0:00:05.565,0:00:10.580 (Bell) 0:00:31.560,0:00:37.492 (Bell) 0:00:53.474,0:00:59.484 (Bell) 0:01:07.841,0:01:12.662 Dear respected Thay,[br]dear brothers and sisters, dear friends, 0:01:13.322,0:01:14.958 good morning. 0:01:15.834,0:01:19.240 Today is Sunday the 28th of October 0:01:19.345,0:01:23.370 and we are in the Dharma Nectar Temple[br]of Plum Village, Lower Hamlet. 0:01:25.291,0:01:29.802 In this retreat we have been looking into[br]the 14 mindfulness trainings 0:01:29.980,0:01:32.433 of the Order of Interbeing. 0:01:34.776,0:01:42.377 The Order of Interbeing was formed by Thay[br]in the mid 1960's 0:01:42.693,0:01:46.316 at the time of the Vietnam War. 0:01:47.192,0:01:49.406 There was a great need 0:01:49.682,0:01:56.536 for some understanding and compassion 0:02:01.023,0:02:06.472 in order to take care of the hatred and[br]violence that was happening in the country. 0:02:09.783,0:02:15.466 The 14 mindfulness trainings have to do[br]with how we live our daily lives, 0:02:16.128,0:02:18.802 how we live in the world. 0:02:19.849,0:02:25.521 How we respond to issues in the world 0:02:31.743,0:02:34.002 by our way of thinking, 0:02:35.419,0:02:38.751 our attitude or our view. 0:02:40.334,0:02:44.583 So these 14 mindfulness trainings[br]help us to see very clearly 0:02:44.768,0:02:48.175 the impact of our thinking, 0:02:48.631,0:02:51.059 of our speaking and actions 0:02:51.155,0:02:56.761 on our environment, and on the world,[br]and on the way we live together. 0:03:02.797,0:03:05.373 These trainings 0:03:08.980,0:03:12.946 they really express a mind of true love 0:03:13.238,0:03:19.376 and the insight that happiness[br]is not an individual matter. 0:03:19.617,0:03:24.341 They are the 14 mindfulness trainings[br]of the Order of Interbeing 0:03:24.574,0:03:26.577 that was founded by Thay 0:03:26.745,0:03:30.340 but they can be practiced by anyone.[br]You don't need to be 0:03:32.031,0:03:34.960 an official member[br]of the Order of Interbeing 0:03:35.065,0:03:38.494 in order to practice[br]the 14 mindfulness trainings. 0:03:38.676,0:03:42.974 In fact, the more people[br]they practice them, the better. 0:03:43.514,0:03:46.295 So, you may like 0:03:49.872,0:03:52.626 to have a look at them by yourself 0:03:52.742,0:03:54.716 and study them 0:03:54.860,0:03:57.572 to see in what way the resonate for you. 0:03:57.671,0:04:01.391 Especially in the light of[br]the state of the world. 0:04:03.160,0:04:06.962 The more I study[br]these 14 mindfulness trainings 0:04:07.924,0:04:13.170 the more my heart rejoices.[br]Because I see a way out, 0:04:13.457,0:04:17.010 I can see a way that can lead to[br]healing and transformation, 0:04:17.208,0:04:20.913 not just of myself[br]but of the whole of humanity. 0:04:21.166,0:04:25.550 And that uplifts my spirit[br]and gives me a lot of joy. 0:04:27.033,0:04:31.234 These 14 mindfulness trainings[br]we are all capable of practicing them, 0:04:31.331,0:04:34.732 of applying them in our daily life. 0:04:41.305,0:04:47.209 To practice these 14 mindfulness trainings[br]it's very good to have a sangha, 0:04:47.795,0:04:51.532 a place of refuge[br]to do it together with others. 0:04:58.391,0:05:02.345 Because with a sangha we can share[br]our joys and our difficulties 0:05:02.887,0:05:04.830 and we can - 0:05:07.546,0:05:09.488 Excuse me. 0:05:11.518,0:05:15.692 Interacting with others[br]will reveal our habit energies. 0:05:16.330,0:05:20.383 And as I said before,[br]especially our habit energies of thinking. 0:05:20.671,0:05:24.145 A thinking is[br]the foundation of everything. 0:05:25.313,0:05:29.867 Whatever we say, whatever we do,[br]we have already thought. 0:05:31.316,0:05:33.986 So becoming aware of our thinking 0:05:34.306,0:05:40.467 and the inclination of our thinking[br]is very important. 0:05:40.968,0:05:44.764 Because that is[br]where the transformation starts. 0:05:50.102,0:05:53.765 It's very good to have a sangha[br]to practice with. 0:05:54.416,0:05:58.175 The sangha is like what we call[br]a "kalyanamitra", 0:05:58.370,0:06:01.391 it means, a spiritual friend. 0:06:01.691,0:06:04.243 And a spiritual friend is somebody 0:06:04.695,0:06:09.241 who knows how to skillfully[br]point things out to us. 0:06:09.443,0:06:14.545 A habit we have of speaking or acting[br]that has it's roots in our thinking. 0:06:15.221,0:06:19.417 They will be able to say it in a way[br]that we can receive it. 0:06:19.810,0:06:26.305 And that will help us to recognize[br]the effect of our actions. 0:06:27.360,0:06:31.240 So to have a kalyanamitra[br]is very precious. 0:06:31.428,0:06:33.480 On the other hand, 0:06:35.056,0:06:38.786 do we know how to be a kalyanamitra? 0:06:39.617,0:06:42.716 If you like to have a kalyanamitra 0:06:42.890,0:06:46.943 it is very good to first become[br]our own kalyanamitra, 0:06:47.190,0:06:50.922 to develop the qualities[br]of a kalyanamitra in ourselves 0:06:52.059,0:06:56.682 so we can help ourselves and then[br]we can help others also on this path. 0:06:57.451,0:07:01.187 So these 14 mindfulness trainings[br]help us to see very clearly 0:07:01.367,0:07:04.716 the impact of our thinking,[br]speaking and actions 0:07:05.190,0:07:09.152 on our environment, the world[br]and how we live together. 0:07:09.822,0:07:13.363 They are really guidelines[br]for everyday living. 0:07:16.376,0:07:21.381 Most what we call precepts,[br]they are prohibitions. 0:07:23.370,0:07:27.034 And they begin[br]with bodily actions. 0:07:27.590,0:07:31.110 In the 14 mindfulness trainings,[br]we used to call them precepts, 0:07:31.206,0:07:33.571 now we call them trainings, 0:07:33.925,0:07:38.007 like we call the 5 precepts[br]the 5 mindfulness trainings also. 0:07:38.247,0:07:41.996 The 14 mindfulness trainings[br]begin with the mind. 0:07:45.013,0:07:49.048 And the Noble Eightfold Path[br]also begins with the mind. 0:07:49.193,0:07:52.981 And this shows the importance[br]that the Buddha gave to the mind, 0:07:53.073,0:07:55.744 the actions of the mind. 0:07:57.455,0:08:01.351 So the 14 mindfulness trainings,[br]there are 3 categories. 0:08:04.004,0:08:08.472 The first category are the mindfulness[br]trainings 1 to 7 0:08:08.928,0:08:12.486 and they concern primarily the mind. 0:08:13.027,0:08:17.008 The second is the 8th and the 9th[br]mindfulness trainings 0:08:17.088,0:08:19.667 and they concern the speech. 0:08:19.741,0:08:25.518 From 10th to 14th[br]is primarily our bodily actions. 0:08:28.187,0:08:32.214 But our actions of mind, of course,[br]and speech, and body, 0:08:32.638,0:08:35.670 have the mind as their foundation. 0:08:36.204,0:08:39.107 So when we practice[br]these 14 mindfulness trainings, 0:08:39.460,0:08:44.616 we are practicing to transcend our greed,[br]our anger, our hatred 0:08:45.278,0:08:47.540 and our delusions. 0:08:47.805,0:08:51.920 And we cultivate compassion and wisdom. 0:08:56.542,0:09:01.894 They also help us to look into[br]and to understand 0:09:03.728,0:09:07.057 the nature of interbeing of all that is. 0:09:07.232,0:09:11.028 This means that[br]nothing can exist by itself, 0:09:11.288,0:09:15.207 everything is because of[br]many causes and conditions. 0:09:15.446,0:09:19.292 We are because of[br]many causes and conditions. 0:09:19.812,0:09:25.023 We know that without the air,[br]without water, without the earth, 0:09:26.000,0:09:30.885 without fire, warmth, the Sun, the Moon,[br]we can't live. 0:09:33.299,0:09:36.870 So we are because of[br]many causes and conditions. 0:09:37.363,0:09:41.748 And we are as we are[br]because of many causes and conditions. 0:09:42.362,0:09:46.383 We are as we are,[br]how we have nourished ourselves, 0:09:46.439,0:09:49.048 our body and our mind. 0:09:51.308,0:09:57.087 When we wake up in the morning,[br]and if our body and mind feels light, 0:09:57.441,0:10:01.835 it is very likely we had a light meal[br]the evening before. 0:10:03.663,0:10:06.464 If we had a party the evening before 0:10:06.590,0:10:13.031 we may wake up not so fresh. Right? 0:10:17.098,0:10:22.239 We may have something[br]that is called a hangover. 0:10:23.261,0:10:25.633 I don't know if anybody here[br]still has those, 0:10:26.047,0:10:28.849 since we are all practicing very well, 0:10:30.107,0:10:33.746 but just to be aware 0:10:34.673,0:10:39.922 of how we nourish ourselves 0:10:40.670,0:10:44.775 with the food and the drink[br]that we take in. 0:10:45.283,0:10:49.994 What is the effect that this has[br]on our body and our mind? 0:10:52.324,0:10:54.335 You are what you eat. 0:10:54.540,0:10:58.485 I would say, we are what we eat,[br]what we drink, what we think. 0:10:59.243,0:11:03.062 What we see, what we hear,[br]what we smell, what we touch. 0:11:04.012,0:11:07.610 Because everything that we take in[br]through our sense doors 0:11:08.409,0:11:13.865 waters seeds in us. It waters seeds[br]in our store consciousness. 0:11:17.608,0:11:23.064 Store consciousness is that function of[br]our consciousness that keeps everything. 0:11:23.773,0:11:26.713 It holds all our potential. 0:11:27.219,0:11:30.130 And our potential is what we call a seed. 0:11:31.003,0:11:34.501 We have the capacity to be happy. 0:11:35.236,0:11:37.835 So we say we have a seed of happiness. 0:11:38.069,0:11:42.134 We have the capacity to be joyful,[br]we have a seed of joy. 0:11:42.613,0:11:47.086 We also have the capacity to be angry.