WEBVTT 00:00:04.631 --> 00:00:05.744 (Bell) 00:00:10.496 --> 00:00:16.317 (Bell) 00:00:33.207 --> 00:00:39.182 (Bell) 00:00:52.537 --> 00:00:58.866 (Bell) 00:01:16.508 --> 00:01:21.241 Good morning dear respected Thay, dear sangha, 00:01:21.522 --> 00:01:26.809 today is the 15th of November in the year 2018, 00:01:27.408 --> 00:01:35.832 and we are in the lay day mindfulness day for the lay friends in New Hamlet, 00:01:36.356 --> 00:01:41.449 in the Rains Retreat. And today we are going to learn with each other 00:01:41.601 --> 00:01:43.788 the Discourse on Love, 00:01:44.037 --> 00:01:47.769 which is in Saturday evening chanting, 00:01:47.908 --> 00:01:52.430 in the Plum Village's daily chanting book. 00:01:53.325 --> 00:01:59.590 And also we are going to share with each other some ways 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:06.405 to practice cultivating happiness, cultivating joy and happiness. 00:02:08.423 --> 00:02:11.722 On the way to this hall, 00:02:12.761 --> 00:02:16.631 I picked up an autumn leaf, 00:02:16.842 --> 00:02:21.866 and I just remembered and invite our teacher to be here with me, 00:02:22.032 --> 00:02:24.743 to be here with us this morning. 00:02:24.870 --> 00:02:27.940 Do you hear me well? Okay. 00:02:30.585 --> 00:02:33.734 The Buddha is an autumn leaf. 00:02:33.944 --> 00:02:40.647 Our teacher Thay, is an autumn leaf, and each of us is also an autumn leaf. 00:02:45.951 --> 00:02:53.272 And we enjoyed some guided meditation before the sharing, 00:02:53.531 --> 00:02:56.796 and we allowed ourselves 00:02:58.546 --> 00:03:02.829 to be penetrated by the beauty of the nature, 00:03:03.522 --> 00:03:06.035 like in the song, 00:03:06.195 --> 00:03:15.973 "And when I fall, let me fall gracefully". Like a leaf. 00:03:18.317 --> 00:03:22.877 Now the autumn is ripening everywhere. 00:03:24.903 --> 00:03:27.562 Yesterday, when we - 00:03:27.684 --> 00:03:32.509 Yesterday, and the day before, on Tuesday, in Lower Hamlet, 00:03:32.692 --> 00:03:37.424 we had a walking meditation down to the forest. 00:03:38.157 --> 00:03:43.395 There is a pond in the forest which is full of water. 00:03:46.237 --> 00:03:50.451 In the summertime, the sisters and the lay friends 00:03:50.657 --> 00:03:53.617 we had community work down there 00:03:53.772 --> 00:03:58.988 to clear the branches, the dead trunks, 00:03:59.140 --> 00:04:03.495 and we made a new path for walking. 00:04:03.810 --> 00:04:06.758 And I was so happy walking 00:04:07.807 --> 00:04:10.161 with the sangha. 00:04:10.328 --> 00:04:17.264 I felt myself like - I see myself resting in each step. 00:04:18.805 --> 00:04:26.949 It's quite easy for us to contemplate resting in the autumn time, 00:04:27.140 --> 00:04:29.862 in the autumn season. 00:04:30.256 --> 00:04:34.727 Somehow, we penetrate the energy of the cosmos. 00:04:34.945 --> 00:04:39.231 We absorb the energy of the nature, from the nature. 00:04:39.463 --> 00:04:46.268 The trees, the plants, all beings are preparing 00:04:47.438 --> 00:04:50.228 for the winter. 00:04:50.710 --> 00:04:53.711 Each of us have to really 00:04:55.632 --> 00:04:57.697 let go 00:04:58.993 --> 00:05:01.986 of some small habit energies, 00:05:02.172 --> 00:05:06.526 just like to prepare ourselves for a challenging time 00:05:07.087 --> 00:05:11.848 that we would like to focus on the main thing. 00:05:12.054 --> 00:05:16.860 Just like the tree on focusing how to sustain life, 00:05:17.068 --> 00:05:20.083 so that all the tree 00:05:20.315 --> 00:05:23.377 needs to let go the leaves 00:05:23.543 --> 00:05:29.877 so that it can withdraw inside to reserve the energy inside, 00:05:30.025 --> 00:05:35.867 to really bring the life-force down to the trunk of the tree, 00:05:36.015 --> 00:05:40.026 so that it can survive through winter. 00:05:40.203 --> 00:05:45.707 Even if we know that spring is always there, in the trees, 00:05:46.803 --> 00:05:50.123 but all the trees are doing this thing. 00:05:50.312 --> 00:05:56.534 And somehow in autumn season I feel myself as kind of the same energy. 00:05:56.725 --> 00:06:00.665 This time is a very special time for the whole sangha, 00:06:00.855 --> 00:06:05.257 for each of us, as monastics disciples of our teacher, 00:06:05.442 --> 00:06:09.179 and for each of you as lay disciple of our teacher, 00:06:09.344 --> 00:06:12.319 for everyone here in the sangha, 00:06:12.493 --> 00:06:16.649 to really preserve our energy for the challenging times, 00:06:17.421 --> 00:06:22.326 which is, we are preparing the transformation of our teacher. 00:06:28.310 --> 00:06:31.769 And in order to go 00:06:33.703 --> 00:06:39.322 to the teaching of this sutra, I would like to go 00:06:41.443 --> 00:06:44.780 overview of the Buddha's teachings 00:06:44.951 --> 00:06:50.871 so that we have the picture of the whole teachings of the Buddha 00:06:51.902 --> 00:06:57.303 more than 2600 years ago. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:05.000 [The Buddha Teachings] 00:07:06.631 --> 00:07:10.727 So the Buddha's teachings contain - 00:07:11.412 --> 00:07:20.423 The essential teachings of the Buddha can be divided into three baskets, 00:07:20.705 --> 00:07:24.181 the three canon. 00:07:24.942 --> 00:07:33.331 [Three Basket Canon] 00:07:38.963 --> 00:07:42.741 The first one is the Sutra Canon. 00:07:44.118 --> 00:07:49.186 In Pali called Sutta Pitaka. 00:07:49.761 --> 00:07:52.096 [Sutta Pitaka] 00:07:52.241 --> 00:07:55.147 Vinaya, which is the trainings. 00:07:55.476 --> 00:07:58.944 [Vinaya Pitaka] 00:08:00.551 --> 00:08:06.157 [Abhidhamma Pitaka] 00:08:12.408 --> 00:08:18.224 These two baskets of the sutras 00:08:18.414 --> 00:08:24.122 were collected by the Buddha's disciples 00:08:24.306 --> 00:08:31.266 from the first time, after the Buddha's passing away. 00:08:31.556 --> 00:08:35.710 And this is about the commentaries 00:08:36.694 --> 00:08:42.102 taught by our ancestors 00:08:43.273 --> 00:08:47.473 many hundreds years after the Buddha. 00:08:51.481 --> 00:08:56.012 In these sutras there are five. 00:09:00.976 --> 00:09:05.728 The first collection we call (Vietnamese). 00:09:08.238 --> 00:09:11.641 Digha Nikaya. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:17.564 [Digha Nikaya - Majjhima Nikaya] 00:09:17.769 --> 00:09:20.577 And Majjhima Nikaya. 00:09:23.430 --> 00:09:25.851 The third one is 00:09:28.367 --> 00:09:33.539 Samyutta Nikaya. 00:09:34.187 --> 00:09:38.307 [Samyutta Nikaya] 00:09:44.245 --> 00:09:45.970 (Vietnamese) 00:09:46.079 --> 00:09:48.488 I speak in Vietnamese. 00:09:57.135 --> 00:09:59.667 Anguttara Nikaya. 00:09:59.818 --> 00:10:02.174 [Anguttara Nikaya] 00:10:02.924 --> 00:10:08.401 And (Vietnamese), Khuddaka Nikaya. 00:10:08.864 --> 00:10:11.725 [Khuddaka Nikaya] 00:10:11.882 --> 00:10:15.041 And the sutra we are going to learn with each other this morning 00:10:15.206 --> 00:10:18.454 belongs to this collection. 00:10:18.628 --> 00:10:24.446 We have fifteen books of these sutras, 00:10:24.599 --> 00:10:27.498 and the sutra we are going to learn with each other 00:10:27.659 --> 00:10:30.626 belongs to the fifth one, 00:10:31.915 --> 00:10:35.594 we call it Sutta Nipata. 00:10:35.818 --> 00:10:39.705 [The 5th Sutta Nipata] 00:10:39.868 --> 00:10:45.237 This is the group of discourses, the short discourses, 00:10:45.651 --> 00:10:50.384 and they belong to one of the main canon 00:10:50.558 --> 00:10:53.628 of the Buddha's teachings. 00:10:55.782 --> 00:10:58.902 In Vietnamese we call it (Vietnamese), 00:10:59.360 --> 00:11:07.042 in English, Thay translated it into the Discourse of Happiness. 00:11:08.809 --> 00:11:14.882 [Discourse of Happiness] 00:11:15.529 --> 00:11:24.478 And in Pali it is the Mahamangala Sutta. 00:11:24.827 --> 00:11:29.524 [Mahamangala Sutta] 00:11:29.714 --> 00:11:33.614 And 'maha' means 'great', 00:11:33.842 --> 00:11:36.608 and 'mangala' in Pali means 00:11:36.715 --> 00:11:41.703 'fortune' or 'blessing', something good. 00:11:42.075 --> 00:11:46.851 We wish each other 'have a good day', 'have a beautiful day'. 00:11:47.024 --> 00:11:51.203 This meaning is- The root, the original meaning 00:11:52.302 --> 00:11:56.026 is 'auspicious', 'auspicious sign', 00:11:56.179 --> 00:11:59.820 something that let you know before 00:11:59.947 --> 00:12:03.191 that there are some good things that will happen. 00:12:03.384 --> 00:12:10.177 In different countries, different cultures, we have different signs 00:12:10.324 --> 00:12:14.143 for auspiciousness. 00:12:14.473 --> 00:12:17.746 Sometimes, like in Asia, 00:12:21.510 --> 00:12:25.152 when people get out of their house, 00:12:25.261 --> 00:12:31.396 if they encounter a monastic, they may feel, "That is a great fortune! 00:12:32.140 --> 00:12:38.968 I'm going to have good things happening in the day." 00:12:39.304 --> 00:12:43.052 But in the West, that is not sure, right? 00:12:43.977 --> 00:12:49.992 Maybe people see a monastic with bold head and weird gowns out there, 00:12:50.121 --> 00:12:55.050 and they may say, "Oh! What a weird people going on in this street. 00:12:55.199 --> 00:12:57.933 That may bring something not so good for me." 00:12:58.093 --> 00:13:02.933 So it is different from culture and country. 00:13:03.229 --> 00:13:05.547 And this sutra, 00:13:06.821 --> 00:13:10.045 because the lay friends in the Buddha's time 00:13:10.328 --> 00:13:16.949 were not so sure about what are the auspicious signs for them 00:13:17.417 --> 00:13:24.087 to practice living a happy life, they come to the Buddha and ask. 00:13:24.408 --> 00:13:30.435 It is in the Pali canon, but in the Chinese canon it is - 00:13:31.183 --> 00:13:34.325 The background of the sutra is different, 00:13:34.455 --> 00:13:37.938 but the content of the sutra is very much the same. 00:13:38.093 --> 00:13:42.212 This sutra, Discourse of Happiness, in the Chinese canon, 00:13:47.170 --> 00:13:49.577 we call 00:13:57.892 --> 00:14:02.382 (Vietnamese) also means auspicious signs. 