WEBVTT 00:00:08.617 --> 00:00:10.665 Dear respected teacher 00:00:11.100 --> 00:00:13.089 Dear beloved community 00:00:14.116 --> 00:00:18.116 Today is the 10th of March in the year 2022 00:00:19.285 --> 00:00:22.475 and we are gathered together in the Stillwater Hall 00:00:22.870 --> 00:00:25.108 of the Upper Hamlet at Plum Village, France, 00:00:26.047 --> 00:00:27.739 as well as 00:00:28.487 --> 00:00:31.019 in many places all around the world. 00:00:31.597 --> 00:00:34.067 for this retreat. 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:36.000 So let us 00:00:37.508 --> 00:00:41.108 start just by enjoying three sounds of the bell 00:00:41.926 --> 00:00:46.966 as we settle into this moment. Into our bodies, 00:00:47.436 --> 00:00:49.183 into our feelings, 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:52.642 into our breath. 00:00:53.286 --> 00:00:55.707 Just allow your mind to be 00:00:56.897 --> 00:00:59.507 guided back to the present moment 00:00:59.656 --> 00:01:01.670 with the sound of the bell. 00:01:09.601 --> 00:01:11.881 (Waking the bell - muted ring) 00:01:16.269 --> 00:01:21.989 (Deep bell sounds) 00:01:48.197 --> 00:01:54.187 (Deep bell sounds) 00:02:16.310 --> 00:02:22.290 (Deep bell sounds) 00:03:07.221 --> 00:03:09.221 Dear respected Thay. 00:03:09.516 --> 00:03:11.026 Dear friends. 00:03:13.458 --> 00:03:15.248 We have come together 00:03:15.346 --> 00:03:19.766 in this three or four day online retreat, 00:03:20.046 --> 00:03:22.298 three and a half day online retreat 00:03:23.386 --> 00:03:25.379 to honor our teacher 00:03:25.814 --> 00:03:28.560 and our beloved abbot Thay Phap Huu. 00:03:28.890 --> 00:03:31.540 And Thay Phap Trien and Sister Lang Nghiem 00:03:32.066 --> 00:03:34.636 just returned from Vietnam a few days ago 00:03:34.786 --> 00:03:38.226 bearing the ashes of our teacher's body. 00:03:41.451 --> 00:03:43.564 They made that trip specially just to 00:03:45.302 --> 00:03:48.020 to welcome Thay's ashes back 00:03:48.735 --> 00:03:50.455 to Plum Village. 00:03:52.535 --> 00:03:54.792 And on Sunday we'll have a ceremony to 00:03:56.739 --> 00:03:59.039 receive his ashes here in this hall 00:03:59.265 --> 00:04:01.715 and then to take them to 00:04:02.537 --> 00:04:04.317 to spread them 00:04:04.568 --> 00:04:07.767 in the beautiful grounds of Upper Hamlet that Thay loved so much. 00:04:08.745 --> 00:04:10.965 Where the daffodils are currently 00:04:11.145 --> 00:04:12.555 smiling, 00:04:13.008 --> 00:04:15.368 and I know they will welcome Thay 00:04:16.302 --> 00:04:18.161 back to the earth. 00:04:20.884 --> 00:04:24.994 So we've gathered together 00:04:25.110 --> 00:04:27.450 maybe more than 500 of us 00:04:28.232 --> 00:04:30.057 online and offline 00:04:31.969 --> 00:04:33.709 to honor our teacher 00:04:35.218 --> 00:04:37.158 And yet . . . 00:04:37.990 --> 00:04:41.493 at the same time, we know that there is a war going on 00:04:42.783 --> 00:04:45.232 And that people are dying 00:04:47.501 --> 00:04:51.501 People are being buried under piles of rubble 00:04:55.230 --> 00:04:57.980 and many thousands of people 00:04:59.273 --> 00:05:00.643 are dying. 00:05:00.896 --> 00:05:02.556 Millions are fleeing 00:05:02.671 --> 00:05:04.541 their homes 00:05:04.751 --> 00:05:07.651 trying to find shelter somewhere else 00:05:09.141 --> 00:05:11.861 and there's a lot of suffering. 00:05:14.731 --> 00:05:16.571 And so . . . 00:05:17.561 --> 00:05:20.981 I have been asking myself the last few days 00:05:23.446 --> 00:05:24.981 how can we 00:05:26.673 --> 00:05:30.158 continue with this retreat when we know 00:05:32.455 --> 00:05:34.956 the suffering that is going on. 00:05:38.973 --> 00:05:40.833 And part of me was feeling 00:05:42.373 --> 00:05:44.373 Thay would know what to do. 00:05:44.863 --> 00:05:48.103 Thay would know how to respond to this moment, 00:05:48.293 --> 00:05:52.193 to this terrible and challenging moment. 00:05:55.739 --> 00:05:57.179 And a . . . 00:05:58.864 --> 00:06:01.124 I think that when Thay passed away 00:06:02.789 --> 00:06:04.542 a month and a half ago 00:06:04.852 --> 00:06:06.552 many of us felt 00:06:07.892 --> 00:06:10.772 a kind of a . . . a need to 00:06:11.738 --> 00:06:13.288 to step up. 00:06:13.362 --> 00:06:15.100 A sense of responsibility, 00:06:16.652 --> 00:06:19.592 because now who will play that role? 00:06:19.745 --> 00:06:23.563 Who will be able to guide the sangha 00:06:24.603 --> 00:06:27.233 in these challenging moments? 00:06:27.365 --> 00:06:29.273 Who will be able to respond 00:06:30.872 --> 00:06:33.907 to the suffering of the world as Thay would do? 00:06:36.842 --> 00:06:38.682 And . . . 00:06:39.734 --> 00:06:42.974 It's very difficult to know what to do 00:06:47.958 --> 00:06:50.685 (Whispering instructions) 00:06:57.282 --> 00:06:59.111 So as I reflected on this 00:07:03.564 --> 00:07:07.457 I realized that we have an opportunity in this retreat 00:07:09.314 --> 00:07:10.894 to a . . . 00:07:12.796 --> 00:07:16.029 to make sure that Thay is very alive. 00:07:17.757 --> 00:07:20.547 Because we know he would know what to do. 00:07:20.847 --> 00:07:23.036 He does know what to do. 00:07:23.673 --> 00:07:27.343 So our job is just to make sure that he's very alive 00:07:28.378 --> 00:07:30.538 in us and in the whole community. 00:07:30.771 --> 00:07:33.091 And I think we know how to do that. 00:07:35.881 --> 00:07:39.891 I look into my feelings and my perceptions 00:07:41.432 --> 00:07:44.166 around the passing of our teacher, and 00:07:46.076 --> 00:07:48.438 I can't really say that he's gone, 00:07:49.174 --> 00:07:51.631 and I can't really say that he's dead, 00:07:51.951 --> 00:07:53.691 or that he's not there. 00:07:53.774 --> 00:07:55.984 If anything he feels more there, 00:07:56.614 --> 00:07:58.344 much more. 00:07:58.516 --> 00:08:00.796 Very present, very alive. 00:08:02.204 --> 00:08:05.319 So if we want to know what to do, we can ask Thay. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:10.499 But first we have to help him to be very present with us. 00:08:13.923 --> 00:08:15.453 And a . . . 00:08:18.731 --> 00:08:21.085 then we will know what to do. 00:08:22.921 --> 00:08:24.891 And what not to do. 00:08:25.729 --> 00:08:27.229 What to say 00:08:27.377 --> 00:08:29.367 and what not to say. 00:08:33.478 --> 00:08:36.428 Because we want to, we want to help. 00:08:36.626 --> 00:08:38.789 Of course, we want to help. 00:08:39.890 --> 00:08:42.040 But we also know that if we 00:08:45.570 --> 00:08:49.770 if we don't have peace, if we are not at peace 00:08:49.867 --> 00:08:54.267 then when we try to help we may make the situation worse. 00:08:56.627 --> 00:08:58.057 And a . . . 00:09:00.217 --> 00:09:02.906 And we want to know that we are really helping, 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:05.082 helping in the right way. 00:09:06.566 --> 00:09:10.219 So Thay said many times and he wrote beautiful calligraphy 00:09:10.410 --> 00:09:15.670 "Peace in oneself, peace in the world." 