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[ Three sounds of the great bell ...]

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Plum Village Practice Center,[br]Loving Kindness Temple,

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The Path of the Buddha,[br]Winter Retreat 2008 - 2009.

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The Insights that help us Break Free from Wrong Views[br]14 December 2008.

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In the past, when Thầy just received [br]the Great Precepts,

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the Pratimoksha,

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Thầy had to recite them in Chinese.

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Classical Chinese.

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Thầy could not recite them [br]in his native Vietnamese.

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Nowadays, monks and nuns can[br]recite the precepts in Vietnamese.

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However, in Vietnam, most monks and nuns

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still recite the Pratimoksha in classical Chinese.

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They have a feeling that reciting it in Chinese

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sounds more sacred than [br]reciting it in Vietnamese.

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It's like reciting scriptures in Latin over here,

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it sounds more powerful,

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more sacred than reciting it in, say, French.

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Reciting in Sanskrit

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reciting in Latin.

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Thầy really likes the introductory words [br]to the Pratimoksha.

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The Pratimoksha that we recite in Plum Village

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is from the Dharmagupta school[br](Pháp Tạng Bộ 法藏部).

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The precepts are like the [br]ocean without boundaries.[br][ Giới như hải vô nhai ][br][ 戒如海無涯 ]

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The precepts are like precious treasures, [br]we never grow tired in their pursuit.[br][ Như bảo cầu vô yếm ][br]如寶求無厭 ]

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It is because we want to protect the sacred [br]inheritance of the true teachings[br][ Dục hộ thánh pháp tài ][br][ 欲護聖法財 ]

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that we have gathered to hear [br]the recitation of the precepts.[br][ Chúng tập thính ngã thuyết ][br][ 眾集聽我說 ]

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Sixteen words.

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It means

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the precepts are like [br]the ocean without boundaries.

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The precepts are like[br]the ocean without boundaries.

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"Giới như hải vô nhai,"

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"Như bảo cầu vô yếm"

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means the precepts are like precious [br]treasures that we are searching for.

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It's like going to a mountain full of gems;[br]we can pick up so many gems.

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But picking up three gems is not enough,

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five gems is not enough.

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It is never enough.

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So the precepts [br]are also like that.

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Studying the precepts, [br]pursuing the precepts,

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we never grow tired of it.

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So back then, as a young bhikshu reading the precepts, I felt those words were wonderful

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but I hadn't fully understood them.

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I hadn't seen clearly that the precepts

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are as vast as the ocean,

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and that there are no boundaries,

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there are no limits.

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Now I can see it.

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I see that the precepts[br]are really without boundaries,

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so vast.

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The more we study, [br]the deeper they become,

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the more we study, [br]the more we see its vastness.

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And now I understand clearly the line [br]“Giới như hải vô nhai,”

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meaning, the precepts are[br]like the ocean without boundaries.

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In the beginning, we may think,[br]"They're precepts. What's the big deal?"

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The five precepts, the first is no killing, [br]the second is no stealing ...

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what's so complicated about them [br]that they need to be considered

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as vast as the ocean without boundaries,

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without limits?

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Like precious treasures we [br]never grow tired in their pursuit.

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Of course, some of us enjoy studying the precepts.

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But, even if we like [br]studying the precepts,

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there must be a point[br]where we feel it's enough.

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But in the introductory paragraph[br]it says, "như bảo cầu vô yếm."

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So like precious treasures that we search for,

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no matter how many we find [br]we never feel it's enough.

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The precepts are also like that,

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the more we study them, [br]the more we see how wonderful they are.

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So when we study the 5, 10 or[br]14 precepts

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and we think we've had enough,

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then we have not truly touched the precepts.

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Because the precepts are very deep.

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They contain concentration and insight.

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And insight is a treasure chest

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of understanding and love.

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And so we may study the precepts [br]our whole life and still feel it's not enough.

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"Giới như hải vô nhai, Như bảo cầu vô yếm."[br][ 戒如海無涯，如寶求無厭 ]

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The precepts are like the ocean[br]without boundaries.

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The precepts are like a mountain of gems, [br]we never grow tired in their pursuit.

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"Dục hộ thánh pháp tài, Chúng tập thính ngã thuyết."[br][ 欲護聖法財，眾集聽我說 ]

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"Because we want to protect that [br]sacred inheritance of the noble ones

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that the sangha has gathered here to listen [br]to the recitation of the precepts."

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It is because we have a very precious [br]inheritance, which are the precepts.

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And if we can guard that inheritance, [br]we will continue to be rich.

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If we lose that inheritance, [br]then we will become poor.

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That is why the precepts [br]are very important in Buddhism.

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Precept is sila.

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And we are about to have a great[br]precepts transmission ceremony,

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the New Lotus Season Great Precepts[br]Transmission ceremony (Giới Đàn Mùa Sen Mới).

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And many people are coming to request [br]the transmission of the precepts.

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"Sila" means

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precepts.

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And

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precepts lead to concentration.

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Concentration is "samadhi."

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When our precepts and concentration [br]are powerful enough,

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we can pierce through [br]the net of illusion

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and arrive at a very deep understanding,[br]which is called "insight,"

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or Prajna.

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So the precepts contain [br]concentration and insight.

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If the precepts do not contain[br]concentration and insight,

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they are not true precepts.

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So we must know that precepts here

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contain concentration,

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and concentration contains insight.

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Here is concentration.

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And here is insight.

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If by practicing we are able to develop[br]concentration and insight

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it's because the precepts themselves [br]contain concentration and insight.

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So when we observe the first precept of

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no killing, of protecting life,

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we know that concentration and insight is there.

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There must be a kind of insight

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which serves as the foundation for precepts.

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In the past few weeks [br]we have seen very clearly that

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insight is right view.

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"Chánh kiến" means right view.

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Right view.

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And right view

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is the view that leads to solidarity and love,

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and not to discrimination and division.

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That is what we mean by right view.

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The view of interdependent co-arising, the view of interbeing.

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Interdependent co-arising.[br][ Duyên sinh ]

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Interbeing.[br][ Tương Tức ]

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Interdependent co-arising means [br]this relies on that to manifest.

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Like the left relies on the right to be.

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If there is no left, there is no right.

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This is also interbeing.

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Left and right rely on each other to be.

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If there is no left, [br]there will never be a right.

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If this does not exist, [br]then that will never exist.

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In the sutras, the Buddha [br]taught this very clearly,

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"This is because that is."

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It is very simple.

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This is because that is.[br][ Thử hữu tức bỉ hữu ][br][ 此有故彼有 ]

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[ Thử hữu tức bỉ hữu ][br][ 此有故彼有 ]

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It means, this is because that is.

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This is, therefore that is.

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This and that.

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Suppose there is no left.[br]How can the right be?

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At first we see that [br]the left and the right

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are like the sun and moon,[br]opposing each other.

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But in fact, [br]they embrace each other.

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In the left there is the right.

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And in the right there is the left.

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Wherever the left is, the right is there also.

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It's wonderful.

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If there is no left, there can be no right.

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This is right understanding.[br]What we call right view.

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It's like when we say “I” and “you.”

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"I" and "you."

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These two things.

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The one and the all.

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The one.

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and the all.

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The one and the all.[br][ Nhất, nhất thiết ][br][ 一 , 一切 ]

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In Buddhism it is said that [br]the one is the all.

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This is the one,

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this is the all.

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The one. The all.[br][ 一 , 一切 ]

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Why is the one the all?

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Because looking deeply into the one,

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looking very deeply,

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we can see the all.

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In Plum Village we often use [br]a flower as an example.

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Looking deeply into this one flower,

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we can see that it contains everything.

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The cloud, the sun, the earth, [br]even human consciousness,

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there is nothing in the universe [br]that is not contained in this flower.

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The all is inherent in the one.

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And if we take away the all, [br]the one no longer exists.

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If we take away the all, [br]the one no longer exists.

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So the one embraces the all [br]and the all embraces the one.

