1 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:13,400 bell sound 2 00:00:18,963 --> 00:00:22,963 bell strike and reverberation 3 00:00:33,767 --> 00:00:45,451 bell strike and reverberation 4 00:00:45,451 --> 00:01:06,211 bell strike and reverberation 5 00:01:06,211 --> 00:01:11,448 Dear respected Thay, dear brothers and sisters, 6 00:01:11,448 --> 00:01:13,064 dear friends and sangha. 7 00:01:13,064 --> 00:01:14,930 Today is the 24th of January the year 2019 8 00:01:14,930 --> 00:01:21,480 and we are in the [?] Meditation Hall of the [?] hamlet 9 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:30,909 during our Winter Retreat. 10 00:01:30,909 --> 00:01:34,464 Winter has arrived, yes, 11 00:01:34,464 --> 00:01:37,509 I think we all agree. 12 00:01:37,509 --> 00:01:45,614 There is snow in Paris and in 18 other departments in France 13 00:01:45,614 --> 00:01:48,792 and in other countries 14 00:01:48,792 --> 00:01:54,928 we can see the beauties of nature and winter 15 00:01:54,928 --> 00:02:00,180 in all seasons in fact 16 00:02:00,180 --> 00:02:04,060 the wonders of Mother Earth that she offers us 17 00:02:04,060 --> 00:02:06,780 the beautiful green grass 18 00:02:06,780 --> 00:02:11,110 the delicate snowflakes 19 00:02:11,110 --> 00:02:13,564 the nourshing rain 20 00:02:13,564 --> 00:02:17,880 We've had rain, wind and cold weather here 21 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,746 but that's also wonderful 22 00:02:20,746 --> 00:02:24,314 with our practice of mindfulness 23 00:02:24,314 --> 00:02:27,365 we celebrate life. 24 00:02:27,365 --> 00:02:32,498 Every moment of life is precious 25 00:02:32,498 --> 00:02:36,380 and the energy of mindfulness helps us be 26 00:02:36,380 --> 00:02:39,748 in touch with ourself 27 00:02:39,748 --> 00:02:42,596 our body and mind, but also 28 00:02:42,596 --> 00:02:47,908 in touch with the world around us. 29 00:02:47,908 --> 00:02:51,297 the other morning a sister said to me, 30 00:02:51,297 --> 00:02:55,080 did you see the bird in our tree? 31 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,697 and I...oh, what tree? what bird? 32 00:02:57,697 --> 00:03:03,781 he pointed in the direction, at a distance 33 00:03:03,781 --> 00:03:08,114 and then I saw a noble blackbird 34 00:03:08,114 --> 00:03:12,465 sitting alone on the bare branch 35 00:03:12,465 --> 00:03:16,248 of a winter tree with the sunrise 36 00:03:16,248 --> 00:03:18,330 the golden light of the sunrise 37 00:03:18,330 --> 00:03:23,130 filtering through this beautiful moment. 38 00:03:23,130 --> 00:03:26,078 So I thanked her very much 39 00:03:26,078 --> 00:03:29,945 for sharing this beauty with me 40 00:03:29,945 --> 00:03:32,680 and I said "Please write a poem". 41 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,381 She writes very well. 42 00:03:36,381 --> 00:03:45,363 In winter the sunrises and sunsets are special 43 00:03:45,363 --> 00:03:52,597 and I enjoy going out and seeing the sunrise 44 00:03:52,597 --> 00:03:55,247 and sunset in winter especially 45 00:03:55,247 --> 00:03:58,429 though all year round we can appreciate the 46 00:03:58,429 --> 00:04:04,648 sunrise and sunset. 47 00:04:04,648 --> 00:04:08,914 Mindfulness as an energy is always with us 48 00:04:08,914 --> 00:04:10,842 it doesn't leave us 49 00:04:10,842 --> 00:04:16,381 it's a capacity we have that is stored 50 00:04:16,381 --> 00:04:20,142 within the depths of our consciouness as a seed 51 00:04:20,142 --> 00:04:22,097 a [?] 52 00:04:22,097 --> 00:04:27,525 we just have to wake it up, we just have to activate it 53 00:04:27,525 --> 00:04:32,514 invite it to be present with us 54 00:04:32,514 --> 00:04:40,680 mindfulness is with us during all seasons of the year. 55 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:49,009 it helps us be aware of our internal weather, 56 00:04:49,009 --> 00:04:54,544 so to speak 57 00:04:54,572 --> 00:04:57,588 what is happening in our mind 58 00:04:57,603 --> 00:04:59,710 in terms of our feelings, our thoughts 59 00:05:00,329 --> 00:05:01,794 our emotions, our mental formations. 60 00:05:03,565 --> 00:05:08,196 So mindfulness helps us know what is 61 00:05:08,196 --> 00:05:12,948 the terrain, the paysage, the landscape of our mind 62 00:05:12,948 --> 00:05:17,240 and that's very helpful 63 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,378 and it's very wonderful 64 00:05:19,378 --> 00:05:22,433 to know what's actually happening in us 65 00:05:22,433 --> 00:05:25,709 and around us 66 00:05:25,709 --> 00:05:30,495 This afternoon we'll have our 67 00:05:30,495 --> 00:05:32,965 sharing circles called dharma sharing 68 00:05:32,965 --> 00:05:40,695 and sometimes we begin the sharing circle by 69 00:05:40,695 --> 00:05:46,603 by inviting everyone to give a internal weather report, metéo, ... 70 00:05:46,603 --> 00:05:57,328 say their name, where they're from and then what is their internal weather 71 00:05:57,328 --> 00:06:04,477 and they may use some images, such as 72 00:06:04,477 --> 00:06:07,880 I feel sunny 73 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,575 I feel rainy, maybe sad 74 00:06:11,575 --> 00:06:16,792 I feel happy, I feel cloudy 75 00:06:16,792 --> 00:06:20,176 that means I have some confusion today 76 00:06:20,176 --> 00:06:21,898 I'm not real sure 77 00:06:21,898 --> 00:06:28,357 there's a storm brewing in me 78 00:06:28,357 --> 00:06:30,230 that means, oh, I'm in touch with some 79 00:06:30,230 --> 00:06:36,247 strong feelings, anger, et cetera. 80 00:06:36,247 --> 00:06:41,482 so we have an opportunity connect with our feelings 81 00:06:41,482 --> 00:06:48,320 to know actually what they are 82 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:53,174 feelings are very important, they're part of our daily life 83 00:06:53,174 --> 00:06:57,681 you know that babies have feelings 84 00:06:57,681 --> 00:07:02,918 and because they're too young to tell us what their feelings are 85 00:07:02,918 --> 00:07:06,915 they let us know about their feelings 86 00:07:06,915 --> 00:07:15,344 when a baby's happy we'll see a baby smile, laugh, gurgle 87 00:07:15,344 --> 00:07:19,875 you know, baby sounds, they're happy they're doing fine 88 00:07:19,875 --> 00:07:27,788 when a baby doesn't have a pleasant feeling, the baby lets us know 89 00:07:27,788 --> 00:07:33,182 they cry, they may be hungry or cold, or wet 90 00:07:33,182 --> 00:07:37,184 or need more sleep. 91 00:07:37,184 --> 00:07:40,491 So from the very beginning of our life 92 00:07:40,491 --> 00:07:44,788 we experienced feelings 93 00:07:44,788 --> 00:07:51,398 we have many relationships, don't we? 94 00:07:51,398 --> 00:07:55,245 and relationships usually are formed 95 00:07:55,245 --> 00:07:58,690 or begin, when there are pleasant feelings 96 00:07:58,690 --> 00:08:04,174 when there are good feelings that are shared mutually 97 00:08:04,174 --> 00:08:06,785 and then relationships can end 98 00:08:06,785 --> 00:08:11,975 when the feelings turn to unpleasant feelings 99 00:08:11,975 --> 00:08:14,423 there are bad feelings between us 100 00:08:14,423 --> 00:08:21,310 so if we don't know practices then a relationship can end 101 00:08:21,310 --> 00:08:25,677 our relationship with our mindfulness is forever 102 00:08:25,677 --> 00:08:28,213 and that's the good news 103 00:08:28,213 --> 00:08:33,539 as long as we want to practice and cultivate this energy within us, 104 00:08:33,539 --> 00:08:35,448 it's always there. 105 00:08:35,448 --> 00:08:44,853 no matter what's happening with our daily life relationships 106 00:08:44,853 --> 00:08:47,398 The Buddha gave some wonderful teachings 107 00:08:47,398 --> 00:08:53,900 in the sutra of the four foundations of mindfulness 108 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:59,358 this is an important sutra 109 00:08:59,358 --> 00:09:04,917 and Thay has written a book based on this sutra, which contains this sutra 110 00:09:04,917 --> 00:09:08,726 called "Transformation and Healing" 111 00:09:08,726 --> 00:09:11,802 and Buddha gave some teachings in this way 112 00:09:11,802 --> 00:09:16,805 he said the first foundation of our mindfulness 113 00:09:16,805 --> 00:09:19,750 is to be aware of our body 114 00:09:19,750 --> 00:09:23,327 every morning when we wake up 115 00:09:23,327 --> 00:09:29,300 we can be aware of how does my body feel? 116 00:09:29,300 --> 00:09:31,603 The second foundation of mindfulness 117 00:09:31,603 --> 00:09:34,617 is to be aware of our feelings. 118 00:09:34,617 --> 00:09:40,333 ok, how am I feeling? 119 00:09:40,333 --> 00:09:44,719 third foundation: to be aware of our mind 120 00:09:44,719 --> 00:09:52,608 the thoughts, the objects that we're thinking about 121 00:09:52,608 --> 00:09:55,226 and then the fourth foundation of mindfulness 122 00:09:55,226 --> 00:09:57,228 is to be aware of the objects 123 00:09:57,228 --> 00:10:04,308 of our mind, and that could be the world around us 124 00:10:04,308 --> 00:10:09,246 now feelings are very interesting 125 00:10:09,246 --> 00:10:14,632 according to how the Buddha looked at feelings. 126 00:10:14,632 --> 00:10:17,738 In modern Western psychology, 127 00:10:17,738 --> 00:10:21,125 we use the word feelings and emotions 128 00:10:21,125 --> 00:10:23,900 interchangeably, right? 129 00:10:23,900 --> 00:10:25,983 We could say I'm feeling happy, 130 00:10:25,983 --> 00:10:29,117 I'm feeling sad, I'm feeling peaceful, 131 00:10:29,117 --> 00:10:32,407 I'm feeling anxious, I'm feeling depressed, 132 00:10:32,407 --> 00:10:34,443 et cetera. 133 00:10:34,443 --> 00:10:38,909 Buddha didn't have modern Western psychology, 134 00:10:38,909 --> 00:10:45,554 but what he created was a practice of being aware of our feelings 135 00:10:45,554 --> 00:10:48,521 just in three ways. 136 00:10:48,521 --> 00:10:52,676 The Buddha said we have pleasant feelings, 137 00:10:52,676 --> 00:10:58,665 then we have unpleasant feelings, 138 00:10:58,665 --> 00:11:01,667 and then we have neutral feelings 139 00:11:01,667 --> 00:11:07,700 that are neither pleasant nor unpleasant. 140 00:11:07,700 --> 00:11:11,469 And you know for Buddha and his disciples who become Arhats, 141 00:11:11,469 --> 00:11:16,269 that was enough. 142 00:11:16,269 --> 00:11:23,461 To be able to identify what we're experience as something pleasant 143 00:11:23,461 --> 00:11:31,620 or unpleasant has simplified my practice enormously. 144 00:11:31,620 --> 00:11:37,869 Sometimes I've gotten too caught up or tangled up 145 00:11:37,869 --> 00:11:45,376 with more "advanced" practice by trying to name the feeling correctly. 146 00:11:45,376 --> 00:11:48,914 Is it irritation? Is it anger? 147 00:11:48,914 --> 00:11:52,599 Is it sadness? Is it discouragement? 148 00:11:52,599 --> 00:11:55,203 I spent so much time trying to get 149 00:11:55,203 --> 00:11:58,279 the right word to describe my feeling, 150 00:11:58,279 --> 00:12:05,452 and I discovered that it wasn't necessary, 151 00:12:05,452 --> 00:12:09,280 and that was good news for me. 152 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:14,395 Whenever I'm in touch with a feeling, 153 00:12:14,395 --> 00:12:16,666 I can just be aware of the feeling. 