0:00:06.343,0:00:07.726
(Bell)

0:00:09.967,0:00:16.367
(Bell)

0:00:34.433,0:00:40.446
(Bell)

0:00:57.048,0:01:02.992
(Bell)

0:01:17.518,0:01:23.296
So, dear respected Thay, dear sangha,[br]dear friends,

0:01:25.025,0:01:31.634
I'm very happy we are together again[br]on this eighth day of November,

0:01:32.072,0:01:35.231
in the year 2018.

0:01:38.545,0:01:41.857
There is a Day of Mindfulness for us,

0:01:42.151,0:01:45.515
you have a Day of Mindfulness[br]to be together

0:01:45.952,0:01:50.711
with lay practitioners[br]from many, many countries.

0:01:55.240,0:01:57.886
We are very grateful to Thay

0:01:58.404,0:02:06.347
because he has always made it possible[br]for the lay practitioners to join us

0:02:07.156,0:02:11.789
at Plum Village for the three month[br]Rain Retreat,

0:02:12.718,0:02:18.641
which in some countries is not open[br]for lay practitioners to come

0:02:18.869,0:02:22.141
and practice with the monastics.

0:02:22.618,0:02:26.555
So, since the very beginning[br]of Plum Village,

0:02:27.155,0:02:33.118
this has been our way of practicing[br]as a fourfold sangha.

0:02:34.040,0:02:36.428
And that means that

0:02:37.667,0:02:41.971
the monks and nuns,[br]male and female,

0:02:42.370,0:02:46.596
and then the lay practitioners,[br]male and female.

0:02:46.824,0:02:50.800
That is meant by four fourfold sangha.

0:02:52.849,0:02:56.838
During this Rains Retreat,[br]we have been offering

0:02:57.996,0:03:06.374
our understanding and ways of practicing[br]the 14 mindfulness trainings every Sunday,

0:03:07.754,0:03:13.449
and then, on Thursdays, there has been[br]a variety of teachings.

0:03:14.331,0:03:21.161
So far, we've shared the basic[br]Plum Village practices,

0:03:22.460,0:03:25.497
some of the Dharma Doors,

0:03:26.307,0:03:33.972
I believe, such as Beginning Anew,[br]Shining Light, guided meditations,

0:03:35.692,0:03:41.647
reconciliation within families[br]and relationships.

0:03:42.859,0:03:50.722
In the coming weeks, we will be offering[br]our understanding and how we can practice

0:03:50.929,0:03:53.421
some of the sutras.

0:03:56.118,0:04:01.869
This morning, today we will look[br]at the Discourse on Love.

0:04:04.986,0:04:14.240
We remember that the Dharma talk on Sunday[br]ended with a line from one of Thay's poems

0:04:15.237,0:04:20.274
and it said:[br]Let us accept one another.

0:04:21.428,0:04:27.204
Let us share the vision[br]for Great Love to arise.

0:04:30.235,0:04:35.013
Maybe we're wondering,[br]what is this Great Love?

0:04:38.254,0:04:43.224
Buddha had some wonderful teachings[br]on Great Love.

0:04:44.097,0:04:53.555
And Thay has also offered many deep[br]teachings on what he has called True Love.

0:04:55.571,0:05:02.652
So we know there are four expressions[br]of this Great Love, of this True Love.

0:05:03.955,0:05:09.138
We know them as[br]loving kindness,

0:05:10.233,0:05:13.799
it is also known as maitri or metta,

0:05:14.062,0:05:16.166
compassion,

0:05:16.503,0:05:21.376
or also known as karuna,[br]in Pali or Sanskrit.

0:05:25.872,0:05:28.786
Joy, mudita,

0:05:29.714,0:05:33.525
and then equanimity, upeksha.

0:05:36.290,0:05:44.263
The Buddha has offered an explanation[br]of these four expressions of love

0:05:44.489,0:05:48.139
in the Discourse on Love.

0:05:49.324,0:05:55.169
This discourse is available in all[br]of our chanting books,

0:05:55.703,0:06:02.033
Chanting from the Heart and all of[br]the translations in the Chanting Book.

0:06:02.689,0:06:07.676
And it's found in the session on Monday,[br]Monday morning.

0:06:10.886,0:06:20.012
This text or this sutra is very important[br]and really well loved and practiced

0:06:20.640,0:06:25.808
in the Theravada traditions in Buddhism.

0:06:26.626,0:06:33.067
So, we think of the countries where[br]'source Buddhism', as Thay calls it,

0:06:33.422,0:06:38.125
or 'original Buddhism' is practiced.

0:06:38.669,0:06:45.899
And that is the country of Thailand,[br]Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia,

0:06:46.556,0:06:50.414
Sri Lanka, India and Myanmar.

0:06:50.993,0:06:55.200
Primarily the countries in Southeast Asia.

0:06:56.283,0:07:03.014
The text is in Pali language, and[br]it's part of their daily practice

0:07:03.335,0:07:08.325
to chant this discourse, this sutra.

0:07:10.957,0:07:13.581
I discovered that there are

0:07:14.013,0:07:19.389
20 translations of this text into English.

0:07:21.006,0:07:24.386
19 are available on the Internet,

0:07:24.602,0:07:30.010
and then the 20th is the one that[br]Thay and sister Chan Duc did,

0:07:30.277,0:07:36.374
or sister True Virtue, sister Annabel.[br]And to me, it's the most beautiful.

0:07:37.175,0:07:42.865
If you have an interest in scholarship,

0:07:43.108,0:07:49.509
you can look at the other translations[br]which are very accurate, I believe,

0:07:49.744,0:07:55.868
I don't read Pali.[br]But in reading the translation

0:07:56.642,0:08:04.292
that is available to us everyday,[br]I see that it is very, very beautiful,

0:08:04.526,0:08:06.989
the one that we have.

0:08:08.002,0:08:12.663
So, why don't we listen to[br]this Discourse on Love.

0:08:14.121,0:08:16.772
And, I'll read it.

0:08:20.282,0:08:23.492
And I believe many of you[br]have already heard it,

0:08:24.236,0:08:26.976
but it's nice to hear it again.

0:08:27.195,0:08:35.149
Because I've found that it waters[br]my seeds of happiness and goodness.

0:08:35.899,0:08:45.224
It is a wonderful text to nourish[br]the wholesome qualities in ourselves.

0:08:47.483,0:08:53.882
So, Discourse on Love. And this is Thay's[br]translation with sister Annabel.

0:08:55.426,0:09:00.269
“He or she who wants to attain peace

0:09:01.144,0:09:09.112
should practice being upright, humble,[br]and capable of using loving speech.

0:09:10.835,0:09:18.986
He or she will know how to live simply[br]and happily, with senses calmed,

0:09:19.824,0:09:27.044
without being covetous and carried away[br]by the emotions of the majority.

0:09:28.558,0:09:36.085
Let him or her not do anything that[br]will be disapproved of by the wise ones.

0:09:37.417,0:09:41.526
And this is what he or she contemplates:

0:09:42.466,0:09:50.439
May everyone be happy and safe,[br]and may all hearts be filled with joy.

0:09:52.161,0:09:57.400
May all beings live[br]in security and in peace –

0:09:58.587,0:10:11.453
beings who are frail or strong, tall or[br]short, big or small, visible or invisible,

0:10:12.334,0:10:19.338
near or faraway, already born,[br]or yet to be born.

0:10:20.752,0:10:26.294
May all of them dwell[br]in perfect tranquility.

0:10:27.653,0:10:31.713
Let no one do harm to anyone.

0:10:32.706,0:10:37.325
Let no one put the life of anyone[br]in danger.

0:10:38.485,0:10:45.594
Let no one, out of anger or ill will,[br]wish anyone any harm.

0:10:47.262,0:10:54.794
Just as a mother loves and protects her[br]only child at the risk of her own life,

0:10:57.210,0:11:05.100
cultivate boundless love to offer[br]to all living beings in the entire cosmos.

0:11:06.478,0:11:15.109
Let our boundless love pervade the whole[br]universe, above, below, and across.

0:11:16.240,0:11:20.888
Our love will know no obstacles.

0:11:21.313,0:11:28.228
Our heart will be absolutely free[br]from enmity and hatred.

0:11:30.254,0:11:39.088
Whether standing or walking, sitting[br]or lying, as long as we are awake,

0:11:39.752,0:11:45.211
we should cultivate[br]this love within our heart.

0:11:46.381,0:11:50.745
This is the noblest way of living.

0:11:51.955,0:11:58.040
Free from wrong views, greed,[br]and sensual desires,

0:11:58.690,0:12:05.917
living in beauty and realizing[br]Perfect Understanding,

0:12:06.963,0:12:15.840
those who practice boundless love[br]will certainly transcend birth and death.”

0:12:22.228,0:12:26.676
I discovered that this sutra[br]grew within me.

0:12:26.897,0:12:29.543
I heard it the first time and I thought,

0:12:29.711,0:12:35.121
"It's very lovely, very nice, but[br]how can I practice it?"

0:12:35.811,0:12:42.195
It seemed to be a real challenge,[br]to have all these qualities,

0:12:42.412,0:12:46.475
and to be able to practice boundless love.

0:12:48.433,0:12:52.783
So what I did is I read it,[br]I read it very often.

0:12:53.385,0:12:55.778
And I simply waited.

0:12:55.957,0:13:00.774
And I didn't expect myself[br]to be able to practice it.

0:13:01.126,0:13:03.882
It was simply enough to read it.

0:13:04.526,0:13:09.328
And I still do this everyday.[br]I read the sutra.

0:13:12.944,0:13:18.669
It's very interesting to know that[br]this sutra has a history.

0:13:19.977,0:13:25.230
It has an origin.[br]An origin story.

0:13:26.591,0:13:32.360
But before I share the origin story of[br]how this sutra was offered by the Buddha,

0:13:32.765,0:13:38.918
I want to say a few words about[br]what do we mean by origin stories.

0:13:39.425,0:13:41.456
When we

0:13:44.307,0:13:48.782
study or hear some of[br]the Buddhist teachings.

0:13:50.675,0:13:53.806
Do you know that the lay people

0:13:54.068,0:13:56.619
in the time of the Buddha

0:13:56.805,0:14:01.517
were the source of many[br]of the mindfulness trainings?

0:14:01.739,0:14:05.953
Or the precepts,[br]as they were called in those days.

0:14:07.374,0:14:12.609
Both for the lay people[br]and for the monastics.

0:14:13.129,0:14:15.845
And how was that possible?

0:14:16.345,0:14:20.207
For example, the 5 mindfulness trainings

0:14:20.694,0:14:23.605
were created by the Buddha

0:14:24.008,0:14:30.742
in response to the request[br]or the mother and father, the parents,

0:14:31.436,0:14:34.962
of a monk who had just ordained.

0:14:35.489,0:14:38.765
His parents went to the Buddha and said,

0:14:39.420,0:14:43.958
"World Honored One, do you have[br]some guidelines for us,

0:14:44.490,0:14:51.792
the lay people living in the world, so[br]we could have more happiness and peace?"