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Outside of the one, the all doesn't exist,

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and outside of the all, the one doesn't exist.

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That is why the one and the all[br]rely on each other to be.

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We cannot say that the all comes first [br]and then the one comes after,

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or that the one comes first[br]and then the all comes after.

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So it's a very deep understanding.

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And when we can see the nature of interbeing,

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interbeing,

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this is that,

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this embraces that,

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then we begin to understand.

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Like when we look into the precepts and see [br]that they contain concentration and insight,

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we can see the true nature of the precepts.

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But if we see that the precepts[br]are not concentration and not insight,

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we haven't really understood the precepts.

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Because precepts, concentration [br]and insight inter-are.

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They inter-are.

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That is the insight that we need to realize.

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And that insight doesn't come by speaking or listening.

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We have to practice looking deeply.

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And one day we will be able to have insight.

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That insight is called the right view.

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And once we have insight,

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the precepts become [br]something very natural.

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Once we see that the other person is us, [br]we cannot possibly kill them.

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Because killing that person [br]means killing ourselves.

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It's the same if we talk about [br]man and the environment.

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Man and the environment.

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And if we have wrong view (tà kiến),

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we would say man is one thing[br]and the environment is another thing.

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That is not a right view.

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And without right view, [br]ethics is not possible.

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According to the Buddha’s teachings

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as well as the insights of the great beings

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the environment is also man.

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Man comes from the environment.

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And the environment creates man.

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That is why we can say[br]that we are the environment.

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You are the environment,[br]the environment is you.

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When we have this insight, [br]that is right view.

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Seeing the inter-being between [br]ourselves and the environment,

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we can't possibly harm the environment.

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Because harming the environment[br]is harming ourselves.

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To kill the environment [br]is to kill the human species.

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Nowadays, sociologists and scientists [br]are all able to see this.

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They can see it in theory[br]but perhaps not with insight .

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So in not harming the environment,

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in observing the precepts to not harm the environment,

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to not kill other species,

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to not kill other people,

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that comes from insight.

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There is right view.

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That's why we say precepts must contain insight

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to be called true precepts.

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If we just say, [br]"The first precept is no killing,"

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but we don't have the insight[br]on why we shouldn't kill,

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then we have not understood the precepts.

0:16:45.420,0:16:47.150
We need the insight of inter-being:

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If you kill that person you kill yourself.

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You will suffer a lot.

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With that insight,[br]no-killing is possible.

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So the precepts contain [br]concentration and insight.

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And looking into the precepts,

0:17:08.083,0:17:10.700
we'll find it's complete with[br]concentration and insight.

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That is why the precepts [br]have no boundaries.

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The precepts are like the ocean, [br]without boundaries.

0:17:16.910,0:17:20.910
The more we study, the more [br]we see how deep and vast they are.

0:17:20.910,0:17:23.833
The more we study, the more we see how [br]precepts contain concentration and insight.

0:17:23.833,0:17:26.899
And insight is limitless.

0:17:30.240,0:17:33.068
For some, a lake or a pond [br]may already seem large,

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but when they encounter a river, [br]and they see that the river is so vast.

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But a river is nothing compared to the ocean.

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So when we look deeply into the precepts,

0:17:44.750,0:17:46.709
we can also see that the precepts are limitless,

0:17:46.733,0:17:50.541
Because the precepts contain[br]concentration and insight.

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And if insight is limitless,[br]then love is also limitless.

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Insight is understanding,

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and compassion is love.

0:18:09.390,0:18:13.120
Compassion is love. [br]Insight is understanding.

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And we have learned that in Buddhism

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love is immeasurable.

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Love is made of four elements:

0:18:30.353,0:18:33.083
loving kindness, compassion, [br]joy and equanimity.

0:18:33.150,0:18:35.766
The four immeasurable minds.[br][ Tứ vô lượng tâm ][br][ 四無量心 ]

0:18:35.841,0:18:40.280
"Vô lượng" means limitless.

0:18:40.671,0:18:42.834
And if love is limitless,

0:18:42.858,0:18:47.825
the understanding that generates[br]that love is also limitless.

0:18:48.788,0:18:51.123
And because the precepts contain insight, [br]understanding,

0:18:51.123,0:18:53.908
they are also limitless.

0:18:54.150,0:18:56.401
So now Thay understands clearly that the line,

0:18:56.425,0:18:59.440
"The precepts are like the ocean[br]without boundaries," is very true.

0:18:59.440,0:19:03.268
The precepts are like the ocean [br]without boundaries.

0:19:03.300,0:19:04.533
This is very true.

0:19:04.738,0:19:08.528
The precepts are like the ocean [br]without boundaries.

0:19:08.620,0:19:12.609
Like precious treasures[br]that we keep looking for.

0:19:12.699,0:19:15.550
We've found so many, [br]yet we never get tired,

0:19:15.683,0:19:17.470
we still want to keep looking for more.

0:19:17.470,0:19:20.559
So, studying the precepts in that spirit,

0:19:20.583,0:19:22.483
we are true practitioners.

0:19:22.536,0:19:25.776
Wherever there's a precepts class, [br]we go there immediately

0:19:25.800,0:19:28.426
to study with the precepts teachers.

0:19:28.460,0:19:32.120
Precepts teachers who have studied the precepts [br]for 20 years are very well-learned,

0:19:32.120,0:19:35.640
yet they still feel they haven't understood enough,

0:19:35.640,0:19:38.916
so they aspire to study for another 10 years, [br]and even so it's not enough,

0:19:38.941,0:19:40.633
so they study for another 20 years.

0:19:40.683,0:19:43.584
When we have such a desire [br]for the learning the precepts,

0:19:43.608,0:19:48.566
they can be considered true precepts.

0:19:49.500,0:19:53.151
So 25 years ago, we did some deep looking,

0:19:53.175,0:19:56.215
we mobilized the sangha,

0:19:56.215,0:19:59.446
and together we renewed the [br]5 Mindfulness Trainings.

0:19:59.446,0:20:04.033
At the time, we felt that version of the [br]5 Mindfulness Trainings were already so wonderful.

0:20:04.640,0:20:07.416
But now, after 25 years of practicing

0:20:07.475,0:20:11.260
we are very clear that we[br]need to revise the 5 Mindfulness Trainings.

0:20:11.260,0:20:14.316
Because the 5 MTs must be presented [br]in such a way that when we recite them

0:20:14.358,0:20:19.341
we can see that they contain [br]concentration and insight.

0:20:19.880,0:20:22.609
So during the past 3 or 4 weeks,

0:20:22.633,0:20:27.558
the community in Plum Village[br]has been helping Thay revise the first training,

0:20:27.641,0:20:32.860
the training on protecting life.

0:20:33.400,0:20:35.832
In the past when the Buddha devised the precepts,

0:20:35.832,0:20:41.345
it was also done with the support [br]of the senior monks and nuns.

0:20:42.931,0:20:49.301
So now as we revise the precepts,

0:20:52.133,0:20:54.958
as we revise the precepts

0:20:54.958,0:20:57.673
you must also help Thay.

0:20:57.673,0:20:59.011
You must do it with Thầy.

0:20:59.011,0:21:00.647
Don't leave Thay to do it alone.

0:21:00.647,0:21:02.360
That wouldn't be nice.

0:21:03.180,0:21:06.850
So in the Dharma sharing sessions, [br]don’t just sit and listen,

0:21:06.916,0:21:10.575
you must share your insights on the trainings.

0:21:10.645,0:21:12.941
You must truly contribute to the discussion.

0:21:13.017,0:21:15.608
You must speak out.

0:21:15.770,0:21:18.343
Of course, it may be that in our sharing circle

0:21:18.367,0:21:23.008
there are people [br]who are good at taking notes,

0:21:23.046,0:21:27.683
or good at choosing the right words [br]to express the sangha’s insights.

0:21:27.721,0:21:31.791
They are the editors.

0:21:32.000,0:21:35.634
So you may not be an editor, [br]but you have insight.