154 00:12:16,666 --> 00:12:21,332 The feeling may have its origin in my body 155 00:12:21,332 --> 00:12:24,480 or something outside 156 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:32,824 a conversation, seeing something. 157 00:12:32,824 --> 00:12:35,611 In other words, the origin may be through 158 00:12:35,611 --> 00:12:40,766 the six senses: my eyes, my ears, my nose, 159 00:12:40,766 --> 00:12:44,524 my tongue, my body, the sense of touch, 160 00:12:44,524 --> 00:12:46,418 or my thinking. 161 00:12:46,418 --> 00:12:51,190 So when I'm in touch with a feeling, 162 00:12:51,190 --> 00:12:54,429 I try to recognize, 163 00:12:54,429 --> 00:12:56,251 Is it a pleasant feeling 164 00:12:56,251 --> 00:13:00,516 or an unpleasant feeling? 165 00:13:00,516 --> 00:13:02,825 A neutral feeling is neither pleasant 166 00:13:02,825 --> 00:13:04,678 nor unpleasant 167 00:13:04,678 --> 00:13:09,402 but it has the characteristic of being 168 00:13:09,402 --> 00:13:16,101 sort of not there. Nothing much is 169 00:13:16,101 --> 00:13:18,636 happening when we have a neutral feeling. 170 00:13:18,636 --> 00:13:23,239 For example, when I open the mailbox 171 00:13:23,239 --> 00:13:26,365 to take out the letters, voila, nothing 172 00:13:26,365 --> 00:13:31,749 much is there. I buy a magazine, I give 173 00:13:31,749 --> 00:13:36,257 someone directions to the train station, 174 00:13:36,257 --> 00:13:38,521 maybe there's a slight feeling, but 175 00:13:38,521 --> 00:13:42,898 it's neither really pleasant nor unpleasant. 176 00:13:42,898 --> 00:13:46,540 A neutral feeling can change however and 177 00:13:46,540 --> 00:13:51,148 become either a pleasant or an 178 00:13:51,148 --> 00:13:54,995 unpleasant feeling. And I remember 179 00:13:54,995 --> 00:13:58,974 once Thay said, Neutral feelings can be 180 00:13:58,974 --> 00:14:02,541 made into pleasant feelings, they can be 181 00:14:02,541 --> 00:14:06,535 transformed into pleasant feelings 182 00:14:06,535 --> 00:14:12,002 with mindful breathing. And that is, 183 00:14:12,002 --> 00:14:16,507 nothing much is happening, but if I sit 184 00:14:16,507 --> 00:14:20,246 down and relax and breathe, I can bring 185 00:14:20,246 --> 00:14:24,446 calmness into my body and relaxation 186 00:14:24,446 --> 00:14:30,503 and that is pleasant. 187 00:14:30,503 --> 00:14:33,672 So feelings are constantly changing, 188 00:14:33,672 --> 00:14:37,098 one into another, there's a constant flux 189 00:14:37,098 --> 00:14:40,776 of feeling because wer'e constantly 190 00:14:40,776 --> 00:14:44,747 receiving impressions through our nervous 191 00:14:44,747 --> 00:14:47,503 system, through our sense organs, 192 00:14:47,503 --> 00:14:55,537 and that is activating feelings. 193 00:14:55,537 --> 00:14:58,052 Let us a take a moment now to create 194 00:14:58,052 --> 00:15:02,348 a pleasant feeling, I hope. We will pause 195 00:15:02,348 --> 00:15:06,420 and come back to ourself and enjoy our 196 00:15:06,420 --> 00:15:15,114 breathing in and out, gently, naturally. 197 00:15:15,114 --> 00:15:20,084 bell 198 00:15:20,084 --> 00:15:40,967 bell 199 00:15:40,967 --> 00:15:46,726 So then the practice that helps us 200 00:15:46,726 --> 00:15:52,808 recognize our feelings is called [?] 201 00:15:52,808 --> 00:15:59,071 recognition. We simply notice what is 202 00:15:59,071 --> 00:16:01,821 there and what the feeling is, 203 00:16:01,821 --> 00:16:05,638 without thinking, without adding more 204 00:16:05,638 --> 00:16:11,866 to the feeling. Sometimes when we have 205 00:16:11,866 --> 00:16:14,868 a pleasant feeling, we begin to think: 206 00:16:14,868 --> 00:16:18,533 "Oh, how can I continue to have this 207 00:16:18,533 --> 00:16:23,458 pleasant feeling?" or sometimes when 208 00:16:23,458 --> 00:16:27,103 we have an unpleasant feeling, we begin 209 00:16:27,103 --> 00:16:30,440 to think: "Why did this happen? 210 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:31,744 What can I do to stop it?" 211 00:16:31,744 --> 00:16:32,395 We add thoughts. 212 00:16:36,676 --> 00:16:41,327 But to simply recognize a feeling, 213 00:16:41,327 --> 00:16:42,473 all we have to do is notice it, 214 00:16:42,473 --> 00:16:45,094 breathe with it, and no mental 215 00:16:45,094 --> 00:16:49,151 commentary. There is a pleasant feeling 216 00:16:49,151 --> 00:16:53,277 here now, there is an unpleasant feeling 217 00:16:53,277 --> 00:16:55,108 here now. 218 00:16:55,108 --> 00:17:04,254 I made a list of some of the objects 219 00:17:04,254 --> 00:17:08,684 which result in pleasant feeling for me, 220 00:17:08,684 --> 00:17:11,904 and I invite everyone to do that, 221 00:17:11,904 --> 00:17:12,663 this afternoon, this evening, 222 00:17:12,663 --> 00:17:19,595 tomorrow, on your day off. 223 00:17:19,595 --> 00:17:22,016 Become aware of what gives us 224 00:17:22,016 --> 00:17:27,542 a pleasant feeling. 225 00:17:27,542 --> 00:17:30,447 I've already mentioned the sunrise 226 00:17:30,447 --> 00:17:36,338 and the sunset. Hearing the sound of 227 00:17:36,338 --> 00:17:43,413 the waterfall, the birds singing in spring, 228 00:17:43,413 --> 00:17:54,562 singing, soon we will celebrate the lunar 229 00:17:54,562 --> 00:17:59,699 new year, Tet, and a pleasant feeling 230 00:17:59,699 --> 00:18:03,942 is almost guaranteed everyday. 231 00:18:03,942 --> 00:18:07,759 There's happiness, there's friendship, 232 00:18:07,759 --> 00:18:11,290 the delicious taste of the Earth cake, 233 00:18:11,290 --> 00:18:16,957 and other wonderful Vietnamese food. 234 00:18:16,957 --> 00:18:21,137 I have pleasant feeling seeing the 235 00:18:21,137 --> 00:18:24,982 spring flowers, the green grass, 236 00:18:24,982 --> 00:18:29,797 the bamboo. 237 00:18:29,797 --> 00:18:36,170 Feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. 238 00:18:36,170 --> 00:18:39,704 Walking with friends, enjoying 239 00:18:39,704 --> 00:18:44,403 a cup of tea, sitting down. 240 00:18:44,403 --> 00:18:47,633 Doing nothing. 241 00:18:47,633 --> 00:18:49,235 So these are some of the sources 242 00:18:49,235 --> 00:18:52,795 but not all, of the sources, of pleasant 243 00:18:52,795 --> 00:18:57,280 feelings. There's one thing 244 00:18:57,280 --> 00:19:01,939 I want to share about pleasant feelings, 245 00:19:01,939 --> 00:19:06,570 is sometimes, we want them over and over 246 00:19:06,570 --> 00:19:10,501 and over again, and more and more and more 247 00:19:10,501 --> 00:19:13,895 and they can become an addiction. 248 00:19:13,895 --> 00:19:19,621 So we call it a sweet internal formation. 249 00:19:19,621 --> 00:19:26,766 It's addiction to drugs, to drinking, 250 00:19:26,766 --> 00:19:32,753 to smoking, to too much sugar, too much 251 00:19:32,753 --> 00:19:37,726 whatever. Because we have the seed 252 00:19:37,726 --> 00:19:41,170 of desire within us, okay? So it's 253 00:19:41,170 --> 00:19:44,569 alright, there's nothing wrong with that. 254 00:19:44,569 --> 00:19:46,456 With our practice of mindfulness 255 00:19:46,456 --> 00:19:50,300 we're aware of pleasant feeling, and 256 00:19:50,300 --> 00:19:54,593 whether the seed of desire is present, 257 00:19:54,593 --> 00:19:57,699 okay, I'm aware the seed of desire 258 00:19:57,699 --> 00:20:00,446 is present. To have a piece of chocolate, 259 00:20:00,446 --> 00:20:03,002 alright, one piece of chocolate, 260 00:20:03,002 --> 00:20:07,107 moderation. But if I say, oh another piece 261 00:20:07,107 --> 00:20:12,053 won't hurt, a second piece, okay, desire 262 00:20:12,053 --> 00:20:14,763 has grown a litte bit more, it's been watered. 263 00:20:14,763 --> 00:20:18,234 Well ,a third piece for good luck, 264 00:20:18,234 --> 00:20:22,352 three pieces of chocolate. Okay. 265 00:20:22,352 --> 00:20:24,590 Do you understand? 266 00:20:24,590 --> 00:20:27,308 So the desire grows and grows 267 00:20:27,308 --> 00:20:29,923 and then we think we need the chocolate 268 00:20:29,923 --> 00:20:33,437 to have pleasant feelings. 269 00:20:33,437 --> 00:20:39,051 But not really. So we want to say 270 00:20:39,051 --> 00:20:43,496 we bring our mindfulness to the 271 00:20:43,496 --> 00:20:48,172 experience of pleasant feelings 272 00:20:48,172 --> 00:20:53,664 based on consumption. Okay? But there are 273 00:20:53,664 --> 00:20:55,729 many ways of consuming. We consume 274 00:20:55,729 --> 00:21:04,417 with our eyes, our ears, et cetera. 275 00:21:04,417 --> 00:21:08,946 So, if mindfulness is there it's sort of 276 00:21:08,946 --> 00:21:13,098 a protection so that the pleasant feeling 277 00:21:13,098 --> 00:21:18,175 doesn't be absolutely necessary all the 278 00:21:18,175 --> 00:21:24,507 time without fail. So with my mindfulness 279 00:21:24,507 --> 00:21:27,964 I say "I'm aware of the pleasant feeling. 280 00:21:27,964 --> 00:21:30,555 I'm aware of the chocolate," or whatever 281 00:21:30,555 --> 00:21:35,001 it is that's giving you the pleasant feeling. 282 00:21:35,001 --> 00:21:36,259 Breathing out, I know my mindfulness 283 00:21:36,259 --> 00:21:36,936 tells me I've had enough, and that's all. 284 00:21:40,091 --> 00:21:50,934 So where this goes for anything that 285 00:21:50,934 --> 00:21:52,787 we consume. And I use a sentence now 286 00:21:52,787 --> 00:21:55,688 that is very, very helpful to me. 287 00:21:55,688 --> 00:21:58,889 I say to myself, "I don't want to hurt 288 00:21:58,889 --> 00:22:03,118 myself." Okay? And if I keep that as 289 00:22:03,118 --> 00:22:05,638 my mantra, "I don't want to hurt 290 00:22:05,638 --> 00:22:08,789 myself" then my mindfulness is there 291 00:22:08,789 --> 00:22:12,870 as the protector. Mindfulness says, 292 00:22:12,870 --> 00:22:16,266 "Okay, you don't want to hurt yourself? 293 00:22:16,266 --> 00:22:21,726 Stop now." So we know the mindfulness 294 00:22:21,726 --> 00:22:26,477 trainings are guidelines that help us 295 00:22:26,477 --> 00:22:30,597 not hurt ourselves, help us keep us going 296 00:22:30,597 --> 00:22:34,062 in a good direction, to create more 297 00:22:34,062 --> 00:22:41,295 happiness and pleasant feelings. 298 00:22:41,295 --> 00:22:46,483 This afternoon there will be a match, 299 00:22:46,483 --> 00:22:52,013 Asian World Cup foot, football, and the 300 00:22:52,013 --> 00:22:56,247 countries are Vietnam and Japan. And 301 00:22:56,247 --> 00:22:58,914 we know at the end of the match there 302 00:22:58,914 --> 00:23:02,410 will be some pleasant feelings shared by 303 00:23:02,410 --> 00:23:07,315 one team, we don't know which team. 304 00:23:07,315 --> 00:23:10,384 But there will be pleasant feelings. 305 00:23:10,384 --> 00:23:14,050 There will also be unpleasant feelings. 306 00:23:14,050 --> 00:23:16,082 And that will be for the team that doesn't 307 00:23:16,082 --> 00:23:19,507 win, I imagine there will be unpleasant 308 00:23:19,507 --> 00:23:24,879 feelings, but an ability to accept. 309 00:23:24,879 --> 00:23:27,501 So, we know that there are also 310 00:23:27,501 --> 00:23:32,354 unpleasant feelings that occur, and 311 00:23:32,354 --> 00:23:38,347 accepting them is important. 