0:14:54.506,0:14:58.222
So the Buddha thought and he agreed,

0:14:58.406,0:15:02.177
he said, "Yes,[br]I will create some guidelines."

0:15:02.841,0:15:08.916
And these guidelines, in those days,[br]were offered with the phrase,

0:15:09.616,0:15:18.144
"I will refrain from killing.[br]I will abstain from stealing." Et cetera.

0:15:18.741,0:15:24.557
So the Buddha used words that were[br]appropriate for the time and culture

0:15:24.853,0:15:27.630
in ancient India.

0:15:28.678,0:15:36.105
I think if we continue to use those words[br]in our modern era,

0:15:36.999,0:15:42.545
perhaps the mindfulness trainings[br]will not be so easily accepted.

0:15:45.046,0:15:52.911
So Thay, with his great understanding[br]and wisdom of our era and culture,

0:15:54.229,0:15:59.553
renamed them to call them[br]'mindfulness trainings',

0:15:59.859,0:16:05.477
which is truly what they are about.[br]We'll develop our mindfulness,

0:16:06.834,0:16:12.709
and train our mind to think[br]and act in wholesome ways.

0:16:13.267,0:16:16.738
So Thay called them mindfulness trainings,

0:16:16.959,0:16:20.409
and then, instead of beginning[br]each training with the word

0:16:20.657,0:16:25.429
"I will abstain from", or[br]"I will refrain from",

0:16:26.442,0:16:34.159
because in our era, it's more a culture of[br]consummation rather than abstaining from.

0:16:35.737,0:16:44.530
So Thay chose to use the words,[br]"Aware of suffering caused by" killing,

0:16:45.004,0:16:47.515
or stealing.

0:16:48.618,0:16:53.528
If we know that such actions[br]are going to create suffering,

0:16:54.838,0:16:59.537
or our ways of speaking, or thinking[br]will create suffering,

0:16:59.756,0:17:04.811
then we think, "Oh, sure![br]I'm willing to learn more and practice."

0:17:05.032,0:17:07.830
Practice the trainings.

0:17:08.014,0:17:13.670
So then Thay gives us ways to understand[br]within the training how to practice.

0:17:14.252,0:17:18.869
I am committed to do this. [br]I'm determined

0:17:19.810,0:17:27.065
to do something else in order to[br]not cause suffering to myself or others.

0:17:29.271,0:17:35.691
The precepts for the monks and nuns[br]were also created by the Buddha

0:17:36.503,0:17:42.426
after a situation occurred[br]where there was a mistake

0:17:43.016,0:17:46.085
or after an event.

0:17:49.364,0:17:54.525
The Buddha did not make precepts,[br]or mindfulness trainings,

0:17:54.879,0:17:58.951
we say "a priori", in advance.

0:17:59.856,0:18:06.436
The Buddha wanted the monastics[br]to have a way of life

0:18:06.702,0:18:14.222
that would make it easy for the lay people[br]to be able to ask questions,

0:18:15.076,0:18:19.668
and learn from the monastics,[br]and respect them.

0:18:20.868,0:18:26.324
So all of the precepts for the monastics

0:18:26.712,0:18:32.154
were made after[br]a specific situation occurred.

0:18:33.060,0:18:38.039
And how did the Buddha learn[br]about situations that occurred?

0:18:38.550,0:18:42.714
Or behavior on the part of the monastics?

0:18:43.570,0:18:46.692
It was from the lay people.

0:18:50.565,0:18:54.652
The lay people,[br]when they observed or heard

0:18:54.885,0:18:59.180
how the monks and nuns[br]were speaking or acting,

0:18:59.499,0:19:04.063
if they were not pleased with the -[br]If they were not happy,

0:19:04.267,0:19:07.343
they would go to the Buddha and tell him.

0:19:07.499,0:19:11.114
"This is what we saw,[br]this is what happened."

0:19:12.278,0:19:17.149
And then the Buddha decided[br]that he didn't want his monastics

0:19:17.363,0:19:20.196
to make the same mistake.

0:19:20.384,0:19:23.755
So he made precepts for them.

0:19:23.983,0:19:31.222
We have to understand, in the beginning,[br]the monastic sangha was forming.

0:19:32.111,0:19:35.095
It was brand new. So -

0:19:36.115,0:19:39.233
But they didn't know too much[br]about how to be monastics,

0:19:39.587,0:19:42.224
so, gradually,

0:19:42.711,0:19:46.332
they learned, Buddha learned,[br]and the monastics learned

0:19:46.538,0:19:52.401
about what would be the most[br]appropriate way of life for them.

0:19:55.108,0:20:02.090
And the Buddha created mindful manners[br]as appropriate codes of behavior.

0:20:02.483,0:20:07.804
We are all very grateful[br]to the lay sangha.

0:20:08.062,0:20:13.922
In those days they were helping[br]the Buddha and the other monastics

0:20:14.306,0:20:18.743
know what they thought[br]would be appropriate behavior.

0:20:18.965,0:20:21.956
Let us enjoy just a moment

0:20:22.968,0:20:27.541
to come back to ourselves. We'll listen[br]to one sound of the bell

0:20:27.786,0:20:31.990
for a moment of mindful breathing.

0:20:34.112,0:20:40.845
(Bell)

0:20:56.263,0:21:02.919
So I've shared a little bit about origin,[br]origin stories.

0:21:05.848,0:21:11.021
The precepts for the monastics,[br]they all have an origin story.

0:21:11.851,0:21:15.461
We learn about what happened

0:21:15.729,0:21:22.129
and it was a source of maybe[br]some misunderstanding,

0:21:23.207,0:21:25.368
a source of

0:21:26.851,0:21:29.907
people not being happy,

0:21:30.102,0:21:35.949
and so, a guideline was created.[br]An origin story.

0:21:36.521,0:21:43.013
And I've used the example of the[br]mindfulness trainings for the lay sangha,

0:21:43.342,0:21:51.588
and then, monastic mindful manners[br]and precepts for the monastics.

0:21:53.609,0:22:01.146
And also, I've, with great appreciation[br]and gratitude, let all of you know

0:22:01.413,0:22:06.456
how important you are for our practice.

0:22:06.679,0:22:11.583
And you were instrumental[br]in the time of the Buddha

0:22:11.988,0:22:19.363
for helping formulate the appropriate[br]code of behavior for monastics.

0:22:20.804,0:22:25.517
I want to add that other monastics[br]also went to the Buddha

0:22:25.881,0:22:29.356
to share what they saw other monastics do.

0:22:29.709,0:22:33.206
So it wasn't just the lay people going,

0:22:33.431,0:22:37.567
it was monastics also[br]letting the Buddha know.

0:22:38.188,0:22:42.090
I think the Buddha was very busy,[br]wasn't he?

0:22:42.291,0:22:45.956
Not only teaching,[br]but receiving all of these reports

0:22:47.047,0:22:52.654
on how people were acting,[br]and speaking, and thinking, et cetera.

0:22:53.494,0:23:00.311
So the Buddha listened, I'm sure,[br]very deeply and then reflected.

0:23:03.452,0:23:06.254
So from the time of the Buddha

0:23:06.472,0:23:09.477
he established the fourfold sangha

0:23:09.815,0:23:14.429
of the monastics and the lay people[br]practicing together

0:23:14.631,0:23:19.180
and supporting one another[br]in their practice.

0:23:20.948,0:23:25.633
So now I'd like to share with you[br]the origin story

0:23:26.866,0:23:29.353
of this sutra.

0:23:32.284,0:23:35.330
It is said that on one occasion,

0:23:35.571,0:23:40.345
some 500 bhikkhus, meaning[br]fully ordained monks,

0:23:42.708,0:23:47.216
after receiving some instruction[br]on meditation,

0:23:48.891,0:23:52.440
such as awareness of the breathing,

0:23:52.679,0:23:57.325
which is what Thay has chosen[br]for our basic meditation practice,

0:23:57.846,0:24:02.710
the Anapanasati sutra,[br]they practiced that daily,

0:24:03.219,0:24:08.974
aware of our in-breath and our out-breath,[br]aware of our body, relaxing our body.

0:24:09.168,0:24:14.940
So the Buddha gave them some topics[br]for their meditation.

0:24:16.313,0:24:20.263
Then, they went to a forest[br]in the Himalayas

0:24:20.416,0:24:23.174
to practice this meditation.

0:24:23.463,0:24:29.409
In those days, they didn't have[br]a practice center such as we know today.

0:24:29.704,0:24:33.881
They went to the foot of a tree,[br]or they went into the forest

0:24:34.085,0:24:39.012
to a quite, secluded area to practice.

0:24:40.265,0:24:45.417
Mostly sitting meditation,[br]and slow walking meditation.

0:24:45.659,0:24:48.424
But we know that they also ate mindfully.

0:24:48.851,0:24:51.732
But there were some devas.

0:24:52.817,0:24:58.201
Maybe a deva would be[br]someone comparable to an angel

0:24:58.599,0:25:01.370
in the Christian tradition.

0:25:01.938,0:25:07.090
Devas lived in the forest, in nature,[br]where there were trees

0:25:09.866,0:25:17.337
and bushes, a lot of natural[br]flora and fauna.

0:25:17.932,0:25:22.234
But there was some devas[br]already living there.

0:25:22.988,0:25:26.922
Initially, the devas, devas are like

0:25:28.278,0:25:32.806
beings that are not in a body form,

0:25:34.726,0:25:41.172
but they have already developed[br]some certain amount of consciousness.

0:25:41.583,0:25:44.797
But there were devas already living there.

0:25:45.014,0:25:50.098
In the beginning, the devas tolerated[br]the presence of the monks.

0:25:50.777,0:25:52.965
But they saw

0:25:53.449,0:25:59.908
that the bhikkhus were planning[br]to stay there and practice meditation.

0:26:00.300,0:26:04.187
And they had no intention to leave.

0:26:04.874,0:26:11.874
So the devas realized that and became[br]upset and annoyed with the bhikkhus

0:26:12.655,0:26:18.233
for taking their space, for moving in[br]occupying their territory.

0:26:18.987,0:26:21.596
So what did they do?

0:26:21.777,0:26:27.291
The devas made fearful sighs[br]and horrible sounds

0:26:27.478,0:26:32.418
that agitated the six[br]sense organs of the monks.

0:26:33.317,0:26:36.217
And they did this at night

0:26:36.448,0:26:40.311
to frighten the monks,[br]so they would go away.

0:26:41.801,0:26:45.576
The bhikkhus were so disturbed,

0:26:45.916,0:26:48.416
that they got sick

0:26:48.595,0:26:52.039
and they couldn't make any progress[br]in their meditation.

0:26:52.967,0:26:58.020
So they decided to leave the forest[br]to return to the Buddha.

0:26:58.525,0:27:03.142
And they reported their experiences[br]of what happened.