0:21:35.658,0:21:40.040
If you have an insight into the training,[br]you should speak out.

0:21:40.040,0:21:44.280
You have the practice, so you can share, [br]you can contribute.

0:21:44.280,0:21:46.609
Later you can tell your children that

0:21:46.633,0:21:49.833
"In those days, when the 5 Mindfulness trainings were revised,

0:21:49.883,0:21:51.833
I was there."

0:21:53.200,0:21:55.588
But I was there!

0:21:56.625,0:21:59.166
Whether I'm now a venerable nun

0:21:59.265,0:22:01.338
or a venerable monk,

0:22:01.530,0:22:04.818
I had actively contributed.

0:22:04.842,0:22:07.268
I didn't just sit there and listen,[br]and say I'm happy to flow,

0:22:07.292,0:22:09.480
No, being happy to flow is not enough.

0:22:09.616,0:22:12.125
You have to contribute to the process.

0:22:13.390,0:22:15.343
Later, should your children ask about it,

0:22:15.367,0:22:18.726
you can say “Yes, I was there[br]and I contributed wholeheartedly.”

0:22:18.808,0:22:20.741
That's how it should be.

0:22:22.215,0:22:24.858
So today is Sunday,

0:22:24.920,0:22:27.993
and we'll continue with revising the fifth training.

0:22:28.125,0:22:29.533
No. The first training.

0:22:29.618,0:22:36.026
And the sangha has already [br]appointed one person per group

0:22:36.050,0:22:39.778
to take notes and to edit.

0:22:39.820,0:22:46.456
So all the note takers and editors from [br]the different groups should come together,

0:22:49.395,0:22:54.186
gathering all the ideas [br]from their groups

0:22:54.186,0:22:58.552
and condensing it into a text [br]for the first training that's not too long.

0:22:58.552,0:23:01.181
But it should contain

0:23:01.181,0:23:04.113
the concentration and insight [br]on the training of no killing.

0:23:06.680,0:23:11.093
So in the training on no killing, it should be [br]presented it in such a way that we can see

0:23:11.117,0:23:14.475
that with the insight of interbeing,

0:23:15.525,0:23:17.559
with the insight of interdependent co-arising,

0:23:17.608,0:23:20.295
we no longer discriminate.

0:23:20.295,0:23:22.670
We're no longer dogmatic.

0:23:23.745,0:23:27.033
We're no longer angry.

0:23:27.180,0:23:30.543
Because

0:23:30.543,0:23:34.608
with understanding, there is acceptance and love.

0:23:34.680,0:23:39.391
And when there is acceptance and love, [br]then how can one still kill?

0:23:39.551,0:23:42.291
Killing that person [br]means killing ourselves.

0:23:42.350,0:23:43.843
That's why in the first training

0:23:43.867,0:23:51.558
we can help everyone see[br]the insight that serves as the foundation.

0:23:53.016,0:23:58.008
And we know that[br]the spirit of Buddhism

0:23:58.108,0:24:00.266
is one of openness.

0:24:00.400,0:24:07.291
Open to learn and to not [br]get caught in any view,

0:24:07.400,0:24:09.683
any doctrine,

0:24:09.683,0:24:13.100
theory or religion.

0:24:13.260,0:24:15.171
Because in our society,

0:24:15.171,0:24:18.333
sometimes in the name of a doctrine

0:24:18.963,0:24:24.622
in the name of a theory, a religion or God,

0:24:24.622,0:24:27.413
they kill each other.

0:24:29.531,0:24:32.771
And in the Buddhist tradition,

0:24:32.873,0:24:35.767
we have the practice called [br]non attachment to views,

0:24:35.858,0:24:40.412
to not be caught in any[br]doctrine, theory,

0:24:40.412,0:24:42.550
or ideology,

0:24:42.608,0:24:47.116
even Buddhist ideology[br]or Buddhist theory.

0:24:47.310,0:24:53.283
We should see the teachings of [br]the Buddha as guiding means.

0:24:53.361,0:24:55.334
They are the finger [br]pointing to the moon,

0:24:55.358,0:24:57.025
the raft to cross to the other shore.

0:24:57.072,0:24:58.876
We should not worship

0:24:58.900,0:25:04.206
or

0:25:04.206,0:25:11.050
wage a war [br]just to protect these things.

0:25:11.600,0:25:14.866
The things that we consider to be absolute truths.

0:25:17.534,0:25:20.994
That's why while in Vietnam last year,

0:25:21.070,0:25:27.117
Thay organized requiems to pray

0:25:27.117,0:25:31.626
for the six to seven million people [br]who died during the Vietnam war.

0:25:35.120,0:25:38.916
In the prayer we were able [br]to say this one sentence.

0:25:40.780,0:25:43.850
We were able to say this one sentence.

0:25:46.119,0:25:51.583
And that prayer ended up being published [br]in "Giác Ngộ" magazine.

0:25:59.000,0:26:05.580
The sentence was, "Before both our [br]spiritual and blood ancestors,

0:26:05.580,0:26:13.716
we vow that from now on we will [br]never initiate any idealogical wars."

0:26:20.120,0:26:21.459
That line is very important.

0:26:21.533,0:26:25.733
The current and future[br]generations should learn this line

0:26:25.779,0:26:30.084
because the Vietnam war [br]was essentially an ideological war

0:26:30.108,0:26:35.491
between communism and capitalism.

0:26:38.720,0:26:46.960
And the country and the people of Vietnam[br]became a battlefield.

0:26:46.960,0:26:55.080
Because one side subscribed to Marxism (communism),

0:26:55.080,0:27:03.290
and the other side subscribed to capitalism.

0:27:04.700,0:27:12.040
Not only did the country adopt [br]ideologies brought in from outside

0:27:12.040,0:27:16.693
it also imported weapons from outside

0:27:16.717,0:27:19.040
and brothers ended up killing brothers.

0:27:19.040,0:27:22.944
That war

0:27:22.944,0:27:26.424
was an ideology war.

0:27:26.658,0:27:31.280
And brothers of one family killed[br]each other because of ideologies.

0:27:31.350,0:27:35.341
So when we are fanatic [br]about an ideology,

0:27:35.341,0:27:37.575
we might end up killing each other.

0:27:37.640,0:27:41.168
The spirit of Buddhism is openness,

0:27:41.192,0:27:44.200
to not get caught in any ideology,

0:27:44.200,0:27:46.030
any doctrine or theory—

0:27:46.030,0:27:50.587
and it's written very clearly—[br]even Buddhist ones.

0:27:50.587,0:27:56.830
We shouldn't be caught in them either.

0:27:56.830,0:27:59.600
That is called non-attachment to views,

0:27:59.600,0:28:03.353
not being caught in any ideology [br]or theory.

0:28:03.353,0:28:05.216
Non-attachment to views.

0:28:05.216,0:28:07.450
That's the beauty of Buddhism.

0:28:07.600,0:28:09.868
So when we talk about[br]the first mindfulness training,

0:28:09.966,0:28:13.024
we have to talk about this.

0:28:13.341,0:28:16.076
First, the insight interbeing must be there.

0:28:16.100,0:28:19.630
I am you, you are me.[br]Killing you means killing me.

0:28:19.630,0:28:22.134
Second, there must be openness.

0:28:22.175,0:28:25.917
We are not caught in any[br]doctrine, any theory or any ideology.

0:28:25.958,0:28:32.983
That is when the precept on no-killing [br]can be a true Buddhist precept.

0:28:33.760,0:28:40.534
Now we see in India and Iraq,

0:28:40.534,0:28:42.718
everyday bombs are exploding,

0:28:42.766,0:28:45.009
everyday people are dying.

0:28:47.840,0:28:53.520
The people are caught in their [br]ideologies, theories or religions.

0:28:53.520,0:28:57.420
They punish each other, [br]they kill themselves and they kill others.

