313 sustainable. There may be[br]anger and fear, 1:08:12.050,1:08:14.622 and () always helpful. 1:08:15.404,1:08:19.722 Because if we want to practice[br]compassionate action, 1:08:19.869,1:08:23.235 we also have to include those who are[br]currently doing harm, 1:08:23.387,1:08:27.025 and not excluding them[br]from our compassion. 1:08:27.187,1:08:31.097 We know that actually this is a tragedy[br]being played out. 1:08:31.564,1:08:36.277 And everybody involved is in the tragedy. 1:08:37.692,1:08:42.857 If you are on a flight,[br]and the plain is going to crush, 1:08:43.751,1:08:47.341 sorry for this example,[br]it just came to my mind. 1:08:49.169,1:08:56.936 But it doesn't matter if you are[br]in a business class or first class, 1:08:58.025,1:09:00.580 you are too going to crush. 1:09:00.745,1:09:05.264 So everybody, even the ones that are[br]creating that problem, 1:09:05.702,1:09:07.654 we would see. 1:09:09.580,1:09:13.094 We have to have compassion and there are[br]always causes and conditions 1:09:13.255,1:09:17.753 why people are in that situation.[br]And maybe with our loving kindness 1:09:18.053,1:09:20.601 as opposed to our anger, 1:09:21.293,1:09:23.778 we can touch their hearts. 1:09:25.850,1:09:29.584 Apparently, a brother told me that 1:09:29.896,1:09:33.679 there was a lawyer[br]from the animal industry, a top lawyer, 1:09:33.896,1:09:36.322 he came to Plum Village, 1:09:37.016,1:09:40.318 and he spent time with him,[br]and by the end of the time, 1:09:40.545,1:09:44.130 he didn't want to be a lawyer[br]for the animal industry any more. 1:09:44.264,1:09:47.939 I don't know, I mean, just saying,[br]you know? 1:09:48.756,1:09:52.369 You come to Plum Village,[br]you touch some seed inside, 1:09:52.585,1:09:56.015 maybe that can be enough[br]to touch the human heart. 1:09:56.808,1:10:00.079 I thought it was maybe good[br]that I didn't get to meet him, 1:10:00.250,1:10:01.949 because I'd be 1:10:02.110,1:10:04.738 quizzing him about all sort of things. 1:10:05.706,1:10:09.147 It is better that he came[br]and he just experienced like 1:10:09.314,1:10:12.324 nobody knew who he was, but[br]he just got to touch 1:10:12.627,1:10:16.173 peace and touch happiness[br]of real connection. 1:10:17.040,1:10:20.102 And he no longer wanted to be 1:10:20.494,1:10:24.088 defending something that he knew[br]was causing harm. 1:10:34.507,1:10:36.349 But yes, 1:10:36.650,1:10:38.259 we know that 1:10:38.914,1:10:42.571 a big change has to happen.[br]And it can be scary. 1:10:43.957,1:10:47.056 And we know that we don't know[br]if we are going to make it, 1:10:47.360,1:10:53.427 in the sense of keeping everything Okay.[br]Maybe it is not Okay. 1:10:54.863,1:10:58.396 And we have to face a lot of difficulties 1:10:59.437,1:11:05.176 in the future and some scary times ahead[br]for ourselves, for our children, 1:11:05.427,1:11:09.006 for our grandchildren,[br]for different generations we know 1:11:09.309,1:11:14.605 will experience unless[br]we can act very strongly right now. 1:11:16.547,1:11:19.613 And this is only on the subject[br]of climate change, 1:11:19.830,1:11:22.325 not to mention other subjects. 1:11:23.992,1:11:32.866 But this urgency feeling could be good,[br]but we should put it into practice also. 1:11:34.501,1:11:40.841 I remember Thay when he was in Singapore,[br]and trying to help the boat people, 1:11:41.710,1:11:44.849 and the story there was that 1:11:45.114,1:11:50.125 the authorities found out about[br]what he was doing, 1:11:50.430,1:11:58.873 trying to help 700, 800 people in boats[br]to go to Australia, I think. 1:12:03.409,1:12:06.906 And they told him[br]he had to leave in 24 hours. 1:12:08.165,1:12:11.877 And at that time, the sense of urgency[br]of what he could do came up. 1:12:12.592,1:12:18.217 And he knew the most important thing[br]he needed at that moment was peace. 