00:09:16.824 --> 00:09:19.228 And when I first saw that calligraphy 00:09:19.874 --> 00:09:22.555 I struggled with it a little bit, if I'm honest. 00:09:22.705 --> 00:09:24.262 I . . . 00:09:26.065 --> 00:09:27.865 I sort of wasn't convinced. 00:09:29.086 --> 00:09:31.491 I thought, Thay, it's not going to be enough 00:09:31.716 --> 00:09:34.776 if, you know, I can be at peace, sure, but 00:09:35.542 --> 00:09:38.172 there are still terrible things happening in the world. 00:09:38.438 --> 00:09:41.324 It doesn't seem to make much difference. 00:09:41.702 --> 00:09:44.064 But as I reflected more 00:09:45.833 --> 00:09:47.453 on that statement 00:09:48.469 --> 00:09:51.194 my feeling about it started to change. 00:09:52.104 --> 00:09:56.304 So first of all I looked at the inverse statement. 00:09:58.234 --> 00:10:01.444 So if there's no peace in me 00:10:02.963 --> 00:10:05.533 then there's definitely not peace in the world 00:10:05.823 --> 00:10:07.723 because I'm in the world. 00:10:07.863 --> 00:10:09.583 I'm part of the world. 00:10:09.807 --> 00:10:11.907 So that is true. 00:10:13.709 --> 00:10:15.595 If there's no peace in us 00:10:16.716 --> 00:10:19.416 then how can there be peace in the world? 00:10:21.786 --> 00:10:23.486 And then I asked myself 00:10:25.471 --> 00:10:26.941 how do I know 00:10:28.730 --> 00:10:31.544 that it's not true? You know, that if there's peace in me 00:10:31.615 --> 00:10:33.695 there would be peace in the world. 00:10:33.788 --> 00:10:36.038 I haven't even really tried. 00:10:36.979 --> 00:10:38.679 I think it's a . . . 00:10:38.933 --> 00:10:41.301 I'm a little bit arrogant to think that I know 00:10:41.630 --> 00:10:44.020 what peace in me would be. 00:10:46.999 --> 00:10:50.073 Have I really committed myself 00:10:51.308 --> 00:10:52.888 to peace? 00:10:53.076 --> 00:10:55.401 In my life, in my actions 00:10:56.706 --> 00:10:58.673 in my way of consuming, 00:10:59.083 --> 00:11:00.683 my way of speaking. 00:11:05.801 --> 00:11:09.465 And do I risk to underestimate 00:11:10.420 --> 00:11:11.880 peace? 00:11:13.462 --> 00:11:15.082 Real peace. 00:11:17.461 --> 00:11:19.571 So I think it's worth checking. 00:11:19.856 --> 00:11:21.336 To ask ourselves 00:11:22.958 --> 00:11:25.878 Have we really tried yet? 00:11:29.558 --> 00:11:31.691 Thay always liked to say 00:11:31.811 --> 00:11:33.771 that in Plum Village we don't 00:11:33.861 --> 00:11:35.442 our intention is not to 00:11:35.576 --> 00:11:38.506 give you more ideas about peace. 00:11:40.661 --> 00:11:43.699 Because we already have a lot of ideas about peace. 00:11:43.881 --> 00:11:45.861 We don't need any more. 00:11:48.828 --> 00:11:50.508 But our intention is to 00:11:51.117 --> 00:11:52.997 learn to be peace. 00:11:55.886 --> 00:11:57.636 It's not to talk about it, 00:11:57.844 --> 00:11:59.624 but to be it. 00:12:00.652 --> 00:12:02.792 And we have a way to do that. 00:12:05.546 --> 00:12:07.256 And . . . 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:16.090 Then we can 00:12:17.841 --> 00:12:19.250 we can see 00:12:19.419 --> 00:12:21.807 for ourselves what is the effect 00:12:22.226 --> 00:12:24.086 of that peace in the world. 00:12:24.689 --> 00:12:29.119 Of course, we know that the seeds of the current war 00:12:29.241 --> 00:12:31.651 were sown a long time ago. 00:12:33.754 --> 00:12:35.284 And so . . . 00:12:37.390 --> 00:12:39.200 we may not be able to stop 00:12:40.325 --> 00:12:42.495 the current destruction 00:12:43.053 --> 00:12:45.233 the loss of life, the suffering. 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:50.116 But, we also know that we 00:12:51.098 --> 00:12:55.838 don't want to continue to sow the seeds of war now, 00:12:58.331 --> 00:13:00.311 for future wars. 00:13:01.508 --> 00:13:03.798 And we have confidence that if we 00:13:04.183 --> 00:13:06.248 truly sow the seeds of peace, 00:13:06.488 --> 00:13:08.448 in ourselves, in our own hearts, 00:13:08.754 --> 00:13:10.302 in our communities, 00:13:10.661 --> 00:13:12.391 then perhaps we can avoid 00:13:12.889 --> 00:13:14.885 other wars in the future. 00:13:21.456 --> 00:13:24.116 Towards the beginning of the war 00:13:25.253 --> 00:13:27.299 I saw somebody posted online 00:13:29.582 --> 00:13:31.187 something like this. It said, 00:13:31.870 --> 00:13:34.270 When will we learn 00:13:35.885 --> 00:13:39.515 to love our neighbors as ourselves? 00:13:40.951 --> 00:13:46.461 This is from Jesus' commandments to us. 00:13:48.598 --> 00:13:50.718 To love thy neighbor as thyself. 00:13:51.640 --> 00:13:53.580 It's known as the golden rule. 00:13:57.441 --> 00:14:00.645 Do to others as you would be done by. 00:14:04.608 --> 00:14:06.228 And it seems simple. 00:14:06.295 --> 00:14:09.018 It seems that if we could just 00:14:09.100 --> 00:14:11.721 love others as we love ourselves then 00:14:13.371 --> 00:14:17.076 that would already be a much more beautiful society. 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:19.659 A much more beautiful world. 00:14:22.621 --> 00:14:23.931 But . . . 00:14:25.406 --> 00:14:27.116 I'm not sure 00:14:27.932 --> 00:14:29.326 that I 00:14:29.836 --> 00:14:33.602 know even how to love myself, really. 00:14:34.576 --> 00:14:37.875 So even if I did love my neighbor as I love myself 00:14:38.016 --> 00:14:39.826 would I really love them, 00:14:40.433 --> 00:14:42.806 if I can't yet love myself? 00:14:45.592 --> 00:14:48.542 So it seems to me this is a good place to start. 00:14:51.242 --> 00:14:53.762 And it's a way to act. 00:14:55.135 --> 00:14:58.995 To really take care of ourselves 00:15:00.478 --> 00:15:01.898 is action, 00:15:02.230 --> 00:15:03.980 is engagement, 00:15:04.927 --> 00:15:06.801 it's not turning away. 00:15:09.414 --> 00:15:11.324 It is a real contribution. 00:15:17.195 --> 00:15:21.595 So . . . we know that we have a physical body 00:15:25.194 --> 00:15:27.163 and we can ask ourselves, 00:15:27.393 --> 00:15:30.593 if we've really been taking good care of our body. 00:15:36.815 --> 00:15:38.385 Have we allowed 00:15:38.516 --> 00:15:43.036 tension and stress to accumulate in our body. 00:15:45.439 --> 00:15:48.811 Have we put pressure on ourselves 00:15:49.530 --> 00:15:51.080 to be a certain way 00:15:54.745 --> 00:15:57.223 to work late into the night. 00:16:01.023 --> 00:16:03.303 Have we pushed our body too hard? 00:16:08.216 --> 00:16:11.604 And are we really even paying attention 00:16:11.986 --> 00:16:13.417 to our body. 00:16:14.596 --> 00:16:16.475 This is the first practice 00:16:16.746 --> 00:16:18.836 just to bring the mind back 00:16:19.187 --> 00:16:23.337 to the sensations in the body right now, in this moment. 00:16:30.002 --> 00:16:31.531 And . . . 