0:28:57.420,0:29:00.668
So how can we present the first training

0:29:00.692,0:29:04.227
so that it can be a bell of mindfulness

0:29:04.227,0:29:06.250
for the whole world to wake up,

0:29:06.300,0:29:08.881
and see that we need to free ourselves

0:29:08.881,0:29:11.824
from the fanatism and intolerance,

0:29:13.760,0:29:18.927
in order to put an end

0:29:18.927,0:29:22.140
to the violence, the hatred and the killing.

0:29:22.220,0:29:24.640
So for the first precept,

0:29:24.640,0:29:27.685
how can we keep it short

0:29:27.685,0:29:34.403
but still be able to express all the insights.

0:29:34.960,0:29:38.025
Insight is the foundation for action.

0:29:38.100,0:29:39.525
So precepts.

0:29:39.933,0:29:42.076
About precepts, [br]we need to present them in a way

0:29:42.100,0:29:46.166
that people can touch the concentration [br]and insight while reciting them.

0:30:03.360,0:30:08.258
Maybe we ...[br]teacher and disciples,

0:30:08.400,0:30:10.832
in this winter retreat

0:30:10.856,0:30:19.058
we can offer a new version[br]of the 5 Mindfulness Trainings.

0:30:20.002,0:30:26.733
And maybe they can be used[br]for the next 20 or 30 years.

0:30:28.393,0:30:35.573
They can play their role [br]in the next 20 or 30 years.

0:30:35.690,0:30:39.554
But in 20 or 30 years, the situation[br]in the world will change,

0:30:39.610,0:30:45.741
and it will require us to sit down [br]and revise the trainings again.

0:30:45.905,0:30:49.375
Because the trainings [br]must be appropriate.

0:30:49.440,0:30:55.966
On one hand, they should be appropriate [br]to the teachings.

0:30:55.966,0:30:57.465
They must be in-line with the teachings.

0:30:57.465,0:31:03.541
And on the other hand, they should be [br]appropriate to the situation of the world.

0:31:03.792,0:31:06.033
In-line with the teachings and appropriate to our times.[br][ khế lý 契理 , khế cơ 契機 ]

0:31:06.115,0:31:09.466
That is called appropriateness.

0:31:20.490,0:31:25.610
Today the sangha is invited [br]to work effectively together.

0:31:25.658,0:31:30.000
So we have Dharma sharing groups,

0:31:30.000,0:31:32.525
or precepts sharing groups.

0:31:33.710,0:31:39.116
And in each sharing group, [br]there are some who are active,

0:31:39.200,0:31:43.408
some who can share quite deeply,

0:31:43.480,0:31:46.700
and some who are capable of [br]taking notes and reporting.

0:31:46.766,0:31:53.558
So we should encourage these people to[br]meet similar people in other groups

0:31:53.650,0:31:56.886
to form an editorial council.

0:31:56.920,0:32:02.945
And Thay will hand over all the materials

0:32:03.062,0:32:07.130
and results of last weeks[br]Dharma sharing sessions

0:32:07.130,0:32:15.350
so that they can rewrite and present [br]the first training as they wish.

0:32:15.475,0:32:20.443
That text will be the result[br]of collective insight,

0:32:20.467,0:32:26.755
from teacher and disciple, [br]from all the brothers and sisters.

0:32:26.940,0:32:38.140
And it can be our offering [br]to the Three Jewels as the year ends,

0:32:38.140,0:32:42.375
on the occasion of Christmas and New Year.

0:32:50.670,0:32:57.276
In the past few weeks we have[br]tried to offer some different views.

0:32:57.300,0:33:00.200
View or approach.

0:33:05.130,0:33:07.183
Three different views.

0:33:07.516,0:33:10.564
The first is the view from theistic traditions.

0:33:14.446,0:33:18.633
You should already have that printed text.

0:33:28.560,0:33:31.876
And we have a paragraph

0:33:32.016,0:33:36.141
about the scientific view.

0:33:36.835,0:33:40.475
The view of science about [br]the universe and all beings.

0:33:41.420,0:33:46.800
Lastly, we have a paragraph[br]about the Buddhist view.

0:33:47.320,0:33:53.525
The Buddhist view on consciousness and action.

0:33:57.530,0:34:00.170
So we should all have these three texts.

0:34:00.170,0:34:03.224
These texts represent the three different approaches,

0:34:03.320,0:34:05.341
the theistic approach,

0:34:05.530,0:34:07.159
the scientific approach,

0:34:07.249,0:34:09.141
and the Buddhist approach.

0:34:12.730,0:34:17.531
Buddhist studies can be better described [br]as ethics rather than religion.

0:34:17.920,0:34:22.141
Because in Buddhism we don't speak of the creator.

0:34:28.620,0:34:35.673
If God is perceived ...

0:34:39.014,0:34:43.674
as the ground of being,

0:34:43.795,0:34:51.408
if God is perceived as [br]the ultimate reality,

0:34:51.520,0:34:54.022
as suchness,

0:34:54.092,0:34:56.908
as Nirvana,

0:34:56.974,0:35:00.049
then in Buddhism there is God.

0:35:00.120,0:35:04.593
But if God is perceived as a man

0:35:04.617,0:35:07.588
with a long beard [br]standing high up in the sky

0:35:07.660,0:35:11.434
who created humans and all things,

0:35:11.516,0:35:15.808
then in Buddhism [br]there is no God like that.

0:35:16.346,0:35:21.336
And now people say that

0:35:24.060,0:35:29.793
spirituality is possible without God.

0:35:29.817,0:35:32.850
Spirituality without God.

0:35:35.335,0:35:38.651
But depending on how we[br]understand the word God,

0:35:38.725,0:35:42.349
we can see whether God is present in Buddhism or not.

0:35:44.330,0:35:51.530
If we say man is created [br]in the image of God,

0:35:51.583,0:35:54.483
there is no such belief in Buddhism.

0:35:54.573,0:35:58.616
But if we say God is the ultimate reality,

0:35:58.880,0:36:02.926
the ground of being [br]then there may be a God.

0:36:03.000,0:36:04.558
It is like that.

0:36:05.310,0:36:13.591
Thay has proposed a short text—less than [br]a dozen lines—on the Buddhist approach.

0:36:50.730,0:36:52.443
And this Buddhist approach

0:36:52.467,0:36:57.041
is just a finger pointing to the moon,[br]or a raft to cross the river.

0:36:57.107,0:36:59.489
You can come up with another text.

0:37:00.090,0:37:04.156
And in the future the Buddhist approach [br]can be improved.

0:37:04.250,0:37:07.075
We can present it in a better way.

0:37:07.320,0:37:12.850
Just like science. The view [br]representing science here

0:37:15.680,0:37:18.840
may no longer be relevant now.

0:37:18.840,0:37:22.009
In science, there are those[br]who have made great progress

0:37:22.033,0:37:24.160
and there are those who have stay behind.

0:37:24.160,0:37:27.509
And the scientists who have made great progress [br]and the scientists who have stay behind,

0:37:27.533,0:37:29.120
they strongly oppose each other.

0:37:29.120,0:37:31.741
They have very different views.

0:37:32.040,0:37:35.712
And so, the view of science [br]is also advancing,

0:37:36.060,0:37:39.041
and the view of religion[br]is also advancing.

0:37:39.160,0:37:43.133
So the view of Buddhism [br]must also move forward.

0:37:45.521,0:37:47.874
Why?

0:37:48.430,0:37:53.375
If love is something limitless,

0:37:53.550,0:37:59.841
then understanding and wisdom [br]should also be something limitless.

0:38:01.192,0:38:06.716
So we cannot say that our understanding ends here.

0:38:08.160,0:38:13.690
So if there are any theologians here in the sangha

0:38:13.690,0:38:16.130
(theologians)

0:38:16.130,0:38:23.475
let's contemplate, let's try to find

0:38:23.650,0:38:27.398
a new understanding

0:38:27.398,0:38:31.158
of cosmology from the theistic traditions.

0:38:31.400,0:38:35.318
Because the view that we have been using

0:38:35.342,0:38:40.208
as the foundation for ethics may be outdated.