0:27:04.925,0:27:08.702
So the Buddha received this report,

0:27:09.077,0:27:11.610
and in his meditation,

0:27:11.987,0:27:17.659
he surveyed the area[br]to find an alternative forest

0:27:18.616,0:27:23.182
where the monks could practice in silence.

0:27:23.468,0:27:28.646
But he found no other suitable forest[br]in that area.

0:27:29.190,0:27:34.607
So what he told them[br]was to return to that forest.

0:27:38.589,0:27:42.486
However, before returning to the forest

0:27:42.768,0:27:49.648
the Buddha gave them, his monks,[br]this metta meditation.

0:27:51.067,0:27:56.500
The Metta Sutra for them to chant[br]as a daily practice

0:27:56.764,0:28:01.107
and then to offer as a meditation

0:28:01.625,0:28:06.884
to make the devas more peaceful,[br]to appease them,

0:28:07.883,0:28:12.176
and as well for the protection[br]of the monks.

0:28:12.781,0:28:17.838
So the monks went back to the same forest[br]where the devas were,

0:28:18.434,0:28:21.828
I imagine they were a little bit anxious,

0:28:22.017,0:28:26.637
wondering if the Buddha's teachings[br]would be enough

0:28:27.389,0:28:30.857
to make the devas calm.

0:28:31.044,0:28:37.140
Because they had experienced[br]a lot of agitation from these beings.

0:28:38.263,0:28:43.131
So the monks went back, and[br]daily chanted the Metta Sutra,

0:28:44.108,0:28:49.342
and the metta meditation[br]throughout the day.

0:28:49.962,0:28:52.962
And I believe throughout the night.

0:28:53.113,0:28:56.423
They had brief periods of sleep.

0:28:56.595,0:29:00.256
The result was transformative.

0:29:01.109,0:29:05.163
By receiving this metta energy[br]from the monks,

0:29:05.383,0:29:09.988
this energy of loving kindness[br]and compassion from the monks,

0:29:13.690,0:29:19.344
the devas developed trust[br]and confidence in the monks.

0:29:22.169,0:29:24.240
They welcomed them.

0:29:25.654,0:29:31.571
They then had goodwill towards the monks[br]and even looked after them,

0:29:31.794,0:29:36.999
making sure they had enough food,[br]and whatever they needed.

0:29:38.571,0:29:44.147
And the monks were also able to[br]develop these qualities in themselves,

0:29:44.612,0:29:51.673
and offer to the devas their friendliness,[br]their good wishes,

0:29:53.354,0:29:57.896
their kindness[br]and their peaceful presence.

0:29:58.134,0:30:04.012
That helped calm and watered[br]the best seeds in themselves,

0:30:04.213,0:30:06.426
but also

0:30:06.898,0:30:10.649
in the hearts and minds of the devas.

0:30:10.940,0:30:15.459
So everybody benefited from this practice.

0:30:15.783,0:30:18.887
And it is said, that

0:30:19.652,0:30:23.599
after this three months period[br]of rains retreat,

0:30:23.855,0:30:29.549
that the bhikkhus spent with this[br]meditation in the forest with the devas,

0:30:30.472,0:30:35.313
it is said that all 500 bhikkhus[br]became arhats.

0:30:36.310,0:30:42.182
And in the Theravada tradition[br]of Buddhism,

0:30:42.538,0:30:49.704
an arhat is a person who has purified[br]all of their afflictions,

0:30:50.051,0:30:53.598
such as greed, hatred, ignorance.

0:30:53.803,0:30:57.843
He has developed[br]to the highest extent possible.

0:30:58.063,0:31:01.748
Becoming arhat,[br]you have no more afflictions.

0:31:01.916,0:31:05.564
I believe it's just[br]before becoming a buddha.

0:31:08.363,0:31:13.077
Being an arhat is pretty good.

0:31:13.851,0:31:19.221
So the good fruits of their practice[br]of this metta meditation.

0:31:26.294,0:31:31.650
As practitioners in our daily life,[br]wherever we are living,

0:31:32.845,0:31:35.221
in the forest,

0:31:35.994,0:31:38.532
where there are trees.

0:31:38.792,0:31:41.976
And incidentally, you know there are

0:31:43.286,0:31:48.563
Greenpeace and organizations that[br]want to protect the life of trees,

0:31:49.367,0:31:53.170
and not let people cut down[br]the ancient forests,

0:31:54.199,0:31:57.609
which is happening in many countries.

0:31:57.864,0:32:02.469
To cut down the ancient forests, and then,[br]what do they do?

0:32:02.835,0:32:10.472
In some cases, they plant grass[br]to bring in the cattle.

0:32:11.722,0:32:16.348
To grow - They make pasture land.

0:32:17.900,0:32:24.698
But the ancient forests provide[br]beautiful fresh oxygen.

0:32:24.953,0:32:30.890
The leaves of the trees give us oxygen[br]and they absorb the carbon dioxide

0:32:31.304,0:32:34.636
in the process of photosynthesis.

0:32:35.172,0:32:38.783
So, the ancient forests are precious.

0:32:39.254,0:32:44.466
So whether we live in the ancient forest[br]or in the cities,

0:32:45.370,0:32:52.276
there are practices that we can do[br]related to this metta sutra.

0:32:57.273,0:33:02.688
I reflected on how I could[br]share this sutra this morning.

0:33:04.397,0:33:08.041
And the only thing I could think of

0:33:08.405,0:33:11.979
was to do what Thay did.

0:33:12.356,0:33:16.604
Because during the winter retreat,[br]the three month rain retreat,

0:33:17.956,0:33:21.755
Thay would chose a sutra.

0:33:22.368,0:33:28.678
And them he would take[br]short sections of the sutra

0:33:29.653,0:33:34.699
and then, share some commentary[br]on each section.

0:33:35.606,0:33:41.709
So I hope that's alright with you[br]if I simply do what Thay did.

0:33:42.800,0:33:49.242
We'll listen to some commentary[br]on this sutra,

0:33:49.902,0:33:54.567
and then we'll learn about this meditation

0:33:55.440,0:34:00.141
that is based on the sutra,[br]the metta meditation.

0:34:02.556,0:34:07.651
Let us take a moment to stretch[br]or change your sitting position

0:34:08.987,0:34:14.360
if you wish, or sit in a chair[br]if that will be more comfortable.

0:34:14.579,0:34:18.717
We'll have a sound of the bell[br]to reconnect us

0:34:19.653,0:34:25.519
with ourselves and with one another.[br]Because when we all breathe together,

0:34:26.230,0:34:32.681
at the same time, we're creating[br]a collective energy of mindfulness,

0:34:33.253,0:34:37.792
a collective energy of concentration[br]that is shared.

0:34:38.321,0:34:42.364
It's an interbeing experience.

0:34:42.839,0:34:48.942
(Bell)

0:35:01.998,0:35:05.786
So what we share on the sutra

0:35:06.647,0:35:10.101
is a different kind of sharing sometimes.

0:35:10.492,0:35:12.815
I appreciate

0:35:14.274,0:35:19.869
just your willingness to listen,[br]and whatever results is also okay.

0:35:21.004,0:35:25.840
It begins with: "He or she[br]who wants to attain peace

0:35:26.319,0:35:33.856
should practice being upright, humble,[br]and capable of using loving speech."

0:35:37.057,0:35:42.591
So the beginning of the sutra[br]gives us an opportunity

0:35:43.304,0:35:48.948
to think about how we can live[br]simply and happily.

0:35:49.869,0:35:53.222
How to speak lovingly.

0:35:53.893,0:35:58.656
We know we have the mindfulness[br]trainings to help us speak lovingly.

0:36:03.269,0:36:07.054
We have also the practice[br]of Beginning Anew,

0:36:07.286,0:36:10.508
where we learn how to speak lovingly

0:36:10.719,0:36:14.365
by sharing our appreciations of others,

0:36:14.580,0:36:21.294
how much we have a lot of gratitude[br]for people in our life.

0:36:25.756,0:36:29.600
When we are upright, what does that mean?

0:36:29.841,0:36:33.124
It means that we have some ethical values.

0:36:33.813,0:36:36.872
We live by our values.

0:36:37.261,0:36:40.134
So, this person is upright,

0:36:40.371,0:36:46.570
that suggests this person is reliable,[br]has ethical values.

0:36:50.641,0:36:55.502
We can take refuge in this person[br]because of their honesty,

0:36:56.553,0:37:00.780
their capacity to understand.

0:37:01.661,0:37:07.350
And not do anything[br]that would be disappointing.

0:37:08.244,0:37:10.794
We want not perfect, okay?

0:37:10.995,0:37:16.888
But someone who is upright is someone[br]who practices, maybe we put it simply.

0:37:17.162,0:37:22.293
Someone who loves the practice[br]and does it wholeheartedly.

0:37:22.641,0:37:27.205
But we don't speak of perfect uprightness.

0:37:28.420,0:37:32.268
There isn't perfect uprightness.

0:37:32.533,0:37:37.643
But just human uprightness. Okay?[br]It is good enough.

0:37:41.712,0:37:48.516
We don't covet or want what others have[br]in this simple lifestyle.

0:37:49.143,0:37:54.278
We have enough. There is[br]the Sanskrit word 'samtusta'.

0:37:54.495,0:37:58.073
We are content with what we have.

0:37:58.280,0:38:03.053
It says: We know how to live simply[br]and happily, with senses calmed,

0:38:03.575,0:38:09.991
without being covetous and carried away[br]by the emotions of the majority.

0:38:10.229,0:38:15.081
So if we are in an environment[br]where there is a majority of people

0:38:16.278,0:38:23.142
and we find that right now what I need[br]is to feel peaceful and calm,

0:38:23.413,0:38:27.299
and maybe the environment is such that

0:38:27.699,0:38:30.719
the majority of the people are

0:38:31.363,0:38:35.525
a little bit agitated,[br]not so peaceful and calm,

0:38:35.875,0:38:38.419
we can choose

0:38:40.679,0:38:45.650
to not be carried away[br]by the emotions that are there.

0:38:46.346,0:38:51.757
But we are not going to judge at all[br]the emotions of the majority.

0:38:52.082,0:38:54.954
We simply observe.

0:38:55.186,0:38:59.186
And that is bare attention.[br]We observe what is there,

0:38:59.384,0:39:03.290
what are the emotions being expressed.

0:39:03.548,0:39:10.869
We observe. We don't judge. And[br]if we wish to not be carried away

0:39:11.689,0:39:16.385
by whatever the majority of[br]the emotions are,

0:39:16.654,0:39:19.991
that we don't wish to experience,

0:39:22.872,0:39:26.001
then we come back to ourselves

0:39:26.176,0:39:30.334
and we can practice mindful breathing,[br]mindful walking.

0:39:30.576,0:39:35.504
Sometimes, we feel[br]that we have to step outside.

0:39:36.062,0:39:38.690
And that is certainly okay,

0:39:38.871,0:39:42.076
to not be carried away[br]in certain environments,

0:39:42.259,0:39:46.840
we can choose to find temporarily[br]another environment.