00:16:32.672 --> 00:16:35.352 it's not always easy because if we have 00:16:36.722 --> 00:16:40.537 allowed some tension to accumulate, then when we bring our minds back 00:16:40.699 --> 00:16:43.336 to the body it isn't necessarily pleasant. 00:16:44.115 --> 00:16:45.935 There may be some pain, 00:16:47.231 --> 00:16:48.621 some tension. 00:16:50.206 --> 00:16:51.686 There may be 00:16:53.578 --> 00:16:57.608 traces of past suffering accumulated in our body. 00:16:59.801 --> 00:17:01.517 The body might not feel 00:17:01.655 --> 00:17:05.655 totally safe to take refuge in. 00:17:07.752 --> 00:17:09.832 It might not feel like a refuge. 00:17:11.036 --> 00:17:13.546 There may be feelings of discomfort. 00:17:16.563 --> 00:17:17.893 So if we 00:17:20.719 --> 00:17:24.199 if we bring our mind back to our body, and if we find 00:17:26.275 --> 00:17:27.805 some painful feelings, 00:17:27.925 --> 00:17:29.840 some uncomfortable feelings, 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:32.570 then we need to know how to 00:17:33.895 --> 00:17:35.895 take care of those feelings. 00:17:36.995 --> 00:17:40.432 To embrace those feelings with all of our love, 00:17:41.617 --> 00:17:42.967 tenderness, 00:17:44.167 --> 00:17:47.105 and to give our body a chance 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.440 to relax. 00:17:52.792 --> 00:17:56.017 To release some of that accumulated tension, 00:17:58.291 --> 00:17:59.821 and to heal. 00:18:00.752 --> 00:18:04.752 Our body knows very well how to heal if we give it the chance. 00:18:11.098 --> 00:18:14.647 So, we can do this multiple times a day, 00:18:16.383 --> 00:18:20.493 in any position we happen to find ourselves we can do a body scan. 00:18:20.637 --> 00:18:24.837 Whether we're sitting, standing lying down, even while we're walking. 00:18:26.290 --> 00:18:29.385 We can just scan the different parts of our body and 00:18:30.550 --> 00:18:32.570 give them permission to 00:18:32.976 --> 00:18:35.919 to relax any tension that might have accumulated. 00:18:36.081 --> 00:18:38.027 We have to be careful not to 00:18:38.404 --> 00:18:40.044 make more pressure. 00:18:40.144 --> 00:18:41.633 "You have to relax!" 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.989 "Why are you so tense?" 00:18:46.134 --> 00:18:49.621 We have a kind of conditioning to 00:18:51.445 --> 00:18:54.962 tend to want to do everything perfectly. 00:18:56.594 --> 00:18:57.900 To do, 00:18:58.450 --> 00:19:00.610 to be good at relaxing, 00:19:00.790 --> 00:19:02.274 to do it well, 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:05.990 that we may unconsciously put more pressure on ourselves 00:19:06.170 --> 00:19:08.040 and create more tension. 00:19:08.727 --> 00:19:12.313 So, it's very nice just to 00:19:14.124 --> 00:19:16.392 just to give ourselves permission, 00:19:16.582 --> 00:19:18.815 to give our body permission 00:19:19.818 --> 00:19:23.818 to release, just as much as as it would like to release 00:19:24.110 --> 00:19:26.061 without any expectation. 00:19:29.412 --> 00:19:31.917 So, I like to do this 00:19:32.787 --> 00:19:34.247 many times a day. 00:19:34.397 --> 00:19:36.017 I might start with 00:19:36.987 --> 00:19:38.447 with my jaw, 00:19:41.037 --> 00:19:43.267 and just check in and say "hello." 00:19:44.630 --> 00:19:45.980 "Hello" my jaw. 00:19:51.196 --> 00:19:54.715 Have I allowed some tension to build up here? 00:19:55.887 --> 00:19:57.637 Is my jaw locked? 00:19:59.437 --> 00:20:01.999 If you want to, you can just release 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:04.959 as much as you would like to release. 00:20:05.085 --> 00:20:06.786 Ah . . . 00:20:07.569 --> 00:20:09.139 It feels better already. 00:20:11.477 --> 00:20:13.401 I can check in with my tongue, 00:20:14.817 --> 00:20:16.487 the palate of my mouth, 00:20:18.109 --> 00:20:19.959 the gums, even the teeth. 00:20:22.324 --> 00:20:24.184 The whole mouth, and the lips. 00:20:26.588 --> 00:20:27.938 Just check. 00:20:28.922 --> 00:20:30.723 See how it feels right now. 00:20:37.449 --> 00:20:40.535 I just let my mouth and my jaw know 00:20:42.296 --> 00:20:45.596 it's ok to let go of 00:20:46.643 --> 00:20:48.887 whatever you'd like to let go of. 00:20:51.250 --> 00:20:54.601 And check my nose, the sinuses, 00:20:57.762 --> 00:20:59.042 the nostrils, 00:21:03.923 --> 00:21:05.346 the eyes. 00:21:12.257 --> 00:21:14.841 And all the little muscles around the eyes. 00:21:15.469 --> 00:21:17.620 We make our eyes work so hard. 00:21:18.418 --> 00:21:20.552 Reading and looking at screens. 00:21:21.326 --> 00:21:24.146 So it's very nice just to give them a chance to 00:21:25.531 --> 00:21:26.891 to become soft. 00:21:27.793 --> 00:21:29.754 Give them permission to rest. 00:21:33.583 --> 00:21:36.172 This is a kind of love, already, 00:21:37.004 --> 00:21:38.694 that we can offer ourselves. 00:21:40.251 --> 00:21:42.501 Kindness, compassion. 00:21:44.263 --> 00:21:45.873 "It's ok, my two eyes, 00:21:46.295 --> 00:21:47.775 you can rest now." 00:21:52.176 --> 00:21:55.806 My forehead may have accumulated a lot of 00:21:56.943 --> 00:21:59.403 intensity, or thinking energy. 00:22:00.021 --> 00:22:02.047 I can just let my forehead know 00:22:04.482 --> 00:22:06.647 "Hmm, now it's ok 00:22:07.523 --> 00:22:08.883 just to be soft." 00:22:16.037 --> 00:22:17.841 I can check in with my ears, 00:22:21.927 --> 00:22:23.316 my scalp, 00:22:28.199 --> 00:22:29.621 my hands, 00:22:31.338 --> 00:22:32.847 thumbs and fingers. 00:22:36.732 --> 00:22:39.482 Is there any feeling of 00:22:39.958 --> 00:22:41.548 tension in my fingers. 00:22:43.319 --> 00:22:45.349 Just say "hello" to my two hands. 00:22:47.351 --> 00:22:48.681 Hello. 00:22:50.830 --> 00:22:52.532 You can let go now. 00:22:53.643 --> 00:22:55.185 Nothing to hold on to. 00:22:56.241 --> 00:22:57.482 Nothing to grasp. 00:23:00.964 --> 00:23:02.394 You can rest. 00:23:04.924 --> 00:23:06.734 I can say hello to my arms, 00:23:06.843 --> 00:23:08.183 my shoulders. 00:23:10.151 --> 00:23:12.897 Maybe there's a little tension in the shoulders, 00:23:13.994 --> 00:23:15.477 or even a little pain. 00:23:20.526 --> 00:23:23.461 And say "Hello, my two shoulders, thank you, 00:23:25.543 --> 00:23:29.463 for holding everything you've been holding, and now 00:23:33.654 --> 00:23:37.418 you can release what ever you'd like to release. 00:23:38.787 --> 00:23:40.356 Don't worry. 00:23:46.226 --> 00:23:47.926 My arms won't fall off. 00:23:50.817 --> 00:23:52.407 You can get back 00:23:53.750 --> 00:23:55.990 how ever much of my arms 00:23:56.087 --> 00:23:58.037 that you've been holding up. 00:23:59.360 --> 00:24:00.945 Just let them hang. 00:24:02.201 --> 00:24:04.611 Maybe arms feel a little heavier, 00:24:08.555 --> 00:24:10.063 a little more loose. 00:24:11.625 --> 00:24:14.055 Maybe the breath comes a little easier. 00:24:17.342 --> 00:24:20.413 Be aware of the movement of the chest, 00:24:23.023 --> 00:24:25.516 aware of any tightness that may be there. 