[br]So we have a seed of anger. 0:11:48.958,0:11:52.852 We have a seed of hatred, we have[br]a seed of greed, a seed of discrimination. 0:11:52.974,0:11:57.300 All of us have these potentials.[br]We all have the same. 0:11:57.493,0:12:01.096 But in some of us,[br]some are stronger than others. 0:12:03.471,0:12:09.438 And they are stronger because we may have[br]inherited the strength of a seed 0:12:09.619,0:12:14.625 from our parents, or our grandparents,[br]or ancestors, 0:12:15.732,0:12:18.891 our society, our nation. 0:12:20.592,0:12:29.927 And we have, out of ignorance,[br]allowed certain seeds to be watered in us 0:12:30.460,0:12:34.084 that would had been better[br]not to be watered. 0:12:34.398,0:12:41.856 With the practice of mindfulness,[br]we have a say in what seed will be watered 0:12:42.111,0:12:44.901 in our store consciousness. 0:12:46.281,0:12:49.615 That is what we'd like[br]to talk about a little bit today. 0:12:49.842,0:12:54.400 The practice of the mindfulness trainings[br]help us to become aware 0:12:54.624,0:12:58.583 of the seeds that are being watered[br]in our store consciousness. 0:12:58.850,0:13:02.980 So for me they are a sort of empowerment. 0:13:03.738,0:13:05.682 Now I am empowered. 0:13:05.901,0:13:09.632 It doesn't mean that I have received them[br]so I am empowered, no. 0:13:09.815,0:13:14.795 I have come in contact with them, I've[br]read them, I've become aware of them. 0:13:15.008,0:13:17.331 And I'm empowered now. 0:13:17.543,0:13:22.716 Now I have a say in which seeds[br]are going to be watered 0:13:23.218,0:13:26.870 in my store consciousness. 0:13:29.156,0:13:33.437 And the foundation of this here[br]is the practice of mindfulness. 0:13:34.559,0:13:39.049 Mindfulness means[br]bringing body and mind together. 0:13:40.565,0:13:46.285 Often we will find that our body is here[br]and our mind is there. 0:13:46.480,0:13:48.521 Whatever the 'there' is. 0:13:48.658,0:13:53.000 Maybe outside or it may be[br]at the other side of the globe. 0:13:53.195,0:13:55.647 Or who knows, on the Moon. 0:13:56.306,0:13:58.249 But very, very far away. 0:14:01.069,0:14:06.046 Could be in the past or in the future. 0:14:07.186,0:14:10.460 Or being carried away[br]by something in the present. 0:14:12.759,0:14:18.188 And mindfulness means to bring our mind[br]there where our body is. 0:14:18.746,0:14:22.208 It means here, whatever that 'here' is. 0:14:23.282,0:14:27.505 To bring the mind home to the body,[br]the home... 0:14:29.493,0:14:35.263 Our body is the first home of our mind.[br]It is 'the' home of our mind. 0:14:36.178,0:14:38.952 So to bring our mind home to the body. 0:14:39.794,0:14:44.367 So maybe with a sound of the bell[br]we shall practice just that. 0:14:45.142,0:14:47.310 As we hear the sound of the bell, 0:14:47.522,0:14:51.324 the sound of the bell is happening[br]in the present moment. 0:14:52.234,0:14:58.294 Like our body is also a happening,[br]our body is not static, it is a happening. 0:14:59.950,0:15:02.749 So the bell, which is a happening, 0:15:02.960,0:15:07.281 helps us to bring our mind [br]home to our body, 0:15:07.458,0:15:10.983 to see what is happening in our body. 0:15:11.387,0:15:17.657 So let us enjoy the sound of the bell[br]and bring our mind home to our body 0:15:18.162,0:15:22.277 and maybe scan our body[br]from the top of our head 0:15:22.486,0:15:26.008 all the way down to the tip of our toes. 0:15:26.348,0:15:29.980 And if anywhere in our body[br]we find some tension, 0:15:30.313,0:15:33.383 to acknowledge it, 0:15:33.501,0:15:37.265 to acknowledge its presence and[br]to gently breathe with it for a moment 0:15:37.409,0:15:40.730 before we continue scanning our body. 0:15:40.863,0:15:46.029 To be with it and breathing it[br]may soften the tension 0:15:46.647,0:15:50.866 or whatever it is[br]that you feel in your body. 0:15:53.480,0:15:59.109 (Bell) 0:16:16.137,0:16:19.815 When I did the body scan, 0:16:20.553,0:16:22.945 I was relaxing my body 0:16:23.095,0:16:27.216 and after I had finished the body scan[br]I sort of remained aware of my body 0:16:27.514,0:16:31.261 and at the same time I became aware of[br]what was happening around me. 0:16:31.397,0:16:33.179 And I realized 0:16:34.223,0:16:36.810 it's raining outside. 0:16:37.358,0:16:39.813 It sounded so loud! 0:16:40.768,0:16:42.932 Inside it was very quiet 0:16:43.068,0:16:46.631 inside in the hall and maybe also[br]inside of my mind. 0:16:47.063,0:16:50.512 So the rain sounded loudly. 0:16:51.736,0:16:55.027 When we bring our mind home to our body, 0:16:55.264,0:16:58.895 we became aware of[br]what is happening inside of our body 0:16:59.281,0:17:01.514 and we can take care of it. 0:17:01.704,0:17:05.907 And we also become aware of[br]what is happening around us. 0:17:11.831,0:17:15.215 The mindfulness trainings 0:17:19.536,0:17:22.542 give us an ethical 0:17:25.541,0:17:27.652 way of life. 0:17:27.825,0:17:31.477 Every training () an ethical action. 0:17:32.463,0:17:36.771 And that is an action[br]that benefits everyone. 0:17:37.082,0:17:39.828 It is truly based on non-duality, 0:17:39.957,0:17:43.504 on the fact that happiness[br]is not an individual matter. 0:17:43.644,0:17:46.404 And on compassion. 0:17:51.331,0:17:56.732 The 14 mindfulness trainings,[br]we practice them to change ourselves 0:17:57.046,0:18:00.637 so we can bring about a change in society. 0:18:01.173,0:18:06.488 And that society can go in the direction[br]of understanding and compassion. 0:18:07.322,0:18:13.300 Thay says, 'By living[br]a joyful and a mindful life'. 0:18:14.225,0:18:20.119 So the practice is not only mindful,[br]to live mindfully, 0:18:20.767,0:18:24.155 but also it leads us to live joyfully. 0:18:24.445,0:18:28.773 So living mindfully[br]is not a serious matter. 0:18:32.212,0:18:36.780 When we look at these trainings,[br]we both see 0:18:37.188,0:18:41.722 that the most important aspect[br]of these trainings is 0:18:43.321,0:18:48.757 never to abandon anyone.[br]They are very inclusive. 0:18:50.305,0:18:54.772 They don't leave anyone[br]lying to the side of the road 0:18:55.003,0:18:57.870 who is in need of help. 0:19:04.575,0:19:11.841 So today we would like to look at[br]the 6th and the 7th mindfulness trainings, 0:19:13.140,0:19:17.809 and we would like to look at them[br]in the light of Right Diligence. 0:19:20.937,0:19:25.251 And I will read[br]the 6th mindfulness training 0:19:28.038,0:19:31.790 in case you don't have the text. 0:19:32.214,0:19:34.801 The 6th mindfulness training 0:19:35.522,0:19:39.726 shows us how we can[br]take care of our anger. 0:19:42.594,0:19:47.332 "Aware that anger blocks communication[br]and creates suffering, 0:19:47.734,0:19:53.313 we are committed to taking care of[br]the energy of anger when it arises 0:19:53.985,0:19:57.687 and to recognizing and transforming[br]the seeds of anger 0:19:57.979,0:20:01.118 that lie deep in our consciousness. 0:20:02.578,0:20:08.839 When anger manifests, we are determined[br]not to do or say anything, 0:20:09.446,0:20:13.622 but to practice mindful breathing[br]or mindful walking 0:20:13.857,0:20:19.419 to acknowledge, embrace,[br]and look deeply into our anger. 0:20:20.940,0:20:25.500 We know that the roots of anger[br]are not outside of ourselves 0:20:25.775,0:20:28.956 but can be found in our wrong perceptions 0:20:29.124,0:20:35.144 and lack of understanding of the suffering[br]in ourselves and others. 0:20:37.087,0:20:40.018 By contemplating impermanence, 0:20:40.243,0:20:45.308 we will be able to look with[br]the eyes of compassion at ourselves 0:20:45.570,0:20:49.670 and at those we think[br]are the cause of our anger, 0:20:49.980,0:20:54.789 and to recognize the preciousness[br]of our relationships. 0:20:55.939,0:20:58.737 We will practice Right Diligence 0:20:58.974,0:21:06.005 in order to nourish our capacity of[br]understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness 0:21:06.879,0:21:11.388 gradually transforming our anger,[br]violence, and fear, 0:21:11.616,0:21:15.422 and helping others do the same." 0:21:22.837,0:21:28.064 We are committed to taking care of[br]the energy of anger when it arises. 0:21:32.394,0:21:35.937 This is already a practice by itself. 0:21:39.055,0:21:42.842 We may have got angry in the past 0:21:43.535,0:21:46.935 and somebody tells us: 'You're angry.' 0:21:47.149,0:21:49.838 And we say: 'I am not angry.' 0:21:49.989,0:21:52.314 You know... no! 0:21:52.467,0:21:55.305 I mean, in a way, that is clear 0:21:56.137,0:21:58.606 that we are angry. 0:21:58.806,0:22:01.185 So to recognize it, you know? 0:22:01.386,0:22:05.386 And to take care of it[br]from the moment it arises. 0:22:05.655,0:22:09.251 Sometimes we need somebody else[br]to point out that we are angry. 0:22:11.156,0:22:14.916 In the first instance,[br]we may not recognize it. 0:22:18.451,0:22:23.162 How can we recognize anger[br]before it arises? 0:22:24.382,0:22:29.172 First of all, we have to know[br]that we have a seed of anger. 0:22:31.852,0:22:34.971 It may not manifest very often, 0:22:35.176,0:22:39.257 but when it does maybe very gently,[br]but we do have a seed. 0:22:39.441,0:22:44.812 And when causes and conditions[br]are sufficient, it will arise. 0:22:48.164,0:22:52.573 So we have these seeds [br]in our store consciousness. 0:22:55.166,0:22:57.747 One of our practices is 0:22:58.665,0:23:03.690 to not water the seed of anger in us. 0:23:05.401,0:23:09.486 To avoid watering the seed of anger. 