312 00:23:38,347 --> 00:23:40,080 Do you know when I breathe in the 313 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:45,773 cool morning air, the cold morning air, 314 00:23:45,773 --> 00:23:49,002 it's minus 1 and I'm breathing it in, it's 315 00:23:49,002 --> 00:23:52,127 unpleasant, a little bit. 316 00:23:52,127 --> 00:23:56,901 But my nose accepts it. My nose doesn't 317 00:23:56,901 --> 00:23:59,829 say "Go away, cold air. I don't want you." 318 00:23:59,829 --> 00:24:03,071 My nose accepts the cold air. 319 00:24:03,071 --> 00:24:07,291 And I do, too. 320 00:24:07,291 --> 00:24:09,330 So, unpleasant feelings can have their 321 00:24:09,330 --> 00:24:12,903 root in our body. 322 00:24:12,903 --> 00:24:17,768 There's something maybe not balanced 323 00:24:17,768 --> 00:24:22,198 in our physiology, and we can have an 324 00:24:22,198 --> 00:24:25,016 unpleasant feeling, a headache, 325 00:24:25,016 --> 00:24:29,833 for example, or a toothache. 326 00:24:29,833 --> 00:24:34,625 An unpleasant feeling can have its source 327 00:24:34,625 --> 00:24:39,037 not within the body and physiology but 328 00:24:39,037 --> 00:24:40,969 unpleasant feeling can come from a 329 00:24:40,969 --> 00:24:47,341 physical event. Let's say you hurt your 330 00:24:47,341 --> 00:24:52,003 thumb while trying to hammer a nail 331 00:24:52,003 --> 00:24:55,182 into wood. So you hit your thumb, and 332 00:24:55,182 --> 00:24:59,609 that was a physical event. The hammer 333 00:24:59,609 --> 00:25:01,815 and the nail were not part of your body's 334 00:25:01,815 --> 00:25:05,629 physiology but it contributed to an 335 00:25:05,629 --> 00:25:12,510 unpleasant feeling. A third source of 336 00:25:12,510 --> 00:25:16,083 unpleasant feeling would be from our 337 00:25:16,083 --> 00:25:21,585 mind, a psychological event. So you hear 338 00:25:21,585 --> 00:25:28,514 some sad news, or you see something 339 00:25:28,514 --> 00:25:30,698 and you feel very sad on seeing it, so 340 00:25:30,698 --> 00:25:35,895 something has watered the seed in our 341 00:25:35,895 --> 00:25:39,667 consciousness, the depths of our 342 00:25:39,667 --> 00:25:45,682 consciousness, our alaya, and the seed 343 00:25:45,682 --> 00:25:49,473 will manifest, and we will experience what 344 00:25:49,473 --> 00:25:52,345 we would call, maybe, an emotion. 345 00:25:52,345 --> 00:25:55,411 Okay? a separation, an argument, a 346 00:25:55,411 --> 00:26:01,977 disappointment, losing a credit card, 347 00:26:01,977 --> 00:26:05,351 things like that, and we will have an 348 00:26:05,351 --> 00:26:11,246 emotional response. So unpleasant 349 00:26:11,246 --> 00:26:15,672 feelings can have three sources, but 350 00:26:15,672 --> 00:26:18,353 also pleasant feelings can have 351 00:26:18,353 --> 00:26:22,355 three sources: from our body, our mind, 352 00:26:22,355 --> 00:26:27,837 and then the world around us. 353 00:26:27,837 --> 00:26:32,440 So, what do I do when an unpleasant 354 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,259 feeling arises? Breathing in, using my 355 00:26:35,259 --> 00:26:38,832 mindfulness practice, I'm aware of 356 00:26:38,832 --> 00:26:42,213 this feeling. Breathing out, I experience 357 00:26:42,213 --> 00:26:48,270 this feeling as unpleasant, but no 358 00:26:48,270 --> 00:26:52,133 judgment okay? Unpleasant. Breathing 359 00:26:52,133 --> 00:26:57,520 in, I embrace and I stay with this 360 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:02,668 unpleasant feeling. Breathing out, I 361 00:27:02,668 --> 00:27:06,299 know I am taking care of this unpleasant 362 00:27:06,299 --> 00:27:14,654 feeling. One morning not too long ago, 363 00:27:14,654 --> 00:27:21,405 I had unpleasant feelings. And I realized 364 00:27:21,405 --> 00:27:25,022 that the source was my body, my 365 00:27:25,022 --> 00:27:30,699 physiology. Everything seemed too loud. 366 00:27:30,699 --> 00:27:34,200 Much too loud. But that's very unusual. 367 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,235 Usually everything is too soft. 368 00:27:37,235 --> 00:27:41,942 But this morning, everything was too loud. 369 00:27:41,942 --> 00:27:44,956 In the meditation hall, the chanting 370 00:27:44,956 --> 00:27:50,201 was beautiful, absolutely inspiring, the 371 00:27:50,201 --> 00:27:53,054 melody, the words, everything was 372 00:27:53,054 --> 00:27:57,224 beautiful. However my ears heard it, 373 00:27:57,224 --> 00:28:01,697 it's too loud. So I had to protect my ears 374 00:28:01,697 --> 00:28:05,924 and I hope that no one saw that. We do 375 00:28:05,924 --> 00:28:09,131 that when the jets fly over. You know the 376 00:28:09,131 --> 00:28:13,352 army, air force, they go over grand speed 377 00:28:13,352 --> 00:28:18,531 with a great big sound and I do that. 378 00:28:18,531 --> 00:28:22,523 And then after breakfast in our quarters 379 00:28:22,523 --> 00:28:26,278 everyone was talking, sharing, just normal, 380 00:28:26,278 --> 00:28:31,220 hello, and daily talk before the gathering 381 00:28:31,220 --> 00:28:36,660 it's too loud, again, too loud. And 382 00:28:36,660 --> 00:28:42,255 instead of trying to correct it, which 383 00:28:42,255 --> 00:28:45,397 may be a habit, you know we have contact, 384 00:28:45,397 --> 00:28:49,969 attention, a feeling, perception, and then 385 00:28:49,969 --> 00:28:54,022 a volition to do something about it. 386 00:28:54,022 --> 00:28:55,953 A tendency to say, "Oh, could you turn 387 00:28:55,953 --> 00:28:59,542 down the volume?" et cetera. No, I 388 00:28:59,542 --> 00:29:02,314 decided I didn't want to do that, 389 00:29:02,314 --> 00:29:06,100 I didn't want to add anything to anyone 390 00:29:06,100 --> 00:29:09,062 else's mind, you know, their mental state. 391 00:29:09,062 --> 00:29:12,767 We never know, when we speak, how 392 00:29:12,767 --> 00:29:15,539 the words will be received. 393 00:29:15,539 --> 00:29:17,870 So I was silent through all of this 394 00:29:17,870 --> 00:29:22,651 too loud experience, So, I said to myself, 395 00:29:22,651 --> 00:29:25,300 "I'm having an unpleasant feeling 396 00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:29,172 now." I was overwhelmed with 397 00:29:29,172 --> 00:29:31,673 unpleasant feelings, you know, strange, 398 00:29:31,673 --> 00:29:34,358 but okay, unpleasant feeling. 399 00:29:34,358 --> 00:29:36,734 And the next, most important 400 00:29:36,734 --> 00:29:39,812 sentence I said to myself was, 401 00:29:39,812 --> 00:29:43,056 "I'm going to transform this feeling 402 00:29:43,056 --> 00:29:45,578 into a pleasant feeling. I'm going 403 00:29:45,578 --> 00:29:49,363 to transform it." Because I remember 404 00:29:49,363 --> 00:29:51,980 Thay said we can transform an unpleasant 405 00:29:51,980 --> 00:29:54,446 feeling into a pleasant feeling 406 00:29:54,446 --> 00:29:57,401 by mindful breathing. 407 00:29:57,401 --> 00:29:58,964 So I sat down and 408 00:29:58,964 --> 00:30:02,501 I just sat there, I relaxed, and 409 00:30:02,501 --> 00:30:07,121 I practiced breathing in and out. 410 00:30:07,121 --> 00:30:09,529 And I relaxed. 411 00:30:09,529 --> 00:30:14,177 And it worked, it really worked. 412 00:30:14,177 --> 00:30:18,854 So, that's how I handled that 413 00:30:18,854 --> 00:30:23,532 unpleasant feeling that was continuing 414 00:30:23,532 --> 00:30:24,476 and when I was able to relax, 415 00:30:24,476 --> 00:30:31,811 calm myself, I was able to see clearly 416 00:30:31,811 --> 00:30:36,261 why, why it came up. It had to do with my 417 00:30:36,261 --> 00:30:41,457 physiology, my body, my nervous system 418 00:30:41,457 --> 00:30:44,681 I did not have enough sleep, 419 00:30:44,681 --> 00:30:46,925 and because of that I thought, 420 00:30:46,925 --> 00:30:50,297 "Oh, a nice cup of green tea might 421 00:30:50,297 --> 00:30:53,141 help me, early this morning." 422 00:30:53,141 --> 00:30:56,745 So I had a cup of green tea, but 423 00:30:56,745 --> 00:30:59,247 it was at the same time that my body 424 00:30:59,247 --> 00:31:03,069 is producing cortisol. We know that 425 00:31:03,069 --> 00:31:05,744 the body produces cortisol, which 426 00:31:05,744 --> 00:31:12,689 activates the whole body, the adrenal 427 00:31:12,689 --> 00:31:15,313 glands, it's a stress hormone, cortisol, 428 00:31:15,313 --> 00:31:18,539 but it's necessary to get the body moving 429 00:31:18,539 --> 00:31:21,985 in certain situations. 430 00:31:21,985 --> 00:31:26,613 However, I drank the tea at the same time, 431 00:31:26,613 --> 00:31:29,904 and green tea releases cortisol, also. 432 00:31:29,904 --> 00:31:34,011 So I had a double dose of cortisol. 433 00:31:34,011 --> 00:31:40,248 And cortisol will act on the adrenal glands 434 00:31:40,248 --> 00:31:46,235 and secrete adrenaline, and it affects, 435 00:31:46,235 --> 00:31:49,214 the double dose of adrenaline, 436 00:31:49,214 --> 00:31:51,957 everything was too loud. 437 00:31:51,957 --> 00:31:54,389 So now there are better times to drink 438 00:31:54,389 --> 00:31:57,934 green tea, after the cortisol level 439 00:31:57,934 --> 00:32:05,620 in the body goes down, if your body is sensitive. 440 00:32:05,620 --> 00:32:08,363 Maybe the young ones, it's fine, any time, 441 00:32:08,363 --> 00:32:12,145 green tea, but, at a certain age, we know, 442 00:32:12,145 --> 00:32:14,733 it's better to drink tea and coffee 443 00:32:14,733 --> 00:32:18,191 after 9:30 in the morning. I'll give you 444 00:32:18,191 --> 00:32:21,826 the times, scientists have found it 445 00:32:21,826 --> 00:32:24,841 between 9:30 and 11:30, cortisol level 446 00:32:24,841 --> 00:32:29,489 is lower, 1:30 to 5:30, okay? 447 00:32:29,489 --> 00:32:33,274 time for coffee and tea. 448 00:32:33,274 --> 00:32:36,142 This is research actually, they have done 449 00:32:36,142 --> 00:32:41,487 research, and it was posted by someone 450 00:32:41,487 --> 00:32:50,384 who has her web page is "I love coffee" 451 00:32:50,384 --> 00:32:52,537 but she found the better time to drink 452 00:32:52,537 --> 00:32:55,252 the coffee, during coffee break really, 453 00:32:55,252 --> 00:32:59,252 and that's between 9:30 and 11:30. 454 00:32:59,252 --> 00:33:04,200 But anyway, let us have a pause 455 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,290 and we'll listen to a sound of the bell 456 00:33:07,290 --> 00:33:10,266 and it's after 9:30 so I can enjoy a 457 00:33:10,266 --> 00:33:37,560 little taste of green tea. 458 00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:38,601 (bell) 459 00:33:38,601 --> 00:33:38,851 (bell) 460 00:33:38,851 --> 00:33:39,101 On Sunday we had a wonderful dharma 461 00:33:39,101 --> 00:33:40,206 talk that described the four noble truths 462 00:33:40,206 --> 00:33:42,570 and the eight-fold noble path. 463 00:33:42,570 --> 00:33:48,520 And I would like to review that 464 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:54,828 a little bit in terms of unpleasant 465 00:33:54,828 --> 00:33:58,997 feelings, because unpleasant feelings 466 00:33:58,997 --> 00:34:02,922 are not necessarily suffering. 