0:39:47.107,0:39:52.113
We step outside and enjoy mindful walking,

0:39:52.881,0:39:58.311
mindful breathing. We learned about[br]protecting our six sense organs.

0:39:58.672,0:40:01.901
The sutra says, with senses calmed.

0:40:02.158,0:40:06.804
That means that whatever we see, hear,

0:40:08.877,0:40:16.974
taste or touch, if it has[br]the effect on us of creating

0:40:19.103,0:40:25.178
agitation, or making us feel upset,[br]we are no longer peaceful,

0:40:25.489,0:40:30.994
then we want to think of how can I protect[br]my eyes, or my ears,

0:40:31.964,0:40:38.955
so they are not going to[br]continually receive this stimulation.

0:40:42.226,0:40:45.206
And we learn how to do this gradually.

0:40:45.456,0:40:51.305
We learn about the environment,[br]and how I'm feeling,

0:40:52.309,0:40:55.972
and to do this,[br]we become aware of our body.

0:40:57.098,0:41:01.642
And if we are having[br]emotions come up in us,

0:41:02.043,0:41:07.368
such as worry, anxiety,[br]anger or fear.

0:41:07.558,0:41:11.898
We can keep our stability.[br]We can keep our peace.

0:41:12.731,0:41:15.824
And that is, in a sense,

0:41:16.449,0:41:22.264
the practice of[br]keeping our six senses calm.

0:41:22.920,0:41:26.296
We keep our stability[br]and we keep our peace.

0:41:26.458,0:41:29.902
In a situation where I am the minority,

0:41:30.064,0:41:33.802
and I am in an environment where[br]others are the majority,

0:41:33.914,0:41:37.787
I accept being minority. Okay?

0:41:39.089,0:41:44.600
In our daily lives,[br]you may be a minority at work.

0:41:45.384,0:41:48.128
Or at school.

0:41:48.281,0:41:54.745
And you are invited[br]to join your colleagues on Friday, for -

0:41:55.479,0:41:59.019
They call it happiness hour[br]or something like that.

0:41:59.119,0:42:01.829
It means going to the bar. Yes.

0:42:01.962,0:42:03.700
(Laughter)

0:42:03.834,0:42:07.599
And you are a practitioner.[br]And you practice the five trainings.

0:42:07.789,0:42:09.875
Oh!, What do you do?

0:42:10.035,0:42:13.221
You say: Okay, I'm a minority.[br]What do I do?

0:42:14.865,0:42:20.691
So, if you know you -[br]If your practice is solid enough,

0:42:21.053,0:42:25.721
and you won't be carried away[br]by spending some time in the bar,

0:42:25.900,0:42:31.359
or a bistro, or wherever it is,[br]if you have confidence in your practice,

0:42:31.539,0:42:34.823
then you can go. It's alright.

0:42:35.202,0:42:39.362
But the big challenge is:[br]what do you order to drink?

0:42:39.556,0:42:41.274
(Laughter)

0:42:41.352,0:42:44.119
This is the challenge. Okay?

0:42:44.268,0:42:46.813
I leave that to you.

0:42:46.950,0:42:48.641
(Laughter)

0:42:48.752,0:42:56.222
To find ways to be a minority with the[br]majority of your friends, or colleagues,

0:42:56.344,0:42:59.042
or family members,

0:42:59.175,0:43:02.306
when you share Christmas[br]or New Year with them.

0:43:02.659,0:43:08.572
And maybe that would be something to share[br]in a Dharma sharing group at some point.

0:43:09.019,0:43:14.698
How to be a minority and still[br]take refuge in our practice?

0:43:15.480,0:43:18.972
But it's fine to be a minority.

0:43:19.149,0:43:22.651
Don't feel upset,

0:43:22.874,0:43:29.426
or feel that if I'm a minority,[br]I can't succeed in my practice. You can.

0:43:30.065,0:43:36.328
It is just your experience[br]of yourself practicing

0:43:36.776,0:43:39.974
mindful breathing and mindful walking

0:43:40.126,0:43:45.436
that gives you the assurance that[br]my practice is there, in me.

0:43:46.347,0:43:49.103
And we don't have to speak,

0:43:49.299,0:43:51.921
for example while eating.

0:43:52.107,0:43:59.118
Suppose you are invited to join everyone,[br]the majority group, for a lunch or dinner.

0:44:00.029,0:44:05.727
And you say, how can I practice[br]mindful eating? I'm a minority.

0:44:06.220,0:44:13.867
You can. You can chew mindfully,[br]gently, taste the food, and smile.

0:44:14.996,0:44:19.417
But you can keep your silence[br]for a little bit.

0:44:19.604,0:44:22.534
And we know we are flexible[br]in our practice.

0:44:22.677,0:44:25.371
You may say a few words.

0:44:25.575,0:44:30.482
But I've learned, while practicing[br]mindful eating with a group,

0:44:30.601,0:44:36.526
and they may not be practitioners,[br]I've learned not to ask questions.

0:44:37.526,0:44:41.348
That means I'm going to be talking,[br]and then, they may want,

0:44:41.537,0:44:45.319
Please, tell us, clarify your question.

0:44:45.485,0:44:51.497
And then I'm caught. I'm talking more[br]during a mindful meal with friends,

0:44:51.660,0:44:56.873
or with people who may not know[br]the practice so well.

0:45:00.165,0:45:05.370
So, we know that[br]we can live simply and happily

0:45:07.314,0:45:11.301
with a lifestyle of a practitioner.

0:45:11.508,0:45:16.725
And you can keep your religious tradition,[br]if you are not Buddhist,

0:45:16.877,0:45:19.711
you don't have to be Buddhist.

0:45:19.855,0:45:23.982
Thay encourages everyone[br]to keep their root tradition,

0:45:24.125,0:45:27.704
whatever it is, you can continue.

0:45:27.838,0:45:32.152
And just add your mindfulness practices.[br]That's it.

0:45:32.331,0:45:35.283
So, without being covetous.

0:45:35.421,0:45:39.377
That means without wanting[br]what you see other people have.

0:45:39.969,0:45:44.021
Maybe someone has a new pair of shoes,[br]or they are nice,

0:45:44.133,0:45:48.976
but you know they cost 150 euros, so[br]we let go of wanting that.

0:45:50.229,0:45:55.845
Or a new car, or whatever that is new.

0:45:56.946,0:45:59.056
Or old.

0:45:59.325,0:46:06.227
So we don't covet, we are not envious.[br]Envious of wanting what other people have.

0:46:07.359,0:46:12.571
And then, not being carried away[br]by the emotions of the majority.

0:46:12.720,0:46:15.826
We take refuge in our practice.

0:46:16.869,0:46:19.126
Okay. It continues:

0:46:19.283,0:46:24.958
May everyone be happy and safe,[br]and may all hearts be filled with joy.

0:46:29.009,0:46:32.676
So we want everyone to experience joy.

0:46:32.818,0:46:39.377
You know, we can say these words even if[br]we don't feel the joy in our heart.

0:46:40.872,0:46:45.269
Because as we continue[br]to repeat these words,

0:46:45.624,0:46:50.298
we are opening a neural pathway[br]in our brain.

0:46:52.391,0:46:56.589
And we are going to let joy[br]walk down the pathway.

0:46:57.018,0:47:01.113
We are going to let loving kindness[br]walk down the neural pathway.

0:47:01.374,0:47:05.228
We are going to let compassion,[br]joy and equanimity

0:47:05.536,0:47:12.823
walk down this new neural pathway that[br]we are creating when we say words.

0:47:13.000,0:47:15.539
When we repeat them.

0:47:17.266,0:47:22.324
So our heart and mind are[br]in a beautiful state of awareness

0:47:23.915,0:47:28.835
when we repeat these words[br]and we wish to share this energy,

0:47:29.566,0:47:36.580
our wish, our volition, with all beings.[br]May everyone be happy and safe.

0:47:38.972,0:47:44.754
So how can we help contribute[br]to the happiness and safety of everyone?

0:47:47.536,0:47:51.811
One of the practices I do[br]to protect the safety

0:47:52.945,0:47:55.346
of small beings.

0:47:55.600,0:48:00.493
It doesn't have to be this big act that[br]is going to protect the whole world.

0:48:00.889,0:48:05.775
But of course, we do it when we[br]are protecting Mother Earth.

0:48:06.334,0:48:11.083
If I see a snail, something so tiny,[br]or a slug,

0:48:11.422,0:48:14.546
we know what the slugs are, the 'limaces',

0:48:14.698,0:48:18.546
sometimes I see them[br]trying to cross the road.

0:48:19.967,0:48:22.137
And they're slow.

0:48:22.313,0:48:24.070
(Laughter)

0:48:24.280,0:48:26.332
So,

0:48:26.589,0:48:30.017
what I do? I really try to do this.

0:48:30.275,0:48:32.852
I look for a leaf, because I -

0:48:33.192,0:48:39.338
You know, they are cold and slimy,[br]so I try to find a leaf or a twig.

0:48:39.584,0:48:43.755
Or a worm. We can see worms[br]trying to cross the road.

0:48:44.414,0:48:47.366
I pick them up with my hand, no problem,

0:48:47.559,0:48:51.405
but I pick them up and[br]I take them to the other side.

0:48:52.077,0:48:54.332
To the other shore.

0:48:54.509,0:48:56.204
(Laughter)

0:48:56.379,0:48:58.472
Shore of non suffering.

0:48:58.688,0:49:02.020
The shore of the grass is greener[br]on the other side.

0:49:02.170,0:49:07.258
They usually try to go to the other side[br]of the road where there is grass.

0:49:07.972,0:49:12.741
And when I see them,[br]they're walking slowly on the pavement.

0:49:13.044,0:49:17.307
So I pick up the snails,[br]the slugs, and the worms.

0:49:17.519,0:49:20.610
And take them to the other side.

0:49:21.163,0:49:25.909
That is helping something be safe.[br]And happy.

0:49:28.427,0:49:33.640
We know when we live in the present moment[br]we have many opportunities

0:49:33.925,0:49:37.115
to see what is really there.

0:49:37.282,0:49:42.312
We've let go of the past, where[br]maybe there wasn't too much happiness,

0:49:42.963,0:49:47.084
and we come back to[br]what is in front of us,

0:49:47.286,0:49:51.558
what is so beautiful.[br]We have the autumn leaves.

0:49:52.174,0:49:55.844
This morning there was the beautiful fog,

0:49:56.196,0:49:58.329
when we came from.

0:49:58.490,0:50:01.875
There was mist[br]and everything was so soft.

0:50:02.837,0:50:05.696
There was greatness and softness,

0:50:06.056,0:50:09.601
and the mist was very beautiful.

0:50:10.262,0:50:16.160
So it brings a lot of happiness[br]when we are able to simply be there.

0:50:17.381,0:50:20.176
To be there in the present moment.