0:38:42.340,0:38:46.458
In the light of science,[br]that view needs to be revised.

0:39:22.258,0:39:26.691
In the Buddhist approach, both[br]subject and object of perception ...

0:39:29.142,0:39:32.658
manifest from consciousness

0:39:32.700,0:39:35.666
according to the principle of interbeing.

0:39:37.691,0:39:42.126
"Both subject and object of perception [br]manifest from consciousness

0:39:42.126,0:39:45.255
according to the principle of interbeing."

0:39:47.722,0:39:50.162
Wherever we go we can see interbeing.

0:39:50.220,0:39:54.459
Subject of perception[br]and object of perception

0:39:54.483,0:39:59.549
are not two things [br]that exist outside of each other.

0:39:59.720,0:40:03.933
The subject contains the object [br]and the object contains the subject.

0:40:04.060,0:40:07.084
Just like this flower, it[br]contains the universe

0:40:07.108,0:40:09.460
and the universe [br]contains this flower.

0:40:09.460,0:40:13.583
They cannot exist outside of each other. [br]This is the insight of Buddhism.

0:40:17.914,0:40:23.191
So, "Humankind is present in all things

0:40:23.266,0:40:26.566
and all things are present in humankind."

0:40:28.040,0:40:31.493
It means that humankind [br]is present in the environment

0:40:31.517,0:40:35.175
and the environment is[br]present in humankind.

0:40:35.520,0:40:37.709
Human beings and [br]the environment inter-are.

0:40:37.733,0:40:40.893
It is clearly consistent [br]with the insight of interbeing.

0:40:40.950,0:40:45.374
You contain the environment.

0:40:45.660,0:40:48.593
The environment contains you.

0:40:48.666,0:40:52.474
You are the environment.[br]That is the insight of Buddhism.

0:40:58.301,0:41:00.801
And Buddhism goes further.

0:41:00.860,0:41:02.776
"On the phenomenal level,

0:41:02.800,0:41:07.020
there seems to be birth,[br]death, being and non-being,

0:41:07.080,0:41:11.765
but ontologically, these notions cannot be [br]applied to reality."

0:41:12.281,0:41:14.922
"On the phenomenal level,

0:41:14.922,0:41:20.823
there seems to be birth,[br]death, being and non-being,

0:41:20.823,0:41:23.826
but ontologically,

0:41:23.826,0:41:28.087
these notions cannot be [br]applied to reality."

0:41:29.000,0:41:31.516
This is very Buddhist.

0:41:31.620,0:41:35.176
This is just one person's way [br]of expressing this.

0:41:35.283,0:41:39.276
As you study and practice Buddhism,

0:41:39.300,0:41:43.033
you may find better ways [br]to express this.

0:41:43.441,0:41:45.351
It's the same in science.

0:41:45.375,0:41:47.718
If you are a scientist.

0:41:47.783,0:41:50.526
—there must be some scientists among us—

0:41:50.550,0:41:58.600
like astrophysicists, [br]or nuclear physicists,

0:41:58.700,0:42:07.225
uou know that science [br]is also advancing.

0:42:07.400,0:42:12.266
It has left behind [br]archaic knowledge,

0:42:12.360,0:42:14.443
and is finding ways [br]to be free from views,

0:42:14.467,0:42:19.091
to break free from old knowledge[br]to search for new knowledge.

0:42:19.580,0:42:23.924
There are scientists who have come very close,

0:42:24.580,0:42:31.008
and who have started to have insights [br]that are similar to Buddhist ones.

0:42:32.240,0:42:37.660
They're starting to see that [br]the universe is also consciousness,

0:42:37.660,0:42:44.040
they're starting to see that[br]the quanta is also consciousness,

0:42:44.040,0:42:46.740
first of all their own consciousness.

0:42:46.780,0:42:51.659
So dialogue between[br]science and religion

0:42:51.683,0:42:54.220
have been going on for decades.

0:42:54.280,0:42:56.660
And it is something very exciting.

0:42:56.660,0:42:59.543
If scientists can work together with Buddhists,

0:42:59.567,0:43:08.033
if scientists learn to meditate[br]and to use a tool called mind,

0:43:08.133,0:43:12.291
they can succeed much more quickly.

0:43:12.760,0:43:21.308
Because scientists have [br]very sophisticated instruments.

0:43:22.268,0:43:29.083
They have very expensive instruments,[br]like particle accelerators.

0:43:32.360,0:43:35.908
The one in Switzerland is very expensive.

0:43:36.080,0:43:41.491
But in Buddhism, we say the most [br]important instrument is our mind.

0:43:41.720,0:43:46.701
When mind is tainted with the afflictions[br]of craving, anger and ignorance,

0:43:46.725,0:43:53.025
that instrument cannot realize deep insights.

0:43:53.120,0:43:57.160
So if we know how to purify our mind,

0:43:57.160,0:44:03.376
how to remove the dust of[br]craving, anger, ignorance,

0:44:03.400,0:44:05.258
our mind becomes clear and bright.

0:44:05.299,0:44:08.983
With that clarity, [br]we can see more clearly.

0:44:09.284,0:44:12.509
That is why scientists[br]must also be practitioners

0:44:12.533,0:44:18.704
in order to be successful[br]more quickly and easily.

0:44:18.830,0:44:27.083
Scientists can't just use their intellect alone, [br]they also need to make use of their heart.

0:44:39.880,0:44:44.859
Everything evolves according to the [br]principle of interdependence,

0:44:44.883,0:44:48.521
but there is free will and[br]the possibility to transform,

0:44:48.521,0:44:51.266
there is probability.

0:44:53.246,0:44:57.064
"The dynamic consciousness is called karma energy.

0:44:57.064,0:45:02.646
Everything evolves according to [br]the principle of interdependence, interbeing,

0:45:02.646,0:45:06.270
but there is still free will [br]and the possibility to transform.

0:45:06.270,0:45:09.208
There is probability.

0:45:09.608,0:45:14.317
And the one affects the[br]all, the all affect the one."

0:45:14.880,0:45:20.660
The all affect the one, [br]and the one affects the all.

0:45:20.858,0:45:24.858
Each sentence contains[br]the insight of interbeing.

0:45:26.800,0:45:32.494
To Thay, the principle [br]of interbeing is very scientific.

0:45:37.808,0:45:42.325
"Right view allows right action,

0:45:42.383,0:45:47.333
leading to the reduction of suffering [br]and the increase of happiness."

0:45:47.680,0:45:50.774
"Right view allows right action,

0:45:51.005,0:45:56.041
leading to the reduction of suffering [br]and the increase of happiness."

0:45:57.780,0:46:03.509
So in Buddhist ethics, [br]right view is very important.

0:46:03.566,0:46:07.491
Right view leads to right thinking,[br]right speech and right action.

0:46:09.540,0:46:12.243
And one more thing:

0:46:12.267,0:46:18.041
happiness and suffering inter-are.

0:46:18.042,0:46:20.462
"Happiness and suffering inter-are."

0:46:20.740,0:46:24.980
Meaning in happiness there is suffering. [br]In suffering there is happiness.

0:46:24.980,0:46:29.240
Happiness and suffering make each other.[br]That is also the insight of interbeing.

0:46:29.240,0:46:33.293
Perhaps in other schools of ethics[br]this has been overlooked.

0:46:33.317,0:46:39.247
But in Buddhism, without this insight[br]it is not true Buddhist ethics.

0:46:44.320,0:46:50.075
And lastly, "The ultimate reality transcends[br]notions of good and evil, right and wrong."

0:46:51.092,0:46:55.984
Meaning notions of good[br]and evil, right and left,

0:46:56.008,0:47:00.991
right and wrong,[br]are all relative.

0:47:01.960,0:47:05.841
There are two domains,

0:47:05.920,0:47:09.092
one domain is nature,

0:47:09.157,0:47:12.196
or the natural world.

0:47:26.250,0:47:30.300
The natural world is the domain of nature.

0:47:30.900,0:47:35.216
And the human world is the domain of humans.