1:12:20.309,1:12:24.463 So he practised through the night[br]walking meditation, 1:12:25.587,1:12:29.358 and he said to himself, 'If I cannot[br]have peace in this moment, 1:12:29.520,1:12:32.606 then all the peace that I experienced 1:12:33.449,1:12:38.379 on the cushion, in the meditation hall,[br]what does it mean? 1:12:39.868,1:12:41.997 I need it now.' 1:12:42.889,1:12:45.384 And from that, he wrote the calligraphy 1:12:45.548,1:12:49.011 'If you want peace,[br]peace is with you immediately.' 1:12:49.249,1:12:54.462 Because right in the heart of the urgency,[br]he was able to touch his peace. 1:12:54.629,1:12:58.156 And from that peace, he was able to act. 1:13:01.991,1:13:07.880 Act with compassion, act with lucidity,[br]from a calm place. 1:13:17.794,1:13:22.954 So, because the situation is so urgent, 1:13:23.525,1:13:26.954 because the fear is there,[br]we really need to practise. 1:13:27.234,1:13:30.891 And we need to come from a place of peace. 1:13:32.600,1:13:34.589 And act. 1:13:37.540,1:13:41.373 And, of course, we need to come[br]from a place of love. 1:13:49.777,1:13:54.667 In terms of the mindfulness training on 1:13:56.252,1:14:01.778 suffering caused by war and conflict,[br]somehow we are all touched by that. 1:14:03.811,1:14:07.589 And I also mention by way of example 1:14:10.379,1:14:15.428 Annie Nushann is a woman of Liberia[br]who during the Liberian Civil War - 1:14:18.010,1:14:24.293 She was from a very poor society herself. 1:14:24.638,1:14:28.161 Her family was very poor,[br]she had 10 children. 1:14:28.967,1:14:31.280 She was a refugee, 1:14:31.592,1:14:36.354 she was, I think, in the Ivory Coast[br]during the civil war. 1:14:36.809,1:14:40.002 But she came back into the country by foot 1:14:40.187,1:14:43.841 there having being -[br]Her house was burned down 1:14:43.987,1:14:45.968 and also so terrible things, 1:14:46.066,1:14:51.112 but she came back with this intention[br]to call for peace in Liberia. 1:14:52.206,1:14:56.927 She became a big part[br]of a movement of women 1:14:58.006,1:15:03.480 which included Muslims, and Christians.[br]They got together. 1:15:04.589,1:15:07.195 And though they were poor, 1:15:07.316,1:15:11.936 they didn't have any resources, they had[br]their voices and they chanted for peace. 1:15:13.121,1:15:16.710 And eventually they got[br]international recognition 1:15:16.891,1:15:21.250 and were actually able to catalyse peace 1:15:21.614,1:15:26.362 after 15 years of civil war. 1:15:28.071,1:15:31.056 A seemingly endless situation. 1:15:31.225,1:15:34.955 And of course the peace work has continued[br]after the war. 1:15:35.366,1:15:39.145 And she has done so many amazing actions. 1:15:39.609,1:15:43.445 And one of the recents I mention[br]is because 1:15:43.655,1:15:49.671 she didn't know the practice at that time,[br]but somehow, through her Christian roots, 1:15:50.747,1:15:53.559 going to church she got in touch with, 1:15:54.528,1:15:58.750 asked God for peace in her heart. 1:16:00.258,1:16:02.256 For courage 1:16:04.034,1:16:05.924 and peace. 1:16:06.964,1:16:13.740 And she went to face situations[br]including boys with guns high on drugs, 1:16:13.916,1:16:17.066 and all sorts of situations[br]where she was able to 1:16:18.661,1:16:21.919 meet them as a mother. That is what[br]she would say, 1:16:22.054,1:16:30.313 'I went to them as a mother energy.'[br]As a mother loves her only child 1:16:31.896,1:16:35.652 at the risk of her own life.[br]So we cultivate boundless love 1:16:36.455,1:16:39.740 for each and everyone of us. 1:16:39.920,1:16:42.693 So she went with that spirit. 1:16:43.524,1:16:46.701 And she didn't experience fear. 1:16:47.703,1:16:49.540 In those times. 