0:50:20.381,0:50:26.388
And for that, we let go of our thinking.[br]I've discovered that helps a lot

0:50:26.756,0:50:31.847
to not think. Instead of thinking,[br]I breathe in and out.

0:50:33.710,0:50:38.285
When I notice a thought arising,[br]I think: Oh! A thought is there.

0:50:38.477,0:50:42.706
Hello, my thought. Hello, my worry[br]about the future.

0:50:44.048,0:50:50.009
Hello, my regret about the past. Because[br]all of this comes up naturally.

0:50:50.716,0:50:58.564
The store consciousness continually sends[br]these messengers up to our mind.

0:50:59.255,0:51:02.465
These little messengers from the past

0:51:02.933,0:51:06.204
if something waters that seed.

0:51:06.370,0:51:09.622
The store consciousness,[br]the deepest level, alaya,

0:51:09.799,0:51:14.595
will always let a seed[br]manifest if we've watered it.

0:51:15.659,0:51:19.959
So, to help protect us,[br]to be happy and safe,

0:51:20.623,0:51:27.748
we can be aware of what kind of seeds[br]in my environment are being watered

0:51:30.134,0:51:32.778
by what people say,

0:51:32.923,0:51:38.235
what I listen to, what I hear,[br]what I see, okay?

0:51:39.158,0:51:45.667
So to be happy, I really enjoy the[br]practice of living in the present moment.

0:51:46.030,0:51:48.921
I see the beautiful orchid.

0:51:49.097,0:51:52.340
The orchid is there, just being an orchid.

0:51:53.117,0:51:58.801
He or she doesn't have to do anything else[br]but be, be present.

0:51:59.140,0:52:02.550
And the orchid is there for all of us.

0:52:02.774,0:52:07.011
So life is available for all of us.

0:52:09.419,0:52:14.206
Thay would quote André Gide,[br]the French writer,

0:52:14.403,0:52:19.602
who said that God is available[br]24 hours a day.

0:52:20.927,0:52:25.357
The question is, are we available to God?

0:52:27.082,0:52:31.976
And Thay would then say:[br]"Life is available to us.

0:52:32.136,0:52:35.240
The beauties, the wonders.

0:52:40.264,0:52:47.861
The happiness is available to us 24 hours[br]a day. But are we available to life?"

0:52:49.664,0:52:57.296
And Thay would often begin his talks by[br]saying: "Breathing in, I know I'm alive.

0:52:58.440,0:53:04.525
Breathing out, I smile to life[br]in me and around me."

0:53:06.086,0:53:12.541
So our practice can be,[br]let us smile to life in us and around us.

0:53:13.841,0:53:18.891
Life is all forms of life.[br]All forms of life.

0:53:20.851,0:53:24.883
One of the practices I love to do[br]to be happy,

0:53:27.951,0:53:32.588
to water my seeds of happiness[br]and feel at peace,

0:53:33.034,0:53:37.119
is whenever I come to Upper Hamlet,[br]if time permits,

0:53:37.279,0:53:41.514
I enjoy walking around the lotus pond[br]you have here.

0:53:41.743,0:53:45.535
It's so beautiful in all seasons.

0:53:45.883,0:53:47.811
And,

0:53:48.423,0:53:51.916
I love to look in the water[br]and see the fish.

0:53:52.133,0:53:54.383
There are fish there.

0:53:54.707,0:53:58.681
Gold fish you call them? Carp? Carp.

0:54:01.471,0:54:04.040
They travel together, they are a sangha.

0:54:04.885,0:54:09.097
You usually don't see one alone.[br]They're together.

0:54:09.650,0:54:13.479
There is a nice history of the fish[br]in that pond.

0:54:13.939,0:54:17.047
There was a time when after breakfast

0:54:17.456,0:54:21.245
the residents here

0:54:21.701,0:54:25.685
would give them some of the bread.

0:54:26.637,0:54:30.435
So there was a time when we would see[br]pieces of bread floating

0:54:30.787,0:54:34.121
everywhere in the pond.[br]But that stopped.

0:54:35.042,0:54:41.026
And I enjoy looking how the fish grow,[br]you know? They grow, and I wondered,

0:54:41.165,0:54:45.744
how do they grow? What is their nutriment?[br]What is feeding them?

0:54:46.067,0:54:48.875
But apparently[br]they don't need much to eat.

0:54:52.595,0:54:57.138
So we want all beings,[br]their hearts to be filled with joy.

0:54:57.303,0:54:59.662
And we send out this energy.

0:54:59.843,0:55:04.976
May you be happy and safe,[br]and may your heart be filled with joy.

0:55:06.783,0:55:11.362
It continues: May all beings[br]live in security and in peace.

0:55:13.503,0:55:16.480
So we want this for everybody.

0:55:16.637,0:55:22.485
We want our children to experience[br]security and peace in society.

0:55:23.121,0:55:27.269
Of course, at home, and at school.

0:55:27.946,0:55:30.518
We want our sanghas,

0:55:31.644,0:55:34.150
our family, our friends.

0:55:34.379,0:55:38.314
So we discover with our practice[br]of being peaceful,

0:55:39.066,0:55:43.381
and knowing how to transform[br]our strong emotions

0:55:43.922,0:55:46.825
into peace and happiness

0:55:47.021,0:55:53.039
we can contribute to the security[br]and peace of all beings.

0:55:56.588,0:56:00.923
We want to contribute to the peace[br]and happiness of Mother Earth,

0:56:01.207,0:56:07.156
because we know that Mother Earth[br]is in us, all the elements

0:56:08.352,0:56:12.340
that are in the food we eat,[br]that's Mother Earth.

0:56:13.603,0:56:19.628
And we are in Mother Earth, of course.[br]We're living on Mother Earth.

0:56:19.784,0:56:23.082
So there is a real,[br]deep connection that we have,

0:56:23.249,0:56:26.746
an interbeing connection[br]with Mother Earth.

0:56:27.265,0:56:30.870
And we want to live[br]in security and in peace,

0:56:31.359,0:56:34.898
and provide this for Mother Earth.

0:56:35.193,0:56:42.309
Beings who are frail or strong, tall or[br]short, big or small, visible or invisible,

0:56:42.592,0:56:47.676
near or faraway, already born,[br]or yet to be born.

0:56:48.613,0:56:53.104
May all of them dwell[br]in perfect tranquility.

0:56:53.795,0:56:57.510
Nothing is left out.[br]That's everything.

0:56:57.709,0:57:00.919
All forms of life, everywhere.

0:57:01.169,0:57:09.437
Whether they're frail, poor health,[br]good health, tall, short, big, tiny,

0:57:10.441,0:57:13.561
visible, we can see them,[br]or we can't see them,

0:57:13.759,0:57:17.216
like the 'aoûtats' in August,[br]if you have been here.

0:57:17.765,0:57:20.222
Do we know about these little

0:57:21.927,0:57:26.157
harvest mites, in other countries[br]their live in the grass,

0:57:26.370,0:57:30.393
and when it's hot, they love us.[br]They bite.

0:57:30.717,0:57:32.891
And then we itch.

0:57:33.003,0:57:35.902
Okay, whether we can see them,[br]or can't see them,

0:57:36.106,0:57:41.691
like the flu virus. Has it arrived yet?[br]We can't see it, but we see the effects.

0:57:41.871,0:57:47.130
Visible or not visible,[br]near or faraway,

0:57:50.173,0:57:55.581
already born or yet to be born.[br]They are on their way to manifesting.

0:57:56.365,0:58:02.066
May everyone dwell in perfect tranquility.

0:58:02.969,0:58:06.279
That means tranquility to be

0:58:07.497,0:58:11.622
free of fear, anxiety, worry,

0:58:13.335,0:58:17.062
related to being discriminated against.

0:58:17.229,0:58:20.562
That is, there is[br]discrimination in the world,

0:58:20.774,0:58:26.684
discriminated against based on their size,[br]or other characteristics,

0:58:27.271,0:58:33.013
such as race, nationality,[br]religion, or gender.

0:58:34.381,0:58:39.978
Discrimination can take many forms[br]and expressions.

0:58:41.703,0:58:46.030
So, we are bodhisattvas, awakened beings.

0:58:46.519,0:58:50.233
We want to wish everyone well-being.

0:58:51.878,0:58:54.099
No harm.

0:58:54.291,0:58:59.108
And we send this energy[br]of love and well-being to everyone,

0:58:59.388,0:59:07.769
near or far, already born,[br]visible, not visible, the whole cosmos.

0:59:09.924,0:59:12.955
I want to mention something that -

0:59:13.832,0:59:17.020
There are bodhisattvas everywhere now.

0:59:17.568,0:59:20.458
So, it's very encouraging.

0:59:21.537,0:59:25.624
We know there have been[br]many refugees worldwide.

0:59:25.806,0:59:29.739
And the United Nation's[br]High Commission on Refugees

0:59:29.876,0:59:38.550
has published the figures that now there[br]are 68.5 million people around the world

0:59:38.951,0:59:41.363
who are refugees.

0:59:42.007,0:59:47.678
25.4 million have had to settle[br]in different countries.

0:59:48.782,0:59:52.887
And more than half of them[br]are now under 18.

0:59:54.857,1:00:01.621
And we've learned that the United Nation's[br]High Commission on Refugees has a staff

1:00:02.876,1:00:10.202
of 11,517 people,[br]and I've called them bodhisattvas.

1:00:10.788,1:00:16.349
But they are out there, helping.[br]They are rescue at sea,

1:00:16.950,1:00:20.320
in boats out there rescuing people.

1:00:20.532,1:00:24.054
We know during the War in Vietnam[br]Thay and su co Chan Khong,

1:00:24.262,1:00:28.155
perhaps were the first[br]to start the rescue at sea,

1:00:29.439,1:00:34.925
hiring big boats to go out at sea[br]and save the refugees.

1:00:35.862,1:00:39.785
So this bodhisattva practice continues.

1:00:40.510,1:00:45.861
And you know, some of these bodhisattvas,[br]we have the honor to meet at Plum Village.

1:00:47.659,1:00:52.867
You may be those bodhisattvas already.[br]You are there, you are bodhisattvas.

1:00:53.144,1:00:55.769
It's just we don't know it.

1:00:56.085,1:01:01.934
But during the summer retreat,[br]we had the honor of meeting some of them.

1:01:02.490,1:01:07.274
They are ordinary human beings,[br]but, they have a great heart.

1:01:08.520,1:01:14.591
There was one retreatant,[br]she and her family adopted

1:01:16.294,1:01:21.619
a family of four refugees[br]from a war torn country,

1:01:21.836,1:01:26.163
from a war devastated country.[br]The family fled

1:01:26.434,1:01:29.915
and she and her husband and family[br]adopted them.

1:01:30.879,1:01:36.609
And, believe it or not, this summer[br]two dogs arrived at New Hamlet.

1:01:37.844,1:01:42.524
It seems to be in the summer,[br]the cats, the dogs, they arrive.