00:14:04.627 --> 00:14:07.872 This sutra belongs to the sutra 00:14:08.144 --> 00:14:15.885 Dharmapadavadana sutra. 00:14:16.112 --> 00:14:21.300 [Dharmapadavadana sutra] 00:14:22.347 --> 00:14:29.787 Chapter 42 in Dharmapadavana sutra in Chinese canon. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:34.368 And the content is very much the same. 00:14:36.400 --> 00:14:43.210 The way they describe how the Buddha taught this sutra is different, 00:14:43.467 --> 00:14:47.394 but the content is very much the same. 00:14:48.718 --> 00:14:57.337 People ask the Buddha, 'What can I do, what can I practice for a happy life?' 00:15:02.196 --> 00:15:06.008 And we are going to share something about the happiness. 00:15:08.688 --> 00:15:13.178 There are two kinds of teachings from the Buddha 00:15:13.587 --> 00:15:18.099 we need to understand, to distinguish, 00:15:18.548 --> 00:15:22.760 so that there is clearer understanding. 00:15:23.174 --> 00:15:27.594 Some teachings belong to the absolute truth, 00:15:27.789 --> 00:15:32.271 and some teachings belong to the relative secular truth. 00:15:32.474 --> 00:15:39.935 This sutra describes relative truth, 00:15:40.203 --> 00:15:42.732 [relative truth] 00:15:42.915 --> 00:15:45.429 or secular. 00:15:50.207 --> 00:15:56.626 Which means that it can be different from cultures and countries, 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:59.654 from areas. 00:16:00.527 --> 00:16:03.529 And the absolute truth, 00:16:04.158 --> 00:16:07.236 like the Heart Sutra, 00:16:07.410 --> 00:16:11.754 that is the Buddha describes the truth which is absolute. 00:16:12.272 --> 00:16:18.414 But this sutra describes a truth which is secular or relative. 00:16:18.641 --> 00:16:23.910 It means that you can apply to our daily life, 00:16:24.078 --> 00:16:29.505 but also we can combine, observe, and understand the culture 00:16:29.801 --> 00:16:33.604 of that area, so that it will not like - 00:16:33.763 --> 00:16:37.330 create conflicts in ourselves. 00:16:41.610 --> 00:16:46.656 And about the teaching of happiness, 00:16:50.223 --> 00:16:56.992 maybe we have heard a lot of this word in Plum Village. 00:16:59.681 --> 00:17:04.205 I would like to ask you one question. 00:17:06.084 --> 00:17:16.454 We can see that even a child or young people know 00:17:16.895 --> 00:17:22.039 that from time to time we suffer from different things. 00:17:22.629 --> 00:17:27.929 Whatever, even the weather changing can create suffering. 00:17:28.534 --> 00:17:33.791 There are many sisters in Lower Hamlet who are sick right now. 00:17:34.441 --> 00:17:39.514 And I also had headache for many days. 00:17:39.725 --> 00:17:44.719 Specially when the time of the changing season. 00:17:44.943 --> 00:17:48.458 And now is that time. 00:17:49.049 --> 00:17:51.918 Or people can suffer from 00:17:52.873 --> 00:17:57.813 the bigger things, like war, or starvation. 00:17:58.024 --> 00:18:04.995 So I would like to double check that. Is there any of you sitting here 00:18:06.576 --> 00:18:10.462 who have not suffered? Please, put your hand up. 00:18:16.306 --> 00:18:18.899 Okay, great relief. 00:18:21.973 --> 00:18:26.732 Yes, I think so. Everyone of us has suffered for something. 00:18:27.838 --> 00:18:31.975 Our teacher always teaches us 00:18:37.175 --> 00:18:42.938 that with the background of suffering, we can be able to recognize 00:18:44.495 --> 00:18:48.479 and cultivate happiness. 00:18:48.688 --> 00:18:54.614 It is like the background of the board, which is white, we can see clearly 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:57.612 the writing in black. 00:18:58.498 --> 00:19:04.982 If we have never had headache, or toothache, 00:19:07.051 --> 00:19:13.270 we don't really enjoy the non- toothache or the non-headache situation. 00:19:14.143 --> 00:19:18.004 So I have headache quite often, 00:19:18.655 --> 00:19:24.592 and I really enjoy the days when my head is quite clear and light. 00:19:25.044 --> 00:19:27.362 And it is easy for me 00:19:27.956 --> 00:19:34.242 not only to be happy, but also to be not irritated 00:19:35.585 --> 00:19:38.702 towards others. 00:19:39.478 --> 00:19:43.992 So for me happiness is also a habit. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:51.281 A habit to be happy, a habit to think in the direction of being happy. 00:19:51.791 --> 00:19:56.872 The habit of enjoying the happiness of others. 00:19:57.204 --> 00:20:01.973 Because somehow, if there is something blocking here, 00:20:02.163 --> 00:20:06.008 and we are not so free, we are not so light, 00:20:06.363 --> 00:20:12.057 we feel not so happy when we see others happy. Right? 00:20:12.237 --> 00:20:15.169 Has it happened to you? 00:20:17.339 --> 00:20:20.393 Happiness is a habit. 00:20:21.157 --> 00:20:25.713 And here, living in the sangha, we have the opportunity 00:20:26.780 --> 00:20:32.508 to experience that. The sangha gives us many opportunities 00:20:32.818 --> 00:20:36.312 to train ourselves to be happy. 00:20:37.964 --> 00:20:39.946 And also, 00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:48.541 for some people, when they come and share, 00:20:48.749 --> 00:20:52.814 we can see that when people 00:20:56.054 --> 00:21:03.538 are using drugs or drinking alcohol to cover some loneliness, 00:21:05.070 --> 00:21:08.181 a suffering inside of them, 00:21:09.253 --> 00:21:12.492 yes, at that time they are joyful, 00:21:12.757 --> 00:21:18.187 at that time they can forget everything. Just enjoy in alcohol or in drugs. 00:21:18.734 --> 00:21:21.586 In the very like - 00:21:23.929 --> 00:21:27.222 Up here feeling. 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:34.646 But we can ask ourselves, or we can ask the society the question, 00:21:35.525 --> 00:21:38.160 is that true happiness? 00:21:38.296 --> 00:21:41.247 Because we all know that after, 00:21:42.148 --> 00:21:46.650 behind that joy, behind that excitement there is something. 00:21:46.963 --> 00:21:52.005 There is something that makes us drown into that consumption. 00:21:57.592 --> 00:22:00.072 For example, 00:22:01.769 --> 00:22:04.838 there is a time that when - 00:22:07.746 --> 00:22:10.707 In the year 2009, 00:22:17.660 --> 00:22:22.276 we call it the Bat Nha event, 00:22:22.497 --> 00:22:25.859 something happening in one of our centers in Vietnam 00:22:26.010 --> 00:22:28.719 in the year 2009, 00:22:28.927 --> 00:22:33.105 we were monastics and aspirants. 00:22:33.849 --> 00:22:37.366 We were about 400 people, 00:22:37.511 --> 00:22:41.135 and we were harassed and pushed away from our center 00:22:41.309 --> 00:22:45.323 for many reasons, that is a very long story. 00:22:45.504 --> 00:22:50.124 And at that time I was here in Plum Village, 00:22:50.334 --> 00:22:56.053 because I spent four years with them in Bat Nha. 00:22:58.128 --> 00:23:02.964 And when I was here listening to that news, 00:23:03.152 --> 00:23:06.318 my heart was so heavy. 00:23:06.485 --> 00:23:10.732 And I suffered so deeply about 00:23:11.213 --> 00:23:14.480 how terrible 00:23:17.367 --> 00:23:20.139 the people in Vietnam 00:23:21.842 --> 00:23:26.083 behaved like that towards monks and nuns. 00:23:26.678 --> 00:23:32.440 We didn't do any harm to others, we just practiced the way. 00:23:32.679 --> 00:23:37.327 And how come they didn't allow us to stay in the temple? 00:23:38.405 --> 00:23:45.065 So Thay asked me and some sisters to go over Vietnam 00:23:45.317 --> 00:23:50.528 after just one week to help. I don't know how we could help, 00:23:50.883 --> 00:23:54.904 but Thay just sent a group of sisters to come to support. 00:23:56.489 --> 00:24:01.523 And I knew that there is danger, there are difficulties, 00:24:01.805 --> 00:24:06.081 there are obstacles happening all the time. 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:14.561 And we were not allowed to go directly to Vietnam. 00:24:14.732 --> 00:24:18.492 We had to fly to Thailand and go by bus. 00:24:18.652 --> 00:24:20.700 It is like - 00:24:21.287 --> 00:24:25.252 The police could stop us at the airport. 00:24:26.764 --> 00:24:34.341 So even going to the area which I knew before there were a lot of difficulties, 00:24:35.530 --> 00:24:38.203 and sometimes dangers, 00:24:38.362 --> 00:24:42.375 but I see something fulfilled in my heart, I don't know why. 00:24:42.600 --> 00:24:47.413 I'm not a person who likes adventures a lot, or risk. 00:24:48.716 --> 00:24:54.402 But then, when we know that hundreds of our brothers and sisters 00:24:54.727 --> 00:24:57.931 are put into a very difficult situation, 00:24:58.976 --> 00:25:05.312 somehow the aspiration, the need inside that I would like to be there. 00:25:05.468 --> 00:25:08.753 I don't know what can I do, but I just want to be there, 00:25:08.889 --> 00:25:11.097 to be with them. 00:25:11.256 --> 00:25:17.579 Just to maybe to endure together the suffering that we had at that time. 00:25:17.786 --> 00:25:20.829 And even it is going through difficulties, 00:25:20.989 --> 00:25:23.797 but it is a kind of happiness. 00:25:23.934 --> 00:25:27.943 So for me, happiness is not a blessing feeling only, 00:25:28.113 --> 00:25:31.545 it is not like when something satisfies ourselves 00:25:31.714 --> 00:25:34.191 and we feel pleasant. 