467 00:34:02,922 --> 00:34:07,745 It depends on the depth of the 468 00:34:07,745 --> 00:34:11,702 unpleasant feeling or the strength of it. 469 00:34:11,702 --> 00:34:14,355 It can simply be unpleasant feeling, okay 470 00:34:14,355 --> 00:34:15,908 it will change. 471 00:34:15,908 --> 00:34:20,852 Or it can be something that is with us 472 00:34:20,852 --> 00:34:24,395 from childhood even, from our wounded 473 00:34:24,395 --> 00:34:28,677 child, if we experienced a lot of suffering 474 00:34:28,677 --> 00:34:34,850 as a child growing up with abuse or 475 00:34:34,850 --> 00:34:40,826 unhappy family life, unhappy experience 476 00:34:40,826 --> 00:34:43,789 in the home, so unpleasant feelings 477 00:34:43,789 --> 00:34:47,235 have their history. 478 00:34:47,235 --> 00:34:51,316 It could be caused just a few moments ago 479 00:34:51,316 --> 00:34:56,015 or the roots can be much further back 480 00:34:56,015 --> 00:35:01,568 in our lives. So I would like to have us 481 00:35:01,568 --> 00:35:03,996 look at that again, the four noble truths, 482 00:35:03,996 --> 00:35:08,904 in terms of pleasant feelings, 483 00:35:08,904 --> 00:35:12,352 so that will be: I recognize the presence 484 00:35:13,769 --> 00:35:17,317 of an unpleasant feeling. I recognize 485 00:35:17,317 --> 00:35:21,936 that the unpleasant feeling has its source 486 00:35:21,936 --> 00:35:29,161 its roots, in the past, in the three 487 00:35:29,161 --> 00:35:32,089 domains that I mentioned: my 488 00:35:32,089 --> 00:35:36,005 physiology, a physical event, my mind, 489 00:35:36,005 --> 00:35:39,132 but we know there are some practices 490 00:35:39,132 --> 00:35:43,974 we can do to transform unpleasant feelings 491 00:35:43,974 --> 00:35:47,451 and with the practices we will restore 492 00:35:47,451 --> 00:35:50,889 the pleasant feeling. 493 00:35:50,889 --> 00:35:53,997 So we have the noble eight-fold path 494 00:35:53,997 --> 00:36:01,727 which is right view, right thinking, right 495 00:36:01,727 --> 00:36:02,930 speech, right action. For the feelings 496 00:36:02,930 --> 00:36:10,792 we don't have to go through all of the 497 00:36:10,792 --> 00:36:12,640 eight practices of the eight-fold path, 498 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:14,923 but one important thing to remember is 499 00:36:14,923 --> 00:36:21,527 that when we have an unpleasant feeling 500 00:36:21,527 --> 00:36:25,336 sometimes our thinking about the feeling 501 00:36:25,336 --> 00:36:27,952 may make it worse. 502 00:36:27,952 --> 00:36:31,951 Okay? we add commentary. 503 00:36:31,951 --> 00:36:34,196 We may know the example of 504 00:36:34,196 --> 00:36:37,086 the arrow, the Buddha gave this 505 00:36:37,086 --> 00:36:39,969 example. An arrow is shot 506 00:36:39,969 --> 00:36:42,917 and a man is hit by an arrow. 507 00:36:42,917 --> 00:36:45,885 Of course he has pain, he has an 508 00:36:45,885 --> 00:36:49,976 unpleasant feeling, physical unpleasant feeling 509 00:36:49,976 --> 00:36:56,173 But for the man to stop and say, "Wait, 510 00:36:56,173 --> 00:36:58,248 don't take out the arrow yet, 511 00:36:58,248 --> 00:36:59,831 I want to know who shot it, 512 00:36:59,831 --> 00:37:03,044 where he came from, why did he do it." 513 00:37:03,044 --> 00:37:06,050 No, this kind of additional thinking 514 00:37:06,050 --> 00:37:09,323 is not necessary. Take out the arrow, 515 00:37:09,323 --> 00:37:12,650 take care of the wound, okay? 516 00:37:12,650 --> 00:37:17,668 So, with unpleasant feelings sometimes 517 00:37:17,668 --> 00:37:20,773 we add a lot of thinking and 518 00:37:20,773 --> 00:37:24,607 questioning when we first recognize 519 00:37:24,607 --> 00:37:28,773 the unpleasant feeling, so we don't have 520 00:37:28,773 --> 00:37:34,623 to do that. The Buddha said "If a second 521 00:37:34,623 --> 00:37:37,510 arrow comes and hits the man in the same 522 00:37:37,510 --> 00:37:41,679 place, the pain will be ten times, 523 00:37:41,679 --> 00:37:47,211 a hundred times greater." 524 00:37:47,211 --> 00:37:54,026 So our response to illness or bad news 525 00:37:54,026 --> 00:38:00,656 is made much heavier by our added 526 00:38:00,656 --> 00:38:03,966 thinking about it, our worries, our 527 00:38:03,966 --> 00:38:08,134 anxiety, everything that we add just 528 00:38:08,134 --> 00:38:12,515 to the event. There is an illness. Okay, 529 00:38:12,515 --> 00:38:17,210 the illness is there, we'll take care of it, 530 00:38:17,210 --> 00:38:19,800 Take care of my diet, my exercise, 531 00:38:19,800 --> 00:38:24,327 everything. So when there's an 532 00:38:24,327 --> 00:38:28,963 unpleasant feeling, if we continue to 533 00:38:28,963 --> 00:38:30,675 think about it, and he did this, 534 00:38:30,675 --> 00:38:33,541 she did that, why'd it happen, 535 00:38:33,541 --> 00:38:35,962 why didn't it happen, et cetera, 536 00:38:35,962 --> 00:38:38,988 that won't help. It's like the second 537 00:38:38,988 --> 00:38:42,744 arrow. So what we want to do is 538 00:38:42,744 --> 00:38:46,598 simply practice with an unpleasant feeling 539 00:38:46,598 --> 00:38:52,264 calm it, relax the unpleasant feeling. 540 00:38:52,264 --> 00:38:58,374 So, let's have a look now at what I 541 00:38:58,374 --> 00:39:02,809 mentioned. We'll have a look at the four 542 00:39:02,809 --> 00:39:06,197 noble truths, just in terms of feelings, 543 00:39:06,197 --> 00:39:10,142 not suffering as such, and then see that 544 00:39:10,142 --> 00:39:20,188 we can restore pleasant feelings. 545 00:39:20,188 --> 00:39:22,922 It's always a little bit of a challenge 546 00:39:22,922 --> 00:39:27,891 dismounting from the podium, do I 547 00:39:27,891 --> 00:39:30,852 stand up and walk down the stairs? 548 00:39:30,852 --> 00:39:34,515 or do I just step down? I prefer 549 00:39:34,515 --> 00:39:38,529 to just step down. 550 00:39:38,529 --> 00:39:44,012 These orchids are beautiful, 551 00:39:44,012 --> 00:39:47,589 they're really very lovely. 552 00:39:47,589 --> 00:39:49,812 Every moment is a moment for 553 00:39:49,812 --> 00:40:00,640 a pleasant feeling, even as I have the 554 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:01,824 unpleasant task of dismounting. 555 00:40:01,824 --> 00:40:12,895 But it's been done, thank you. 556 00:40:12,895 --> 99:59:59,999 Unpleasant feeling. So that's taking the 557 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 place of the presence of suffering, okay? 558 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Cause of my unpleasant feeling, causes. 559 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And that's causes of suffering, the 560 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 second noble truth. 561 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Practices to do with unpleasant feeling, 562 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what are the practices I can do when 563 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I have an unpleasant feeling? 564 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Practices to transform the 565 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling 566 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We know one is stopping, just 567 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 stopping for a minute 568 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 taking a pause, stopping pause. 569 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Come back to ourself with mindful 570 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 breathing. 571 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 If our whole body can be involved with 572 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 transforming the energy of an 573 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling, that sometimes 574 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 works better, at least for me. 575 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So I enjoy walking, I enjoy walking 576 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 meditation or walking. 577 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You can enjoy jogging, running, or 578 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 other body movement. Walking. 579 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Looking deeply into the causes 580 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to have clarity 581 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Clarity, how this has come to be 582 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and we know that causation, the 583 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Buddha said, this is like this, because 584 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is like that. There's an 585 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 interdependent causing. Many events 586 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 come together to create an event or 587 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 something, it's interdependent 588 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 origination. Looking into the many 589 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 causes. We do not have to know the 590 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 causes to change the unpleasant feeling 591 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 into a pleasant feeling right away. 592 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We don't have to know the causes right 593 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 away. We can relax, calm our mind, 594 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and when the mind is calm, we will 595 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 see more clearly. We will have the 596 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 better conditions for understanding. 597 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 What we have learned that when 598 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 our mind is agitated, when we're 599 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 very worried, or upset, or angry 600 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 when there's a lot of mental 601 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 disruption so to speak, then the 602 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 understanding cannot manifest, it's 603 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 as if the waves on the ocean are too 604 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 big, there's too much happening, and 605 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we simply cannot access the deeper 606 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 wisdom and understanding of why 607 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 this has happened. 608 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So the calming of the mind makes 609 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the water clear and we can see, 610 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we can understand better. Okay, 611 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so I'm listing some practices to 612 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 transform the unpleasant feeling. 