0:23:12.720,0:23:17.040 Thay says we can ask others to help us. 0:23:18.214,0:23:21.661 If there is something that 0:23:22.676,0:23:26.827 maybe a loved one, a friend,[br]or somebody in the sangha 0:23:27.740,0:23:33.583 does or says that touches,[br]that waters our seed of anger, 0:23:34.427,0:23:36.533 we can ask them: 0:23:36.715,0:23:42.367 'Please, know that when you say[br]something in that way, 0:23:43.167,0:23:48.356 or when you act in that way,[br]it waters my seed of anger. 0:23:48.924,0:23:51.335 Could you please support me 0:23:51.503,0:23:55.542 by not watering my seed of anger? 0:23:56.290,0:23:59.484 I'm happy to hear[br]what you have to tell me, 0:23:59.707,0:24:04.374 but could you find another way[br]of telling me this?' 0:24:06.186,0:24:10.313 And if we ourselves can think of a way[br]that we will able to hear 0:24:10.530,0:24:15.213 what somebody else wants to tell us,[br]we can give them some suggestions. 0:24:16.458,0:24:18.820 Maybe they can start by: 0:24:19.004,0:24:21.483 'It is my perception that' 0:24:21.641,0:24:25.105 instead of 'You do this'. 0:24:25.547,0:24:27.995 It is my perception. 0:24:28.187,0:24:32.211 Maybe we can point out that[br]we have a perception which may be wrong. 0:24:33.434,0:24:37.205 But I would like to share[br]that perception with you anyway. 0:24:37.731,0:24:40.089 And the best way 0:24:41.097,0:24:43.699 to support others 0:24:44.773,0:24:48.747 in interacting with us like that 0:24:49.004,0:24:54.614 is to interact with them the way[br]we would like them to interact with us. 0:24:55.575,0:24:59.181 And again, for me this is an empowerment. 0:25:00.276,0:25:03.511 I can be part of this process. 0:25:03.761,0:25:07.183 I'm not just there as a victim 0:25:09.480,0:25:15.236 of the interactions with others.[br]But I can be part of this. 0:25:28.746,0:25:31.427 So a seed of anger 0:25:32.199,0:25:36.148 may be watered by what we hear,[br]what others tell us. 0:25:39.645,0:25:42.318 We don't always 0:25:43.199,0:25:46.996 can give input how other people[br]tell us something. 0:25:47.204,0:25:50.247 So what to do then? 0:25:52.366,0:25:57.135 Then it's good to take some time 0:25:59.776,0:26:02.125 to reflect. 0:26:03.486,0:26:08.817 And to ask the question,[br]is there any truth in what they say? 0:26:09.247,0:26:13.587 This is what I try to practice.[br]Is there truth in what they say? 0:26:17.611,0:26:21.666 Then sometimes the answer is,[br]I don't see any truth. 0:26:21.847,0:26:25.241 And sometimes the answer is,[br]maybe a little bit. 0:26:25.769,0:26:30.661 So I just take that little bit,[br]I do not need to take everything. 0:26:30.892,0:26:33.391 I take that little bit. 0:26:33.797,0:26:36.289 And I can look and I can see 0:26:38.221,0:26:42.166 what is the root of my action 0:26:43.421,0:26:48.356 that my friend gives some feedback about. 0:26:48.594,0:26:51.121 Where does it come from? 0:26:57.254,0:27:00.993 Maybe before I continue[br]we can have another sound of the bell. 0:27:01.824,0:27:03.769 (Bell) 0:27:05.688,0:27:12.200 (Bell) 0:27:21.229,0:27:24.916 Maybe that way of responding 0:27:25.471,0:27:31.256 was also the way of responding[br]of our mother or our father. 0:27:32.120,0:27:38.489 And we have inherited, we are continuing[br]our mother and our father in that way. 0:27:49.631,0:27:51.570 And as we continue to practice, 0:27:51.872,0:27:57.515 we realize we are not only transforming[br]ourselves, we're also practicing 0:27:59.073,0:28:02.489 transforming our parents. 0:28:04.077,0:28:06.341 We are their continuation, 0:28:06.552,0:28:12.705 whatever we transform, we transform also[br]for our parents and for our ancestors. 0:28:16.520,0:28:20.676 If at the root of our action[br]there was fear, 0:28:22.676,0:28:26.075 maybe our parents had fear. 0:28:26.505,0:28:30.717 Maybe our father, our mother[br]had a strong seed of fear. 0:28:34.030,0:28:38.167 And maybe fear[br]was the root of her action 0:28:39.262,0:28:42.895 that our friend gave some feedback about. 0:28:44.050,0:28:48.763 And fear always has to do[br]with the unknown. 0:28:50.946,0:28:54.128 We don't fear the past,[br]we fear the future. 0:28:56.068,0:29:00.206 We do not know what is going to happen[br]in the future. 0:29:00.723,0:29:03.293 It is unknown. 0:29:05.023,0:29:07.862 And whatever is unknown, we fear. 0:29:09.040,0:29:11.555 Is it going to be 0:29:12.702,0:29:16.082 of benefit to me or not?[br]It is going to 0:29:17.573,0:29:20.254 be good for me or not? 0:29:29.168,0:29:33.646 I find the best way of taking care of fear[br]as it comes up 0:29:34.044,0:29:38.544 is to remain firmly established[br]in the present moment. 0:29:38.875,0:29:42.953 Because in the present moment,[br]I can see what is happening. 0:29:43.293,0:29:46.575 I do not know what will happen[br]in the next moment, 0:29:46.801,0:29:49.447 but when the next moment[br]becomes the present moment, 0:29:49.638,0:29:52.287 I can see what is happening. 0:29:53.744,0:29:56.553 And the image I have is, 0:29:56.808,0:29:59.363 I walk through a tunnel, 0:29:59.628,0:30:02.055 or let's say, yes,[br]let's keep it a tunnel, 0:30:02.192,0:30:05.960 that is what I use to use.[br]I walk through a tunnel, and it's dark. 0:30:06.660,0:30:09.795 And I don't know what is in the tunnel. 0:30:09.993,0:30:12.803 But I can touch 0:30:13.328,0:30:19.037 the wall of the tunnel with my hands,[br]and of course, with my feet. 0:30:19.401,0:30:23.715 So I touch the wall so I get to know[br]what is happening right now, 0:30:23.932,0:30:27.244 what is the present moment like right now. 0:30:27.418,0:30:31.105 And I'm aware of my feet on the ground,[br]and I know what it is like. 0:30:31.484,0:30:35.329 And then, very carefully,[br]I put my feet forward, 0:30:36.853,0:30:42.626 and then, my foot touches[br]the ground in front of me. 0:30:42.904,0:30:47.526 I'm already in the present moment then.[br]And I know I can take that step. 0:30:48.807,0:30:51.784 If I put my foot and there is nothing, 0:30:53.808,0:30:56.505 I still don't know,[br]and I won't take the step, 0:30:56.567,0:30:59.255 because the fear is still there. 0:30:59.477,0:31:03.961 So I take my foot back and[br]I try a little bit to do right or left. 0:31:04.245,0:31:06.805 You see what I mean. 0:31:06.997,0:31:09.764 So I found out if I have this image, 0:31:09.948,0:31:12.476 if I walk, if I always stay[br]in the present moment 0:31:12.652,0:31:15.059 and don't think: there is light[br]at the end of the tunnel, 0:31:15.238,0:31:17.436 I rush towards the end, 0:31:17.629,0:31:21.296 I may fall in a hole,[br]I may stumble over something 0:31:21.494,0:31:24.229 because I'm not in the present moment. 0:31:24.394,0:31:29.334 I'm trying to run to the future[br]to know what is at the end of the tunnel. 0:31:30.125,0:31:33.562 But I have the whole tunnel to go through. 0:31:33.805,0:31:36.417 So if I stay in the present moment 0:31:36.549,0:31:42.063 and the future comes to us, if you like.[br]We don't have to run to the future. 0:31:42.386,0:31:44.624 So wait to the next moment to come 0:31:44.821,0:31:47.452 and then in that moment[br]I can see what is happening 0:31:47.634,0:31:51.464 and I can respond in an appropriate way. 0:31:52.119,0:31:54.620 I cannot respond[br]in an appropriate way to the future, 0:31:54.736,0:31:57.307 I don't know exactly[br]what is going to happen. 0:31:57.453,0:32:01.164 I can make plans, yes,[br]we have to make plans, 0:32:01.351,0:32:06.985 but we may need to adjust the plans when[br]that future becomes the present moment. 0:32:19.018,0:32:22.581 So that was the seed of fear. 0:32:22.874,0:32:30.134 Another way when there is fear in me,[br]there is fear present right now, 0:32:31.991,0:32:38.154 we have a practice. Breathing in,[br]I am aware fear is present in me now. 0:32:38.369,0:32:43.218 Breathing out, I take good care[br]of the fear, I embrace it. 0:32:43.536,0:32:46.383 Or I smile to my fear. 0:32:46.552,0:32:51.528 Maybe it's my practice,[br]I'm not yet very good at doing this, 0:32:52.444,0:32:56.777 and I don't necessarily succeed. 0:32:57.578,0:33:00.127 It doesn't calm my fear. 0:33:00.363,0:33:05.346 So then, I bring my mind home to my body,[br]because I know what is in my mind 0:33:05.567,0:33:10.367 is also manifested in my body[br]in some way or another, 0:33:10.617,0:33:13.111 in some place in my body. 0:33:13.240,0:33:16.046 So I bring my mind home to my body 0:33:16.241,0:33:19.211 and I do a body scan, as we did just now, 0:33:19.426,0:33:23.997 and when I find a strong sensation, 0:33:24.208,0:33:28.392 a physical sensation, I think: 0:33:29.544,0:33:35.212 That is my fear. And I can breathe[br]with this physical sensation. 0:33:35.698,0:33:39.242 I bring my mind to that part of my body 0:33:39.446,0:33:43.527 and I breathe while I just stay with it. 0:33:43.879,0:33:48.856 At times, I feel I go back to a story 0:33:49.141,0:33:52.304 but I'm no longer[br]with the physical sensation. 0:33:52.580,0:33:56.569 So then, I bring my mind[br]back to the physical sensation 0:33:56.821,0:34:01.834 every time I notice[br]I have been carried away by the story. 0:34:03.386,0:34:06.795 And slowly, slowly, by being with it, 0:34:07.007,0:34:10.694 this sensation kind of becomes softer 0:34:10.901,0:34:14.426 and it feels like it melts away. 0:34:15.311,0:34:18.210 Then, miracle, oh miracle, 0:34:19.044,0:34:24.040 the fear is no longer present in my mind[br]as a mental formation. 