00:24:28.418 --> 00:24:31.220 Just give it permission to soften. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.752 And feel the belly rising with the inbreath. 00:24:38.864 --> 00:24:40.926 Falling with the outbreath. 00:24:44.824 --> 00:24:46.830 Hello, my abdomen. 00:24:48.173 --> 00:24:50.422 Is there anything you've been holding on to? 00:24:54.204 --> 00:24:55.584 If you want to 00:24:56.993 --> 00:24:59.321 you can just release it now. 00:25:08.295 --> 00:25:10.926 We can feel our two legs, our feet, 00:25:15.648 --> 00:25:18.097 and just give them permission to rest. 00:25:19.410 --> 00:25:21.893 You're not going anywhere, not doing anything. 00:25:23.488 --> 00:25:24.858 It's so nice. 00:25:27.741 --> 00:25:29.181 Just to rest, 00:25:31.066 --> 00:25:34.756 to allow ourselves to sink a little deeper 00:25:36.781 --> 00:25:39.022 into our contact with the ground, 00:25:40.156 --> 00:25:41.776 the cushion or the chair. 00:25:46.105 --> 00:25:48.925 Feel ourselves resting on Mother Earth, 00:25:49.282 --> 00:25:52.207 and to entrust ourselves to Mother Earth. 00:25:59.806 --> 00:26:01.266 And maybe . . . 00:26:03.089 --> 00:26:07.939 our body feels a little sense of relief. 00:26:12.229 --> 00:26:14.538 (Exhales) 00:26:17.551 --> 00:26:19.221 And we can smile, 00:26:21.516 --> 00:26:24.596 and feel the smile embracing our whole body. 00:26:33.256 --> 00:26:35.086 It's very nice to be 00:26:35.824 --> 00:26:38.705 just aware of the sensations in the body. 00:26:41.566 --> 00:26:43.916 And we know our mind is in the present moment 00:26:44.021 --> 00:26:47.445 because those sensations are only in the present moment. 00:26:54.292 --> 00:26:56.952 It's a wonderful way to take care 00:26:57.152 --> 00:26:58.592 of our body. 00:27:02.726 --> 00:27:06.071 And then, in the body we may notice some feelings. 00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:09.973 There may be a feeling of 00:27:10.492 --> 00:27:11.932 pressure, 00:27:12.818 --> 00:27:14.928 anxiety, tension. 00:27:17.425 --> 00:27:20.511 Some kind of unease or discomfort. 00:27:22.764 --> 00:27:25.772 We can say hello to those feelings as well. 00:27:29.122 --> 00:27:32.266 And know that we are more than those feelings. 00:27:35.249 --> 00:27:36.997 That we are vast. 00:27:39.395 --> 00:27:42.010 That there is a quality of love 00:27:42.992 --> 00:27:47.132 and stability in us that is capable 00:27:48.715 --> 00:27:51.175 of embracing whatever is there 00:27:52.590 --> 00:27:54.292 with tenderness. 00:28:01.372 --> 00:28:06.912 And those feelings, they like to be held. 00:28:07.713 --> 00:28:09.676 You don't need to do much. 00:28:15.218 --> 00:28:19.888 Just to allow any feelings of discomfort or uneasiness to 00:28:21.197 --> 00:28:23.640 to take a bath of mindfulness. 00:28:26.264 --> 00:28:30.264 To be bathed in the energy of mindfulness. 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:36.710 And that means just listening to those feelings. 00:28:37.229 --> 00:28:39.338 Being there for them. 00:28:41.973 --> 00:28:46.193 Taking the time to be fully present 00:28:47.863 --> 00:28:49.682 for whatever is there. 00:28:55.082 --> 00:28:57.002 It's very nice to do that. 00:28:58.989 --> 00:29:02.412 And we may find that we have some emotions as well. 00:29:06.449 --> 00:29:10.449 Maybe there's some anger in our heart, 00:29:12.557 --> 00:29:15.400 or despair or anxiety, 00:29:18.582 --> 00:29:19.992 or fear. 00:29:26.196 --> 00:29:30.946 And those feelings might have been pushing us to act, 00:29:32.690 --> 00:29:34.140 to consume, 00:29:37.461 --> 00:29:39.389 to speak. 00:29:43.682 --> 00:29:46.472 And somehow, when we're pushed by those feelings we 00:29:47.007 --> 00:29:49.163 we lose a little of our freedom. 00:29:50.681 --> 00:29:52.361 We lose our sovereignty. 00:29:53.639 --> 00:29:55.659 We're not ourselves. 00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:04.495 So it's very nice also to 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:09.418 to create the time, to take the time 00:30:11.296 --> 00:30:13.587 to say hello to those feelings, 00:30:14.836 --> 00:30:17.643 which may have been there a long time. 00:30:25.982 --> 00:30:28.918 To offer them our love, our presence. 00:30:30.357 --> 00:30:32.452 Our presence is very powerful 00:30:36.074 --> 00:30:37.784 when we're not distracted 00:30:38.467 --> 00:30:39.917 by the telephone. 00:30:50.760 --> 00:30:53.795 So we learn, in this retreat how to handle 00:30:54.840 --> 00:30:56.231 our emotions. 00:30:56.387 --> 00:31:00.077 And if we are to handle them, first we have the recognize them, 00:31:00.207 --> 00:31:01.807 that they are there. 00:31:02.429 --> 00:31:05.273 And be humble and honest. 00:31:17.223 --> 00:31:18.753 And taken together, 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.720 the tension in our body, 00:31:24.399 --> 00:31:27.203 the tension in our feelings, in our emotions, 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.929 they form a kind of 00:31:31.583 --> 00:31:32.903 background 00:31:33.507 --> 00:31:35.427 inclination of our mind 00:31:38.493 --> 00:31:42.313 that may have a tendency to push us. 00:31:48.894 --> 00:31:52.994 And this inclination of mind might have been transmitted to us 00:31:53.108 --> 00:31:55.048 over many generations. 00:31:55.773 --> 00:31:58.903 We may recognize our ancestors in it. 00:31:58.988 --> 00:32:00.608 Maybe there's a . . . 00:32:02.216 --> 00:32:04.953 just a . . . it's like a subtle filter 00:32:05.442 --> 00:32:06.901 over everything. 00:32:08.040 --> 00:32:09.990 It influences our perceptions 00:32:12.017 --> 00:32:13.565 of everything. 00:32:15.384 --> 00:32:18.233 Maybe it's a kind of subtle cynicism 00:32:18.298 --> 00:32:21.250 that things will not work out. 00:32:23.752 --> 00:32:25.572 Things won't turn out well. 00:32:25.927 --> 00:32:27.467 (Whispers) I just know it. 00:32:29.560 --> 00:32:31.605 Maybe there's just a feeling that 00:32:33.842 --> 00:32:35.799 it won't go well for me. 00:32:37.318 --> 00:32:38.991 No matter what I do. 00:32:40.091 --> 00:32:41.771 I'm going to suffer. 00:32:44.241 --> 00:32:47.320 Maybe it's a tendency to feel like 00:32:48.166 --> 00:32:52.166 ultimately, we will let people down 00:32:54.758 --> 00:32:56.660 no matter what, in the end 00:32:58.223 --> 00:32:59.992 I will let you down. 00:33:02.582 --> 00:33:05.919 Maybe it's a feeling, unconscious, 00:33:06.022 --> 00:33:08.863 that in the end, will be betrayed. 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:13.962 That love isn't really something that we can rely on. 00:33:14.072 --> 00:33:16.302 Something that we can trust. 00:33:20.195 --> 00:33:21.935 These may be 00:33:22.833 --> 00:33:24.937 the kind of attitudes that have been 00:33:25.016 --> 00:33:27.636 transmitted over many generations. 