00:25:34.312 --> 00:25:36.848 At that time, I felt unpleasant, 00:25:37.012 --> 00:25:41.449 I felt I suffered in my heart, but at the same time, there was happiness. 00:25:41.580 --> 00:25:46.554 It is as I understand the teaching about how a Great Being 00:25:48.344 --> 00:25:55.648 made a Great Vow to rescue people and to go the realms of hell or difficulty 00:25:55.803 --> 00:25:58.602 to help people. 00:25:58.764 --> 00:26:04.018 So just a little thing, a little compassion in my heart 00:26:04.205 --> 00:26:09.587 at that time to help me understand what is true happiness. 00:26:10.573 --> 00:26:17.157 Many people understand, if we have this house, 00:26:17.975 --> 00:26:21.303 and if we have that car, 00:26:21.462 --> 00:26:26.406 then we will be happy. We normally wait for something to be happy. 00:26:26.866 --> 00:26:29.959 Normally we think that - 00:26:32.136 --> 00:26:35.593 Or people may say many times that 00:26:37.094 --> 00:26:39.966 for men, they can say that, 00:26:40.434 --> 00:26:44.122 'Until I marry that woman I won't be happy' 00:26:44.231 --> 00:26:49.417 or for women, you may say that 'When I marry that man I will be happy'. 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:52.187 I just listen from you, eh? 00:26:52.348 --> 00:26:55.778 I don't understand this very much. 00:26:57.880 --> 00:27:02.944 My brother said that, 'Oh! The monks and the nuns know a lot!' 00:27:04.494 --> 00:27:11.425 It is not because we are not in your position that we know a lot, 00:27:11.678 --> 00:27:14.957 but through consultations. 00:27:16.304 --> 00:27:22.296 So we have a lot of consultations from you, all of you, from time to time, 00:27:22.463 --> 00:27:24.853 and we know everything. 00:27:25.157 --> 00:27:27.218 (Laughter) 00:27:30.910 --> 00:27:33.249 Okay, we go to the sutra. 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:35.743 (Laughter) 00:27:36.590 --> 00:27:43.082 So this sutra, I would like to start from the second paragraph, 00:27:43.331 --> 00:27:46.426 that I will read for you: 00:27:48.804 --> 00:27:51.869 Discourse on Happiness. 00:27:54.846 --> 00:27:58.695 Okay, we go through, this is the Buddha's answer. 00:27:58.894 --> 00:28:02.498 The upper part is the question from 00:28:09.595 --> 00:28:11.737 from a deva. 00:28:11.929 --> 00:28:14.534 "Late at night, a deva appeared, 00:28:14.705 --> 00:28:19.762 whose light and beauty made the whole Jeta Grove shine radiantly. 00:28:20.449 --> 00:28:23.481 After paying respects to the Buddha, 00:28:23.621 --> 00:28:27.871 the deva asked him a question in the form of a verse: 00:28:29.718 --> 00:28:33.071 Many gods and men are eager to know 00:28:33.243 --> 00:28:39.405 what are the greatest blessings which bring about a peaceful and happy life. 00:28:39.694 --> 00:28:43.398 Please, Tathagata, will you teach us? 00:28:43.903 --> 00:28:46.759 This is the Buddha’s answer: 00:28:46.906 --> 00:28:50.824 Not to be associated with the foolish ones, 00:28:51.222 --> 00:28:59.936 to live in the company of wise people, honoring those who are worth honoring, 00:29:00.673 --> 00:29:03.009 this is the greatest happiness. 00:29:03.847 --> 00:29:09.793 To live in a good environment, to have planted good seeds, 00:29:10.323 --> 00:29:13.786 and to realize that you are on the right path, 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:16.856 this is the greatest happiness." 00:29:17.113 --> 00:29:21.486 So, in these two chapters, in these two paragraphs, 00:29:21.653 --> 00:29:24.704 the Buddha talks about the environment. 00:29:28.522 --> 00:29:33.443 And planting good seeds. So I would like to go a little bit deeper about this. 00:29:43.294 --> 00:29:46.095 [manas] 00:29:46.582 --> 00:29:51.242 [Store C.] 00:29:53.077 --> 00:29:56.180 [Mind C.] 00:30:04.836 --> 00:30:07.734 [eyes] 00:30:14.677 --> 00:30:17.572 [ear] 00:30:18.520 --> 00:30:20.852 [nose] 00:30:21.373 --> 00:30:23.865 [tongue] 00:30:24.455 --> 00:30:26.744 [body] 00:30:28.189 --> 00:30:33.916 In Buddhist psychology, we call it the psychology of the mind, 00:30:34.223 --> 00:30:39.372 this is the simplest way for us to understand 00:30:39.621 --> 00:30:42.613 according to the Buddhist psychology. 00:30:42.780 --> 00:30:47.854 It divides the mind into eight parts. That is easier for us to understand. 00:30:48.583 --> 00:30:53.754 This is the store consciousness, the manas, the mind consciousness, 00:30:54.395 --> 00:30:58.662 and the five sense consciousness, which are the eye consciousness, 00:30:58.866 --> 00:31:03.373 the ear consciousness, the nose consciousness, the tongue consciousness, 00:31:03.876 --> 00:31:06.585 and the body consciousness. 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:14.669 And when we live in the environment, 00:31:17.334 --> 00:31:23.601 it is not only that we contribute to our individual consciousness, 00:31:30.950 --> 00:31:38.157 but we also absorbe and also add to the collective consciousness. 00:31:41.535 --> 00:31:46.118 Sometimes we think that if I say this thing or I say the other thing 00:31:46.359 --> 00:31:51.278 it doesn't matter, it will not relate to any of you. 00:31:51.457 --> 00:31:56.668 I just want to speak from my own view, but actually, 00:31:57.208 --> 00:32:02.693 the individual consciousnesses are affected. 00:32:05.429 --> 00:32:08.160 The collective consciousness. 00:32:08.387 --> 00:32:11.951 It is like when we are here, together in this hall. 00:32:12.342 --> 00:32:16.202 Our energy affects each other. 00:32:16.418 --> 00:32:20.197 It is like the many, many ways 00:32:20.465 --> 00:32:25.909 of relating to each other through our energy. 00:32:28.385 --> 00:32:31.679 And in the store consciousness, 00:32:32.025 --> 00:32:35.305 we have also learned a lot from - 00:32:35.488 --> 00:32:38.641 I think many of you know a lot about this teaching. 00:32:39.241 --> 00:32:42.399 There are many seeds in our store consciousness 00:32:44.629 --> 00:32:48.209 including wholesome seeds and unwholesome seeds. 00:32:48.384 --> 00:32:54.956 Wholesome seeds like mindfulness, faith, happiness, joy, etc. 00:32:55.650 --> 00:33:01.693 As well as the unwholesome seeds like anger, or jealousy, despair, etc. 00:33:03.543 --> 00:33:10.083 And the quality of our lives depends quite a lot on these seeds, 00:33:10.230 --> 00:33:13.236 on the quality of these seeds. 00:33:13.448 --> 00:33:16.247 And also as - 00:33:18.432 --> 00:33:23.257 We can together contemplate the image of a garden. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:33.954 There is a gardener who sows a seed of, for example, lettuce, or carrots, 00:33:35.953 --> 00:33:38.952 any plants. 00:33:39.569 --> 00:33:45.734 And suppose he already did the soil up and put the seed down to the earth. 00:33:47.934 --> 00:33:52.018 The weather is quite nice. There is a lot of sun, 00:33:52.556 --> 00:33:57.707 enough rain, and also appropriate manure. 00:33:59.296 --> 00:34:04.805 I think the happy farmers can understand this a lot, more than me. 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:10.933 But then, the last condition, which is the earth. 00:34:11.588 --> 00:34:19.159 So we need to give space and time for the earth so that the seed can sprout. 00:34:19.453 --> 00:34:29.336 I'm just thinking about a gardener who is worried sometimes. 00:34:29.795 --> 00:34:34.393 And he would like to make sure that the seed is still there, 00:34:34.621 --> 00:34:37.532 and make sure that - He just would like to see 00:34:37.749 --> 00:34:40.075 what is going on with the seed. 00:34:40.236 --> 00:34:44.184 And after one day, he goes to the garden and digs the soil up and he looks, 00:34:44.372 --> 00:34:47.381 'Okay, you are there'. And then, puts it back down. 00:34:47.532 --> 00:34:51.006 And after three days, digs the soil up again. 00:34:51.322 --> 00:34:55.104 Just to see, to make sure that the seed is still there. 00:34:55.392 --> 00:34:57.624 So, what happens? 00:34:57.785 --> 00:35:00.933 I don't think the seed will sprout on time, 00:35:01.105 --> 00:35:05.523 or if it sprouts, it will be quite weak in the future. 00:35:05.708 --> 00:35:08.407 For us it's the same. 00:35:08.561 --> 00:35:11.283 Our mind is the same. 00:35:11.449 --> 00:35:14.792 If we sow the seed of, for example, mindfulness, 00:35:14.953 --> 00:35:17.504 we come here, 00:35:17.844 --> 00:35:21.076 and you are to do everything in mindfulness. 00:35:21.358 --> 00:35:27.504 You are guided to eat in silence, to walk in silence. 00:35:27.699 --> 00:35:32.593 We are sowing the seed of mindfulness in the store consciousness. 00:35:33.425 --> 00:35:40.231 And with some conditions, spiritual friends, a sangha, the nature, 00:35:40.565 --> 00:35:46.464 the food, everything, the seed of mindfulness already like - 00:35:49.235 --> 00:35:52.277 It was in the earth, 00:35:52.551 --> 00:35:56.511 in the store consciousness, in the earth of our consciousness already. 00:35:56.633 --> 00:36:00.600 The last thing we should do is to give it time and space, 00:36:00.802 --> 00:36:06.451 be patient with our store consciousness, be patient with the earth. 00:36:06.753 --> 00:36:14.046 Some day, when we have enough time and space, and faith, 00:36:15.978 --> 00:36:20.994 the seed of mindfulness will sprout 00:36:21.694 --> 00:36:24.599 and become a tree, 00:36:24.869 --> 00:36:27.132 a flower, in here. 00:36:27.979 --> 00:36:32.641 And you become peaceful, and mindful. It is a process. 00:36:32.983 --> 00:36:35.095 So my practice is 00:36:35.309 --> 00:36:39.317 we try to provide the good conditions, 00:36:39.954 --> 00:36:42.846 the supporting conditions for the seed 00:36:43.018 --> 00:36:48.467 so that it can be taken care of and have faith in our store consciousness. 