0:34:26.212,0:34:29.029 And then, a very important point. 0:34:29.580,0:34:34.512 At that point we should not[br]go back to the story and bring it back. 0:34:35.093,0:34:38.246 Because that brings immediately[br]the fear back. 0:34:39.362,0:34:42.176 Leave the story. 0:34:42.778,0:34:44.997 And first, 0:34:45.723,0:34:49.881 we need to calm ourselves,[br]to find stability, 0:34:50.507,0:34:53.030 maybe to practice walking meditation 0:34:53.242,0:34:56.793 to come back to our steps[br]as they touch the earth. 0:34:58.509,0:35:04.106 In, in, in, out, out out. 0:35:05.373,0:35:11.068 So that we walk really very firmly[br]established in the present moment. 0:35:12.745,0:35:19.379 We may water some seeds[br]of joy, of happiness 0:35:20.530,0:35:24.441 as a counterbalance to the fear. 0:35:26.113,0:35:30.731 Then, this may take a few days[br]or maybe weeks, 0:35:31.012,0:35:34.009 when we feel now we have enough 0:35:35.852,0:35:42.411 stability, enough calm, enough peace,[br]enough joy, happiness, 0:35:43.862,0:35:47.142 to look at the fear. 0:35:48.508,0:35:53.543 What is it that I am afraid of? 0:35:53.807,0:35:56.325 The unknown, yes. 0:35:56.451,0:35:59.312 But what is it about this unknown? 0:36:07.698,0:36:10.251 And we may find 0:36:10.473,0:36:14.541 that we are going to go on a long journey,[br]to a country we don't know. 0:36:15.917,0:36:20.609 We do not know what we will find there. 0:36:22.513,0:36:29.146 And once we know what we are afraid of,[br]it is much easier to be with that fear, 0:36:29.391,0:36:32.753 and we will also be able[br]to do something about it. 0:36:38.078,0:36:41.610 If we travel to another country,[br]we may find out 0:36:43.278,0:36:50.125 by asking other people or by reading,[br]what we could expect when we go there. 0:36:51.781,0:36:53.816 And at the same time, 0:36:53.981,0:36:57.816 we continue to strengthen our capacity[br]to dwell in the present moment, 0:36:58.011,0:37:02.852 to be part of the journey as we journey. 0:37:03.056,0:37:07.559 To journey along with the journey[br]at to not to run ahead of the journey 0:37:08.115,0:37:12.279 so that we can respond to[br]every situation we encounter 0:37:12.622,0:37:15.299 from a place of calm and clarity. 0:37:26.539,0:37:29.795 We were speaking also about anger. 0:37:30.020,0:37:34.570 So to see what is the root of our anger. 0:37:35.579,0:37:42.242 But first, the mindfulness training[br]advises us not to do or say anything. 0:37:43.657,0:37:46.236 This is quite a practice. 0:37:46.595,0:37:49.800 Not to do or to say anything. 0:37:50.440,0:37:53.220 But we also get immediately[br]the practice to do. 0:37:53.426,0:37:56.936 We turn to our breathing[br]and mindful walking 0:37:58.493,0:38:01.721 and to acknowledge that we are angry. 0:38:02.269,0:38:04.503 And then to look deeply. 0:38:06.843,0:38:08.703 Often, 0:38:09.531,0:38:14.525 the roots of our anger[br]maybe found in ourselves, 0:38:14.744,0:38:17.741 we may have wrong perceptions. 0:38:19.863,0:38:22.682 Somebody said something, 0:38:24.609,0:38:28.549 and we think[br]they said it on purpose to hurt us. 0:38:28.881,0:38:31.216 They were unskillful. 0:38:32.796,0:38:38.137 They may not have been wanting to hurt us.[br]They may just have been unskillful. 0:38:38.693,0:38:43.322 They may not even have known that[br]what they are going to say would hurt us. 0:38:43.660,0:38:46.789 They said it to somebody else[br]and nothing happened. 0:38:47.020,0:38:51.171 So why would it hurt somebody else?[br]Why would it hurt us? 0:39:03.319,0:39:06.165 We may also not understand 0:39:06.467,0:39:11.637 that somebody else may said or[br]done something out of their own suffering. 0:39:12.999,0:39:16.643 I think we know ourselves very well.[br]When we suffer, 0:39:16.963,0:39:21.852 it is not so obvious and not so easy[br]to practice loving speech. 0:39:28.332,0:39:30.593 It takes some practice 0:39:31.724,0:39:34.901 to practice loving speech at all times. 0:39:36.561,0:39:42.931 Especially when our suffering considers[br]the person we are speaking to. 0:39:44.732,0:39:47.126 Maybe they upset us. 0:39:48.384,0:39:50.567 We suffer, 0:39:51.652,0:39:54.118 and when we speak to them, 0:39:54.267,0:39:56.934 there is no loving kindness. 0:39:57.415,0:40:02.967 This practice of not do or say anything[br]especially when we are angry, 0:40:03.183,0:40:06.187 can be quite challenging,[br]because, how do we do this? 0:40:06.515,0:40:10.150 When we live in a community,[br]and then we get angry with somebody, 0:40:10.507,0:40:13.477 don't we say anything[br]to the person at all? 0:40:14.825,0:40:17.090 At all times? 0:40:18.050,0:40:22.670 That is maybe not the best way[br]of not saying anything. 0:40:23.396,0:40:26.673 So how can we keep on interacting 0:40:26.906,0:40:33.357 but not address the issue[br]that made us angry? 0:40:34.980,0:40:39.467 For me, that is what is meant by[br]'not to say anything'. 0:40:41.029,0:40:44.125 Otherwise, if we all would,[br]in our community, 0:40:44.359,0:40:48.148 we are angry with somebody, I'm upset[br]so I'm not speaking to that person, 0:40:48.389,0:40:51.320 maybe we would be a very silent community. 0:40:51.490,0:40:53.140 (Laughter) 0:40:53.244,0:40:55.923 We all get angry at times. 0:40:56.098,0:40:59.639 So it's a real practice[br]to keep on communicating 0:41:00.371,0:41:04.420 in a 'civil' way, if you like, mindfully, 0:41:05.013,0:41:09.990 but not address the issue[br]until we have calmed down. 0:41:10.204,0:41:14.002 And maybe looked into ourselves[br]what actually happened for us. 0:41:17.189,0:41:19.664 Here in Plum Village, 0:41:19.901,0:41:24.235 when we are in a meeting[br]or just with a group, sitting together, 0:41:24.384,0:41:27.708 if there is something that has upset us, 0:41:27.903,0:41:33.594 something that somebody said that [br]upsets us or watered our seeds of anger, 0:41:34.240,0:41:41.402 we can join our palms, bow and say,[br]'Please, excuse me. I just would like 0:41:42.070,0:41:47.103 to absent myself, be absent, I'd like to[br]go and do some walking meditation 0:41:48.151,0:41:50.761 or get a cup pf tea'. 0:41:50.890,0:41:55.386 And we can go out and practice walking[br]meditation and take care of the anger 0:41:55.818,0:41:58.601 that has arisen in us. 0:41:59.747,0:42:06.654 So these practices also are very important[br]in any kind of relationship. 0:42:07.210,0:42:10.041 And maybe it's just a matter[br]in your relationships 0:42:10.199,0:42:13.421 to bring this space[br]within the relationships, 0:42:13.579,0:42:18.820 that when we are angry, we can just[br]withdraw for a moment. 0:42:19.179,0:42:23.415 If we work in an office,[br]if that still happens nowadays, 0:42:23.598,0:42:27.290 most people work from home,[br]I just read somewhere, 0:42:28.291,0:42:31.601 we can just say, 'Excuse me,[br]I just need to...' 0:42:31.754,0:42:37.047 go to the bathroom or something. And[br]we can breathe and take care of our anger. 0:42:37.536,0:42:40.856 And come back again more calm. 0:42:41.569,0:42:45.958 It's not ourselves, we will benefit[br]from that but everybody else also. 0:42:52.534,0:42:57.712 By contemplating impermanence, we will be[br]able to look with the eyes of compassion 0:42:57.909,0:43:00.509 at ourselves and others. 0:43:00.680,0:43:03.884 And recognize the preciousness[br]of our relationships. 0:43:06.749,0:43:11.839 I think it is also good to[br]look at the impermanence 0:43:14.192,0:43:15.923 in general. 0:43:16.224,0:43:18.873 When I look back 0:43:20.461,0:43:22.906 at the previous generation, 0:43:24.180,0:43:27.054 my previous generation, 0:43:27.447,0:43:30.677 they have all already passed away. 0:43:31.155,0:43:34.904 And it struck me that when, for instance, 0:43:35.112,0:43:38.079 my grandfather, my grandmother[br]passed away, 0:43:38.896,0:43:41.329 yes I missed them, 0:43:41.532,0:43:45.512 but I also noticed I had a regret. 0:43:46.408,0:43:51.811 Maybe something I didn't do[br]that I know would have made them happy, 0:43:52.055,0:43:54.824 or maybe something I did 0:43:55.168,0:43:59.147 that I realized[br]did not make them so happy. 0:43:59.562,0:44:03.913 And this actually has happened[br]with every single person 0:44:04.330,0:44:10.575 of the previous generation in my life that[br]passed away. There was always something. 0:44:11.373,0:44:14.818 And it took me a while[br]to find peace with that. 0:44:15.112,0:44:17.530 And I ask myself a question: 0:44:17.712,0:44:22.585 Okay, what would they like me to be? 0:44:24.559,0:44:26.798 And every time I came to the answer, 0:44:27.851,0:44:29.505 'Happy.' 0:44:30.182,0:44:32.686 Happy. 0:44:33.342,0:44:36.570 And then I was able to accept 0:44:37.114,0:44:39.476 what I had done or not done. 0:44:39.661,0:44:41.453 And I thought, 'Okay, 0:44:41.738,0:44:44.955 I have learned something from this.' 0:44:45.096,0:44:48.362 And maybe when I look I see[br]I've learned something from that. 0:44:49.166,0:44:51.288 So it's not 0:44:54.392,0:44:57.191 come to waste at the experience. 0:44:57.270,0:45:01.045 And in the practice we speak of[br]the goodness of suffering. 