00:33:28.763 --> 00:33:31.203 And conditioned by real suffering, 00:33:31.302 --> 00:33:32.792 by real betrayal, 00:33:32.924 --> 00:33:35.072 by real disappointment, 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:37.929 by real pain. 00:33:38.301 --> 00:33:40.161 But now, maybe we just have 00:33:40.278 --> 00:33:41.668 the attitude. 00:33:42.800 --> 00:33:47.420 And it's worth having a deep conversation with our ancestors 00:33:49.298 --> 00:33:52.620 to see if we can update that attitude. 00:33:54.958 --> 00:33:58.451 Invite them to look again, check. 00:33:59.566 --> 00:34:01.736 I like to talk to my grandfather. 00:34:01.809 --> 00:34:03.932 My grandfather was very sure that 00:34:05.977 --> 00:34:08.528 ultimately, things wouldn't go well. 00:34:10.421 --> 00:34:12.116 There would just be pain. 00:34:15.881 --> 00:34:17.241 And he 00:34:18.324 --> 00:34:21.414 caused people to suffer 00:34:21.564 --> 00:34:23.024 in our family, 00:34:23.124 --> 00:34:24.914 caused himself to suffer. 00:34:30.960 --> 00:34:32.863 And so he had lots of evidence. 00:34:35.181 --> 00:34:37.379 So I like to check in with him and say 00:34:40.457 --> 00:34:41.887 Hello. 00:34:42.405 --> 00:34:44.469 Look, in this moment 00:34:47.474 --> 00:34:49.474 we're not harming anyone. 00:34:52.832 --> 00:34:56.297 In this moment, we're not harming ourselves. 00:35:00.807 --> 00:35:02.475 In this moment 00:35:04.658 --> 00:35:06.909 we're taking good care of ourselves. 00:35:11.381 --> 00:35:15.121 In this moment, we're doing exactly the thing 00:35:15.197 --> 00:35:17.173 that we always wanted to do. 00:35:23.036 --> 00:35:25.639 In this moment, we're realizing 00:35:26.675 --> 00:35:28.540 our deepest aspiration. 00:35:30.680 --> 00:35:32.020 To love, 00:35:36.146 --> 00:35:38.257 to cultivate awareness, 00:35:38.726 --> 00:35:40.114 to wake up. 00:35:43.174 --> 00:35:45.268 And it's like a magic formula. 00:35:45.498 --> 00:35:46.838 It's a . . . 00:35:48.948 --> 00:35:51.528 It's an instant source of happiness. 00:35:52.603 --> 00:35:55.023 To recognize that in this very moment 00:35:55.136 --> 00:35:56.688 we're doing exactly 00:35:57.668 --> 00:35:59.831 what we wanted to do all along. 00:36:04.445 --> 00:36:08.099 Because we need to know how to generate a feeling of happiness. 00:36:09.950 --> 00:36:12.150 Generating a feeling of happiness is 00:36:12.276 --> 00:36:15.895 a powerful way to act in the world. 00:36:18.126 --> 00:36:19.506 It's a way to 00:36:20.735 --> 00:36:24.219 help take care of our pain, 00:36:26.292 --> 00:36:27.992 of our painful feelings. 00:36:32.156 --> 00:36:33.816 A feeling of happiness will 00:36:33.933 --> 00:36:36.901 already help to embrace our painful feelings. 00:36:41.018 --> 00:36:43.610 And it's wonderful when we are already practicing 00:36:43.976 --> 00:36:46.930 just to notice, oh, I'm practicing. 00:36:47.490 --> 00:36:48.820 Wow. 00:36:50.392 --> 00:36:52.092 That's a source of happiness. 00:36:52.257 --> 00:36:55.568 That mindfulness is a source of happiness. 00:36:59.976 --> 00:37:02.641 Taking care of our suffering 00:37:02.949 --> 00:37:04.772 is a source of happiness. 00:37:05.850 --> 00:37:08.129 Now we need to let our ancestors know 00:37:08.966 --> 00:37:11.323 and invite them to participate 00:37:15.295 --> 00:37:18.074 and gradually, the inclination of our minds 00:37:18.154 --> 00:37:19.684 starts to change. 00:37:22.356 --> 00:37:25.167 Maybe we have a chance to see things anew. 00:37:28.782 --> 00:37:31.692 And maybe our perceptions change. 00:37:34.194 --> 00:37:37.694 Because our perceptions are the ground of our action. 00:37:38.462 --> 00:37:41.417 And if we have a lot of wrong perceptions 00:37:41.515 --> 00:37:44.195 about each other and about ourselves 00:37:47.507 --> 00:37:49.827 then it will be very hard to act 00:37:49.941 --> 00:37:51.431 with wisdom. 00:37:54.722 --> 00:37:56.314 So . . . 00:37:58.521 --> 00:38:00.021 when we are able to 00:38:00.204 --> 00:38:01.788 to take care of our body, 00:38:02.177 --> 00:38:05.177 to relax our body, to allow our body to relax, 00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:07.759 to take care of our feelings, 00:38:08.313 --> 00:38:10.379 to take care of our emotions, 00:38:12.289 --> 00:38:14.982 the fundamental attitude of our mind, 00:38:19.654 --> 00:38:22.696 then we can start to 00:38:24.264 --> 00:38:26.299 to be peace. 00:38:27.697 --> 00:38:30.177 And then we can really help. 00:38:42.717 --> 00:38:45.442 (Waking the bell - soft bell) 00:38:48.721 --> 00:38:55.201 (Bell sounds) 00:39:33.469 --> 00:39:37.329 So we want Thay to be very alive in us, 00:39:37.438 --> 00:39:39.028 and in our community 00:39:39.128 --> 00:39:40.978 in these four days. 00:39:41.681 --> 00:39:43.101 So I suggest 00:39:44.544 --> 00:39:47.731 that we live for these next few days 00:39:48.808 --> 00:39:50.668 like Thay. 00:39:54.982 --> 00:39:57.593 Thay had a lot of confidence 00:39:57.902 --> 00:39:59.897 in his students. 00:40:00.835 --> 00:40:02.379 Thay would always say 00:40:03.162 --> 00:40:04.472 Thay is in you. 00:40:07.484 --> 00:40:10.526 When often people would come and ask Thay a question 00:40:10.723 --> 00:40:13.593 about starting an initiative somewhere, 00:40:14.820 --> 00:40:16.658 "I want to start a program 00:40:17.089 --> 00:40:19.649 for mindfulness in hospitals" or something 00:40:19.828 --> 00:40:22.878 and Thay would just say, "Thay is in you." 00:40:23.660 --> 00:40:25.842 Go ahead. Do it. 00:40:28.472 --> 00:40:30.602 He had a lot of confidence in us. 00:40:31.823 --> 00:40:37.253 And he gave himself to us. His whole self, he held nothing back. 00:40:40.981 --> 00:40:43.348 And I think, when we practice 00:40:44.462 --> 00:40:47.872 we can feel that it's true. That Thay is in us 00:40:48.577 --> 00:40:50.201 when we practice. 00:40:53.627 --> 00:40:54.997 So . . . 00:40:55.274 --> 00:40:57.914 if we want to live like Thay 00:40:58.514 --> 00:41:00.384 for these few days, 00:41:02.229 --> 00:41:04.439 to make sure that Thay is really alive 00:41:04.614 --> 00:41:06.404 in the community, in us, 00:41:09.714 --> 00:41:11.364 I think it's very easy. 00:41:11.674 --> 00:41:14.614 We just have to do the things that Thay likes to do. 00:41:18.260 --> 00:41:22.480 And not do the things that would hurt Thay in us. 00:41:23.396 --> 00:41:25.796 And I think we know what they are. 00:41:26.088 --> 00:41:28.238 I think we can tell the difference. 00:41:29.434 --> 00:41:31.484 That Thay is very sensitive. 00:41:33.480 --> 00:41:36.650 And some things that we might have a tendency to do, that 00:41:36.863 --> 00:41:38.601 he would not do. 00:41:41.042 --> 00:41:42.852 So we can ask ourselves, 00:41:45.037 --> 00:41:46.974 or let him guide us. 00:41:51.417 --> 00:41:54.687 That's very easy. In the morning when we wake up 00:41:56.022 --> 00:41:57.883 we can smile. 00:42:01.385 --> 00:42:03.148 It's a real practice. 00:42:03.529 --> 00:42:05.359 Waking up, this morning 00:42:06.027 --> 00:42:07.407 I smiled. 