00:36:51.371 --> 00:36:56.253 When learning about this, it is the Manifestation Only teaching, 00:36:56.672 --> 00:37:02.231 when I was learning about this I found it quite interesting, 00:37:02.431 --> 00:37:04.936 because I ask myself a question, 00:37:05.101 --> 00:37:09.630 when do I have to have faith in the store consciousness? 00:37:11.956 --> 00:37:19.151 How do we know that the store consciousness can take care of everything? 00:37:22.293 --> 00:37:27.668 We can see that. I try very hard, but my habit energy stays still, 00:37:28.037 --> 00:37:30.191 no changing. 00:37:30.326 --> 00:37:36.010 And after three weeks, or two months, three months, and a year in Plum Village 00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:39.600 I see my anger is still there. 00:37:39.982 --> 00:37:44.423 So I kind of lose faith in the practice. 00:37:44.689 --> 00:37:49.086 Some friend - It has happened to some of us. 00:37:50.023 --> 00:37:56.614 Also some monastic brothers and sisters, after quite a long time practicing, 00:37:57.016 --> 00:38:01.041 we take everything for granted. 00:38:01.844 --> 00:38:07.012 We say, 'Oh! The practice is not so beneficial for me.' 00:38:07.764 --> 00:38:14.512 That is why we lose our faith in our store consciousness. 00:38:14.763 --> 00:38:23.285 And I keep asking myself, why? Why I must have faith in the store consciousness? 00:38:26.852 --> 00:38:30.336 When asking that question, 00:38:30.949 --> 00:38:36.455 it was a great opportunity for me to learn more. 00:38:37.614 --> 00:38:41.906 And after a while, when Thay taught about 00:38:43.285 --> 00:38:47.948 the functions of store consciousness, I was very fulfilled. 00:38:50.593 --> 00:38:54.265 I would like to share briefly about this, 00:38:54.399 --> 00:38:59.944 why do we practice being faithful to the store consciousness 00:39:00.577 --> 00:39:06.333 and let the store consciousness take care of our life. 00:39:07.048 --> 00:39:12.186 One example that Thay gave quite often 00:39:12.379 --> 00:39:18.086 about how to describe the role of the store consciousness 00:39:19.557 --> 00:39:23.452 is a person who learns to drive. 00:39:23.667 --> 00:39:30.332 At the begining he needs to spend a lot of energy 00:39:30.937 --> 00:39:36.919 to try to control the car, how to guide the car, 00:39:37.098 --> 00:39:40.468 how to understand the car, etc. 00:39:40.614 --> 00:39:46.180 And he needs to use the mind consciousness all the time to really control the car. 00:39:46.370 --> 00:39:50.410 But after a while of driving, he gets used to it. 00:39:50.543 --> 00:39:57.202 And actually, when you drive you don't really focus a lot in driving. 00:39:57.598 --> 00:40:02.962 That is the time the store consciousness works. 00:40:04.014 --> 00:40:07.508 Even that, if something happens, 00:40:07.674 --> 00:40:12.680 that can bring danger to you or your passengers, 00:40:12.951 --> 00:40:16.486 the store consciousness reacts very quickly. 00:40:16.903 --> 00:40:20.496 You can turn, or make something, or you brake, 00:40:20.648 --> 00:40:24.303 anything to save ourselves from the situation. 00:40:24.463 --> 00:40:29.200 That is also the work of the store consciousness. 00:40:33.154 --> 00:40:39.223 [1. Holding, restoring] 00:40:39.587 --> 00:40:43.979 It is the first function of our store consciousness. 00:40:44.153 --> 00:40:49.338 Holding and restoring things, just like the hard disk of the computer. 00:40:49.590 --> 00:40:55.400 Whatever we say, or we think, or we feel through these senses, 00:40:55.571 --> 00:41:00.119 through eyes, ears, these five senses 00:41:00.311 --> 00:41:02.724 and also through the mind, 00:41:02.874 --> 00:41:07.003 the store consciousness stores and holds everything 00:41:07.157 --> 00:41:09.216 back down here. 00:41:09.315 --> 00:41:14.112 So it is also the meaning how to choose the environment to live in, 00:41:14.256 --> 00:41:18.399 how to choose food to eat. 00:41:20.640 --> 00:41:24.234 And the second is learning. It is a function. 00:41:27.850 --> 00:41:31.064 The nine functions of store consciousness. 00:41:31.491 --> 00:41:34.037 [9 Functions of Store C.] 00:41:34.363 --> 00:41:36.754 [2. learning] 00:41:36.926 --> 00:41:40.514 The store consciousness has the function of learning. 00:41:43.293 --> 00:41:46.221 When you first come to Plum Village 00:41:46.911 --> 00:41:52.220 you may not really be confident in walking meditation, for example. 00:41:53.640 --> 00:42:00.233 And you tell yourself, 'No, no. It is too slow for me. 00:42:00.653 --> 00:42:07.590 I should walk a little bit faster.' Things like that. 00:42:07.856 --> 00:42:12.178 But actually, after one week in Plum Village, 00:42:12.342 --> 00:42:16.520 naturally and gradually you slow down. 00:42:16.681 --> 00:42:19.730 It is the capacity of the store consciousness. 00:42:19.911 --> 00:42:24.317 You observe things and learn things and change. 00:42:25.592 --> 00:42:30.714 Also from this meaning the store consciousness is organic. 00:42:31.012 --> 00:42:35.296 The nature of impermanence, the nature of changing 00:42:35.819 --> 00:42:38.764 the nature of transforming. 00:42:38.944 --> 00:42:41.475 For me it is good news, 00:42:41.719 --> 00:42:47.573 because our difficulties, our suffering, when it gets enough conditions, 00:42:47.721 --> 00:42:51.089 enough training, can be transformed. 00:42:51.213 --> 00:42:56.309 It is not something stuck, that stays there forever. 00:42:59.365 --> 00:43:04.280 [3. Processing] 00:43:05.768 --> 00:43:09.394 And the third function is processing. 00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:12.549 Yes, it receives information 00:43:13.032 --> 00:43:15.184 and it is processing. 00:43:15.375 --> 00:43:19.545 That will produce more beautiful results for us. 00:43:20.364 --> 00:43:22.873 And the fourth is 00:43:23.748 --> 00:43:26.285 [4. Maturation] 00:43:26.475 --> 00:43:28.562 Maturation. 00:43:28.953 --> 00:43:35.584 About the capacity to make things ripe on time. 00:43:36.434 --> 00:43:39.492 For example, we may say that, 00:43:41.588 --> 00:43:48.104 'Oh! I practice not so well. I lose mindfulness all the time.' 00:43:48.328 --> 00:43:53.459 But actually, it will depend on the time and the way. 00:43:53.933 --> 00:44:01.528 Our store consciousness needs time to get things mature, to get things ripen 00:44:02.201 --> 00:44:04.064 on time. 00:44:04.548 --> 00:44:07.186 Like the orange tree. 00:44:07.573 --> 00:44:12.424 It needs time, manure and everything, all the conditions 00:44:12.571 --> 00:44:19.451 so that the oranges can be ripe, can get the orange color 00:44:19.627 --> 00:44:21.572 and we can eat them. 00:44:21.728 --> 00:44:24.944 It is the same for the things happening in our mind. 00:44:26.167 --> 00:44:29.823 And the fifth function is 00:44:35.548 --> 00:44:37.457 nourishing. 00:44:37.721 --> 00:44:40.978 [5. Nourishing] 00:44:41.188 --> 00:44:43.598 The sixth is healing. 00:44:43.778 --> 00:44:46.468 [6. Healing] 00:44:48.399 --> 00:44:52.516 These two capacities of store consciousness 00:44:56.401 --> 00:45:00.325 also need to be recognized by a practitioner 00:45:00.819 --> 00:45:09.035 with the practice of sitting meditation, walking meditation, eating in silence, 00:45:09.357 --> 00:45:14.463 we allow ourselves to be nourished and to be healed 00:45:17.883 --> 00:45:21.165 by the beauty elements in ourselves and in the sangha, 00:45:21.607 --> 00:45:23.573 in the environment. 00:45:23.767 --> 00:45:28.483 And in the sutra, the Buddha says that 00:45:29.184 --> 00:45:32.753 to be able to live in the environment, 00:45:32.923 --> 00:45:35.341 this is the greatest happiness. 00:45:35.521 --> 00:45:39.390 For me it is really related to each other. 00:45:41.301 --> 00:45:45.718 For example, you live in Bordeaux, or in Paris, 00:45:46.838 --> 00:45:50.334 in Amsterdam, or in Hanoi, 00:45:51.371 --> 00:45:55.509 it is a very busy and crowded city. 00:45:58.223 --> 00:46:01.666 And after a long arrangement, you come here. 00:46:03.113 --> 00:46:07.606 Even if you haven't arrived to the countryside yet, 00:46:07.778 --> 00:46:13.336 but when you get out of the busy city, you already feel 00:46:15.722 --> 00:46:20.185 very well, and you already feel light inside 00:46:20.547 --> 00:46:23.627 with the view of the green around. 00:46:24.237 --> 00:46:27.009 There is one time, 00:46:27.413 --> 00:46:31.325 I went to Italy with my brothers and sisters for a retreat, 00:46:31.494 --> 00:46:34.690 a quite long retreat, one month. 00:46:34.870 --> 00:46:40.597 We went to different places to have retreats there. 00:46:41.332 --> 00:46:43.849 It was in spring time. 00:46:44.277 --> 00:46:50.822 We went to Pisa and many big cities in Italy. 00:46:51.314 --> 00:46:55.496 And we went also to visit Venice. 00:46:55.652 --> 00:47:00.596 Yes, it was very beautiful, but it was very noisy for me. 00:47:02.191 --> 00:47:09.897 And when we were able to take the train back to Verona, 00:47:10.275 --> 00:47:17.661 where we were staying together before we came back to Plum Village, 00:47:18.377 --> 00:47:21.433 I was so relieved. 00:47:22.034 --> 00:47:24.041 It was like - 00:47:24.979 --> 00:47:27.975 All the noise in my head - 00:47:28.550 --> 00:47:31.571 So I understand this feeling. 00:47:31.742 --> 00:47:38.796 When we go back from Bordeaux or Paris to Plum Village, even on the way here 00:47:39.694 --> 00:47:44.209 we already feel very fresh. 00:47:49.972 --> 00:47:57.770 So that is the 5th and the 6th function of the store consciousness. 