1:16:50.796,1:16:57.631 So it is another example of how,[br]in a very crazy situation, 1:16:59.793,1:17:06.109 when we can touch non-fear and peace[br]we are somehow also, 1:17:06.315,1:17:09.948 and there is compassion,[br]we are somehow protected. 1:17:15.250,1:17:18.715 Let have one sound of the bell[br]and then I'll wrap up. 1:17:22.429,1:17:23.872 (Bell) 1:17:28.788,1:17:34.638 (Bell) 1:18:07.889,1:18:11.978 So there is also the suffering[br]caused by exploitation. 1:18:12.465,1:18:16.822 We are aware of the great poverty[br]many people experience. 1:18:18.708,1:18:22.428 And just to mention the connection[br]with the vegan diet, 1:18:24.194,1:18:28.113 if all of the land[br]that is used to feed livestock 1:18:28.197,1:18:31.091 was to feeding people, 1:18:31.844,1:18:34.962 it could feed three billion people. 1:18:35.321,1:18:39.185 It is the land that can cover[br]the whole of the European Union. 1:18:42.639,1:18:47.155 So, we think there[br]is a pressure on the land 1:18:47.965,1:18:50.489 and also water resources. 1:18:51.110,1:18:55.579 Many aspects can be helped if we do this. 1:18:59.633,1:19:01.968 So I want to emphasize that. 1:19:02.223,1:19:10.297 When we go out, we maybe carry the light[br]we've found. 1:19:13.521,1:19:17.369 We know that our actions are important. 1:19:18.248,1:19:24.519 Mother Teresa said, it is not that[br]you do a great act of love, 1:19:27.109,1:19:30.856 like that heroic moment[br]where you save the day, 1:19:31.842,1:19:34.079 Superman's suit on, 1:19:34.747,1:19:39.483 but she said, it is the small acts[br]but with great love. 1:19:40.870,1:19:43.995 So the spirit of bringing a lot of love 1:19:45.004,1:19:48.197 into our actions of body,[br]speech and mind. 1:19:48.375,1:19:52.862 And trusting that,[br]and letting that lead us 1:19:53.576,1:19:58.245 so as we go out into the world,[br]I'm not going to say the real world, 1:19:59.008,1:20:02.921 but as we go out from Plum Village, 1:20:04.443,1:20:07.418 remember the importance of 1:20:10.516,1:20:15.937 spiritual friendship,[br]stay in touch in your heart, 1:20:16.227,1:20:19.003 and find a sangha. 1:20:20.616,1:20:22.965 Come back when you need, 1:20:26.247,1:20:29.786 and know that your actions[br]make a difference. 1:20:31.049,1:20:35.442 Even you have one thought that is maybe 1:20:35.695,1:20:40.937 hopeless in some situation, 1:20:41.530,1:20:43.785 but you do it anyway. 1:20:44.700,1:20:47.300 But you do it from love 1:20:47.786,1:20:56.875 and from a sense of this is what I want,[br]this is how I want to be. 1:21:00.136,1:21:02.971 Because ultimately it is 1:21:05.362,1:21:09.353 how we are is 1:21:11.636,1:21:14.882 the real thing. 1:21:15.440,1:21:17.070 If we - 1:21:20.598,1:21:26.180 We don't actually know[br]the ripple effects. 1:21:28.665,1:21:36.960 So we somehow just really need to trust[br]in love, trust in the practice 1:21:37.761,1:21:44.156 of coming from this place of[br]non-fear and peace actions as we go out, 1:21:45.055,1:21:48.350 and know that we also need each other. 1:21:52.996,1:21:57.271 When we have each other[br]actually we can do great things together. 1:21:57.660,1:22:00.251 And we do them with a lot of joy. 1:22:00.428,1:22:02.681 It is not like a chore. 1:22:04.337,1:22:07.248 Being vegetarian in Plum Village is easy, 1:22:07.725,1:22:11.447 and it can be delicious too, for instance. 1:22:12.749,1:22:15.555 So thank you for your practice, 1:22:15.721,1:22:17.672 thank you for your 1:22:18.854,1:22:21.006 taking care of yourself, 1:22:22.267,1:22:30.342 for understanding yourself and being[br]seeing your interbeing nature, 1:22:31.069,1:22:35.190 seeing that the suffering of the other[br]is not separate from your own suffering. 1:22:36.990,1:22:39.727 Thank you for your inclusiveness, 1:22:40.966,1:22:44.560 and your kindness, your non-fear. 1:22:47.524,1:22:48.980 (Bell) 1:22:53.666,1:22:59.687 (Bell) 1:23:20.652,1:23:26.705 (Bell) 1:23:46.904,1:23:52.599 (Bell)