00:42:08.536 --> 00:42:10.278 It's not always easy. 00:42:12.871 --> 00:42:17.130 And I need to remember 24 brand new hours are before me. 00:42:20.861 --> 00:42:23.879 And to make the vow to live each moment 00:42:24.074 --> 00:42:27.234 in mindfulness like Thay. 00:42:30.989 --> 00:42:32.339 It's not easy 00:42:33.774 --> 00:42:35.448 to really do it. 00:42:39.676 --> 00:42:41.776 And to look at all beings 00:42:42.139 --> 00:42:44.749 with the eyes of compassion, 00:42:45.906 --> 00:42:47.356 like Thay. 00:42:49.442 --> 00:42:52.652 Even Vladimir Putin. 00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.659 Even the Russian soldiers 00:42:58.772 --> 00:43:00.622 that are bombing civilians. 00:43:01.579 --> 00:43:03.639 Thay didn't have enemies. 00:43:04.296 --> 00:43:05.806 He didn't hate. 00:43:10.545 --> 00:43:13.855 And that doesn't mean that we condone the actions. 00:43:19.352 --> 00:43:22.212 But if we don't want to contribute to future wars, then 00:43:23.127 --> 00:43:25.087 we cannot hate. 00:43:27.595 --> 00:43:30.742 And we have to be very careful in our way of consuming 00:43:30.959 --> 00:43:32.309 the media. 00:43:32.513 --> 00:43:35.173 Right now there's a lot in the media 00:43:35.732 --> 00:43:37.511 of videos being shared of 00:43:37.679 --> 00:43:40.269 Russian tanks being destroyed 00:43:41.647 --> 00:43:43.697 by missiles. 00:43:44.117 --> 00:43:46.277 And they're shared like it's 00:43:46.789 --> 00:43:48.795 something to celebrate, 00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:51.469 a victory. 00:43:52.370 --> 00:43:54.169 Like it's in a video game. 00:43:56.384 --> 00:44:00.552 And you see what people are commenting, what they post on social media. 00:44:07.541 --> 00:44:09.145 It's very hard to know 00:44:11.369 --> 00:44:13.044 how to handle that. 00:44:15.803 --> 00:44:17.433 Because of course 00:44:18.768 --> 00:44:20.128 we . . . 00:44:22.971 --> 00:44:24.985 we know that sometimes 00:44:25.817 --> 00:44:27.893 the use of force is necessary. 00:44:30.235 --> 00:44:31.956 Thay once said that 00:44:32.490 --> 00:44:35.044 sometimes non-violence is violence. 00:44:37.270 --> 00:44:40.980 If we could avoid the loss of life, 00:44:41.086 --> 00:44:43.392 if we could protect civilians, 00:44:44.906 --> 00:44:46.678 by the use of force, then 00:44:47.133 --> 00:44:49.746 sometimes, we should. 00:44:50.807 --> 00:44:52.767 And that is true non-violence. 00:44:52.878 --> 00:44:54.488 But it's very hard. 00:44:56.802 --> 00:45:01.171 And to do that we have to have compassion in our hearts. 00:45:04.047 --> 00:45:06.097 And we have to know that there are 00:45:06.652 --> 00:45:09.012 young Russian men in those tanks, 00:45:09.320 --> 00:45:11.270 who have been misled 00:45:12.446 --> 00:45:13.820 and . . . 00:45:14.442 --> 00:45:17.255 have been fed with a lot of propaganda 00:45:18.284 --> 00:45:20.284 and they're dying too. 00:45:25.216 --> 00:45:27.556 So, whatever we look at 00:45:28.174 --> 00:45:32.374 let us be careful, how we consume it and 00:45:32.564 --> 00:45:35.564 to always keep compassion alive in our hearts. 00:45:40.931 --> 00:45:43.921 To look at all beings with the eyes of compassion, 00:45:47.466 --> 00:45:49.573 even though they hold a gun. 00:46:00.180 --> 00:46:02.723 And when we make tea 00:46:05.096 --> 00:46:07.132 maybe while the water is boiling 00:46:07.903 --> 00:46:10.589 my hand starts to twitch and there's and impulse to 00:46:11.401 --> 00:46:13.717 turn on the phone, check the news. 00:46:15.644 --> 00:46:17.385 Would Thay do that? 00:46:18.034 --> 00:46:19.845 I don't think so. 00:46:23.327 --> 00:46:26.157 So we can notice the impulse, 00:46:27.049 --> 00:46:29.339 the habit, that we've trained, 00:46:29.721 --> 00:46:31.350 see it coming up, 00:46:31.927 --> 00:46:33.597 and we don't have to act. 00:46:36.212 --> 00:46:38.062 We can say, No, thank you. 00:46:39.118 --> 00:46:40.732 I'm making my tea. 00:46:41.744 --> 00:46:43.654 I'm going to enjoy my tea. 00:46:44.332 --> 00:46:46.342 Like Thay. 00:46:48.160 --> 00:46:50.810 And it's very interesting when you resist 00:46:50.963 --> 00:46:53.647 an impulse, that you've trained 00:46:55.129 --> 00:46:56.969 like checking your e-mail, 00:46:57.908 --> 00:46:59.739 or looking at the news. 00:47:02.062 --> 00:47:05.600 Because there may initially be a feeling of discomfort, 00:47:05.747 --> 00:47:07.167 it's unsatisfying. 00:47:07.577 --> 00:47:09.730 You want to check and 00:47:09.849 --> 00:47:12.369 now you're not allowing yourself to check. 00:47:12.504 --> 00:47:14.891 It's kind of uncomfortable, a little. 00:47:15.592 --> 00:47:19.138 So it's very interesting to notice that feeling in the body. 00:47:20.272 --> 00:47:22.042 To allow it to be there, 00:47:23.286 --> 00:47:24.656 to embrace it, 00:47:25.576 --> 00:47:27.169 to smile to it, 00:47:28.392 --> 00:47:30.181 to allow it to soften. 00:47:32.889 --> 00:47:35.471 And actually, we can also cultivate 00:47:36.145 --> 00:47:38.635 a feeling of profound joy. 00:47:42.239 --> 00:47:44.761 Just by realizing that in that moment 00:47:45.254 --> 00:47:47.034 I was not pushed. 00:47:50.135 --> 00:47:52.465 I was able to say No. 00:47:53.398 --> 00:47:54.878 No, thank you, 00:47:54.993 --> 00:47:56.593 to this push. 00:47:58.679 --> 00:48:00.979 And that is a feeling of triumph. 00:48:03.104 --> 00:48:04.854 That is a feeling of joy. 00:48:06.455 --> 00:48:08.305 A success in the practice. 00:48:08.414 --> 00:48:09.904 To be able to stop 00:48:14.093 --> 00:48:17.361 and take care of what ever feeling of discomfort was 00:48:17.555 --> 00:48:19.340 pushing us to act. 00:48:23.789 --> 00:48:26.131 And then you can make your tea in freedom. 00:48:26.850 --> 00:48:28.390 And that is happiness. 00:48:29.706 --> 00:48:31.367 When is the last time 00:48:31.998 --> 00:48:35.278 you really savored a sip of tea 00:48:35.915 --> 00:48:38.034 in total freedom. 00:48:40.864 --> 00:48:43.422 When was the last time you allowed a drop of tea 00:48:43.556 --> 00:48:47.495 to roll on your tongue and you could feel the cloud in your tea. 00:48:51.169 --> 00:48:54.886 And enjoy the magic, the mystery, 00:48:55.086 --> 00:48:57.353 the wonder of tea. 00:48:57.535 --> 00:48:59.755 Water, the fragrance. 00:49:00.927 --> 00:49:03.862 The coming together of all the causes and conditions. 00:49:06.211 --> 00:49:07.964 It's magical. 00:49:10.464 --> 00:49:13.680 And Thay has taught us very well how to enjoy a cup of tea. 00:49:14.018 --> 00:49:16.398 We know exactly how to do it. And yet, 00:49:16.514 --> 00:49:18.744 maybe we don't always do it. 00:49:19.910 --> 00:49:21.550 So in these four days 00:49:22.527 --> 00:49:24.729 let's see if we can. 00:49:30.012 --> 00:49:32.811 We can become absorbed in the tea. 00:49:36.944 --> 00:49:39.655 And then we go to join the sitting meditation 00:49:44.071 --> 00:49:46.851 and we know that Thay loved to breathe. 