00:47:58.081 --> 00:48:00.272 And the seventh, 00:48:01.596 --> 00:48:06.267 [7. auto-piloting] 00:48:07.535 --> 00:48:09.829 the eighth, 00:48:10.252 --> 00:48:13.351 (Vietnamese) 00:48:14.031 --> 00:48:17.434 sustaining life. 00:48:17.778 --> 00:48:21.173 [8. sustaining life] 00:48:23.064 --> 00:48:29.250 [9. manifesting as environment] 00:48:42.864 --> 00:48:45.656 (Vietnamese) 00:48:50.281 --> 00:48:52.754 I would like to go to the number nine. 00:48:52.897 --> 00:48:56.574 This is concerning the non-self practices, 00:48:57.527 --> 00:49:00.223 I wouid like to go here. 00:49:00.478 --> 00:49:04.070 Our store consciousness has the capacity 00:49:04.366 --> 00:49:10.020 to manifest as an environment. It means that 00:49:13.975 --> 00:49:16.969 when we are able to be here, 00:49:17.153 --> 00:49:22.170 we already have sown the seed of mindfulness, of peace, of happiness 00:49:22.591 --> 00:49:25.952 sometime in the past already. 00:49:26.601 --> 00:49:31.351 Why you don't remain in your city? 00:49:31.850 --> 00:49:36.368 You choose to come here. Or maybe someone forced you to come here. 00:49:36.585 --> 00:49:39.497 That is also a good condition. 00:49:41.707 --> 00:49:43.766 This is like 00:49:45.016 --> 00:49:48.581 even if we don't know how and what, 00:49:48.880 --> 00:49:51.287 but all of us have something 00:49:52.059 --> 00:49:56.237 similar to each other, so that we are here today together. 00:49:57.846 --> 00:50:03.619 Our store consciousness knows how to direct our life 00:50:04.021 --> 00:50:10.961 into the direction that describes the very deep desire inside of us. 00:50:11.913 --> 00:50:16.711 Like the people who are gifted 00:50:19.823 --> 00:50:23.144 in singing, they can join with each other. 00:50:23.335 --> 00:50:28.709 Or people who are gifted in arts, they find each other. 00:50:29.279 --> 00:50:34.289 And we, gifted in happy life, mindful life, 00:50:34.526 --> 00:50:37.945 we are finding each other. That is the meaning. 00:50:38.157 --> 00:50:45.569 For me, be patient and be deep, be ourselves, 00:50:45.826 --> 00:50:49.478 so that our capacity of auto-pilot 00:50:49.678 --> 00:50:56.143 can direct us to a very good environment, which expresses our deepest aspiration. 00:50:57.538 --> 00:51:02.754 Of course, all of us have the aspiration to have a happy life, 00:51:03.028 --> 00:51:06.797 to have a mindful life, so that be can be able 00:51:07.875 --> 00:51:12.920 to have ourselves suffer less, and have our beloved ones suffer less. 00:51:13.974 --> 00:51:18.274 But because of many reasons, we forget this. 00:51:18.878 --> 00:51:25.685 We are struggling, fighting with the conditions outside. 00:51:25.992 --> 00:51:32.791 Then, we lose our own capacity to be auto-piloting ourselves. 00:51:33.622 --> 00:51:34.830 (Bell) 00:51:40.636 --> 00:51:47.118 (Bell) 00:51:57.704 --> 00:51:59.480 Okay, then. 00:52:02.667 --> 00:52:06.176 When we are able to be here as a community, 00:52:08.065 --> 00:52:12.588 we have an opportunity to sow good seeds. 00:52:15.606 --> 00:52:20.647 The seed of mindfulness, the seed of happiness, the seed of peace, 00:52:21.711 --> 00:52:25.677 not only in ourselves but also in the people around us. 00:52:26.118 --> 00:52:30.345 I know you are also doing this, 00:52:31.054 --> 00:52:33.830 because, for example, 00:52:37.079 --> 00:52:39.572 at the beginning of the day, 00:52:41.760 --> 00:52:45.793 (instead of being) busy and worry about your work, 00:52:46.989 --> 00:52:50.256 you get up and light up the awareness 00:52:52.927 --> 00:52:56.533 of being in Plum Village, I have nothing to do. 00:52:56.949 --> 00:53:02.084 Just go to the bathroom, and go to the meditation hall. 00:53:02.964 --> 00:53:06.606 And enjoy sitting in silence and peace. 00:53:10.245 --> 00:53:15.012 For me, that is a great fortune. 00:53:15.347 --> 00:53:22.969 I know my parents worked a lot to take care of us, seven children. 00:53:23.948 --> 00:53:28.513 And me, I don't have to work a lot, as my mum. 00:53:30.024 --> 00:53:35.151 In working meditation time, just one hour, or one hour and a half. 00:53:35.627 --> 00:53:39.480 But we do this in a very joyful and relaxing way. 00:53:39.651 --> 00:53:43.499 No one pushes me to finish the work. 00:53:44.833 --> 00:53:47.164 There is no boss. 00:53:47.982 --> 00:53:51.283 You don't have to be afraid of your boss. 00:53:51.989 --> 00:53:56.527 You don't have to try to get a progress in the work 00:53:56.736 --> 00:54:00.029 so that you have to get more salary. 00:54:00.235 --> 00:54:07.845 When I am aware of this path in my life, I feel very grateful. 00:54:09.083 --> 00:54:14.679 I don't know which good seeds I have sown in the past, 00:54:15.324 --> 00:54:17.884 or my parents sowed in the past 00:54:18.158 --> 00:54:21.652 so that today I have such a wonderful life. 00:54:22.224 --> 00:54:26.509 Of course, we have difficulties and challenges in monastic life. 00:54:26.736 --> 00:54:29.560 If you would like to know, 00:54:29.946 --> 00:54:32.059 you are welcome. 00:54:33.693 --> 00:54:37.474 But then, the happiness, and the joy, and the peace 00:54:38.440 --> 00:54:42.219 is full, is everywhere. 00:54:42.803 --> 00:54:46.493 It is available all the time. 00:54:50.380 --> 00:54:54.696 We have many opportunities 00:54:56.079 --> 00:55:01.452 not only to sow good seeds in ourselves but also in others, 00:55:01.794 --> 00:55:04.602 and also in the society. 00:55:04.778 --> 00:55:10.318 I remember when I read the book about mother Theresa, 00:55:10.521 --> 00:55:15.154 there is a sentence that I like a lot, that she said that, 00:55:16.801 --> 00:55:21.641 if you would like to change the world, come back to your family 00:55:22.155 --> 00:55:24.903 and love your family members. 00:55:25.099 --> 00:55:30.345 Wow! It is very simple! Very simple and doable! 00:55:35.049 --> 00:55:38.809 As practitioners, we are also gardeners. 00:55:39.175 --> 00:55:42.400 The mind consciousness is a gardener, 00:55:42.555 --> 00:55:45.638 and the store consciousness is the garden. 00:55:45.822 --> 00:55:51.507 We use the mind consciousness to sow the seed, to garden, 00:55:53.135 --> 00:55:57.296 like to put manure, and everything, weeding, 00:55:57.435 --> 00:56:02.231 to help our garden grow beautifully. 00:56:02.608 --> 00:56:08.474 But if some day there is a dead tree in your garden, 00:56:09.115 --> 00:56:15.476 or there is a lot of weed in your garden, don't be too worried about that. 00:56:17.133 --> 00:56:26.287 Somehow we, human beings, we remember suffering easier and more often 00:56:26.531 --> 00:56:29.693 than we remember happiness, right? 00:56:30.334 --> 00:56:32.816 Like, during a day, 00:56:32.987 --> 00:56:38.160 there is like ten times moments you feel happy, 00:56:38.767 --> 00:56:44.836 and suppose there is one time that you feel difficult with someone. 00:56:46.040 --> 00:56:50.378 And somehow, at the end of the day you remember that difficult moment 00:56:50.630 --> 00:56:54.185 more than the other ten times of happiness. 00:56:54.310 --> 00:56:58.749 So I would like to suggest one exercise for all of us. 00:56:59.500 --> 00:57:04.083 How many days you remain in Plum Village? 00:57:04.313 --> 00:57:10.374 Please, find some time to do this exercise, 00:57:10.827 --> 00:57:15.789 which is to write down the list of happiness. 00:57:16.501 --> 00:57:18.497 The list of 00:57:20.438 --> 00:57:23.431 things you feel grateful to. 00:57:23.626 --> 00:57:27.819 Instead of preparing the list of shopping, shopping list, 00:57:29.373 --> 00:57:32.226 you make a happiness list. 00:57:41.232 --> 00:57:47.774 Even an autumn leaf can be added in that catalog. 00:57:49.167 --> 00:57:52.234 A list of happiness. 00:57:54.867 --> 00:57:57.927 Okay, we go to the next, 00:57:58.114 --> 00:58:07.767 “To have a chance to learn and grow, to be skillful in your profession or craft, 00:58:08.529 --> 00:58:14.149 practicing the precepts and loving speech, this is the greatest happiness." 00:58:18.379 --> 00:58:22.364 So the Buddha taught us in very concrete ways, 00:58:22.550 --> 00:58:25.170 how to cultivate happiness. 00:58:30.722 --> 00:58:32.669 If you have a - 00:58:32.861 --> 00:58:39.919 If you have been doing a job, which does not bring any harm to yourself, 00:58:40.185 --> 00:58:42.872 to the Earth, to the environment, 00:58:43.760 --> 00:58:49.376 you must recognize that it is my greatest happiness. 00:58:51.572 --> 00:58:54.343 In the Buddha's teaching, 00:59:01.511 --> 00:59:07.277 to be skillful in your profession means that you have a right livelihood. 00:59:09.838 --> 00:59:15.979 And livelihood means you have a vocation that is beneficial to humans, 00:59:16.478 --> 00:59:22.041 animals, plants, and the Earth, or at least, minimally harmful. 00:59:22.724 --> 00:59:27.953 Which is the definition of the right livelihood. 00:59:33.390 --> 00:59:37.101 Yesterday, in Lower Hamlet, 00:59:37.313 --> 00:59:39.622 the group of sisters 00:59:42.321 --> 00:59:45.824 offered to the monastic sangha 00:59:46.046 --> 00:59:50.468 a presentation on the topic about the environment, 00:59:50.707 --> 00:59:56.362 protecting planet Earth, and global warming, etc. 00:59:59.540 --> 01:00:03.191 And there is a research from a sister, 01:00:03.476 --> 01:00:05.906 I was very impressed, 01:00:06.121 --> 01:00:11.366 she worked on the transportation of Lower Hamlet's sisters, 01:00:11.951 --> 01:00:16.089 and how transportation of the community 01:00:16.821 --> 01:00:20.142 helps reducing the global warming. 