0:45:01.264,0:45:05.201 Suffering becomes good[br]when we learn something from it. 0:45:05.404,0:45:08.070 When it enriches our life. 0:45:08.855,0:45:14.479 When it helps us to go in the direction of[br]healing and transformation. 0:45:23.576,0:45:27.644 So looking and contemplating impermanence 0:45:27.974,0:45:32.713 helps us to look with the eyes[br]of compassion at ourselves 0:45:32.897,0:45:36.256 and also at others. 0:45:41.374,0:45:43.816 We like to nourish 0:45:45.144,0:45:48.797 our capacity of understanding,[br]love, joy and inclusiveness, 0:45:50.371,0:45:52.482 to transform our anger, 0:45:54.771,0:45:59.494 and help others to do the same[br]with the practice of Right Diligence. 0:46:09.615,0:46:11.725 Let us... 0:46:12.311,0:46:17.192 So Right Diligence means[br]taking care of the seeds we have 0:46:17.464,0:46:21.951 and taking care of the mental formations. 0:46:22.274,0:46:27.103 A mental formation is a seed[br]that manifests in our mind 0:46:27.972,0:46:30.780 as a state of mind, if you like. 0:46:37.310,0:46:41.129 We may find that[br]there are certain mental formations 0:46:41.397,0:46:45.195 that are present more often that others. 0:46:45.563,0:46:49.597 And we call them then 'habit energies'. 0:46:52.301,0:46:57.448 Habit energy of thinking,[br]of speaking, and of acting. 0:47:13.133,0:47:16.607 Let us, with a sound of the bell,[br]take a moment 0:47:16.790,0:47:22.381 to reflect, when we go back to ourselves,[br]at some of our habit energies. 0:47:22.587,0:47:25.165 Maybe we have[br]the habit energy of thinking, 0:47:25.354,0:47:29.151 can also be of speaking[br]or physical action. 0:47:30.006,0:47:32.955 It can be a wholesome habit energy, 0:47:33.078,0:47:35.033 and that's a habit energy 0:47:35.242,0:47:38.554 that leads us in the direction of[br]transformation and healing. 0:47:38.743,0:47:41.963 Or it can be what we would call[br]an impulse, some habit energy, 0:47:42.108,0:47:44.898 that habit energy[br]that leads us in the direction of 0:47:46.714,0:47:49.865 suffering, basically. 0:47:50.020,0:47:52.644 So just let us go back to ourselves, 0:47:52.842,0:47:57.213 and just see which habit energy[br]comes up spontaneously, 0:47:57.564,0:48:00.095 what kind of habit energy. 0:48:00.280,0:48:01.771 (Bell) 0:48:03.275,0:48:09.701 (Bell) 0:48:26.158,0:48:30.552 We may find that the habit energy[br]that came up in us 0:48:30.976,0:48:36.593 is one of our habitual ways of responding[br]to life's situations. 0:48:39.468,0:48:41.859 I would like now 0:48:44.539,0:48:48.098 to draw a diagram 0:48:48.559,0:48:53.881 of the Four Right Diligences. 0:48:56.814,0:48:59.742 That will help us to understand 0:49:00.173,0:49:02.790 how to practice or how to put these 0:49:03.987,0:49:08.406 four practices or four diligences[br]into practice. 0:50:03.546,0:50:07.098 This makes it more interesting[br]as when I just list them. 0:50:07.345,0:50:11.940 Lists, we have already, we have many. 0:50:17.788,0:50:20.876 So this is the seed. 0:50:21.492,0:50:23.644 [Seed] 0:50:23.885,0:50:26.436 And this is also seed. 0:50:26.809,0:50:28.961 [Seed] 0:50:29.251,0:50:33.145 And this is a mental formation,[br]'mf' for short. 0:50:34.242,0:50:38.216 And this also is mental formations. 0:50:38.424,0:50:40.260 [mf] 0:50:45.734,0:50:48.551 So a seed is a potential 0:50:49.468,0:50:55.693 and a mental formation is when that[br]potential manifests as a state of mind. 0:50:55.894,0:50:58.509 Then we call it a mental formation. 0:51:02.999,0:51:07.599 Speaking of anger,[br]we all have a seed of anger. 0:51:09.943,0:51:12.373 And we would like to avoid 0:51:12.580,0:51:17.396 that seed of anger manifested itself[br]as a mental formation. 0:51:18.348,0:51:24.151 Because that then means that the energy[br]of anger is really present in us. 0:51:24.553,0:51:26.747 It's not pleasant for us 0:51:27.125,0:51:30.633 and very often not pleasant[br]for others as well. 0:51:32.949,0:51:35.231 So how... 0:51:36.419,0:51:39.129 What to do, how to practice 0:51:39.317,0:51:45.681 in order not to turn that seed of anger[br]into a mental formation called anger. 0:51:48.635,0:51:51.662 Then, the Buddha says, 'Easy. 0:51:54.102,0:51:56.658 Do you have a garden at home?' 0:51:56.826,0:51:58.695 That's not what the Buddha said but 0:51:58.899,0:52:02.206 the Buddha could have said that.[br]Do you have a garden at home? 0:52:02.366,0:52:05.549 Have you ever sown seeds in your garden? 0:52:05.735,0:52:12.566 Wanting to have[br]a lot of cosmos flower in your garden? 0:52:12.773,0:52:14.863 Yes. 0:52:15.011,0:52:18.918 So if you have those seeds[br]of cosmos flowers in the garden, 0:52:19.218,0:52:23.640 what do you need to do[br]in order to make it flourish? 0:52:25.161,0:52:27.463 You have to water it. 0:52:27.617,0:52:30.267 If you just put a seed in there[br]and never water your garden, 0:52:30.585,0:52:34.297 unless it rains, very unlikely[br]you get the cosmos flower. 0:52:36.694,0:52:40.024 In the garden,[br]there is also maybe a seed of... 0:52:43.420,0:52:46.388 a weed, many weeds. 0:52:47.182,0:52:50.599 And you don't want[br]all those weeds to come up. 0:52:51.803,0:52:54.772 Well, then don't water them. 0:52:55.877,0:52:58.183 So if we have a, 0:52:59.909,0:53:06.528 here, let's say, we have a seed of anger[br]in our garden, the garden of our mind, 0:53:07.651,0:53:12.912 we like to sort of keep it[br]for most time in the seed form. 0:53:13.112,0:53:15.750 Okay, we don't mind,[br]don't mind the seeds at all! 0:53:17.413,0:53:20.808 But we have to mind them,[br]you see what I mean. 0:53:21.239,0:53:25.101 We have to take care of them,[br]but we don't mind they being there. 0:53:25.491,0:53:30.959 So, if we don't want our seed of anger 0:53:31.743,0:53:37.409 to flower as a flower[br]in the garden of our mind, 0:53:37.794,0:53:39.972 typical a mental formation, 0:53:40.115,0:53:42.293 we should not water it. 0:53:42.475,0:53:45.752 And just in one word, we say avoid. 0:53:46.487,0:53:50.327 [Avoid] 0:53:50.614,0:53:52.555 Avoid. 0:53:52.754,0:53:56.194 Avoid to water the seed of anger. 0:53:56.447,0:53:58.354 Do not water. 0:54:07.133,0:54:10.687 [Do not water] 0:54:13.611,0:54:16.974 Do not water the seed of anger. 0:54:17.987,0:54:23.787 But if accidentally we water it anyway,[br]or we allow it to be watered by others, 0:54:24.259,0:54:28.584 and the mental formation of anger[br]comes up, 0:54:29.030,0:54:33.700 the flower of anger blooms in our mind, 0:54:34.013,0:54:38.588 then, the most important thing is to 0:54:41.186,0:54:44.073 stop watering that seed. 0:54:44.723,0:54:50.938 If we don't water it, it will wilt,[br]it will dry up, shrink. 0:54:52.629,0:54:55.170 It will go back to the seed form. 0:54:55.404,0:54:57.521 Stop watering. 0:54:58.705,0:55:01.486 Another word is overcome. 0:55:01.876,0:55:04.906 [Overcome] 0:55:06.441,0:55:10.133 Stop watering,[br]in Plum Village parlance. 0:55:10.508,0:55:13.810 [Stop watering] 0:55:17.867,0:55:20.395 Stop watering the seed. 0:55:21.249,0:55:24.091 Nothing can survive without food. 0:55:27.650,0:55:33.685 And our anger will not survive[br]if we stop feeding our anger. 0:55:33.866,0:55:36.716 And we can stop feeding our anger 0:55:36.961,0:55:43.763 by not always going back[br]to what brought up our anger. 0:55:44.831,0:55:47.738 Not to keep going back to that. 0:55:50.823,0:55:52.900 We need to 0:55:54.963,0:55:58.501 stop, or break the contact 0:56:01.637,0:56:03.991 with the source 0:56:04.427,0:56:06.347 that triggered our anger. 0:56:06.537,0:56:10.549 Don't stay in contact with that incident.[br]Don't keep thinking, 0:56:10.862,0:56:14.542 'Why did this person say that?[br]Why did she, or he say that?' 0:56:15.116,0:56:18.963 'What was she trying to do?[br]So mean!' 0:56:19.456,0:56:22.423 We keep on ruminating,[br]ruminating, ruminating 0:56:22.839,0:56:27.983 this thought over and over again, it means[br]we keep on watering the seed of anger. 0:56:29.350,0:56:35.042 I don't know if you've ever tried this,[br]kind of this rumination, ruminification. 0:56:36.821,0:56:39.666 When we turn something[br]over, and over in our mind, 0:56:43.359,0:56:46.248 especially when it's -[br]since we are talking about anger, 0:56:46.432,0:56:52.234 considering anger, maybe after 5, or 10,[br]or 15, or 20 or half an hour of doing that 0:56:52.646,0:56:58.467 our anger has grown enormously.[br]We've been watering it the whole time. 0:56:59.713,0:57:03.860 It is like shooting the second arrow.[br]We were shot by an arrow, 0:57:04.086,0:57:07.015 by somebody who said that, that hurt, 0:57:08.578,0:57:11.696 and then, we keep repeating, and repeating, 0:57:11.883,0:57:15.842 and reliving, and reliving that incident.[br]It's like shooting another arrow, 0:57:16.119,0:57:18.926 and maybe another,[br]and another, and another. 0:57:19.090,0:57:22.700 And the second arrow[br]is not twice as painful, 0:57:22.953,0:57:26.084 it's a hundred times more painful. 0:57:27.624,0:57:32.052 So, stop watering the seed,[br]break the contact. 0:57:32.759,0:57:35.070 Turn away. 0:57:40.108,0:57:53.837 [Break the contact] 0:57:54.946,0:57:58.483 Turn away from the source[br]that brought up your anger. 0:58:04.616,0:58:07.176 As I said before, 0:58:09.539,0:58:13.569 one way of doing that is to[br]bring our mind home to our body, 0:58:14.383,0:58:16.812 becoming aware of our body, 0:58:17.123,0:58:20.683 aware of where anger manifests in our body[br]and breathing with it. 0:58:21.931,0:58:24.595 And then, when it's calmed down, 0:58:27.204,0:58:29.601 we will feel much better. 