1:01:42.933,1:01:44.778
So,

1:01:45.210,1:01:49.148
two dogs were abandoned,[br]they arrived to the New Hamlet

1:01:49.298,1:01:53.377
and you know what?[br]She drove home with one of these dogs,

1:01:53.617,1:01:56.381
and her daughter, in a small car.

1:01:56.536,1:01:58.405
That's -

1:01:58.609,1:02:01.675
That's metta. That's this love.

1:02:03.139,1:02:06.991
We learned there is a water company,[br]a mineral water company,

1:02:07.196,1:02:11.890
in the Auvergne region of France.

1:02:13.507,1:02:19.174
And they have been in partnership[br]with UNESCO for more than 12 years

1:02:19.882,1:02:25.901
to make clean, drinkable water available[br]to the children and families in Africa.

1:02:26.538,1:02:30.535
And the drought ridden areas of Africa.

1:02:30.880,1:02:36.797
And they say, for every 1 liter[br]of their water that we buy,

1:02:37.230,1:02:44.328
they provide 10 liters[br]of fresh drinkable water in Africa.

1:02:45.609,1:02:47.949
So this is metta.

1:02:48.143,1:02:52.236
Making it possible for everyone[br]to be happy and safe,

1:02:52.449,1:02:55.250
and to protect their lives.

1:02:57.118,1:03:02.626
Just as a mother loves and protects her[br]only child at the risk of her own life,

1:03:02.986,1:03:11.222
let us cultivate boundless love to offer[br]to all living beings in the entire cosmos.

1:03:14.456,1:03:20.991
We learn from the neuroscientists[br]there is a region in the brain

1:03:21.668,1:03:25.767
where compassion is located,[br]so to speak.

1:03:27.473,1:03:30.979
And this area of the brain

1:03:31.675,1:03:35.206
that they identified as compassion

1:03:35.428,1:03:40.234
is very, very close to the center[br]for maternal love.

1:03:41.264,1:03:43.953
That's interesting.

1:03:44.232,1:03:49.578
So just as a mother will protect her[br]only child, this is the love

1:03:50.423,1:03:55.311
that can be instinctual perhaps.

1:03:55.478,1:04:00.266
I've seen pictures of lionesses[br]protecting their cubs,

1:04:01.548,1:04:06.222
mother dogs protecting their puppies,[br]et cetera.

1:04:07.981,1:04:11.070
And in my own personal experience,

1:04:11.516,1:04:17.248
in listening to consultations,[br]when retreatants want to share

1:04:17.932,1:04:22.238
about something in their life,[br]how to practice with it,

1:04:23.474,1:04:27.940
I have listened to many mothers[br]and also fathers.

1:04:29.068,1:04:34.996
And I've learned that they really love[br]their daughters and their sons.

1:04:35.327,1:04:38.068
There is really love there.

1:04:38.279,1:04:41.762
No matter what age their children are,

1:04:42.378,1:04:47.210
or no matter what their children are up to[br]or have done,

1:04:48.046,1:04:52.544
or if their children haven't talked[br]to them for 5 years, 10 years, whatever.

1:04:53.572,1:04:58.529
There can be suffering, of course,[br]but I've had heard

1:04:59.483,1:05:05.353
and learned there is love, there,[br]there is this maternal and paternal love.

1:05:06.355,1:05:09.232
But the difficulty is

1:05:09.477,1:05:13.458
that sometimes the parents' suffering[br]is just too great.

1:05:13.611,1:05:19.409
The mother's suffering has just been[br]too great over a long period of time,

1:05:19.709,1:05:23.443
or she received this suffering[br]from her parents,

1:05:23.620,1:05:27.641
an ancestor's suffering[br]has been transmitted.

1:05:27.975,1:05:32.774
So that is why they haven't learned[br]how to express their love.

1:05:34.503,1:05:38.032
And their sons and daughters may believe

1:05:38.218,1:05:42.292
that their mother doesn't love them,[br]or their father doesn't love them.

1:05:42.979,1:05:46.033
But it's my belief

1:05:46.394,1:05:49.714
the parental love is there.

1:05:50.242,1:05:58.101
And that deep down inside of us[br]we can learn to forgive, if necessary,

1:05:58.320,1:06:02.690
and love our parents[br]when we understand and learn more.

1:06:07.818,1:06:12.639
So this love, this boundless love[br]is developing now

1:06:13.372,1:06:15.829
to the point where the Buddha said:

1:06:15.984,1:06:20.423
Let our boundless love[br]pervade this whole universe,

1:06:21.517,1:06:27.119
in all directions, above,[br]below, and across.

1:06:27.586,1:06:30.393
In the ten directions.

1:06:30.562,1:06:33.270
That is northwest, southwest,[br]you know,

1:06:33.453,1:06:36.720
northeast, southeast,[br]you know that, okay.

1:06:37.034,1:06:40.879
All the directions[br]let this boundless love.

1:06:41.709,1:06:48.092
We can have this thought and[br]this intention, and this volition,

1:06:48.745,1:06:54.986
even if it hasn't been[br]developed yet in us. Okay?

1:06:55.366,1:07:00.573
So, please, believe me.[br]It's enough to say the words.

1:07:03.398,1:07:08.469
This love is perhaps like the love[br]that is described in the New Testament,

1:07:08.662,1:07:11.571
the King James version.

1:07:11.792,1:07:16.449
The love that Jesus offered and spoke of.

1:07:16.947,1:07:22.420
When the new Testament was translated[br]into the Greek language,

1:07:22.517,1:07:27.242
the word used was 'agape', 'agape'.

1:07:27.953,1:07:33.418
So this was the word used to describe[br]this spiritual love.

1:07:34.212,1:07:37.033
And we know there are many kinds of love.

1:07:37.980,1:07:40.647
You have many relationships,

1:07:40.886,1:07:45.652
and you can reflect on the nature[br]of the love in your relationships.

1:07:45.816,1:07:49.672
But the boundless love is like

1:07:49.971,1:07:54.566
the love that we read about in the Bible,[br]the 'agape',

1:07:54.769,1:07:59.490
and in the Old Testament there is a word[br]from the Hebrew language called

1:08:01.575,1:08:04.865
'chesed', I don't know[br]if I pronounce it correctly,

1:08:05.490,1:08:08.431
c-h-e-s-e-d.

1:08:09.416,1:08:11.234
[xesed]?

1:08:11.378,1:08:14.636
Yes, [xesed], we have a resource here.

1:08:14.819,1:08:20.757
Good. And that means for love, goodness[br]and kindness, like metta.

1:08:21.225,1:08:25.427
So this kind of love,[br]this boundless love is found

1:08:26.111,1:08:33.526
in other spiritual traditions, it has its[br]counterpart in other spiritual traditions.

1:08:35.373,1:08:39.485
So, there are no obstacles to this love.

1:08:39.684,1:08:44.340
Even if in our mind we have anger,[br]and hatred arising.

1:08:44.546,1:08:48.483
Okay, they are just mental formations.

1:08:48.675,1:08:50.730
Don't be -

1:08:50.916,1:08:53.548
Don't water them.

1:08:53.993,1:08:57.088
Don't be too attached to all of this,

1:08:57.346,1:09:01.303
these mental formations called[br]anger, and hatred, and all that.

1:09:01.434,1:09:04.519
They are mental formations,[br]and they will arise.

1:09:04.660,1:09:08.210
They are there, in the depth[br]of our consciousness, okay.

1:09:08.417,1:09:12.430
They arise when conditions are favorable.

1:09:12.606,1:09:15.609
And then, we let them go back.

1:09:15.793,1:09:21.385
But now we want to help arise this metta,[br]this boundless love.

1:09:22.835,1:09:27.740
So what is this boundless love?[br]How can we help it arise?

1:09:29.901,1:09:33.870
He said there are no obstacles, really.

1:09:34.040,1:09:37.488
The first thing we want to do[br]is to convince our mind

1:09:37.793,1:09:40.492
that there is boundless love.

1:09:40.697,1:09:45.237
Because the mind consciousness sometimes[br]says: "No, there is no love in the world.

1:09:45.424,1:09:48.631
Read the news, look at[br]all of that. No love."

1:09:48.786,1:09:52.753
We want to convince our mind.[br]Yes, there is love.

1:09:52.914,1:09:57.393
All right. So, as I've hinted to so far,

1:09:57.549,1:10:02.072
there is this boundless love[br]and what will help is

1:10:02.562,1:10:05.999
reciting the sutra.

1:10:07.700,1:10:11.670
There is a poem Thay wrote called[br]'Alone Again'.

1:10:11.786,1:10:14.797
It's a beautiful poem.

1:10:14.951,1:10:20.818
Some of the words towards the end are:[br]"Knowing the immortality of love,

1:10:21.033,1:10:24.927
those who love you will behold you,

1:10:25.116,1:10:31.831
will continue to behold you across[br]ten thousand worlds of birth and dying."

1:10:32.464,1:10:38.969
Bodhisattvas never abandon anyone.[br]We keep this love in our heart

1:10:39.140,1:10:42.777
no matter what is happening.

1:10:42.961,1:10:47.884
No matter what we see, or what we hear.

1:10:48.365,1:10:52.120
We cultivate this love,[br]the immortality of love.

1:10:54.550,1:10:58.528
You know, people loving, practicing love,

1:10:58.914,1:11:03.057
we are impermanent.[br]People come and go, right?

1:11:03.521,1:11:07.950
But love has continued.[br]It continues to manifest.

1:11:08.888,1:11:11.661
People playing the guitar,

1:11:11.805,1:11:15.472
their hands come and go.[br]Different hands play the guitar.

1:11:15.598,1:11:18.554
But guitars stay.

1:11:18.709,1:11:21.465
So love stays.

1:11:22.605,1:11:25.287
People breathe in and out.

1:11:25.438,1:11:29.102
The lungs come and go.[br]They are different lungs, right?

1:11:29.241,1:11:33.926
But breath has continued.[br]Mindful breathing has continued.

1:11:34.090,1:11:38.766
Mindful walking has continued.[br]The feet change,

1:11:38.883,1:11:44.486
people doing the mindful walking,[br]their feet change, right?

1:11:45.028,1:11:49.423
But mindful walking has continued.

1:11:51.828,1:11:58.268
So: "Living in beauty and realizing[br]Perfect Understanding,

1:11:58.446,1:12:04.278
those who practice boundless love[br]will certainly transcend birth and death."

1:12:05.256,1:12:09.701
Living in beauty and realizing[br]Perfect Understanding.

1:12:09.926,1:12:12.660
How can we live in beauty?

1:12:12.821,1:12:17.773
There is a Native American song,[br]Now I Walk in Beauty.

1:12:17.984,1:12:21.989
Beauty is before me,[br]beauty is above me,

1:12:22.334,1:12:26.576
beauty is around me,[br]above and below me.

1:12:26.808,1:12:30.041
So there is beauty in the ten directions.