01:00:21.379 --> 01:00:24.150 She told that 01:00:25.256 --> 01:00:27.717 in one month, 01:00:29.380 --> 01:00:34.304 the whole monastic sangha, we are about 60 sisters, 01:00:35.014 --> 01:00:39.425 and in one month we drive 01:00:41.061 --> 01:00:48.085 53,000 km for one year 01:00:49.956 --> 01:00:53.346 for the 60 people. 01:00:53.605 --> 01:01:03.311 And the average for a French driver, he will drive 20,000 km one year. 01:01:04.139 --> 01:01:11.326 So we are 60 people, but we just drive 53,000 km. 01:01:11.470 --> 01:01:19.845 But a French driver, in general, he will drive 20,000 km for one year. 01:01:20.021 --> 01:01:23.640 So we don't really do anything, 01:01:23.835 --> 01:01:27.589 but as a community we contribute quite a lot 01:01:27.808 --> 01:01:32.272 to help reducing the global warming, 01:01:32.457 --> 01:01:39.784 the quantity of carbon to the environment, to the air. 01:01:40.394 --> 01:01:42.730 And after that, 01:01:43.247 --> 01:01:48.108 she also presented a point which is quite funny. 01:01:50.679 --> 01:01:56.410 In order to take one round around the Earth, 01:01:57.807 --> 01:02:03.991 people would drive 40,000 km one year. 01:02:04.904 --> 01:02:07.174 So it means that 01:02:08.120 --> 01:02:17.858 60 sisters in Lower Hamlet in one year, we make one round around the planet Earth. 01:02:19.333 --> 01:02:21.594 So it is also - 01:02:24.375 --> 01:02:30.018 The sister told me it is still a shame we use a lot of energy. 01:02:30.732 --> 01:02:33.911 But then it is already a good news. 01:02:34.119 --> 01:02:37.381 Because if we live as individuals, 01:02:38.343 --> 01:02:41.802 we use quite a lot the car. 01:02:42.958 --> 01:02:45.883 And she also presented 01:02:47.698 --> 01:02:55.654 the four ways of supporting transportation to reduce using cars. 01:02:56.158 --> 01:03:00.791 One of that ways was we were thinking about bicycles. 01:03:02.125 --> 01:03:06.659 And the sister was so happy with that, 01:03:07.059 --> 01:03:11.690 because there is many long term friends in Lower Hamlet using bicycles, 01:03:11.906 --> 01:03:15.868 even electric bicycles, it is already wonderful. 01:03:23.091 --> 01:03:27.804 So the next paragraphs of the sutra I would like to read. 01:03:28.067 --> 01:03:32.121 “To be able to serve and support your parents, 01:03:33.124 --> 01:03:36.594 to cherish and love your family, 01:03:36.749 --> 01:03:41.959 to have a vocation that brings you joy – this is the greatest happiness. 01:03:43.030 --> 01:03:46.913 To live honestly, generous in giving, 01:03:47.262 --> 01:03:51.406 to offer support to relatives and friends, 01:03:51.742 --> 01:03:57.012 living a life of blameless conduct, this is the greatest happiness." 01:03:58.310 --> 01:04:04.285 I remember in one session of Q&A in Lower Hamlet, 01:04:04.779 --> 01:04:08.352 there was a young woman. 01:04:08.766 --> 01:04:11.106 She asked a question about - 01:04:15.225 --> 01:04:18.728 Her parents divorced when she was two. 01:04:19.886 --> 01:04:23.394 And she was brought up by her mum. 01:04:23.601 --> 01:04:30.610 And her dad never came to visit her or gave any support to her mum. 01:04:32.108 --> 01:04:34.956 And even he has his own family. 01:04:38.280 --> 01:04:44.511 Sometimes she had to come to stay there with him. 01:04:45.124 --> 01:04:48.471 And she didn't feel any love from him 01:04:48.704 --> 01:04:52.725 as well as from her stepmother. 01:04:54.147 --> 01:04:58.384 She was crying a lot when asking this question. 01:04:59.939 --> 01:05:03.724 And she shared, how can she overcome this suffering 01:05:04.659 --> 01:05:11.127 and this blame in her towards her parents, towards her dad. 01:05:13.089 --> 01:05:20.665 Because she tried her best, but he could not accept her. Why? 01:05:21.006 --> 01:05:27.004 Why her dad leaved her when she was just two? 01:05:28.414 --> 01:05:31.490 What happened between them 01:05:32.076 --> 01:05:36.416 so that things happened like that? 01:05:36.861 --> 01:05:39.937 And she was crying and suffered. 01:05:41.989 --> 01:05:44.444 And she said that 01:05:44.623 --> 01:05:47.341 with the practice, she knew that 01:05:48.268 --> 01:05:51.765 she should love her dad. 01:05:52.140 --> 01:05:57.653 But she felt that very deep down in her heart 01:05:58.776 --> 01:06:04.755 she didn't accept her dad. She wanted to push him away. 01:06:05.099 --> 01:06:10.668 She didn't want to do anything with him. She didn't want to see him. 01:06:11.252 --> 01:06:16.896 She didn't want to do anything relating to her dad. 01:06:20.154 --> 01:06:25.316 And I was there, I was so moved from the story. 01:06:27.339 --> 01:06:30.021 We shared with her that - 01:06:34.303 --> 01:06:40.810 I asked her, dear friend, do you see that you are more lucky than your dad? 01:06:41.501 --> 01:06:44.852 And she didn't understand why I asked that question. 01:06:45.034 --> 01:06:48.155 But actually I see that she is more lucky than her dad, 01:06:48.326 --> 01:06:50.875 because she knows the practice. 01:06:51.039 --> 01:06:56.173 She knows even deep down in her heart that she didn't accept 01:06:56.509 --> 01:06:58.886 but she knows that, 01:06:59.111 --> 01:07:02.255 she wants to reconcile with her dad. 01:07:02.428 --> 01:07:07.221 And she knows how to breathe, to embrace her suffering. 01:07:07.426 --> 01:07:12.777 She knows how to do walking meditation even if she lives in Paris, 01:07:13.327 --> 01:07:17.957 she practices walking meditation in the park in Paris. 01:07:18.454 --> 01:07:21.869 So many people pass by and stop and stare at her. 01:07:23.294 --> 01:07:28.158 I saw she is very courageous, 01:07:28.465 --> 01:07:31.506 to keep practicing. 01:07:32.273 --> 01:07:36.325 And we shared that we are lucky, because we know the practice. 01:07:36.509 --> 01:07:39.630 For me, that is the point. 01:07:40.381 --> 01:07:45.861 Because of the suffering that our parents could not continue, 01:07:46.748 --> 01:07:57.007 but there are no parents on this Earth who don't love their children. 01:07:57.664 --> 01:08:00.574 Just because of some reasons, 01:08:00.757 --> 01:08:05.641 because they cannot embrace their suffering, their difficulties. 01:08:05.921 --> 01:08:13.423 And maybe that suffering was transmitted from their parents too. 01:08:14.034 --> 01:08:17.089 Maybe your dad suffered as a child. 01:08:18.095 --> 01:08:21.145 So just by practicing, 01:08:23.344 --> 01:08:26.009 we have the way. 01:08:26.342 --> 01:08:33.472 Even if our mindfulness and compassion are not strong enough yet 01:08:33.999 --> 01:08:36.664 to embrace this suffering, 01:08:37.132 --> 01:08:42.679 we should have faith in our store consciousness. 01:08:43.258 --> 01:08:46.329 We practice more, and more, and more. 01:08:46.637 --> 01:08:52.556 And one of my practices is also to restart over, to start over everything. 01:08:52.741 --> 01:08:58.551 Renew again even the very basic practices. Do it again, just do it again. 01:08:58.897 --> 01:09:01.877 After some time, we feel, 01:09:03.467 --> 01:09:07.287 we feel that we are not interested in sitting meditation anymore. 01:09:07.737 --> 01:09:12.958 We need to be creative to renew our practice. 01:09:13.275 --> 01:09:16.590 Do it again, and again, and again. 01:09:20.984 --> 01:09:26.095 With this line of this teaching from this sutra, 01:09:26.560 --> 01:09:30.142 I see that in order to - 01:09:33.187 --> 01:09:38.403 In order to practice being happy in ourselves, 01:09:38.931 --> 01:09:42.953 normally we would like to be fulfilled, 01:09:43.687 --> 01:09:48.878 the two needs of all human being which is understanding and love. 01:09:49.393 --> 01:09:52.373 We have that need inside, 01:09:52.561 --> 01:09:55.659 we want to have understanding and love for others. 01:09:55.925 --> 01:10:00.377 And also we would like to be understood and loved by others too. 01:10:00.580 --> 01:10:06.157 They can be our parents, our friends, our relatives, our neighbours, 01:10:06.379 --> 01:10:09.369 or even nature, etc. 01:10:10.297 --> 01:10:14.815 So, with the practice, when we are able to 01:10:15.896 --> 01:10:18.396 take care of our parents, 01:10:18.604 --> 01:10:23.019 when we are able to be a good friend, that is the greatest happiness. 01:10:25.038 --> 01:10:28.703 Do we recognize that happiness that we have right now? 01:10:30.078 --> 01:10:34.200 By recognizing, by watering 01:10:35.860 --> 01:10:38.499 the seed of joy and happiness, 01:10:38.639 --> 01:10:41.657 joy and happiness will sprout, will flower, 01:10:42.063 --> 01:10:46.477 sooner or later, it depends. But it is already in here. 01:10:46.785 --> 01:10:52.226 I would like to go to the next paragraph. 01:11:00.131 --> 01:11:04.919 "To persevere and be open to change, 01:11:05.624 --> 01:11:09.081 to have regular contact with monks and nuns, 01:11:09.497 --> 01:11:14.649 and to fully participate in Dharma discussions, 01:11:15.127 --> 01:11:17.895 this is the greatest happiness. 01:11:18.243 --> 01:11:24.456 To live diligently and attentively, to perceive the Noble Truths, 01:11:24.907 --> 01:11:29.153 and to realize Nirvana, this is the greatest happiness." 01:11:32.301 --> 01:11:37.003 To live attentively here means to live mindfully. 01:11:41.244 --> 01:11:47.853 In the sixteen exercises of breathing, in the Sutra of the Awareness of Breathing, 01:11:48.099 --> 01:11:52.341 the Buddha taught sixteen exercises of breathing. 01:11:52.702 --> 01:11:55.995 And the exercise number 5 and number 6 01:11:57.153 --> 01:12:07.118 teach about cultivating joy, I breathe in, and I breathe out, 01:12:08.490 --> 01:12:13.467 and cultivating happiness, I breathe in, and I breathe out. 01:12:18.497 --> 01:12:22.167 Normally, for example, 01:12:23.460 --> 01:12:29.974 we are on the way back to Plum Village, when I was on the way back to Plum Village 01:12:30.507 --> 01:12:32.514 after a long trip, 01:12:34.011 --> 01:12:36.236 I had excitement. 