0:58:29.833,0:58:34.942 We can also practice something[br]that we call 'change the CD'. 0:58:36.323,0:58:38.831 If we catch it in time. 0:58:38.999,0:58:44.897 I have found, if I turn something over[br]in my mind for 5, 10 minutes, 0:58:45.948,0:58:48.578 it's better for me to go back to my body, 0:58:48.775,0:58:51.652 and take care of the mental[br]formation in that way, 0:58:51.834,0:58:54.548 rather than trying to change 0:58:55.549,0:58:57.537 the CD. 0:58:57.691,0:59:01.335 Because I may go to another thought[br]that is uplifting, 0:59:02.429,0:59:04.431 joyful, 0:59:04.588,0:59:09.540 but only for few minutes, and then[br]I'm pulled back again by the emotion. 0:59:10.943,0:59:13.454 So the practice is to become aware, 0:59:13.639,0:59:18.026 what is the best way for us,[br]each individual, each one of us, 0:59:18.247,0:59:21.445 the best way to change the CD? 0:59:21.611,0:59:25.177 Is it to bring up another thought? 0:59:25.426,0:59:28.752 Think of something pleasant?[br]Something beautiful? 0:59:29.003,0:59:32.270 Or is it to come back to the body? 0:59:32.719,0:59:35.602 Or go for a walk, which is also[br]going back to the body. 0:59:35.759,0:59:41.320 Nourishing other things, getting different[br]input through different sense organs. 0:59:50.236,0:59:52.705 Change CD. 0:59:53.143,0:59:56.154 [Change CD] 0:59:59.400,1:00:02.822 Here, a kalyanamitra comes in handy. 1:00:04.100,1:00:07.677 And actually, the whole sangha[br]is a kalyanamitra. 1:00:08.400,1:00:11.571 When we are upset about something[br]and when we're angry, 1:00:11.750,1:00:14.416 there is always something[br]happening in the sangha, 1:00:14.580,1:00:17.160 there is always people who are around,[br]they are doing things, 1:00:17.330,1:00:20.576 we can go and join them. 1:00:20.738,1:00:24.318 Maybe working in the garden.[br]And just by that joyful energy, 1:00:24.465,1:00:27.463 it helps us to change the CD. 1:00:28.627,1:00:32.789 Or a good friend who will say,[br]'Come on! Let's go for a walk, 1:00:32.953,1:00:35.539 let's have a cup of tea.' 1:00:36.653,1:00:38.991 Change the CD. 1:00:41.715,1:00:44.534 If we have a- 1:00:47.271,1:00:49.182 I think I need that one. 1:00:53.675,1:00:55.732 No, I see. 1:00:56.945,1:01:00.556 I'm sorry. I knew something[br]was not quite right. 1:01:02.554,1:01:05.295 So. That's better. 1:01:06.101,1:01:09.888 If we have a positive seed, 1:01:15.447,1:01:20.251 that we would like to strengthen,[br]we encourage, 1:01:22.122,1:01:24.838 [Encourage] 1:01:25.181,1:01:29.902 that seed to manifest itself[br]by watering that seed. 1:01:32.725,1:01:36.779 [To water] 1:01:43.949,1:01:48.074 And the practice of mindfulness[br]helps us here also to do this. 1:01:50.034,1:01:54.817 We water our seeds of joy[br]by being present in the present moment 1:01:55.166,1:02:00.443 and recognize all the sources of joy[br]that are present in our life. 1:02:00.786,1:02:04.929 You may like to sit down,[br]maybe with some others, 1:02:05.218,1:02:08.619 and make a list of joys. 1:02:08.936,1:02:12.284 What are your sources of joy in your life. 1:02:12.583,1:02:15.496 And it can be something very small. 1:02:16.728,1:02:18.799 A smile, 1:02:18.970,1:02:21.659 of another member of the community. 1:02:21.800,1:02:25.936 I don't know if anyone of you[br]has seen the full moon these days. 1:02:27.471,1:02:31.176 A wonderful source of joy.[br]Beautiful! 1:02:31.784,1:02:38.004 But the full moon can only be[br]a source of joy if we are truly present. 1:02:39.457,1:02:42.278 The full moon maybe there, 1:02:42.473,1:02:47.499 but we need to be there[br]in order to enjoy the full moon. 1:02:48.595,1:02:51.569 I know this from experience. 1:02:53.492,1:02:58.387 The full moon rises at the-[br]to the East of our hamlet. 1:02:59.156,1:03:03.583 And there is a path in this hamlet[br]where you walk. 1:03:05.143,1:03:06.900 Well, the sisters walk. 1:03:07.450,1:03:10.962 And we can see the rising moon. 1:03:11.289,1:03:14.981 And I would often stand there,[br]when it is full moon, 1:03:15.122,1:03:17.728 and watch the full moon arising. 1:03:17.878,1:03:24.159 Especially because it's next to the bell[br]tower and it looks so, so beautiful. 1:03:26.394,1:03:28.698 One evening, 1:03:29.015,1:03:34.877 I was not present, being carried away[br]by some mental formation, 1:03:35.664,1:03:39.989 and I was walking towards[br]our sisters' building, 1:03:40.573,1:03:43.979 walked right past the bell tower, 1:03:44.663,1:03:48.907 and there was a sister standing there,[br]and she said, 'Sister, the full moon! 1:03:49.273,1:03:52.104 The full moon! Look!.'[br]And this is what happened. 1:03:52.228,1:03:54.550 So, let's say the full moon is there. 1:03:54.715,1:03:56.072 Oh, yes! 1:03:56.232,1:03:57.701 (Laughter) 1:03:57.859,1:03:59.773 And we continue to walk! 1:03:59.896,1:04:03.563 And she said, 'Sister, sister,[br]the full moon! Look at the full moon!' 1:04:03.855,1:04:07.545 Because she had seen me[br]standing there many, many times. 1:04:07.738,1:04:10.146 I've told her,[br]'Come, look at the full moon.' 1:04:10.319,1:04:12.630 And now, I was walking straight on. 1:04:12.792,1:04:16.795 And she had to call me a number of times,[br]that it dawned on me, 1:04:16.948,1:04:19.532 the full moon! 1:04:19.967,1:04:24.256 So, thank you. So I went back[br]and enjoyed the full moon. 1:04:24.371,1:04:27.545 And she really helped me with that[br]to change the CD. 1:04:32.056,1:04:37.198 Here. Because I was not[br]in such a joyful mood, 1:04:37.330,1:04:40.065 and she may have understood. 1:04:40.184,1:04:42.132 She called me back 1:04:42.290,1:04:47.813 and encouraged me to water[br]a positive seed, 1:04:48.150,1:04:51.578 the seed of joy and happiness. 1:04:51.764,1:04:55.979 And she did. Is that truly a spiritual friend. 1:04:56.508,1:05:02.721 So, find ways to water the positive seeds. 1:05:04.406,1:05:09.634 So that they flower and the become[br]a mental formation. 1:05:09.981,1:05:12.929 And once they are a mental formation, 1:05:14.150,1:05:16.330 then, what do we do? 1:05:17.595,1:05:19.652 So we are having - 1:05:20.133,1:05:22.653 We are happy, we are joyful, 1:05:22.901,1:05:25.867 the mental formation of joy has arisen. 1:05:27.633,1:05:32.290 Everything is impermanent, you know?[br]Everything comes, and it goes. 1:05:32.785,1:05:37.834 So joy can come[br]and can be gone in the next second. 1:05:38.069,1:05:39.984 Unless, 1:05:41.495,1:05:44.358 you practice to keep it there. 1:05:45.487,1:05:50.614 Our joy comes and goes,[br]our anger comes and goes. 1:05:52.298,1:05:56.754 And if we want our joy to stay,[br]we have to nourish it. 1:05:58.965,1:06:03.221 It is nourishing our joy[br]that keeps it longer. 1:06:03.470,1:06:06.852 To become aware of the source[br]that has brought about joy 1:06:07.048,1:06:10.457 and stay in contact with that source. 1:06:10.626,1:06:12.827 As long as we stay[br]in contact with the source, 1:06:12.962,1:06:17.188 our joy will increase.[br]As long as I look at the full moon, 1:06:17.805,1:06:21.290 that is watering seeds of joy. 1:06:21.655,1:06:24.182 Instant after instant. 1:06:27.379,1:06:29.369 So, 1:06:29.556,1:06:31.968 we maintain our joy, 1:06:32.221,1:06:34.394 [Maintain] 1:06:35.482,1:06:39.217 and concretely, we continue to water 1:06:40.761,1:06:42.951 by staying in contact. 1:06:43.213,1:06:45.885 [Continue to water] 1:06:46.404,1:06:50.331 Continue to water our mental formation 1:06:51.016,1:06:54.571 by staying in contact with the source. 1:07:13.904,1:07:19.728 This is basically[br]the practice of Right Diligence. 1:07:22.795,1:07:26.838 Unwholesome seeds, avoid watering. 1:07:28.293,1:07:32.897 If accidentally they got watered anyway,[br]stop watering them. 1:07:34.822,1:07:37.932 The wholesome seeds, water them. 1:07:38.557,1:07:41.818 They manifest, continue to water them. 1:07:46.452,1:07:48.500 Simple? 1:07:49.371,1:07:51.720 But it takes some practice. 1:07:52.466,1:07:57.810 This practice[br]is a practice of transformation. 1:08:05.666,1:08:08.000 The unwholesome seeds 1:08:08.159,1:08:13.314 will not have a chance to grow stronger.[br]They may even weaken. 1:08:13.788,1:08:17.869 And the wholesome seeds[br]get the chance to grow stronger. 1:08:19.286,1:08:23.990 So the unwholesome seeds[br]will manifest less often. 1:08:24.234,1:08:28.752 And the wholesome seeds[br]will manifest more often. 1:08:42.018,1:08:46.946 This is a very important practice[br]in the light of taking care of our anger. 1:08:47.956,1:08:50.952 At the same time, [br]it is a very important practice 1:08:51.118,1:08:53.639 in the light of just about everything. 1:08:56.898,1:09:01.195 Nowadays, we hear a lot about depression. 1:09:01.619,1:09:04.748 People say,[br]'I am in a depression, I'm depressed.' 1:09:05.781,1:09:07.884 Take this 1:09:08.123,1:09:12.036 kind of overview, and ask yourself, 1:09:12.955,1:09:17.469 'What kind of seed[br]have I been watering in myself lately? 1:09:17.720,1:09:23.617 Or what kind of seed have I allowed[br]to be watered in me by others?' 1:09:24.565,1:09:29.524 And that is not just other people,[br]maybe it is the news, 1:09:29.675,1:09:32.796 how often do we listen to the news? 1:09:34.653,1:09:39.214 It's Okay to listen to the news,[br]or watch it, or read it, 1:09:39.384,1:09:41.540 whatever we do nowadays, 1:09:41.687,1:09:46.752 but what seed,[br]what kind of seed does it water in us? 1:09:47.025,1:09:50.767 How much can we take before 1:09:52.193,1:09:56.429 we go towards a depression?