00:49:48.466 --> 00:49:51.268 Thay knew exactly how to enjoy his breathing. 00:49:52.462 --> 00:49:54.462 So we can sit there, and say 00:49:57.487 --> 00:49:59.463 Let Thay breathe. 00:50:00.561 --> 00:50:02.291 I don't need to breathe. 00:50:06.984 --> 00:50:08.564 And it's true. 00:50:16.659 --> 00:50:19.191 Thay is breathing. 00:50:24.207 --> 00:50:26.399 I just enjoy the breathing. 00:50:29.649 --> 00:50:33.319 Thay knows how to breathe very well. 00:50:49.664 --> 00:50:52.234 Thay is the breathing. 00:50:58.354 --> 00:51:00.451 I am the breathing. 00:51:12.187 --> 00:51:14.140 There is only breathing. 00:51:19.745 --> 00:51:21.925 There is no 'breather.' 00:51:30.429 --> 00:51:32.009 Peace, 00:51:33.003 --> 00:51:34.663 while breathing. 00:51:40.783 --> 00:51:43.979 Peace is the breathing. 00:51:58.964 --> 00:52:00.497 This is something possible. 00:52:03.538 --> 00:52:05.920 You can allow Thay to breathe for us. 00:52:06.435 --> 00:52:08.561 And he can continue to teach us 00:52:11.570 --> 00:52:13.186 how to enter concentration, 00:52:14.620 --> 00:52:15.970 stillness. 00:52:16.973 --> 00:52:18.658 How to be peace. 00:52:23.749 --> 00:52:26.142 And then when we go to make our breakfast 00:52:27.277 --> 00:52:29.425 we can make our breakfast, like Thay. 00:52:29.784 --> 00:52:33.014 Thay loved to make his breakfast. 00:52:35.359 --> 00:52:37.218 And he wasn't in a hurry. 00:52:39.992 --> 00:52:41.952 He didn't have to multi-task. 00:52:42.157 --> 00:52:44.437 He didn't have to listen to a podcast 00:52:44.623 --> 00:52:46.283 whilst making breakfast. 00:52:49.856 --> 00:52:51.936 He didn't have to check his e-mail 00:52:52.070 --> 00:52:53.650 whilst making breakfast. 00:52:59.983 --> 00:53:02.363 So let's try, and do it like Thay. 00:53:02.500 --> 00:53:04.980 Let's just do one thing at a time, 00:53:06.959 --> 00:53:09.142 with ease, with freedom, 00:53:11.644 --> 00:53:13.189 with joy. 00:53:14.611 --> 00:53:16.916 And when we eat our breakfast 00:53:18.881 --> 00:53:21.570 before putting the food in your mouth you can 00:53:21.690 --> 00:53:23.080 look at it. 00:53:23.288 --> 00:53:24.969 Recognize it. 00:53:25.100 --> 00:53:27.490 This is porridge. 00:53:29.036 --> 00:53:31.395 Or this is a piece of apple. 00:53:34.138 --> 00:53:36.278 Then we can touch gratitude. 00:53:38.591 --> 00:53:40.211 We have food to eat. 00:53:40.403 --> 00:53:42.033 Not everybody does. 00:53:44.774 --> 00:53:46.634 It's already a wonder, 00:53:46.778 --> 00:53:48.868 to have something in our bowl. 00:53:52.496 --> 00:53:54.511 And when we take a spoonful of 00:53:54.598 --> 00:53:56.078 porridge or cereal 00:53:57.109 --> 00:53:59.268 and we can put our spoon down 00:53:59.636 --> 00:54:01.196 and chew. 00:54:02.484 --> 00:54:04.784 And wait until we have swallowed 00:54:04.935 --> 00:54:06.875 before picking up our spoon. 00:54:08.068 --> 00:54:09.698 It's a real practice. 00:54:14.487 --> 00:54:17.430 And we invite Thay to have breakfast with us. 00:54:19.420 --> 00:54:23.320 It's a great honor to eat breakfast with Thay. 00:54:23.600 --> 00:54:25.378 And we can all do it. 00:54:25.586 --> 00:54:27.104 It's wonderful. 00:54:27.650 --> 00:54:29.830 There's plenty of Thay to go around. 00:54:30.123 --> 00:54:31.763 There's no shortage. 00:54:36.804 --> 00:54:39.104 Now we can listen to the dharma talk 00:54:39.586 --> 00:54:42.285 with Thay's ears, and I know that Thay 00:54:44.414 --> 00:54:46.803 will be so happy 00:54:46.905 --> 00:54:49.205 to listen to Thay Phap Huu tomorrow, 00:54:49.377 --> 00:54:51.437 and Sister Chan Duc on Saturday. 00:54:54.458 --> 00:54:56.078 Thay will be so proud 00:54:57.714 --> 00:55:00.264 to hear his students sharing the dharma. 00:55:03.772 --> 00:55:06.082 And so we can listen with Thay's ears, 00:55:06.214 --> 00:55:07.784 with Thay's heart, 00:55:08.175 --> 00:55:09.676 with Thay's breath, 00:55:12.937 --> 00:55:15.757 with Thay's concentration and stillness. 00:55:19.642 --> 00:55:21.732 And then we can walk. 00:55:24.506 --> 00:55:26.626 Hopefully each of us has 00:55:26.834 --> 00:55:29.900 somewhere we can go to practice walking meditation. 00:55:30.700 --> 00:55:32.880 Whether it's in our yard, or 00:55:33.758 --> 00:55:35.588 maybe just along the street, 00:55:35.819 --> 00:55:37.389 or in a park, 00:55:39.055 --> 00:55:40.825 or even just in our home. 00:55:43.169 --> 00:55:45.759 And Thay taught us so well 00:55:45.888 --> 00:55:47.391 how to walk. 00:55:48.347 --> 00:55:50.167 How to walk in freedom. 00:55:52.496 --> 00:55:54.756 How to arrive with every step. 00:55:58.709 --> 00:56:01.279 Not to hurry towards our destination, 00:56:02.657 --> 00:56:04.822 but to know that our true destination is 00:56:05.188 --> 00:56:06.618 this moment. 00:56:07.128 --> 00:56:08.928 This step. 00:56:13.580 --> 00:56:16.450 Now we can do that where ever we have to walk 00:56:16.762 --> 00:56:19.112 in our house, even from the bathroom 00:56:19.264 --> 00:56:21.168 to the living room, or 00:56:21.493 --> 00:56:23.422 as we walk around the kitchen. 00:56:24.613 --> 00:56:27.250 We can take steps in freedom. 00:56:28.533 --> 00:56:30.303 This is something possible. 00:56:36.532 --> 00:56:39.012 And I know if we all do this together 00:56:39.143 --> 00:56:41.656 it generates a powerful collective energy 00:56:41.760 --> 00:56:43.570 and we support each other. 00:56:44.358 --> 00:56:47.104 It's much easier to do it together 00:56:47.603 --> 00:56:49.073 than alone. 00:56:58.037 --> 00:57:00.567 We may have the impulse to check the news 00:57:00.759 --> 00:57:03.019 many times, coming up in the 00:57:03.608 --> 00:57:06.029 spaces in between activities. 00:57:06.938 --> 00:57:09.368 It's like, oh, I have some time 00:57:09.487 --> 00:57:11.487 before the dharma sharing. 00:57:12.163 --> 00:57:13.903 Let me just check the news. 00:57:16.923 --> 00:57:19.191 And you can, if you want to. 00:57:20.838 --> 00:57:24.228 But try to read the news like Thay would read the news. 00:57:27.073 --> 00:57:28.773 And we can ask ourselves 00:57:29.487 --> 00:57:31.567 how much is enough? 00:57:33.327 --> 00:57:35.902 How much do we need to take in? 00:57:38.140 --> 00:57:41.330 And, can we give ourselves a break 00:57:43.506 --> 00:57:45.076 for these few days. 00:57:45.185 --> 00:57:47.892 It's up to you. Each of us can make a decision. 00:57:51.094 --> 00:57:54.024 But you may like to set a timer on your phone. 00:57:54.228 --> 00:57:56.355 To give yourself ten minutes. 00:57:58.584 --> 00:58:00.654 If you really need to know, 00:58:02.633 --> 00:58:05.547 I think ten minutes is enough. Just to check in. 00:58:10.041 --> 00:58:13.741 And then, when you turn off the phone 00:58:17.332 --> 00:58:19.152 it's very interesting to ask 00:58:19.382 --> 00:58:20.922 What did I learn? 00:58:23.780 --> 00:58:25.447 How do I feel? 00:58:27.855 --> 00:58:29.285 Did it help? 00:58:31.802 --> 00:58:33.437 Was it important? 