01:12:36.585 --> 01:12:40.865 I mean that, oh! I will get home, I will be able to rest, 01:12:41.696 --> 01:12:45.726 and to see my sisters! That was joy. 01:12:46.351 --> 01:12:49.506 And there was excitement in it. 01:12:49.936 --> 01:12:55.870 But when I was able to really arrive to Lower Hamlet, 01:12:56.793 --> 01:13:03.010 really step on the land of Lower Hamlet, go back to my room and lie down, 01:13:03.306 --> 01:13:07.240 that is happiness. That is something peaceful. 01:13:07.594 --> 01:13:11.241 Something very deep down in here. 01:13:11.513 --> 01:13:15.139 Practicing meditation is the same. At the beginning, 01:13:15.296 --> 01:13:22.091 we may have some joy and excitement in the quality of meditation. 01:13:23.587 --> 01:13:29.518 But later on, just like the people who are thirsty, 01:13:29.880 --> 01:13:35.005 and who are on the way to get water, there is joy and excitement in it. 01:13:35.174 --> 01:13:40.192 But when he drinks the water, and the water goes into the body, 01:13:40.421 --> 01:13:43.450 he feels the freshness of the water. That is happiness, 01:13:43.642 --> 01:13:50.281 which is something very deep. And in happiness there is the element of peace 01:13:52.143 --> 01:13:55.068 very deep inside. 01:13:59.444 --> 01:14:02.205 And instead of 01:14:06.989 --> 01:14:12.510 living in the busy city, right now you choose Plum Village to stay, 01:14:15.209 --> 01:14:19.971 and go back to the countryside and have a simple life here. 01:14:20.236 --> 01:14:23.501 In the Buddha's teaching, that is, 01:14:24.441 --> 01:14:30.916 the Buddha calls, by the practice of letting go we create joy and happiness. 01:14:31.470 --> 01:14:34.492 That is, you would like to let go of something 01:14:34.696 --> 01:14:39.079 that makes you tired and lose your energy. 01:14:40.273 --> 01:14:45.999 You would like to choose an environment which brings peace, and joy, and relax 01:14:46.398 --> 01:14:49.329 to our body and mind. 01:14:51.809 --> 01:14:56.857 There is a practice of meditation called 'dwelling happily in the present moment'. 01:15:02.391 --> 01:15:06.072 In Vietnamese, (Vietnamese). 01:15:06.946 --> 01:15:11.016 Letting go by the practice - 01:15:11.338 --> 01:15:15.451 By the practice of letting go, you cultivate joy and happiness. 01:15:19.445 --> 01:15:22.173 For the people who think that 01:15:22.354 --> 01:15:26.820 in order to be happy, I need to have that beautiful house. 01:15:27.900 --> 01:15:33.674 Or in order to be happy, I need to have that car, I need to buy that car. 01:15:35.471 --> 01:15:39.989 The Buddha asks whether that is you cow. 01:15:40.597 --> 01:15:45.846 There is a sutra - The Buddha was teaching about 01:15:46.342 --> 01:15:49.903 a farmer who lost his cows. 01:15:50.261 --> 01:15:56.055 He was very worried, and running around the hamlet to try to find the cows. 01:15:57.212 --> 01:15:59.483 And the Buddha told the monks, 01:15:59.639 --> 01:16:02.826 'Monks, you are lucky. You don't have any cows to lose.' 01:16:06.535 --> 01:16:12.709 From that sutra, our teacher teaches about letting go of our cows. 01:16:14.195 --> 01:16:17.051 But if you have any cow, 01:16:19.051 --> 01:16:24.080 if you are caught in something that prevents you from being happy, 01:16:24.585 --> 01:16:28.085 you can recognize that is a cow. 01:16:30.585 --> 01:16:36.178 That obstacle prevents us from being happy. It may be the idea of happiness. 01:16:36.978 --> 01:16:45.472 That idea of a house, that idea of a car, the idea of a partner, etc. 01:16:46.653 --> 01:16:50.781 Or for the monastics, maybe the idea of liberation. 01:16:51.854 --> 01:16:58.695 That I need to be liberated, then I will be happy. Things like that. 01:16:59.304 --> 01:17:01.162 Sometimes, 01:17:02.461 --> 01:17:06.085 I notice that I was caught in the idea of freedom. 01:17:06.489 --> 01:17:09.144 I want to be free. 01:17:09.396 --> 01:17:13.526 I want to practice in order to be a free person, or a happy person. 01:17:13.911 --> 01:17:18.033 And if I am not careful with my practice, 01:17:18.295 --> 01:17:22.560 if I do not stick to the basic practices, 01:17:22.780 --> 01:17:28.531 I see that that idea easily lifts me up to the sky. 01:17:29.541 --> 01:17:33.192 And it is like dreaming about the liberation. 01:17:36.000 --> 01:17:38.817 And the second suggestion from the Buddha 01:17:39.008 --> 01:17:42.073 about the practice of cultivating happiness 01:17:43.011 --> 01:17:45.872 is (Vietnamese). 01:17:46.068 --> 01:17:53.747 The practice of mindfulness helps to cultivate joy and happiness. 01:17:56.501 --> 01:18:01.903 By practicing mindfulness, we cultivate joy and happiness. 01:18:04.979 --> 01:18:07.765 I think this is quite clear for all of us. 01:18:14.953 --> 01:18:16.988 And in here, 01:18:20.042 --> 01:18:23.985 the Plum Village meditation practice tradition 01:18:24.240 --> 01:18:30.522 is very much the same to the line of the meditation we call (Vietnamese), 01:18:30.955 --> 01:18:37.125 'dwelling happily in the present moment', 'drsta-dharma-sukha-vihara'. 01:18:37.382 --> 01:18:42.935 This word is repeated quite a lot in here. 01:18:43.654 --> 01:18:47.547 Dwelling happily in the present moment. 01:18:47.852 --> 01:18:51.926 Whenever we are able to be in touch with the present moment, 01:18:52.421 --> 01:18:57.006 we can be in touch with happiness. 01:18:59.542 --> 01:19:06.899 And by the practice of breathing, like in the exercise number 5 and number 6 01:19:07.166 --> 01:19:10.906 in the sixteen exercises of breathing, 01:19:11.552 --> 01:19:14.717 Cultivating Joy, Cultivating Happiness, 01:19:14.911 --> 01:19:19.532 we continue to maintain the practice of our mindfulness, 01:19:21.991 --> 01:19:26.745 to support us in every day, 01:19:27.695 --> 01:19:30.673 in the daily activities 01:19:31.133 --> 01:19:36.802 so that we are able to more and more cultivate the energy of mindfulness. 01:19:40.847 --> 01:19:44.550 When we first enter the practice, 01:19:45.992 --> 01:19:50.967 we normally see that our awareness is very weak, 01:19:51.253 --> 01:19:53.958 we forget all the time. 01:19:54.171 --> 01:19:57.737 We are walking in the autumn forest, 01:19:58.214 --> 01:20:01.398 the leaves are very beautiful, 01:20:01.602 --> 01:20:07.019 but we are drown in our own difficulties and suffering. 01:20:07.348 --> 01:20:11.159 We are planning about something else. 01:20:12.775 --> 01:20:17.309 And by the training, by the support of our friends, our sangha, 01:20:17.563 --> 01:20:23.278 we can be able to remind ourselves to come back again, and again. 01:20:23.979 --> 01:20:26.596 And this is also a training. 01:20:26.936 --> 01:20:29.533 For me, it is also a training, a really - 01:20:31.433 --> 01:20:37.029 We really make a commitment with ourselves that we would like to train ourselves 01:20:38.224 --> 01:20:43.448 so that we can get the new habit of being mindful. 01:20:49.249 --> 01:20:58.283 And the third practice which the Buddha and our teacher suggested about this 01:20:58.771 --> 01:21:01.383 is (Vietnamese), 01:21:01.610 --> 01:21:04.938 by the practice of meditation, concentration, 01:21:05.401 --> 01:21:08.779 you can create joy and happiness. 01:21:09.697 --> 01:21:12.876 So the mindfulness, concentration and insight 01:21:13.269 --> 01:21:17.074 are essential teachings of the Buddha's teachings. 01:21:20.641 --> 01:21:25.126 Actually, one contains the other. 01:21:25.385 --> 01:21:27.996 When we practice mindfulness, 01:21:28.284 --> 01:21:31.865 in mindfulness there is the element of concentration and insight. 01:21:32.721 --> 01:21:39.767 And in concentration there is the element of mindfulness and insight too. 01:21:40.879 --> 01:21:47.236 And the fourth method is (Vietnamese), 01:21:47.499 --> 01:21:53.728 by the practice of insight, you create joy and happiness. 01:21:55.477 --> 01:21:59.535 () is joy, and () is happiness. 01:22:09.184 --> 01:22:14.340 I remember one time when I gave a consultation for a friend in Lower Hamlet. 01:22:18.403 --> 01:22:22.025 When she started to share, 01:22:24.279 --> 01:22:30.389 I was surprised, because after sharing her difficulties, 01:22:31.906 --> 01:22:36.011 she shared what she thought about that difficulties. 01:22:36.184 --> 01:22:40.935 She shared how she suffered, and acknowledged, 01:22:41.780 --> 01:22:45.076 and knows the way out of that suffering. 01:22:45.520 --> 01:22:48.913 And when she finished sharing, that woman, I asked her, 01:22:50.272 --> 01:22:54.859 'I see you know everything. Why don't you put it into practice? 01:22:55.307 --> 01:23:01.923 You know everything about the human mind, the habit energy, 01:23:02.946 --> 01:23:06.247 and even the way to practice mindfulness.' 01:23:06.609 --> 01:23:11.304 And I was surprised that she still suffered about that thing. 01:23:11.916 --> 01:23:15.244 And she shared that 01:23:16.183 --> 01:23:20.201 'Yes, sister. I know this, but I don't have any support. 01:23:20.580 --> 01:23:25.267 I don't know how to start. I cannot do it by myself.' 01:23:27.327 --> 01:23:30.894 And when I listened to that, I felt quite impressed, 01:23:31.110 --> 01:23:34.804 because she knew the wisdom about her, 01:23:35.026 --> 01:23:40.242 and then she was very open to share that with me, everything with me. 01:23:42.487 --> 01:23:48.258 And I see that everyone of us has all the insights, everyone of us, 01:23:48.530 --> 01:23:52.030 small insights, or bigger insights, about something. 