[br]For instance. 1:09:57.852,1:10:03.198 And the way out is[br]to stop watering those seeds 1:10:04.120,1:10:11.604 and to start watering wholesome seeds and[br]then to continue to water wholesome seeds. 1:10:14.037,1:10:18.483 With the help of a good friend,[br]with the help of a kalyanamitra, 1:10:19.030,1:10:22.219 maybe with the help of the sangha,[br]we can do it. 1:10:26.281,1:10:29.578 Maybe we can have a sound of the bell, 1:10:30.293,1:10:36.489 before I continue to come to a close[br]of this talk today. 1:10:43.333,1:10:48.934 (Bell) 1:11:02.384,1:11:07.270 Right Diligence is nourished[br]by joy and interest. 1:11:07.543,1:11:12.538 By joy and interest in the practice.[br]And the 7th mindfulness training 1:11:14.951,1:11:19.142 is 'Dwelling happily[br]in the present moment.' 1:11:19.372,1:11:24.803 It gives us very clear practices to do[br]to dwell happily in the present moment 1:11:25.084,1:11:28.338 and to water our seed[br]of joy and happiness. 1:11:33.903,1:11:40.313 The 7th mindfulness training helps us to[br]be aware that life is only available now. 1:11:41.827,1:11:45.384 Yesterday is already passed,[br]tomorrow not yet there. 1:11:45.589,1:11:48.259 Now is the only moment we have. 1:11:51.518,1:11:54.195 We like to 1:11:56.545,1:12:01.055 really train ourselves[br]to live deeply each moment of our live. 1:12:01.302,1:12:07.436 And not to loose ourselves in dispersion[br]or be carried away by regrets 1:12:07.704,1:12:09.665 about the past. 1:12:09.744,1:12:13.066 Or the worries about the future, 1:12:13.577,1:12:17.403 or craving, anger, or jealousy[br]in the present moment. 1:12:19.984,1:12:23.316 And we take mindful breathing[br]as our anchor. 1:12:23.628,1:12:26.498 We always come back to mindful breathing 1:12:26.624,1:12:29.637 to know what is happening[br]in the here and the now, 1:12:30.290,1:12:36.494 so that we can be in touch[br]with the wonderful, refreshing, 1:12:36.669,1:12:41.941 and also the healing elements[br]that are in the here and the now. 1:12:42.136,1:12:45.514 We all know that nature is very healing. 1:12:45.755,1:12:51.205 How often have we walked through nature,[br]our mind was somewhere else, 1:12:51.531,1:12:55.706 and we miss the opportunity[br]to be healed by nature. 1:12:56.411,1:12:59.035 Mother Earth is so beautiful. 1:12:59.236,1:13:01.520 It's so, so beautiful. 1:13:01.994,1:13:09.403 I have a photograph of Mother Earth,[br]our jewel of the cosmos, as we call her, 1:13:10.620,1:13:14.348 and just looking at that picture[br]makes me so happy. 1:13:14.941,1:13:18.851 I know we are doing[br]terrible things to Mother Earth. 1:13:20.338,1:13:22.355 And still, 1:13:27.053,1:13:30.467 she is so loving, and so embracing. 1:13:31.835,1:13:34.329 And looking at this picture, 1:13:34.744,1:13:40.419 makes me reflect, how can we live our life[br]so as to take care of Mother Earth? 1:13:40.891,1:13:45.371 Because she is the one that nourishes us,[br]that holds us, 1:13:46.114,1:13:51.188 that also embraces us. And we need[br]to take care of our Mother. 1:14:07.430,1:14:13.965 Many of us, many of our sangha members[br]are engaged in protecting Mother Earth. 1:14:14.711,1:14:17.446 And here in Plum Village also 1:14:19.436,1:14:25.349 we were vegetarians, now, as a community[br]in the whole we are vegan. 1:14:26.798,1:14:31.832 Also because we want to contribute[br]to protecting Mother Earth, 1:14:32.266,1:14:35.378 protecting the species on Earth. 1:14:37.025,1:14:39.363 We do our best 1:14:42.267,1:14:44.700 to use our vehicles 1:14:46.432,1:14:48.656 mindfully. 1:14:49.264,1:14:53.345 That is why also in bigger retreats,[br]we order buses, 1:14:53.594,1:14:55.982 so everybody can come by bus, 1:14:56.198,1:14:58.881 and not the French[br]who have come in individual cars 1:14:59.084,1:15:01.481 come by their cars, but come by bus. 1:15:04.928,1:15:12.245 We have Happy Farms in all three hamlets,[br]and we are very happy to have Happy Farms. 1:15:12.910,1:15:16.094 Thank you to the happy farmers. 1:15:17.151,1:15:20.974 We do things to protect Mother Earth. 1:15:21.264,1:15:25.449 Little by little, we're going[br]more and more, as a big community, 1:15:25.667,1:15:29.573 in the direction of[br]protecting Mother Earth. 1:15:42.153,1:15:46.414 So we will come back to[br]the present moment, 1:15:47.065,1:15:51.078 and water the seeds of joy, peace,[br]love and understanding in ourselves, 1:15:53.783,1:15:58.027 so that our consciousness[br]can transform and heal. 1:16:01.914,1:16:04.669 And also we like to become aware that 1:16:04.811,1:16:10.554 real happiness basically depends[br]on our mental attitude. 1:16:12.166,1:16:15.921 And not necessarily[br]on external conditions. 1:16:19.034,1:16:23.783 When we practice that, we see that[br]we can live happily in the present moment, 1:16:24.384,1:16:28.587 because we see we have already[br]enough conditions to be happy. 1:16:35.798,1:16:45.634 The mental attitude and not external[br]conditions, it can be challenging. 1:16:54.034,1:16:56.231 For instance, 1:16:59.739,1:17:02.241 we may know people 1:17:06.265,1:17:08.085 whom we 1:17:10.801,1:17:14.132 are angry with[br]and find that very difficult 1:17:14.772,1:17:17.815 to overcome that anger. 1:17:18.498,1:17:22.823 We have a practice we just call 'The[br]five ways of putting an end to anger', 1:17:25.641,1:17:28.279 in which there's one sentence[br]that keeps coming back: 1:17:28.638,1:17:33.608 'If you are angry and you are a wise,[br]you will know how to meditate 1:17:33.837,1:17:36.694 to put an end to your anger.' 1:17:36.881,1:17:40.827 And it gives us five ways to[br]look at the person we are angry with. 1:17:42.032,1:17:47.127 'If there is someone whose bodily actions[br]are not kind, but the words are kind, 1:17:47.673,1:17:50.848 then do not pay attention[br]to the bodily actions, 1:17:51.121,1:17:55.288 only pay attention to their words,[br]and that can help you 1:17:55.755,1:17:58.702 to put an end to your anger. 1:17:59.135,1:18:03.039 And when their words are not kind,[br]but their bodily actions are kind, 1:18:03.318,1:18:05.162 if you are wise, 1:18:05.341,1:18:10.436 you do not pay attention to the words, but[br]only pay attention to the bodily action.' 1:18:12.393,1:18:16.119 It is recognizing that[br]there is still a seed of kindness 1:18:16.320,1:18:20.363 that is able to manifest itself[br]in this person. 1:18:20.612,1:18:23.352 And by recognizing[br]that their words are kind, 1:18:23.538,1:18:26.287 or in other case[br]their bodily actions are kind, 1:18:26.731,1:18:30.597 you may be able also[br]to interact with them in a way 1:18:30.984,1:18:35.722 that waters that seed of kindness in them. 1:18:36.694,1:18:40.934 So instead of focusing on the unkind,[br]to focus on the kind. 1:18:44.354,1:18:48.752 Until we will help them bring about[br]the change within themselves. 1:18:49.256,1:18:55.249 So, if the bodily actions are not kind[br]and neither the words are kind, 1:18:55.736,1:18:58.581 then we need to look a little bit deeper. 1:18:58.770,1:19:02.219 And we may notice that there is[br]still somewhere in their heart, 1:19:02.395,1:19:04.687 a little kindness. 1:19:05.016,1:19:09.086 And then, we are advised to pay attention[br]to that little kindness, 1:19:09.366,1:19:12.104 and not to their words or actions. 1:19:12.245,1:19:15.603 And maybe also nourish[br]that little kindness in them. 1:19:26.873,1:19:29.685 Then, you may all be[br]waiting for the next one, 1:19:30.012,1:19:33.437 if the bodily actions are not kind,[br]the words are not kind 1:19:33.637,1:19:40.706 and you cannot find any, any, any[br]ounce of kindness in their hearts, 1:19:40.860,1:19:43.240 then what? Are we then[br]allowed to get angry? 1:19:43.772,1:19:45.507 No, the Buddha says. 1:19:46.025,1:19:48.822 If you meet somebody[br]whose words are not kind, 1:19:49.017,1:19:51.536 whose actions are not kind and who 1:19:51.711,1:19:54.804 you cannot find[br]any kindness in their heart, 1:19:54.995,1:19:59.316 then, please, know that[br]that person is suffering deeply, 1:20:00.082,1:20:02.247 and they need your help. 1:20:02.426,1:20:05.233 Find ways to help them. 1:20:07.406,1:20:10.240 And I've looked into this 1:20:10.876,1:20:13.338 time and time again,[br]whenever I come to this, I think, 1:20:13.725,1:20:15.815 how is that possible? 1:20:15.982,1:20:17.964 And I realize - 1:20:18.238,1:20:23.072 First I thought, Okay,[br]if there is no kindness in their words, 1:20:23.690,1:20:27.017 actions or in their heart, 1:20:27.510,1:20:32.569 I need to find ways to help them,[br]but they've caused another suffering. 1:20:37.235,1:20:41.252 Until I realized, by helping them[br]it doesn't mean 1:20:41.460,1:20:46.192 that I condone[br]what they did, said or thought. 1:20:47.220,1:20:52.571 I didn't condone any of their actions[br]of body, speech or mind. 1:20:52.935,1:20:55.760 I just see that they must be suffering 1:20:55.919,1:20:58.772 in order to cause[br]so much suffering to others. 1:20:59.420,1:21:03.966 And if we can help them,[br]they may stop 1:21:05.774,1:21:08.988 causing suffering[br]with their words or deeds, 1:21:09.202,1:21:13.785 and they may find some goodness[br]in their heart. 