613 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Don't think about the situation, the 614 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 person, the event. Don't do the 615 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 thinking while changing the feeling, okay? 616 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Don't think at that moment, 617 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 just breathe, just walk, just listen to 618 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 music. So I will add that, because music 619 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is also a very wonderful healing element 620 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is available. It's not something the 621 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 monastics can do all the time, right 622 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 away, but we chant, that's also healing 623 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the chanting, the singing. 624 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 For all of you who have other conditions 625 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 music can be very soothing and healing 626 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 an unpleasant feeling. 627 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And I say this from my experience so 628 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm not making it up. 629 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So for me it's Mozart, Mozart piano 630 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 concerto. For you it may be others. 631 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Or other kinds of music, so 632 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 many more practices to transform 633 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling. 634 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Please be attentive now because 635 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sometimes when we have an unpleasant feeling 636 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we want to consume, we want to drink 637 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 something, we want to eat something. 638 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thay says we go to the refrigerator, we 639 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 look, is there something that will help 640 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 me now feel better? So the fifth 641 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 mindfulness training will help us to 642 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not consume when we have 643 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feelings. We do other 644 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 things. Talk to a friend, or go outside 645 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 be in touch with what is refreshing 646 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and healing in the present moment. 647 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So for an unpleasant feeling, to transform 648 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it, the country where we do that is 649 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the present moment. We don't 650 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 go to the past to transform our 651 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling. We stay here and now. 652 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So present moment. 653 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Bring yourself out of the past, out of 654 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the shadows of the past, with 655 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 everything that contributes to your 656 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling now. Come back 657 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to what is nourishing and healing 658 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the present moment. 659 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Let's have a pause and to just bring 660 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ourselves to the present moment now 661 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with our mindful breathing. 662 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (bell) 663 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 (bell) 664 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When we're feeling better, 665 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the unpleasant feeling is no longer there, 666 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 then we have the restoration of the 667 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feeling. 668 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So this in terms of the four noble truths 669 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is "happiness is possible" 670 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So I ask the forgiveness of the Buddha 671 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for taking his four noble truths and 672 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sort of making a re-addition, a little 673 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 bit of a renewal, but I felt it helped me 674 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a lot when I was thinking about how to 675 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 present unpleasant feelings, with the 676 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 good news that they can be transformed 677 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 into pleasant feelings. 678 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Sometimes we're in an environment 679 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 where there's a lot of unpleasant feelings 680 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 could be at work, or when we visit home, 681 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 some other places, you know, it 682 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 seems as if, that everyone, or almost 683 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 everyone, has unpleasant feelings, and 684 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the atmosphere is quite heavy. 685 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And in fact, burnout could be the non-stop 686 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 experiencing of unpleasant feelings. 687 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We just don't know how to stop all 688 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of that. The stress, the demands, we're 689 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 living in a high-octane culture. 690 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 meaning we need to have efficiency, 691 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 do many things at once, no mistake, 692 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 on time, high-octane living. 693 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So for that to help with burnout or just 694 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 too many unpleasant feelings, in me 695 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and around me, we need to make a pause 696 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 by recognizing and then saying, 697 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I'm going to take care of myself." 698 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I'm going to do the practices of 699 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 mindful breathing, body movements: 700 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 yoga, tai chi, chi gong, anything to help 701 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 move this energy that is unpleasant." 702 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Pay careful attention to my diet, to 703 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 eat...they're recommending now more 704 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 plant and vegetable sources for a 705 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 healthy body. You'll know what you 706 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 will need to change. 707 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have a new year arriving, 708 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we have a double, two new years, 709 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we have a second chance (laughter) 710 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 at the new year resolution we made 711 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 24 days ago, and we're not doing so well 712 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in keeping them, well we can revise 713 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the list, and maybe make a shorter list, 714 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 two things, and then continue for the 715 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 rest of the year. 716 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So I just have maybe a few more things 717 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to share with you this morning, and 718 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that is, I want to talk about how do 719 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we create pleasant feelings. 720 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So can I erase this? 721 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or are you [inaudible] 722 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I was very happy to discover that 723 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feelings are very easy to create 724 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in a practice center. 725 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have the practices of communication, 726 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 beginning anew, where we say kind things 727 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to one another. we appreciate 728 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 others' presence in our life, and 729 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 say thank you for being here. 730 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thank you for your smile. 731 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When I see you making the cup of tea, 732 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I feel warm inside. So by using loving 733 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 speech, we create pleasant feelings in 734 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ourself first, and in the other person. 