01:23:53.760 --> 01:23:57.055 I see when people ask questions, 01:23:57.664 --> 01:24:01.362 in that question somehow they know the answer. 01:24:02.053 --> 01:24:04.015 But then, 01:24:04.605 --> 01:24:08.131 for me, when I share in the questions and answers session, 01:24:08.389 --> 01:24:13.000 I share from my own experiences about that issue. 01:24:13.796 --> 01:24:17.743 And I believe that everyone of us have our own answer. 01:24:18.074 --> 01:24:23.864 If we really understand our mind, if we really love our soul, 01:24:24.458 --> 01:24:27.526 then we will find our own answer. 01:24:27.767 --> 01:24:30.748 And the thing is to put it into practice. 01:24:31.491 --> 01:24:33.400 And we are lucky. 01:24:36.119 --> 01:24:38.441 Living in the community, 01:24:38.607 --> 01:24:42.788 even if some of you come here for just one week. 01:24:44.276 --> 01:24:50.581 Our teacher always said that one week is enough for you to change your life. 01:24:51.146 --> 01:24:53.690 Challenging, eh? 01:24:53.878 --> 01:24:58.598 Yes, he said that one week is enough for you to change your life. 01:24:58.750 --> 01:25:03.061 And it has happened for quite many of our friends. 01:25:04.937 --> 01:25:08.718 It is very impressive for me. 01:25:08.921 --> 01:25:12.965 Many of them come back for a second time, a third time. 01:25:13.329 --> 01:25:18.468 It is normal. But there are some friends just coming for one week, 01:25:19.397 --> 01:25:23.747 and they really make good use of the time of one week 01:25:24.049 --> 01:25:28.663 to really garden so that they can transform their garden. 01:25:29.426 --> 01:25:34.881 So I would like to read the last paragraphs to end. 01:25:37.115 --> 01:25:44.031 “To live in the world with your heart undisturbed by the world, 01:25:45.541 --> 01:25:52.114 with all sorrows ended, dwelling in peace, this is the greatest happiness. 01:25:52.976 --> 01:26:00.129 For he or she who accomplishes this, unvanquished wherever she goes, 01:26:00.715 --> 01:26:07.007 always he is safe and happy. Happiness lives within oneself.” 01:26:09.243 --> 01:26:14.335 Yes, happiness comes from ourselves, not from the sky. 01:26:14.683 --> 01:26:20.172 Happiness is something that we can train ourselves to have and to be. 01:26:24.700 --> 01:26:33.073 When I prepared the sharing this morning, I wrote down a sentence: 01:26:34.286 --> 01:26:37.425 'Thay, I'm going to share for you." 01:26:38.780 --> 01:26:44.001 Yes, I'm not really good at sharing Dharma talks. 01:26:44.536 --> 01:26:48.455 But then, this is the practice as a Dharma teacher. 01:26:48.900 --> 01:26:52.221 You are trained to give Dharma talks, 01:26:52.424 --> 01:26:55.931 and also it's your responsibility to give Dharma talks. 01:26:56.127 --> 01:27:00.354 And this morning, I wrote down on my notebook, 'I do this for you'. 01:27:03.952 --> 01:27:07.230 By this I invite Thay to be here with us. 01:27:07.430 --> 01:27:09.768 And in order to end the sharing this morning 01:27:09.970 --> 01:27:14.483 I would like to read for you some paragraphs in one of Thay's poems 01:27:14.676 --> 01:27:17.120 that I like a lot. 01:27:25.806 --> 01:27:29.219 Thay called himself 'a lazy monk'. 01:27:30.337 --> 01:27:35.167 'A lazy monk have done quite enormous things'. 01:27:38.860 --> 01:27:41.264 Yes, for the world. 01:27:42.783 --> 01:27:46.115 And for me, Thay is a happy person. 01:27:46.477 --> 01:27:49.049 When being around him, 01:27:49.459 --> 01:27:54.268 I see that in very small things, 01:27:55.978 --> 01:27:59.793 Thay is able to be happy. Amazing! 01:28:00.029 --> 01:28:02.467 Even the birth of a flower! 01:28:02.656 --> 01:28:06.802 One time he walked me around his garden 01:28:07.583 --> 01:28:11.584 just to watch the birth of the - 01:28:13.925 --> 01:28:18.616 A plum flower was blooming, was about to bloom. 01:28:20.438 --> 01:28:27.112 And his face, his expression, was full of joy and excitement! 01:28:28.220 --> 01:28:31.334 And he was eighty something. 01:28:31.678 --> 01:28:34.258 And I was twenty something. 01:28:34.436 --> 01:28:41.268 And I was surprised by this happy, joyful, and excited old man, 01:28:42.849 --> 01:28:47.185 watching and enjoying the birth of a flower! 01:28:47.908 --> 01:28:51.574 That stuck in my heart all the time. 01:28:52.063 --> 01:28:55.702 Specially whenever I feel a little bit bored, 01:28:57.775 --> 01:28:59.789 or something. 01:29:01.847 --> 01:29:07.978 And also we were very moved 01:29:08.353 --> 01:29:12.143 when Thay decided to come back to the root temple and stay, 01:29:12.384 --> 01:29:14.497 you know that? 01:29:16.098 --> 01:29:23.650 This poem was composed by him when he was in New York, in America. 01:29:24.697 --> 01:29:29.739 And he was asked by his brothers in the Buddhist Delegation 01:29:30.369 --> 01:29:33.621 to go back to Vietnam to help. 01:29:34.268 --> 01:29:39.385 To call for peace. And he knew 01:29:40.032 --> 01:29:42.270 that he had wounds. 01:29:46.412 --> 01:29:49.954 Even with the love and the faith in his heart, 01:29:50.162 --> 01:29:53.509 he was not healed yet 01:29:53.748 --> 01:29:56.316 from the wound he got 01:29:56.443 --> 01:30:00.362 during the Vietnam war. 01:30:01.451 --> 01:30:07.153 And in this poem, Thay was talking about the two hands. 01:30:07.669 --> 01:30:12.000 Here are my two hands I would like to bring back for you. 01:30:12.362 --> 01:30:17.703 You here is what Thay called the beloved one, is the Buddhist Association, 01:30:18.564 --> 01:30:21.654 is Vietnam's people, Vietnam's country, 01:30:21.828 --> 01:30:25.833 to whom he would like to offer his hands, 01:30:25.935 --> 01:30:32.716 the hands of young people full of love, full of faith, full of hope. 01:30:33.318 --> 01:30:35.426 Because at that time, 01:30:35.577 --> 01:30:39.326 there were many young people already losing their hope. 01:30:39.693 --> 01:30:43.528 They came and asked Thay, 01:30:44.735 --> 01:30:48.358 whether this war would end sometime. 01:30:48.557 --> 01:30:51.725 And even in the very dark times, 01:30:52.561 --> 01:30:59.373 Thay felt very painful in his heart about the very long time of the war at that time 01:31:00.287 --> 01:31:07.112 but he shared that, 'I had to breathe deeply before I answered that question, 01:31:07.787 --> 01:31:11.374 because if I answered no, we have no hope, 01:31:11.904 --> 01:31:15.098 I would kill the hope in the young people.' 01:31:15.668 --> 01:31:21.056 So Thay answered in a very skillful and compassionate way to the young people: 01:31:24.461 --> 01:31:28.160 'As the Buddha teaches, everything is impermanent. 01:31:28.486 --> 01:31:31.175 War is impermanent. 01:31:31.557 --> 01:31:34.070 As a community, as a sangha, 01:31:34.228 --> 01:31:38.906 we need to cultivate and nourish our hope in our hearts.' 01:31:39.048 --> 01:31:43.295 When I read that part, I was crying. 01:31:43.584 --> 01:31:48.769 Because I saw how caring he was, 01:31:49.524 --> 01:31:55.694 how hard was for him to hold the suffering in his heart, 01:31:56.977 --> 01:32:00.426 so that he can transmit the mission, 01:32:00.612 --> 01:32:04.076 transmit the love and the hope to the young people. 01:32:04.678 --> 01:32:08.862 In the year 1963, 01:32:09.092 --> 01:32:14.922 that is a time when Thay accepted the invitation to go back to Vietnam to help. 01:32:15.903 --> 01:32:21.190 And maybe it is the last time Thay chooses to come back to Vietnam. 01:32:21.620 --> 01:32:25.366 Maybe to rest, but it is not only resting. 01:32:25.791 --> 01:32:28.031 We know that Thay is like 01:32:31.206 --> 01:32:33.730 helping the root temple 01:32:34.149 --> 01:32:41.016 by his presence, by his own body and mind residing there. 01:32:41.383 --> 01:32:43.801 "Here are my hands 01:32:44.348 --> 01:32:49.692 that are also my heart, my mind, my life - 01:32:50.136 --> 01:32:52.371 all that remains. 01:32:53.090 --> 01:32:56.094 Their sole power is having bled 01:32:57.094 --> 01:33:00.031 on the frets of love. 01:33:01.068 --> 01:33:06.181 Here are my hands. Let me give them back to you. 01:33:07.555 --> 01:33:11.481 Remember, Mother taught us to love 01:33:13.373 --> 01:33:17.381 the withered grass on tombs even so, 01:33:17.866 --> 01:33:20.404 the blooming roses. 01:33:21.699 --> 01:33:24.582 For them, as for everything, 01:33:24.819 --> 01:33:29.647 love is the immaculate morning dew. 01:33:32.299 --> 01:33:34.675 Here are my hands. 01:33:34.919 --> 01:33:38.569 With bowed head, I give them to you. 01:33:39.426 --> 01:33:43.432 Look, the old wounds have yet to heal. 01:33:44.510 --> 01:33:47.148 Their blood is still fresh, 01:33:48.097 --> 01:33:52.556 and on the fingertips, your soul may rest 01:33:53.663 --> 01:33:56.286 as the dew rests, 01:33:56.724 --> 01:34:01.698 glistening on the trembling blades of grass. 01:34:04.327 --> 01:34:06.800 Here are my hands, 01:34:06.935 --> 01:34:12.662 reborn once again but still carrying old wounds. 01:34:14.063 --> 01:34:16.654 And here is my smile 01:34:17.748 --> 01:34:20.947 because I never hated. 01:34:21.401 --> 01:34:25.317 And here is my heart, my pure heart 01:34:26.410 --> 01:34:29.317 from days gone by. 01:34:31.089 --> 01:34:33.706 Here are my hands, 01:34:33.982 --> 01:34:39.785 brought back to you unhealed beneath their bandages. 01:34:40.625 --> 01:34:45.354 I pray they will not be crushed again. 01:34:45.929 --> 01:34:49.136 And I beg the stars 01:34:49.423 --> 01:34:51.646 to be my witness. 01:34:52.783 --> 01:34:53.961 (Bell) 01:34:58.331 --> 01:35:04.942 (Bell) 01:35:21.053 --> 01:35:28.068 (Bell) 01:35:40.338 --> 01:35:46.568 (Bell) 01:36:07.831 --> 01:36:09.529 (Small bell)