1:21:15.597,1:21:20.297 It was very important for me to[br]discover that, to come to that insight. 1:21:21.719,1:21:25.948 Help.[br]So you may have people in your live 1:21:26.328,1:21:28.814 and maybe people in your country, 1:21:29.127,1:21:36.268 you don't see any kindness in actions,[br]speech or maybe in their heart, 1:21:36.796,1:21:39.509 but they need your help. 1:21:39.789,1:21:43.721 Especially if it's someone who is[br]or has a word to say 1:21:44.170,1:21:48.272 about what happens in a country.[br]They may need help. 1:21:49.501,1:21:51.552 And Thay 1:21:52.087,1:21:55.987 is a real great bodhisattva. 1:21:57.380,1:22:01.635 I said before that the essence[br]of the 14 mindfulness trainings, 1:22:01.821,1:22:04.617 which are what we call[br]bodhisattva trainings, 1:22:04.794,1:22:07.481 is never to abandon anyone. 1:22:14.698,1:22:18.270 Even if they cause great suffering. 1:22:21.318,1:22:25.436 I shall never forget[br]the 25th of September in 2001, 1:22:25.733,1:22:31.120 when Thay gave a talk in a church,[br]in New York. 1:22:35.706,1:22:38.316 And Thay was responding 1:22:38.986,1:22:42.266 to the 9/11 event. 1:22:42.787,1:22:47.653 The attack on the... Trade Center? World? 1:22:49.365,1:22:51.677 I was right, yes. 1:22:51.996,1:22:55.258 On the buildings in New York,[br]World Trade Center, I think it was called. 1:22:55.564,1:22:57.655 Correct? Yes. 1:23:01.432,1:23:04.392 First of all, I go back[br]a little bit briefly. 1:23:04.987,1:23:07.515 When we heard the news, 1:23:08.129,1:23:12.307 we were in California, in a center,[br]one of our centers in California, 1:23:12.505,1:23:14.688 in Deer Park. 1:23:14.896,1:23:18.536 So a number of our monastics[br]went to Thay and said, 1:23:18.784,1:23:21.877 'Thay, this has happened.[br]Can we do something? 1:23:22.082,1:23:25.559 Now we have to speak out,[br]we have to do a walking meditation, 1:23:25.701,1:23:28.640 a protest march, or something like that.' 1:23:28.979,1:23:31.192 And Thay said, 'No. 1:23:32.147,1:23:34.446 We are going to the beach.' 1:23:34.634,1:23:37.611 And we went, 'We are going to the beach?' 1:23:38.598,1:23:41.547 'Yes, we are going to the beach.[br]Hire a bus we are going to the beach 1:23:41.704,1:23:43.763 and we are bringing a picnic.' 1:23:43.929,1:23:45.926 So we went to the beach. 1:23:46.088,1:23:49.207 And as we go to the beach, Thay said,[br]'Go and play', it means, 1:23:49.420,1:23:52.877 go and wait in the water[br]playing soccer, whatever. 1:23:53.553,1:23:58.193 And the attendants spread out [br]a mat for Thay and Thay was lying down. 1:23:59.201,1:24:02.183 And the whole time, as we were playing, 1:24:02.386,1:24:05.606 Thay was just lying there. Very quietly. 1:24:05.856,1:24:08.027 And then, we had lunch, 1:24:09.071,1:24:14.233 and then we went back[br]to the temple where we were staying. 1:24:14.417,1:24:17.485 And then Thay called us together later,[br]and said, 1:24:18.415,1:24:22.586 Thay would give a talk in New York,[br]and Thay would address the issue. 1:24:23.638,1:24:27.825 So this is how Thay came[br]to address the issue in New York. 1:24:28.106,1:24:32.868 And before Thay went up[br]to address the issue, 1:24:33.040,1:24:36.908 we were with Thay, waiting.[br]And Thay said, 1:24:37.794,1:24:42.237 'What Thay is going to say[br]may put Thay's life in danger, 1:24:42.430,1:24:45.335 but Thay has to say it.' 1:24:46.963,1:24:55.161 And in the speech, we started first[br]by reading the invocation of Avalokita, 1:24:55.993,1:25:01.016 evoking the energy of compassion[br]of Avalokita. 1:25:01.318,1:25:05.104 We chanted and then Thay gave the speech. 1:25:05.948,1:25:09.517 And the basic message was, Thay said that 1:25:09.725,1:25:15.600 America has to ask Iraq,[br]what did we do 1:25:16.553,1:25:20.328 for you to do this to us? 1:25:24.232,1:25:27.275 Thay was not abandoning anybody. 1:25:27.552,1:25:30.898 Everything is because of[br]causes and conditions. 1:25:40.803,1:25:45.135 So a bodhisattva never abandons anyone. 1:25:45.909,1:25:50.168 And we do not condone that act. 1:25:51.742,1:25:57.800 We do not, somebody who causes suffering,[br]condone the act. But we try to see 1:25:57.980,1:26:00.302 how we can help them. 1:26:00.463,1:26:04.675 And by saying what Thay said,[br]Thay was to say, 1:26:04.930,1:26:07.448 'Okay, what can we do? 1:26:07.662,1:26:10.175 What are we doing? Tell us.' 1:26:13.575,1:26:16.609 To do this in our daily life 1:26:18.384,1:26:23.319 is a real practice of a bodhisattva.[br]We'll practice our compassion 1:26:23.771,1:26:26.482 for ourselves and for others. 1:26:28.362,1:26:33.545 And we can do it[br]with the help of a kalyanamitra. 1:26:36.917,1:26:41.815 We can do it, while practicing[br]Right Diligence, 1:26:42.075,1:26:47.288 to understand that everything[br]is because of causes and conditions. 1:26:50.901,1:26:52.941 And, 1:26:54.826,1:27:00.293 compassion arises from understanding.[br]If we have no understanding, 1:27:00.642,1:27:03.354 compassion cannot arise. 1:27:03.540,1:27:07.940 We can think we are compassionate,[br]but if there is no understanding, 1:27:08.165,1:27:12.214 we have to question whether[br]that compassion is true compassion. 1:27:12.549,1:27:15.777 Compassion is born from understanding. 1:27:15.940,1:27:18.199 So, we start with ourselves, 1:27:18.363,1:27:21.658 we look at ourselves[br]with the eyes of compassion 1:27:21.826,1:27:27.393 to understand why we think as we think,[br]why we say what we say, 1:27:28.079,1:27:30.636 why we do what we do. 1:27:30.810,1:27:33.283 What seeds have we watered 1:27:33.438,1:27:40.279 through our sense organs, our seeing,[br]hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, 1:27:40.525,1:27:43.700 and above all also through our thinking. 1:27:43.839,1:27:47.851 We may see something,[br]but we will think as a response. 1:27:48.049,1:27:52.188 And what is that thinking?[br]What is that watering in us? 1:27:56.111,1:27:58.828 And the foundation is 1:27:59.714,1:28:04.344 to generate the energy of mindfulness[br]throughout the day 1:28:04.988,1:28:08.448 by coming back to our breathing[br]with the sound of the bell, 1:28:08.622,1:28:11.234 bring our mind home to our body 1:28:11.408,1:28:13.877 and by walking meditation. 1:28:14.068,1:28:17.959 Walking mediation is a practice[br]I take refuge in 1:28:18.380,1:28:21.157 to make it, 1:28:22.510,1:28:27.585 to make my steps walking meditation steps[br]throughout the day. 1:28:27.915,1:28:30.372 There are moments I forget. 1:28:30.530,1:28:35.213 And then it may be the sound of a bird,[br]a sister, a brother, a sound, 1:28:35.588,1:28:39.795 that brings me back.[br]And to touch the earth. 1:28:40.499,1:28:44.594 As I said, when I see[br]the picture of Mother Earth, 1:28:45.195,1:28:49.118 I feel happy[br]and I feel also a lot of care. 1:28:49.609,1:28:55.278 So when I walk on Mother Earth,[br]I really walk with gentleness 1:28:55.794,1:28:59.957 and with gratitude for Mother Earth. 1:29:00.993,1:29:05.301 Thay says, walk as if[br]you are caressing Mother Earth. 1:29:05.512,1:29:08.075 And I found if I have that, 1:29:08.210,1:29:13.248 when we caress, it is very gentle,[br]it doesn't go- 1:29:14.137,1:29:17.476 With a bang we arrive on the earth[br]and then we caress, 1:29:17.633,1:29:20.639 on the earth or on a cat,[br]or a beloved one, 1:29:20.994,1:29:30.559 we even land on our beloved one gently,[br]to caress gently. To land gently 1:29:30.794,1:29:34.172 with our foot on the earth. The impact. 1:29:36.375,1:29:39.108 When we hear somebody coming, 1:29:39.278,1:29:43.163 by the sound of the footsteps,[br]we can usually tell what the mood is. 1:29:43.345,1:29:45.545 You know from school,[br]when the teacher came, 1:29:45.690,1:29:48.242 like, 'We'd better sit up straight[br]and concentrate', 1:29:48.447,1:29:51.036 or "'It's Okay.' You know? 1:29:51.174,1:29:54.263 We hear. So the impact, 1:29:54.461,1:29:57.924 to be aware of the impact[br]between our foot and the earth, 1:29:58.092,1:30:00.150 and to make it gentle. 1:30:00.300,1:30:02.470 To walk with gentleness. 1:30:02.664,1:30:04.460 And then, 1:30:04.601,1:30:07.630 I have noticed,[br]whatever the energy was before, 1:30:07.824,1:30:10.974 when I start walking like that, 1:30:11.168,1:30:17.524 there is an energy of care, of gentleness[br]that comes up in me. 1:30:18.224,1:30:20.588 And it feels 1:30:21.430,1:30:23.709 wonderful. 1:30:23.905,1:30:29.310 It is a very good way of practicing[br]the Four Diligences. 1:30:29.995,1:30:32.447 Walking meditation. 1:30:32.620,1:30:40.509 It's a good way to avoid, to overcome,[br]to encourage and to maintain. 1:30:40.900,1:30:44.189 So we do not need to make time[br]in the morning, in the evening, 1:30:44.367,1:30:47.129 to have 20 minutes of sitting. 1:30:47.296,1:30:50.483 In between, we can practice 1:30:51.506,1:30:54.962 mindfulness throughout the days 1:30:55.355,1:30:58.442 by enjoying our steps. 1:30:58.881,1:31:02.327 So, thank you for listening,[br]I will finish, here, 1:31:03.185,1:31:07.938 and we will have walking meditation, 1:31:08.818,1:31:11.783 weather permitting, before too long. 1:31:11.959,1:31:15.208 Thank you. I wish everybody[br]a happy practice. 1:31:23.322,1:31:30.047 (Bell) 1:31:45.569,1:31:51.519 (Bell) 1:32:04.760,1:32:11.606 (Bell) 1:32:26.072,1:32:27.610 (Bell)