1:12:30.204,1:12:36.423
We can live in beauty, as I mentioned,[br]by living in the present moment.

1:12:37.489,1:12:40.531
And the Perfect Understanding.

1:12:40.701,1:12:46.184
To understand, we want to[br]be able to stop for a minute,

1:12:46.572,1:12:51.472
to practice stopping with each step.[br]It's vipassana, okay?

1:12:51.654,1:12:54.817
In the southern tradition we stop,

1:12:54.960,1:12:58.364
come back to ourselves[br]with mindful breathing,

1:12:58.485,1:13:01.247
and then, we look deeply.

1:13:01.400,1:13:04.612
And this is the understanding[br]that will come

1:13:04.753,1:13:09.023
when we have mindfulness,[br]concentration, and then

1:13:09.186,1:13:12.397
that will lead to insight.

1:13:12.552,1:13:17.848
So let us practice now[br]the first vipassana, the stopping.

1:13:18.094,1:13:21.839
We will stop for a minute and breathe.

1:13:24.137,1:13:27.368
And we will hear a sound of the bell.

1:13:27.495,1:13:33.016
The bell is always this voice[br]inviting us to come back to ourselves.

1:13:33.718,1:13:39.746
(Bell)

1:13:50.812,1:13:53.355
So -

1:13:55.179,1:13:59.458
And now we are ready[br]for the shorter version of this sutra.

1:13:59.615,1:14:04.258
It has been written on the board.[br]It is the metta meditation.

1:14:04.416,1:14:10.479
The monks practiced the longer sutra,[br]every single sentence of that sutra,

1:14:10.641,1:14:13.429
and then it was shortened.

1:14:13.716,1:14:18.020
The shortened version actually was first

1:14:19.424,1:14:23.912
created by Buddhaghosa. He was

1:14:27.284,1:14:32.319
a commentator, he was a monk[br]who lived in the 5th century in Sri Lanka,

1:14:33.153,1:14:36.679
more that 1,500 years ago.

1:14:36.879,1:14:42.274
He was a scholar who wrote commentaries[br]on the Buddhist teachings.

1:14:42.815,1:14:49.625
He wrote a book called the Visuddhimagga,[br]which is The Path of Purification.

1:14:50.161,1:14:55.840
And it is the most important manual[br]of Buddhist meditation

1:14:56.397,1:15:00.938
for the Theravada school of Buddhism.

1:15:01.324,1:15:06.199
That is the Buddhism that is practiced[br]in the southeast Asian countries

1:15:06.424,1:15:09.090
that I mentioned.

1:15:09.265,1:15:12.019
Buddhaghosa,

1:15:12.828,1:15:19.391
he gave this teaching[br]on the four Brahmaviharas,

1:15:19.770,1:15:23.308
the four unlimited minds.

1:15:23.497,1:15:28.197
And it's in the part two[br]in the section on concentration,

1:15:28.343,1:15:31.458
because it helps us concentrate.

1:15:31.600,1:15:37.309
And Thay has based this metta meditation[br]that we have written for you,

1:15:37.521,1:15:40.151
it's Thay's version

1:15:40.298,1:15:45.101
of the meditation that was offered[br]by the Buddhaghosa

1:15:45.393,1:15:49.002
on the four unlimited minds,

1:15:49.154,1:15:56.957
which are loving kindness, as I mentioned,[br]compassion, equanimity - Excuse me,

1:15:57.359,1:16:03.841
loving kindness, compassion,[br]joy, sympathetic joy, and equanimity.

1:16:05.197,1:16:09.887
We use all four of[br]these expressions of love

1:16:10.045,1:16:14.435
when we practice this meditation.

1:16:14.986,1:16:18.943
I want to share[br]from my personal experience

1:16:19.171,1:16:22.992
why I offer this meditation to you.

1:16:23.174,1:16:27.534
Because it has been a practice[br]I do every morning

1:16:27.856,1:16:30.943
for about a year and a half.

1:16:31.073,1:16:34.534
And I share this very often.

1:16:34.725,1:16:40.188
Because I've experienced[br]that I had a lot to transform.

1:16:40.515,1:16:48.022
With seeds of anger, ill-will,[br]or irritation, getting upset easily,

1:16:48.328,1:16:51.007
all of that.

1:16:51.181,1:16:55.069
Maybe you have some of that too.[br]I don't know.

1:16:55.257,1:16:57.805
But I decided,

1:16:57.991,1:17:03.182
after hearing I think our lay friends[br]and some monastics say

1:17:04.009,1:17:08.522
that first of all they begin by reading[br]this sutra every morning.

1:17:08.656,1:17:12.506
So I started doing that.[br]I woke up a little bit earlier,

1:17:12.626,1:17:17.012
I read this sutra to myself,[br]that was very good,

1:17:17.144,1:17:20.359
and then, I got our of bed.

1:17:20.493,1:17:24.547
So I do this practice[br]before getting out of bed.

1:17:24.723,1:17:27.647
It's my first action.

1:17:27.832,1:17:30.798
My first thoughts of the day.

1:17:30.942,1:17:33.110
For me,

1:17:33.269,1:17:37.094
the firsts moments[br]of every day are so important.

1:17:37.228,1:17:39.762
Before I brush my teeth.

1:17:39.909,1:17:42.800
Because usually I have to wait.

1:17:42.886,1:17:46.073
Many people share[br]the bathroom, so we wait.

1:17:46.203,1:17:49.613
I start my practice before that.

1:17:49.835,1:17:54.198
Sit up in bed, I started[br]by reading this sutra.

1:17:54.543,1:17:58.456
And then I noticed,[br]how can I help my mind?

1:17:58.552,1:18:01.974
Because reading the sutra was helpful.

1:18:02.153,1:18:05.102
So, then I decided to try

1:18:05.303,1:18:11.218
this guided meditation:[br]May I be happy, may I be peaceful.

1:18:11.795,1:18:18.336
Very good. I was sending this good energy[br]to myself before starting the day.

1:18:18.868,1:18:22.371
That was very nice.[br]I was giving myself

1:18:24.300,1:18:30.093
a good start before the mental[br]formations were watered.

1:18:32.347,1:18:37.045
So that unwholesome mental[br]formations would manifest.

1:18:37.311,1:18:41.893
So I would start by watering[br]the good mental formations,

1:18:42.090,1:18:45.157
bringing up the wholesome thoughts.

1:18:45.330,1:18:48.659
And then I noticed that[br]sometimes in the sangha

1:18:48.787,1:18:51.722
there were situations where there was

1:18:52.417,1:18:57.786
disharmony, or two people were[br]having difficulty in their relationship.

1:18:58.257,1:19:02.138
Or another sister wasn't happy with me.

1:19:02.337,1:19:07.475
And I knew by the way she acted,

1:19:07.650,1:19:12.347
she would turn away when she saw me,[br]she would run away.

1:19:12.816,1:19:17.909
And I knew that doing Beginning Anew[br]was not the right time.

1:19:18.072,1:19:25.427
Because words were not acceptable,[br]were not possible.

1:19:25.641,1:19:29.369
Sometimes people's suffering is so great,

1:19:29.525,1:19:33.544
that whatever you say[br]can water their suffering.

1:19:33.760,1:19:37.481
You have the intention of helping,

1:19:37.701,1:19:41.432
and you speak lovingly[br]and with good words.

1:19:41.569,1:19:49.407
However, how people receive[br]is based on how they perceive. Okay?

1:19:50.406,1:19:55.560
How they hear what you say[br]is based on their perception.

1:19:56.037,1:19:59.588
And what determines our perception?

1:20:00.127,1:20:02.887
Past experiences.

1:20:03.064,1:20:06.295
So we have past experiences,

1:20:06.911,1:20:10.391
with the tone of voice people have used,

1:20:10.574,1:20:13.360
or what words they have used.

1:20:13.572,1:20:18.199
And all of these past experiences[br]are in store consciousness.

1:20:18.973,1:20:21.759
They are sleeping.

1:20:21.909,1:20:29.082
So even if approach someone who runs away,[br]and I say with kind words and gentle voice,

1:20:29.187,1:20:32.361
she may hear it differently.

1:20:32.505,1:20:37.562
Because in her past, people spoke[br]with a loud voice and angrily.

1:20:38.654,1:20:42.892
So I cannot control how people perceive.

1:20:43.677,1:20:50.789
I have my intention, my motivation,[br]but how people will perceive it,

1:20:51.157,1:20:53.699
I don't know.

1:20:53.812,1:20:56.135
But I observe.

1:20:56.310,1:21:00.969
And if I see that words are not[br]the best thing at this moment,

1:21:01.170,1:21:05.915
what I started to do is this meditation.

1:21:06.130,1:21:10.230
In the morning I would say,[br]I would have this person,

1:21:10.820,1:21:14.268
I would see her, whatever.

1:21:14.422,1:21:18.270
You can do this for family members,[br]for roommates,

1:21:19.474,1:21:22.490
for politicians.

1:21:22.753,1:21:25.104
Anyone.

1:21:25.323,1:21:28.331
You think of this person,[br]you have this person.

1:21:28.508,1:21:33.161
And then you send this energy. So there[br]is a part of this meditation that says:

1:21:33.271,1:21:37.571
May you be happy, may you be peaceful.

1:21:37.783,1:21:41.246
And you say every single line.

1:21:41.365,1:21:45.219
May you be safe and free from accidents.

1:21:45.369,1:21:51.231
May you be free from your anger,[br]your fear, your anxiety.

1:21:51.398,1:21:56.818
And you can specify whatever it is[br]you wish for this person

1:21:57.062,1:22:00.204
that they can transform.

1:22:00.375,1:22:05.608
May you learn to look at yourself[br]with the eyes of understanding and love.

1:22:05.754,1:22:11.567
Very often we don't know how to look[br]at ourselves with understanding and love.

1:22:11.706,1:22:14.992
So we send this wish for this person:

1:22:15.170,1:22:21.735
May you be able to begin to look at[br]yourself with understanding and compassion.

1:22:22.673,1:22:28.901
May you be able to look at[br]whatever is causing your suffering,

1:22:29.109,1:22:34.439
begin to look at it. Because sometimes[br]we can't. It's too scary.

1:22:34.818,1:22:38.793
We can say:[br]When the time is right for you,

1:22:38.923,1:22:44.644
may you begin to look at your source[br]of what makes you upset.

1:22:45.323,1:22:48.259
And then we send the wish:

1:22:48.429,1:22:54.751
May you learn how to recognize[br]what will bring you happiness and joy.

1:22:57.197,1:23:01.161
And may you learn how to nourish

1:23:02.232,1:23:06.633
and be in contact with[br]what brings you happiness and joy.

1:23:07.814,1:23:12.577
When you are able to do this, then[br]you may continue to live

1:23:12.762,1:23:16.713
with freshness, solidity and freedom.

1:23:16.901,1:23:21.646
You feel fresh, more fresh,[br]when you wake up.