0:47:42.620,0:47:46.818
Because there is the human world, [br]with its suffering and happiness,

0:47:46.866,0:47:50.740
we need to be able to determine

0:47:50.933,0:47:53.733
what is right and what is wrong,

0:47:53.950,0:47:56.408
what is good and what is bad.

0:47:56.495,0:47:59.741
These things are pragmatic.

0:48:02.860,0:48:05.400
They are only relative in value.

0:48:05.466,0:48:09.566
Don't hold on to them and assume[br]that they are absolute.

0:48:11.760,0:48:16.059
Right and wrong, good and evil,[br]are only relative.

0:48:16.108,0:48:19.541
We should not be caught [br]and think they are absolute.

0:48:22.814,0:48:24.640
This is very important.

0:48:24.700,0:48:31.300
Because when we arrive [br]at the ultimate reality,

0:48:31.374,0:48:36.191
there is no more [br]right and wrong,

0:48:36.483,0:48:38.308
good and evil,

0:48:41.840,0:48:43.852
true and false.

0:48:48.320,0:48:56.334
So Nirvana transcends all notions of right and wrong,

0:48:56.417,0:48:58.092
being and non-being,

0:48:58.500,0:48:59.701
good and evil.

0:48:59.758,0:49:01.558
Nirvana is not good.

0:49:05.533,0:49:08.475
Nirvana is neither good [br]nor evil.

0:49:09.920,0:49:11.868
Good and evil are notions

0:49:11.892,0:49:15.625
that we apply in the human world.

0:49:16.220,0:49:21.501
Nirvana itself is neither[br]good nor evil.

0:49:21.608,0:49:24.516
It transcends the notions of[br]good and evil.

0:49:24.733,0:49:29.075
It's the same goes for notions [br]of above and below.

0:49:30.380,0:49:35.207
Above means to be above something, [br]and below means to be below something.

0:49:35.325,0:49:37.433
We are sitting here

0:49:40.474,0:49:42.749
in France.

0:49:44.340,0:49:48.616
Our head is pointing up,

0:49:49.201,0:49:52.782
so we think that this is the below.

0:49:53.760,0:49:57.841
But in Viet Nam, [br]they are sitting upside down from us.

0:49:57.980,0:50:01.583
What we call the above[br]is actually their below.

0:50:01.680,0:50:05.309
So these notions of above and[br]below cannot be applied to the universe.

0:50:05.367,0:50:08.509
They can only be applied in relation to the Earth.

0:50:11.080,0:50:15.792
So we should not be caught [br]in notions of above and below.

0:50:20.220,0:50:22.501
It's the same for the Dharmakaya.

0:50:22.583,0:50:26.091
To say that Dharmakaya is pure is not correct.

0:50:26.200,0:50:27.801
To say the Dharmakaya is pure is incorrect.

0:50:27.825,0:50:32.216
The Dharmakaya is neither pure nor impure.

0:50:32.580,0:50:35.618
To say that the Dharmakaya is impure is already wrong,

0:50:35.675,0:50:39.208
but to say that the Dharmakaya [br]is pure is equally wrong.

0:50:40.191,0:50:42.943
So when Zen master Tuệ Trung[br]Thượng Sĩ was asked by his disciples:

0:50:43.008,0:50:47.232
"What is the pure Dharmakaya?" [br]He said, "Cow dung",

0:50:48.320,0:50:50.151
"Cow urine. [br]That's what he said

0:50:50.220,0:50:59.575
to help people break free from [br]notions of pure and impure.

0:51:02.380,0:51:09.875
So what Thầy wants to say is,[br]if you are a theologian,

0:51:15.240,0:51:18.118
a Hindu,

0:51:18.142,0:51:20.101
Jewish,

0:51:20.125,0:51:22.800
or Christian theologian,

0:51:22.800,0:51:25.641
you should know that ...

0:51:28.340,0:51:31.705
our view on the universe and[br]all things can be improved.

0:51:31.729,0:51:33.900
We can move it forward.

0:51:33.900,0:51:38.475
We can transcend the old view [br]and to reach a new view.

0:51:39.140,0:51:41.316
And we can ...

0:51:44.940,0:51:52.041
carry our tradition forward [br]so that it can be closer to science.

0:51:53.015,0:51:56.315
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has also said this.

0:51:56.600,0:52:00.476
He said, "If I encounter something in Buddhism [br]that contradicts the spirit of modern science,

0:52:00.500,0:52:03.400
then I am ready to let them go."

0:52:03.460,0:52:07.283
That is the spirit of [br]non-attachment to views.

0:52:08.360,0:52:11.291
We have the courage [br]to let go of things

0:52:15.033,0:52:17.940
that we find are no longer correct.

0:52:18.023,0:52:21.275
This is also the spirit of science.

0:52:56.980,0:53:01.560
On the 1st of October, 2008 ...

0:53:01.700,0:53:05.660
in the capitol city of New Delhi ...

0:53:05.733,0:53:14.183
Thầy gave a teaching [br]to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi.

0:53:14.280,0:53:18.774
It was called the Gandhi Memorial Lecture.

0:53:18.880,0:53:24.526
Thầy cited an extract from[br]Mahatma Gandhi's speech

0:53:24.550,0:53:29.177
from the 9th of April, 1933,

0:53:29.908,0:53:32.999
from his journal called "Harijan."

0:53:37.177,0:53:45.774
Ghandi said: "In my search after truth,"[br]in my journey to seek the the truth,

0:53:46.159,0:53:53.958
"I have discarded many ideas[br]and learned many new things."

0:53:54.217,0:54:01.939
"In my search after truth, I have discarded many ideas and learned many new things."

0:54:02.920,0:54:07.213
This proves that Mahatma Gandhi was someone[br]who was not attached to views.

0:54:07.475,0:54:11.633
He was not caught in prior knowledge.

0:54:13.380,0:54:18.412
Mahatma Gandhi was not a Buddhist. [br]He was a Hindu.

0:54:18.580,0:54:22.239
And in that tradition[br]there is also advancement.

0:54:22.354,0:54:24.650
This is the spirit of science.

0:54:27.280,0:54:33.529
As Christians or Jewish[br]we can also have that attitude.

0:54:33.640,0:54:36.276
We can release old understanding,

0:54:36.354,0:54:42.270
in order to reach to higher understanding.

0:54:47.230,0:54:49.808
"Old as I am in age,

0:54:50.279,0:55:04.954
I have no feeling that I have[br]ceased to grow inwardly."

0:55:06.236,0:55:14.063
"Old as I am in age, I have no feeling [br]that I have ceased to grow inwardly."

0:55:15.960,0:55:20.795
I am old but I have the feeling[br]that I have never cease to learn

0:55:20.908,0:55:25.587
and I continue to grow [br]in my spiritual life.

0:55:29.180,0:55:34.480
And I have the feeling[br]that even at the dissolution of this body

0:55:34.504,0:55:40.105
my quest for learning, my growth in[br]spiritual life will not stop.

0:55:40.271,0:55:42.383
It will continue.

0:55:44.320,0:55:49.887
"...or that my growth will stop [br]at the dissolution of the flesh."

0:55:50.670,0:55:57.212
It proves that Mahatma Gandhi was [br]not caught in the view of nihilism.

0:55:57.340,0:55:58.930
Nihilism means,

0:55:58.954,0:56:01.787
the idea that at the dissolution of the body nothing continues.

0:56:01.841,0:56:04.350
Nothing is continued.[br]The person is gone.

0:56:04.420,0:56:10.337
Mahatma Gandhi is saying after the dissolution of this body, [br]I will continue to learn,

0:56:10.452,0:56:12.687
I will continue to grow,

0:56:12.737,0:56:18.704
and I can continue to let go of the old truths in order to reach higher truths.

0:56:18.800,0:56:23.887
So Mahatma Gandhi was able to [br]break free from nihilism.

0:56:24.000,0:56:26.647
This sentence proves that[br]Mahatma Gandhi had two virtues.