735 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have gratitude. We have gratitude 736 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to all of you, our guests, and this 737 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is the truth. Without your presence, 738 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Plum Village could not be. So we have 739 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 appreciation and gratitude to all of our 740 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 retreatants, our lay friends, and to our 741 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 monastic brothers and sisters for making 742 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the retreats possible for you to come. 743 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So pleasant feelings are easy to create here 744 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We also have the possibility of creating a 745 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feeling after there's been an 746 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling. So we've done 747 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 something out of a mistake, we made 748 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a mistake, or we just didn't know enough, 749 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 ignorance, and we see that, it created 750 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 some unpleasant feeling in someone, so 751 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in our practice, we can go up and say 752 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the mistake 753 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I made. I feel very bad about it." 754 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So just being able to say that, can open 755 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 up the heart, can clear the slate, turn 756 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a new page, by saying I'm sorry. 757 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So it's good for relationships. 758 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We can create pleasant feelings again 759 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 if we say we're sorry. 760 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Sometimes that never happens. She 761 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 never said she was sorry. He never 762 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 said he was sorry. How can I forgive? 763 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 You know? So it's an important 764 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 step and it will create pleasant feelings 765 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We have the be-in, and that's where we 766 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 all get together and we sing, we 767 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 share experiences, our happiness meeting 768 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we call it. 769 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Just being together creates 770 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feelings 771 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The five mindfulness trainings, or 772 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 our monastic precepts, actually 773 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 protect the happiness feelings. 774 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 They create pleasant feelings when we 775 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 practice the five mindfulness trainings 776 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because we know each training begins 777 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with aware of the suffering caused. 778 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We could think "aware of the 779 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feeling caused by" 780 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 doing this, saying that 781 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So there's sort of a contiuum from 782 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant to suffering, okay? 783 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Listening to Thay's dharma talks, the DVD, 784 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feelings, I'm always very 785 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 grateful and I'm very nourished when 786 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I hear Thay's dharma talks 787 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feelings 788 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 All of Thay's, almost, a few hundred of 789 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thay's dharma talks are available on 790 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 YouTube, so you have a resource when you 791 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 go back, to listen and continue your 792 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 learning of mindfulness practice 793 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from Thay 794 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that's a pleasant feeling, to hear 795 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thay's dharma talks. 796 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So lazy day, is that a day when we have 797 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feelings? 798 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 If you think the schedule is too much, 799 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we get up too early, et cetera, 800 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 lazy day is when we don't have that 801 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and it's a pleasant feeling. 802 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Just having free time 803 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 time to do as you wish 804 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to rest, to relax, to sleep more, 805 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to do more sitting meditation 806 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So Thay has said that our practice 807 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 should be enjoyable 808 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we should not make ourselves suffer 809 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 our practice is not to give ourself 810 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feelings, it's not the purpose 811 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of practicing. 812 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's to cultivate happiness, pleasant 813 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 feelings, understanding, love, peace, 814 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 well-being, compassion. 815 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And this is possible with 816 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 our practice of mindfulness 817 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So there are many resources for 818 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 creating pleasant feelings. 819 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you can seek and find these resources 820 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to our lay friends when you return 821 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Find a sangha 822 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 find a group that practices mindfulness 823 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it coudl be even your church, your synagogue 824 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 your temple, but where you know that 825 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the pleasant feelings are to be found there 826 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or at least people who are practicing 827 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with unpleasant feelings, suffering, 828 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but who have the motivation and the wish 829 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to transform them 830 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 there are just two more things I want 831 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to share with you before we end 832 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we have heard the four words: calm, 833 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 clarity, compassion, and courage 834 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'll write the on the board 835 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 these are wonderful qualities 836 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that we develop as we continue 837 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 our practice 838 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we'll take a minute or two to have a look 839 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 these are four of my favorite words 840 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for practice: calm: I become more calm 841 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with my mindfulness practice, 842 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 stopping, mindful breathing, eating calmly, 843 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 tasting the food, listening, nourishing 844 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 my happiness feelings 845 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I can become calmer 846 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I don't water the unpleasant feelings 847 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I don't think unpleasant thoughts 848 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I become more calm 849 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When I'm more calm 850 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I have more clarity 851 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that means I can see more clearly 852 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I can see more clearly what I'm doing 853 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I see more clearly what is my lifestyle 854 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is it contributing to my pleasant feelings 855 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I have clarity to understand others 856 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to understand their deepest