00:58:34.350 --> 00:58:37.074 What will I now do, as a result 00:58:37.985 --> 00:58:39.952 of knowing this? 00:58:41.635 --> 00:58:43.605 Is there anything I can do? 00:58:46.373 --> 00:58:48.193 Was it important? 00:58:48.798 --> 00:58:50.118 Really. 00:58:54.266 --> 00:58:55.797 It's very interesting, 00:58:55.884 --> 00:58:58.514 if you need to check, check, but then, 00:58:58.674 --> 00:59:00.634 ask yourself afterwards 00:59:00.767 --> 00:59:02.797 What did you learn? 00:59:03.942 --> 00:59:05.805 Was it important? 00:59:07.691 --> 00:59:09.091 And how do you feel? 00:59:09.284 --> 00:59:11.184 How do you feel in your body? 00:59:14.723 --> 00:59:17.173 And how often do you want to do that? 00:59:23.475 --> 00:59:27.236 You may like to install a bell of mindfulness 00:59:28.135 --> 00:59:30.245 on your computer or your phone. 00:59:30.430 --> 00:59:32.970 We have the wonderful Plum Village app. 00:59:33.253 --> 00:59:35.773 You can set a bell to sound 00:59:37.810 --> 00:59:39.710 every hour or every half hour 00:59:39.893 --> 00:59:41.613 how ever often you want 00:59:43.799 --> 00:59:47.069 and that is a practice that Thay really enjoyed. 00:59:50.828 --> 00:59:52.458 Stopping . . . 00:59:57.919 --> 01:00:00.078 coming back to the present moment. 01:00:02.433 --> 01:00:04.933 We can let the sound of the bell 01:00:06.766 --> 01:00:08.690 be the voice 01:00:10.007 --> 01:00:12.078 of Thay calling us back. 01:00:16.277 --> 01:00:17.607 "Hello." 01:00:18.244 --> 01:00:20.826 Would you like to breathe with me? 01:00:22.232 --> 01:00:24.466 Would you like to rest, 01:00:26.777 --> 01:00:28.107 to relax, 01:00:29.662 --> 01:00:32.377 to take care of yourself in this moment. 01:00:34.207 --> 01:00:36.607 To greet any stress or tension 01:00:36.857 --> 01:00:39.407 or discomfort that may have arisen 01:00:39.545 --> 01:00:41.536 with love and tenderness. 01:00:42.812 --> 01:00:45.122 It's amazing, in one sound of the bell 01:00:45.205 --> 01:00:47.819 you can do a complete body scan if you want. 01:00:48.164 --> 01:00:50.627 Just check. How does your body feel? 01:00:50.764 --> 01:00:53.574 Has any tension gathered anywhere? 01:00:56.135 --> 01:00:57.680 It's very nice. 01:01:00.106 --> 01:01:02.715 And when you brush your teeth you can smile. 01:01:06.142 --> 01:01:08.452 If you like, you can use the gatha. 01:01:11.832 --> 01:01:13.422 Brushing my teeth 01:01:13.886 --> 01:01:15.690 and rinsing my mouth 01:01:16.420 --> 01:01:20.580 I vow to speak purely, lovingly. 01:01:25.394 --> 01:01:28.534 When my mouth is purified, 01:01:28.660 --> 01:01:30.690 is fragrant with loving speech 01:01:31.836 --> 01:01:34.756 a flower blooms in the garden of my heart. 01:01:38.442 --> 01:01:40.322 It's very interesting to check 01:01:40.608 --> 01:01:42.108 if that's true. 01:01:43.939 --> 01:01:46.279 I sometimes use that gatha to check 01:01:47.332 --> 01:01:50.022 in that day, how was my speech? 01:01:50.565 --> 01:01:51.975 Was it skillful? 01:01:52.885 --> 01:01:54.607 Did I allow myself to be 01:01:57.929 --> 01:01:59.548 aggressive or cynical? 01:02:00.061 --> 01:02:02.411 Did I use humor to put someone down? 01:02:03.271 --> 01:02:05.887 Did I lie? Did I distort the truth? 01:02:09.578 --> 01:02:11.658 Just to check; it's very interesting. 01:02:11.771 --> 01:02:14.081 Once a day, or twice a day; to check 01:02:14.224 --> 01:02:15.614 How is my speech? 01:02:15.781 --> 01:02:18.297 And to notice that, when my speech 01:02:18.381 --> 01:02:20.491 really was mindful and kind, 01:02:20.761 --> 01:02:24.571 (breathing in) wow, yes. 01:02:26.821 --> 01:02:28.181 I can feel 01:02:29.582 --> 01:02:31.542 a flower blooms in my heart. 01:02:33.987 --> 01:02:37.110 It's very wonderful to notice 01:02:38.354 --> 01:02:40.509 when we haven't been unkind, 01:02:42.130 --> 01:02:44.512 when we haven't been unfair, 01:02:46.345 --> 01:02:49.053 when we haven't taken advantage of anyone. 01:02:50.564 --> 01:02:52.578 When we've been generous. 01:02:55.672 --> 01:02:57.434 When we've been loving. 01:03:00.548 --> 01:03:04.176 And it's also, kind of letting our ancestors know, 01:03:04.676 --> 01:03:06.987 "Yeah, look! We're doing ok." 01:03:07.772 --> 01:03:09.412 "It's good." 01:03:14.041 --> 01:03:15.581 So we know that Thay 01:03:16.669 --> 01:03:18.596 loved life. 01:03:19.913 --> 01:03:22.654 He loved to do all these things. 01:03:24.767 --> 01:03:27.418 And so it's very easy, if we want to 01:03:28.071 --> 01:03:29.828 live like Thay. 01:03:30.124 --> 01:03:32.432 We just do the things that Thay loved. 01:03:34.023 --> 01:03:36.844 You may like to stare at the moon. 01:03:38.978 --> 01:03:41.788 And just become absorbed in the moon. 01:03:43.058 --> 01:03:44.628 I remember one time 01:03:46.230 --> 01:03:48.910 I was Thay's attendant just for a few days, and 01:03:50.377 --> 01:03:53.812 I was carrying Thay's bag during the walking meditation. 01:03:55.756 --> 01:03:59.118 And it was in a big retreat there, many hundreds of people. 01:03:59.235 --> 01:04:00.715 But he stopped, 01:04:01.049 --> 01:04:03.419 and he turned to me with this huge grin 01:04:03.535 --> 01:04:06.085 and he pointed at the trunk of a tree. 01:04:06.461 --> 01:04:09.452 He said, "It's so green!" 01:04:10.299 --> 01:04:11.983 Because there was moss, 01:04:12.103 --> 01:04:14.776 there was like beautiful emerald moss. 01:04:15.890 --> 01:04:17.730 It was so green. 01:04:17.961 --> 01:04:20.521 And Thay was just completely 01:04:21.701 --> 01:04:24.009 absorbed with this moss. 01:04:24.878 --> 01:04:27.408 And there were hundreds of people there 01:04:27.505 --> 01:04:29.685 kind of like, what's Thay doing? 01:04:29.903 --> 01:04:31.876 (Whispering) Why have we stopped? Where? 01:04:31.966 --> 01:04:33.522 What's happening? 01:04:33.601 --> 01:04:36.394 And Thay's just like, "Look! It's so green!" 01:04:36.656 --> 01:04:38.714 (Laughs) 01:04:38.822 --> 01:04:40.822 So you can do that too. 01:04:41.382 --> 01:04:43.680 You can fall in love with the moss. 01:04:45.119 --> 01:04:47.665 You can say hello to every tiny flower 01:04:48.116 --> 01:04:49.696 that crosses your way. 01:04:52.364 --> 01:04:55.750 You can look at the blue sky as if it's the first time. 01:05:06.132 --> 01:05:08.114 And I think if we can do that 01:05:10.358 --> 01:05:11.768 then . . . 01:05:12.695 --> 01:05:14.255 Thay will be with us. 01:05:16.164 --> 01:05:18.559 Thay will be alive. 01:05:20.763 --> 01:05:23.041 And we will know what to do. 01:05:24.583 --> 01:05:25.913 What not to do. 01:05:26.310 --> 01:05:27.721 What to say, 01:05:28.406 --> 01:05:30.096 and what not to say. 01:05:45.728 --> 01:05:49.728 (Wake the bell - soft ring) 01:05:49.728 --> 01:05:58.458 (Deep bell sound) 01:06:21.963 --> 01:06:32.083 (Deep bell sound) 01:06:51.795 --> 01:06:59.535 (Deep bell sound) 01:07:15.927 --> 01:07:17.337 (Wake the mini-bell) 01:07:17.452 --> 01:07:19.432 (Mini bell rings)