0:56:26.671,0:56:30.495
The first virtue is the capacity [br]to let go of his own views.

0:56:30.587,0:56:35.309
And second is the capacity to transcend[br]the wrong view of nihilism,

0:56:35.333,0:56:38.460
which is the view that after death[br]we cease to exist.

0:56:38.520,0:56:42.620
Many scientists are still [br]caught in these two things.

0:56:42.700,0:56:45.430
Even scientists are still caught [br]in these two things

0:56:45.521,0:56:48.296
but Gandhi was not.

0:56:48.660,0:56:51.014
These two things are very important in Buddhism.

0:56:51.038,0:56:54.860
Which is first, non-attachment to views—[br]the capacity to let go of knowledge.

0:56:54.860,0:57:01.845
And secondly, not being caught in nihilism.

0:57:16.749,0:57:18.664
We need to move forward a bit

0:57:18.688,0:57:20.772
and start talking about the second mindfulness training,

0:57:20.796,0:57:24.055
even if we are still working [br]on revising the first training.

0:57:24.079,0:57:27.265
Because we only have three months.

0:58:00.257,0:58:04.457
The second training is ...

0:58:12.860,0:58:18.450
the practice of sharing our resources [br]with those who are in need,

0:58:18.705,0:58:25.220
not to appropriate, not to steal,[br]and not to cause social injustice.

0:58:25.880,0:58:31.479
The second training [br]must also contain the insight of interbeing.

0:58:31.700,0:58:33.789
And when we present the second training,

0:58:33.813,0:58:39.121
we have to present it in such a way [br]that it contains the insight of interbeing.

0:58:39.600,0:58:43.262
The suffering of the other person[br]is our own suffering.

0:58:43.380,0:58:46.139
The suffering, the destruction [br]of the environment

0:58:46.163,0:58:47.947
is also the destruction of human beings.

0:58:48.029,0:58:51.162
That insight should be[br]embedded in the second training.

0:58:54.420,0:59:00.579
The second training is about no stealing,

0:59:02.300,0:59:09.204
about sharing our time and material resources [br]with those who are in need.

0:59:10.700,0:59:13.072
We see that the objective [br]of the second training

0:59:13.096,0:59:16.870
is more about eliminating craving,

0:59:18.996,0:59:22.920
more about eliminating greed and craving.

0:59:28.580,0:59:33.620
In the first training on no killing,[br]it is also about eliminating greed.

0:59:33.700,0:59:37.739
It is because of greed [br]that we kill people,

0:59:37.763,0:59:40.770
we invade other countries.

0:59:43.740,0:59:53.087
We covet the natural resources of those countries [br]so we come and invade them.

0:59:53.240,1:00:00.608
Or we want a market for our products [br]so we invade that country.

1:00:00.760,1:00:04.845
So the first training also deals with craving.

1:00:05.004,1:00:09.419
The second training deals with craving too.

1:00:11.100,1:00:15.329
It's because of craving that[br]we want to seize and appropriate.

1:00:15.421,1:00:18.245
It's because of craving for wealth and success

1:00:18.312,1:00:20.895
that we destroy the environment.

1:00:21.620,1:00:28.515
The object of this craving[br]is assets and wealth.

1:00:29.620,1:00:33.385
And when we go to the third training,

1:00:33.504,1:00:39.495
no sexual misconduct, it is also [br]related to craving, but for sex.

1:00:39.678,1:00:44.089
So in fact all the five trainings[br]deal with craving and greed.

1:00:44.170,1:00:47.905
Similarly, all the five trainings also[br]deal with anger.

1:00:48.000,1:00:51.297
Because in the first training, [br]no killing, there is anger.

1:00:51.379,1:00:54.376
Because of anger there is killing.

1:00:59.500,1:01:04.222
And delusion. Delusion is the[br]lack of insight into interbeing,

1:01:04.246,1:01:08.487
therefore the killing, therefore the appropriation.

1:01:08.600,1:01:15.062
So we see clearly that the five trainings[br]are interrelated, they inte-rare.

1:01:15.187,1:01:18.109
In practicing one training well,

1:01:18.133,1:01:20.455
we can also practice the other four trainings well.

1:01:20.528,1:01:21.874
It's very wonderful.

1:01:23.640,1:01:29.545
So when we present [br]the second training on no stealing,

1:01:29.660,1:01:37.820
on sharing our time, material resources and [br]energy with those who are in need,

1:01:37.820,1:01:39.809
we have to present it in such a way

1:01:39.936,1:01:43.405
that allows people to see that the[br]other person whom we are exploiting,

1:01:43.512,1:01:47.429
whom we want to appropriate[br]from, is also ourselves.

1:01:49.780,1:01:54.005
And that storehouse of natural resources,

1:01:54.029,1:02:02.045
that environment that we are exploiting[br]and polluting, is also ourselves.

1:02:02.320,1:02:04.447
We are the environment.[br]We must have that insight

1:02:04.471,1:02:07.404
for the second training can be deep enough.

1:02:07.460,1:02:10.000
So you have to present it[br]in such a way that allows everyone

1:02:10.091,1:02:12.797
to see the interbeing between [br]themselves and the other person—

1:02:12.862,1:02:16.970
the person whom we want to appropriate from, [br]whom we want to exploit—

1:02:18.000,1:02:21.222
the interbeing nature between[br]ourselves and the environment.

1:02:21.295,1:02:25.279
That's when second training[br]is a true precept of the Buddha.

1:02:25.835,1:02:28.645
The insight of interbeing must be there.

1:02:59.040,1:03:00.264
For example, we can say,

1:03:00.288,1:03:06.697
"I vow to look deeply to see that[br]the happiness and suffering of others

1:03:06.745,1:03:10.669
are related to my own[br]happiness and suffering."

1:03:11.920,1:03:14.512
You may think that you have to be rich

1:03:20.279,1:03:21.946
in order to be happy.

1:03:21.995,1:03:27.969
But your wealth cannot be[br]built on the poverty of others.

1:03:28.040,1:03:31.255
"I vow to look deeply to see that[br]the happiness and suffering of others

1:03:31.279,1:03:34.507
are related to my own[br]happiness and suffering.

1:03:34.580,1:03:40.338
And that true happiness and peace

1:03:40.395,1:03:46.037
are not possible without[br]understanding and love."

1:03:46.934,1:03:48.689
Because there are some views

1:03:48.713,1:03:51.705
that say only when we have the four things—

1:03:51.729,1:03:57.629
wealth, fame, power and sex—

1:03:57.695,1:03:58.770
we can be happy.

1:03:58.770,1:04:01.329
That's what so many people believe.

1:04:01.400,1:04:05.866
So in this second training,[br]we have to make clear

1:04:05.941,1:04:10.280
that without understanding and love, [br]happiness is not possible.

1:04:10.280,1:04:16.455
Even if you have a lot of wealth,[br]fame, power and sex,

1:04:16.479,1:04:19.987
if there's no understanding[br]and love, you can suffer enormously.

1:04:20.042,1:04:22.204
You can even commit suicide.

1:04:23.060,1:04:25.609
So understanding and love are [br]the foundation of happiness.

1:04:25.633,1:04:27.680
We have to help people see that

1:04:27.680,1:04:30.330
so they can look for[br]happiness in that direction

1:04:30.354,1:04:35.404
and not to run after craving.

1:04:35.580,1:04:39.420
Only then can this precept[br]be a true precept of the Buddha.

1:04:43.720,1:04:48.555
"That true happiness and [br]peace are not possible

1:04:48.579,1:04:51.380
without understanding and love,

1:04:51.380,1:04:58.020
that running after wealth, fame, power and [br]sensual pleasures can bring much suffering."

1:04:58.320,1:05:01.043
"And once I know how to generate[br]understanding and love,

1:05:01.067,1:05:09.272
I can help myself and others overcome [br]difficulties and fear, and grow my happiness.

1:05:11.400,1:05:19.580
I vow to look deeply[br]to see that I am the environment ...

1:05:19.580,1:05:22.420
and the environment is myself.