aspirations 857 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to understand their difficulties 858 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I have more clarity to know what to 859 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 do and what not to do 860 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so with calmness I'm able to just be calm 861 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sometimes we don't have to do too much 862 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but calmness is already enough 863 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to give support 864 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the deep listening, just being there 865 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so clarity helps us know when we 866 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 should act and when we should stay 867 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 calm but present 868 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 clarity into the sources of happiness and 869 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 suffering 870 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so when we go home we can make a list: 871 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what are the sources of pleasant feelings 872 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in my life now? 873 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what are the sources of unpleasant feelings 874 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in my life now? 875 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and where do I experience them? 876 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what percentage of the time 877 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 do I have pleasant feelings in each place? 878 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 each situation 879 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what percentage of the time do I have 880 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 unpleasant feelings? 881 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in which place 882 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and in which situation 883 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and with what people? 884 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but we're not going to blame or judge, k? 885 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we're just using bare attention 886 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 okay when I have this more clarity, 887 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 which is understanding, 888 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 naturally more compassion arises in me 889 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I understand we all have needs, yes? 890 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and sometimes there's suffering in another 891 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 person because their needs 892 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 are not being met 893 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sometimes I suffer because 894 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 my needs are not being met 895 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and what are our needs? 896 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the basic needs are food, 897 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 shelter, clothing, for the monastics 898 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the Buddha's time they added 899 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 medicines, but the medicines were 900 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 plant-based, they didn't have 901 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pharmaceuticals, but we're grateful for the 902 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pharmaceuticals that are avaialble 903 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for some illnesses, of course 904 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 food, shelter, clothing, medicine, love 905 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we all need love 906 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 babies need to be held 907 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we need to feel loved 908 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and we also need to love others 909 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we need love, and play 910 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I think that's a need, amusement 911 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we know on our lazy days when we 912 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we have 10 lazy days, what do the 913 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 monastics do? some of them play 914 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 others will go to a room and 915 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 look inside and understand and do more 916 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sitting, et cetera, but play, 917 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for some people, is a healthy need 918 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so, compassion, and that means 919 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I want to relieve the suffering, 920 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 do everything I can to be present 921 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 for myself and others 922 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with understanding and not judgement 923 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 not blaming 924 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 okay? then will lead to courage 925 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 is this the kind of courage where 926 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I go out and start fighting? 927 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 No, it's not that. 928 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's the courage to continue 929 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to go through the difficult moments, to 930 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 change my lifestyle if necessary 931 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to change my way of eating, courage to 932 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 add more things into my life. 933 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So it's the courage to look deeply 934 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and then to carry on in a beautiful way 935 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 supported by the mindfulness trainings 936 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and our daily practice of all the other 937 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 steps: calming, clarity, 938 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 understanding and compassion 939 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 then I have enough information to be 940 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 courageous. And sometimes the most 941 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 courageous thing is to stay and to continue 942 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to not cause suffering. Continue the 943 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 relationship or if necessary 944 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 what needs to happen is that you 945 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 separate. No one has the perfect answer 946 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or the right answer. 947 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 But we have the courage to try many 948 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 possibilities. New work, new lifestyle 949 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 new friends, we find new friends 950 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in the practice center, we have new 951 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 friends in our sangha. Courage just to see 952 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 alright, let me try something. 953 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Let us try something. 954 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The courage to be in community. 955 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That takes courage, to change a lifestyle 956 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to live with others. 957 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So we had some sharing this morning 958 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I'm going to be very courageous now 959 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I didn't dare share this 960 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but I'm going to be courageous 961 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I'm going to share a favorite song 962 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but I'm not going to sing it 963 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 because I can't sing it 964 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but what is courageous is I'm going to 965 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 tell you to go online, (laughter) and a dharma talk 966 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 should never tell people to go online, 967 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 you know, for monastics, we can't 968 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 do that often, 969 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 [] go online 970 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I'm gonna mention two singers 971 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 one is a Vietnamese, a very popular singer 972 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 who Thay appreciated very much 973 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and he knew Thay and appreciated 974 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thay very much. 975 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He was [] 976 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 write his name on the board? okay. 977 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 [laughter] 978 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 okay, so I will write his name on the board 979 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 he wrote a song that we sing here 980 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's "Everyday I choose a happiness 981 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to live by" 982 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 [] 983 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 that means everyday I choose a happiness 984 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 to live by. 985 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 That means everyday I choose to create a 986 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 pleasant feeling, yes? 987 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And Thay has even selected one of his poems 988 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or the lyric from one of his verses 989 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and has used that to teach on the 990 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 eve of Tet. 991 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 He's a very important songwriter 992 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in Vietnam 993 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 who I believe has passed away now 994 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but a very important 995 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Another important song that I 996 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 knew about many years ago in the 997 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 70s and it was called 998 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I can see clearly now, the rain is gone" 999 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and it was written by Johnny Nash 1000 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but sung by Jimmy Cliff 1001 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we know him as the reggae 1002 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 musician from Jamaica. 1003 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And it's a very beautiful song 1004 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's a song that describes getting 1005 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 through with a positive attitude, 1006 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 experiencing unpleasant feelings 1007 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but getting through 1008 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so you can go online and hear it 1009 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I listened and I thought 1010 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 oh can I play it for everybody 1011 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but I didn't have the technology 1012 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and I don't think that would 1013 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 be acceptable to play this 1014 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 in a dharma talk. 1015 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but we have the option, and 1016 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the words are: 1017 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I can tell you the words, because 1018 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 they're very beautiful 1019 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I can see clearly now 1020 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 the rain is gone": clarity 1021 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "I can see all obstacles in my way": 1022 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 causes of unpleasant feelings 1023 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 these were obstacles 1024 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Gone are the dark clouds that made me blind, I just didn't know": 1025 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thay has said the rain, all of the tears 1026 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 I have shed have become rain, 1027 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's one of Thay's calligraphy. 1028 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 All the tears I have shed 1029 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from sadness 1030 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from his experience in the war of course 1031 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 have become rain 1032 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Gone are those dark clouds. 1033 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright 1034 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sunshiney day." 1035 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's gonna be better 1036 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Oh yes, I can make it now. 1037 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 The pain is gone. 1038 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 All of the bad feelings have disappears." 1039 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 well we know how to make those bad 1040 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 feelings, unpleasant feelings, disappear. 1041 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Here is the rainbow I've been waiting for 1042 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 It's gonna be a bright, bright, bright 1043 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sunshiney day." 1044 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 When we see a rainbow here it's an event 1045 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we all go outside and we're happy 1046 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we jump up and down. 1047 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Also in the summer when the hot air 1048 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 balloons pass over slowly, 1049 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 they have the rainbow colors 1050 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so we see the rainbow ballooons 1051 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and we're happy 1052 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 okay. and then look straight ahead 1053 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 look around you, there's nothing 1054 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but blue sky 1055 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And so the song has that 1056 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so it's gonna be a bright, bright, 1057 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sunny day. 1058 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 A bright, sunny future for all of us 1059 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 We stay with it and we continue 1060 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 with our practice 1061 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and everything will be wonderful 1062 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 There will be unpleasant feelings 1063 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 certainly but we don't have to be a 1064 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 victim of our unpleasant feelings 1065 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that's the good news. 1066 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So I want to find a very wonderful 1067 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 sentence from Thay as the final sharing 1068 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 right now, and he has said, 1069 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 first of all, there is a gatha Thay gave 1070 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 us, a little poem, when we have 1071 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 feelings we say, "Feelings 1072 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 come and go, as clouds in a windy sky, 1073 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 but mindful breathing is my anchor." 1074 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Mindful breathing will keep me in the safe 1075 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 little cover away from the stormy waves 1076 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 it's my anchor for peace and protection 1077 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 when feelings arise like storm 1078 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 we come back to ourself and do belly 1079 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 breathing, calming our whole body, 1080 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 breathe from our belly 1081 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 So, Thay has said, 1082 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "A meditator is both an artist and 1083 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 a warrior" 1084 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and that's courage. 1085 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "We'll need the creativity of an artist and the 1086 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 courage to cut through what is 1087 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 holding us back 1088 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 from being happy or free." 1089 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 And the first Zen teacher in 1090 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Vietnam and China was 1091 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Zen master Tang Hoy 1092 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and he said, 1093 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 "Letting go is the action of heroes" 1094 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 so we want to continue with our 1095 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 mindfulness practice, let go 1096 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 of the unpleasant feeling by 1097 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 transforming them, don't hold on, 1098 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 transforming them with mindful 1099 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 breathing, mindful walking, and 1100 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 then every day can be a sunshiney day, 1101 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 or at least part of the day 1102 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 can be sunshiney. 1103 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 Thank you dear friends for listening 1104 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and let us hear three sounds of the bell 1105 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 now to end our time together 1106 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 and then there will be some announcements 1107 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 bell 1108 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 bell 1109 99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999 bell