1:23:22.431,1:23:25.014
You have more solidity,

1:23:25.187,1:23:31.468
in terms of doing your practice[br]and knowing the practice is helping.

1:23:31.815,1:23:37.070
And you are more free[br]from these moments of suffering.

1:23:38.007,1:23:42.382
So I started to do this,[br]with a particular situation,

1:23:42.550,1:23:47.510
and I continued even though[br]the present moment was difficult.

1:23:47.827,1:23:53.944
I did not go out of my way[br]to have contact, I respected.

1:23:54.193,1:23:57.539
I gave distance and space.

1:23:57.698,1:24:03.179
And, you know? After 21 days,[br]one day she came up to me, and she said:

1:24:03.398,1:24:05.951
"Good morning."

1:24:06.068,1:24:10.455
So it has proven to be effective.

1:24:10.585,1:24:14.377
There was this one situation[br]that was really -

1:24:14.921,1:24:20.457
Brought me a lot of confirmation[br]that the practice helps.

1:24:21.301,1:24:25.794
And I've seen it how it helps in general.

1:24:26.068,1:24:29.490
So, if you don't know what to do,

1:24:29.871,1:24:35.371
and really there is nothing[br]to be done for the moment in a situation,

1:24:35.746,1:24:41.072
there is something you can do. There is[br]this practice of metta meditation.

1:24:45.341,1:24:50.540
So it's just offered as a possibility.[br]You don't have to.

1:24:51.292,1:24:58.777
You can take it step by step[br]or read just one sentence of the sutra.

1:24:59.093,1:25:02.198
You can choose what sentence.

1:25:02.354,1:25:05.990
Or you don't read the sutra at all,[br]you don't have to.

1:25:06.139,1:25:10.493
And if you want to choose one sentence

1:25:10.742,1:25:13.241
from the meditation,

1:25:13.805,1:25:16.306
that's possible.

1:25:16.498,1:25:19.778
Remember we don't have to do[br]everything all at once.

1:25:19.993,1:25:22.891
Like the 5 mindfulness trainings.

1:25:23.059,1:25:26.323
We don't have to practice[br]everything all at once.

1:25:26.515,1:25:30.612
We can choose that which resonates in us.

1:25:32.279,1:25:38.987
And we remember that this sutra and[br]this metta meditation of universal love,

1:25:38.987,1:25:41.900
sending our love everywhere,

1:25:42.015,1:25:46.269
made it possible for the monks[br]to go back to the forest

1:25:46.429,1:25:50.128
and continue their practice[br]for three months.

1:25:50.532,1:25:54.393
It calmed that negative energy.

1:25:55.671,1:26:02.686
We can offer this metta meditation[br]in many situations.

1:26:02.941,1:26:06.674
Any difficult relationship.

1:26:06.984,1:26:10.751
It doesn't have to be that[br]you are in a difficult relationship.

1:26:10.872,1:26:15.538
It can be our parents,[br]your brothers and sisters, whatever.

1:26:15.685,1:26:19.313
It's possible. People who are ill.

1:26:23.336,1:26:25.570
It is possible to apply this.

1:26:25.896,1:26:30.933
I mentioned also a metta practice[br]of the four mantras of love

1:26:31.091,1:26:34.834
that Thay has created.[br]You may also know these.

1:26:35.227,1:26:39.986
We say: I am here for you.[br]You say that to someone.

1:26:40.636,1:26:44.412
And that is your bringing happiness[br]to the other.

1:26:44.594,1:26:48.454
That is the first, that's loving kindness.

1:26:48.614,1:26:51.367
You say this to someone who likes you.

1:26:51.550,1:26:55.700
You doesn't say it to someone[br]who doesn't like you. They won't be happy.

1:26:55.849,1:27:00.866
Someone that you love, it's the mantra[br]of love, four love mantras. Okay.

1:27:02.184,1:27:07.260
Second one: I know you are there[br]and I am happy. Okay?

1:27:10.146,1:27:14.656
So this is the joy,[br]and the loving kindness.

1:27:14.900,1:27:18.964
I know you are there,[br]and I am joyful, I am happy.

1:27:19.158,1:27:22.726
Your presence brings me joy and happiness.

1:27:22.878,1:27:25.178
Third mantra:

1:27:25.357,1:27:29.478
I know you suffer, and that is why[br]I am here for you.

1:27:29.693,1:27:32.635
So now we are going to practice compassion

1:27:32.764,1:27:38.349
of the four unlimited minds of love,[br]compassion. I see you are suffering.

1:27:38.660,1:27:43.008
Compassion is wanting to relieve[br]the suffering of others.

1:27:43.718,1:27:47.181
You want to and you are capable.

1:27:47.807,1:27:51.982
Loving kindness is wanting[br]to bring happiness to others.

1:27:52.141,1:27:55.469
You want to bring happiness,[br]and you are capable.

1:27:55.645,1:27:59.844
So the third mantra of love is:[br]I know you suffer,

1:27:59.984,1:28:03.169
that is why I am here for you.

1:28:03.661,1:28:07.752
You have compassion,[br]you want to relieve their suffering,

1:28:08.066,1:28:14.427
and you offer enough of your happiness[br]to be able to relieve their suffering.

1:28:14.849,1:28:20.467
I can be there for you.[br]I have enough happiness and compassion.

1:28:21.550,1:28:26.694
I want to relieve your suffering,[br]that is why I come to be with you,

1:28:26.884,1:28:29.750
or I call you, or whatever.

1:28:31.549,1:28:37.900
The fourth mantra of love is:[br]I suffer, please help. Please, help me.

1:28:38.834,1:28:45.372
This is when we are suffering and[br]we need other's compassion to help us.

1:28:46.274,1:28:52.361
But we want to ask people who like us.[br]Okay? Alright.

1:28:52.772,1:28:57.793
We call on others, our sangha,[br]our friends, our loved ones.

1:28:58.272,1:29:02.019
We let them know.[br]I'm in a difficult situation.

1:29:03.230,1:29:07.830
You can help me by doing the following.

1:29:08.796,1:29:12.676
So we call on not only compassion,

1:29:12.841,1:29:16.125
but their loving kindness.

1:29:17.005,1:29:20.819
And their joy at being able to help us.

1:29:21.010,1:29:26.598
So loving kindness, compassion,[br]joy, the equanimity is

1:29:26.798,1:29:34.140
the practice of non discrimination.[br]Not taking sides, and including everyone.

1:29:34.950,1:29:40.061
That's the fourth aspect[br]of unbounded love,

1:29:40.675,1:29:48.202
is that our heart is wide and big,[br]it includes everyone, no discrimination.

1:29:49.264,1:29:54.828
We don't take sides,[br]we have a balanced attitude.

1:29:55.275,1:30:00.050
We have equanimity, which is balance.

1:30:05.136,1:30:08.391
We've heard about[br]the beginning a new practice

1:30:08.594,1:30:11.552
and that is also practicing.

1:30:11.732,1:30:16.223
Loving kindness, bringing happiness[br]with our words, with listening.

1:30:16.508,1:30:19.977
Being able to say: "I'm sorry".

1:30:20.138,1:30:25.573
We are practicing compassion[br]by apologizing for mistakes,

1:30:25.756,1:30:30.160
so we can relieve their suffering[br]at our mistake.

1:30:30.335,1:30:34.113
We have compassion enough to apologize.

1:30:34.585,1:30:41.698
And we share our difficulties so that[br]gives them a possibility of understanding

1:30:42.331,1:30:46.203
and opening their heart of equanimity.

1:30:46.315,1:30:53.974
They will understand and have a better[br]possibility of accepting our difficulty.

1:30:55.167,1:30:58.283
Share our suffering, our hurts,

1:30:58.412,1:31:01.848
so we call on their compassion for that.

1:31:01.955,1:31:05.482
And their understanding and equanimity.

1:31:05.617,1:31:09.781
So loving kindness, compassion,[br]joy, and equanimity

1:31:10.277,1:31:15.542
are seeds that we have, all of us.[br]They are in the store consciousness.

1:31:16.433,1:31:20.627
We just want to be able[br]to water them daily,

1:31:21.142,1:31:26.810
if you wish, so that they will manifest[br]and become stronger and stronger.

1:31:27.438,1:31:33.356
We know when a seed manifests, because[br]it has been watered in store consciousness

1:31:33.622,1:31:38.711
when it manifests it becomes[br]stronger, well-developed.

1:31:39.767,1:31:43.799
So instead of letting[br]our anger and resentment, and

1:31:44.611,1:31:50.073
judgementalness, fear, all of that

1:31:50.389,1:31:54.446
come up so often so that[br]it gets so strong and big,

1:31:54.545,1:32:01.525
we want to let those seeds of suffering[br]go back and invite other seeds to come up.

1:32:02.454,1:32:10.412
We know now that the metta meditation,[br]the Discourse on Love is one way

1:32:11.975,1:32:18.323
to do selective watering of the most[br]wholesome and beneficial seeds

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in our store consciousness,

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so they will manifest[br]in our mind consciousness

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and become stronger[br]and more solid.

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And the result will be happier.

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We will have more peace.

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And we will be able to transcend[br]our fear of birth and death.

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That means we will have so much confidence[br]and trust in this metta meditation,

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that we will see that[br]everything is just manifesting.

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Our love, our peace, our joy.

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Everything just manifests,[br]and then ceases to manifest.

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The love, and the boundless love[br]and the four aspects

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will become our experience of life.

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We will understand that birth and death[br]are just ideas.

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They are just concepts.

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I read that Thay said that[br]birth and death exist

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only because we think they exist.

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That is very deep.

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Just because we think they exist.

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What is there instead of birth and death[br]there is manifestation

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and ceasing to manifest because the causes[br]are no longer there for manifestation.

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But I do want to honor the translations,

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the 19 other translations[br]that have been made of this sutra.

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And they say: Those who practice[br]boundless love

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will no longer be born again in a womb.

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So that is how the traditional translation[br]of the Pali words means

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you won't have rebirth.

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Okay? You will not be subject to[br]coming to remanifesting in the world.

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But Thay and sister Chan Duc translated,[br]instead of saying:

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"You won't be reborn in a womb",[br]they said:

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If you practice boundless love, you will[br]certainly transcend birth and death.

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That is very beautiful.

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Dear friends, I thank you[br]for your patience,

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which is a sign of love.

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I must say you have to love me,[br]it's been long.

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Thank you for your patience[br]and for your listening.

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I have provided for each hamlet CTC

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some copies of the sutra,[br]both in French, and English,

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and also the guided meditation[br]that we wrote on the board.

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Maybe the CTCs can make[br]more copies available to our friends

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who are here for another five weeks.

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And if you won't be here for another[br]five weeks, you may be able

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to take a picture of that,[br]because everyone has devices now,

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or write it down.

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Now we will listen[br]to three sounds of the bell,

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and maybe there are some announcements.[br]Thank you, dear friends.

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It's been my happiness and joy[br]to be with you.

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(Bell)

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(Bell)

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(Bell)

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(Bell)