1:05:22.420,1:05:26.860
Harming the environment is harming myself."

1:05:26.860,1:05:32.700
With these elements, it is good enough for now.

1:05:34.840,1:05:38.118
"I am determied to practice deeply

1:05:38.208,1:05:41.143
to see that both happiness[br]and suffering of the other person

1:05:41.300,1:05:45.624
have much to do with my[br]own suffering and happiness.

1:05:45.860,1:05:50.458
That true happiness is not possible [br]without understanding and love.

1:05:50.580,1:05:54.876
And running after wealth, fame, power or sex

1:05:54.900,1:05:58.733
can bring about much suffering and despair."

1:06:00.160,1:06:05.925
And happiness is the aim of our life.

1:06:07.640,1:06:12.140
Even though everyone needs [br]to overcome poverty,

1:06:12.140,1:06:17.950
happiness cannot be found in [br]the direction of craving and sensual desires.

1:06:21.640,1:06:24.680
In New Delhi, Thầy also talked about ...

1:06:24.733,1:06:30.200
Mahatma Gandhi's view on[br]happiness and sensual pleasures.

1:06:34.940,1:06:39.558
And Thầy quoted this from Gandhi:

1:06:39.880,1:06:44.720
"Our ancestors set a limit to our indulgences."

1:06:44.753,1:06:49.283
Our ancestors have learned to stop [br]and practice moderation.

1:06:50.366,1:06:52.229
No more indulging without limits.

1:06:52.229,1:06:59.605
No more

1:07:14.849,1:07:19.700
No more overindulgence.

1:07:20.560,1:07:26.018
"Our ancestors set a limit on our indulgences,"

1:07:26.042,1:07:31.741
in order not to overindulge.

1:07:32.660,1:07:36.826
"They saw that happiness [br]was largely a mental condition."

1:07:36.880,1:07:40.397
Our ancestors saw that happiness

1:07:42.583,1:07:49.708
was largely a mental condition, our way of seeing things.

1:07:49.980,1:07:54.060
Seeing with understanding and love, [br]happiness is possible.

1:07:55.480,1:07:59.259
"A man is not necessarily[br]happy because he is rich,

1:07:59.283,1:08:02.140
or unhappy because he is poor."

1:08:02.140,1:08:04.925
So people are not necessary happy [br]when they are rich,

1:08:04.958,1:08:08.541
and not necessarily [br]unhappy when they are poor.

1:08:08.600,1:08:13.220
Those who are able to live in moderation, [br]in poor conditions,

1:08:13.775,1:08:24.876
especially those who are able to live simply, those who choose

1:08:24.899,1:08:28.799
voluntary poverty,

1:08:28.867,1:08:32.408
those people are very happy.

1:08:33.979,1:08:38.742
They live simply, they may not[br]have a high income,

1:08:39.325,1:08:42.325
but they may be able to smile all day, [br]be happy all day, love all day.

1:08:42.403,1:08:45.826
So this sentence is very true.

1:08:45.912,1:08:49.575
"A man is not necessarily [br]happy because he is rich,

1:08:49.600,1:08:53.558
or unhappy because he is poor."

1:08:55.979,1:09:03.919
"Observing all this, our ancestors [br]dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures."

1:09:03.997,1:09:13.371
"Observing all this, our ancestors [br]dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures."

1:09:14.000,1:09:17.566
Indulging in sensual pleasures [br]can bring about a lot of suffering.

1:09:18.580,1:09:20.441
This insight

1:09:21.549,1:09:23.167
is a shared insight.

1:09:23.200,1:09:26.766
It's not only found in Buddhism,

1:09:27.340,1:09:34.540
but also in Christianity, [br]in Judaism and in Hinduism.

1:09:36.732,1:09:39.929
So this insight,

1:09:39.953,1:09:43.580
we need to point to it text of the training.

1:09:43.660,1:09:47.618
When we read the trainings, we can see[br]clearly that without Dharma sharing,

1:09:47.642,1:09:52.080
without coninuous learning, it's impossible[br]to understand that training deeply.

1:09:52.116,1:09:56.133
So after you have received the[br]Five Mindfulness Trainings

1:09:56.216,1:09:59.580
you should aspire to study them[br]when you get back home.

1:09:59.580,1:10:02.284
Studying just one training is enough.

1:10:02.308,1:10:09.220
And that training is like [br]the ocean without boundaries.

1:10:09.220,1:10:12.969
The deeper we go into that training[br]the more we can see its depth,

1:10:12.993,1:10:14.615
because there is an ocean [br]of wisdom,

1:10:14.615,1:10:18.501
an ocean of love in that training.

1:10:19.587,1:10:23.191
So we have to present the [br]5 Mindfulness Trainings in such a way

1:10:23.279,1:10:30.779
that they contain the immense ocean [br]of Buddhist insight and love.

1:10:42.760,1:10:45.601
One practitioner wrote me a letter yesterday.

1:10:45.625,1:10:48.940
He said: "I have work to[br]do. I must leave on Tuesday.

1:10:48.940,1:10:53.974
That's why I am very sad,[br]because I came to Plum Village

1:10:54.075,1:10:57.000
with the intention to receive [br]the Five Mindfulness Trainings.

1:10:57.158,1:11:00.634
Dear Thay, please help me find a way to receive[br]the 5 Mindfulness Trainings before Tuesday,

1:11:00.658,1:11:03.341
as I must leave on Tuesday."

1:11:03.450,1:11:06.866
So Thay handed the letter [br]to brother Pháp Đôn,

1:11:06.925,1:11:12.586
and asked him to arrange for this friend[br]to receive the 5 trainings on Monday,

1:11:12.669,1:11:17.458
so tomorrow, [br]before he returns home.

1:11:17.506,1:11:21.009
And brother Pháp Đôn was very compassionate.

1:11:21.288,1:11:24.776
He has arranged[br]for five or six brothers

1:11:24.800,1:11:29.283
to transmit the 5 Mindfulness Trainings [br]for that friend.

1:11:29.440,1:11:33.960
That is heart of pursuing the precepts.

1:11:33.960,1:11:40.676
Because we know that[br]there are precious gems in the precepts.

1:11:40.838,1:11:46.838
When we have precepts [br]then we have everything.

1:11:46.880,1:11:49.268
Because the precepts [br]contain the Three Jewels:

1:11:49.292,1:11:51.293
the Buddha, the Dharma, the sangha;

1:11:51.317,1:11:53.720
precepts, concentration and insight.

1:11:53.783,1:11:57.293
So someone who practices[br]the precepts is always protected.

1:11:57.400,1:11:59.491
They no longer have anything to fear.

1:11:59.636,1:12:04.001
Someone with a precept body, [br]the sila body ...

1:12:04.025,1:12:08.551
that person is always protected[br]by the Three Jewels,

1:12:08.575,1:12:11.520
by the energies of precepts,[br]concentration and insight.

1:12:11.570,1:12:16.350
That's why every one of us should pursue[br]the precepts wholeheartedly.

1:12:19.140,1:12:26.660
For all those who stay until [br]the end of the Rains retreat,

1:12:26.660,1:12:30.049
you can receive the 5 trainings during [br]the Great Precepts Transmission Ceremony.

1:12:30.082,1:12:34.253
You can receive them in the New Lotus Season [br]Great Precepts Transmission Ceremony.

1:12:41.071,1:12:43.071
At the end of the year,

1:12:45.559,1:12:47.277
it seems the monastics in Bat Nha have read this already,

1:12:47.277,1:12:51.444
but the monastics in New Hamlet [br]and Lower Hamlet have not.

1:12:52.515,1:12:57.524
Thay hopes that after the monastics [br]have had a chance to read this,

1:12:57.524,1:13:03.019
they can translate it so our friends can read it i[br]n English, French and German.

1:13:20.001,1:13:28.353
Thay has the reports from the [br]Dharma sharing groups from last Thursday.

1:13:28.860,1:13:40.045
[ The sound of the bell ]