0:00:01.013,0:00:10.186 (The Plum Village Online Monastery) 0:00:38.768,0:00:46.278 (Mindful online broadcasts like this) 0:00:46.617,0:00:53.509 (are supported by viewers like you.) 0:00:54.849,0:01:04.715 (Donate at: http:// pvom.org) 0:01:06.165,0:01:15.124 (Thank you for your generosity.) 0:02:05.446,0:02:14.430 (The Plum Village Online Monastery) 0:02:17.000,0:02:20.116 (Thay) Please come closer. 0:03:48.014,0:03:53.420 (Thay) Today, we have a session [br]of questions and answers. 0:03:54.514,0:04:00.315 Those who have a question[br]are invited to come and sit here. 0:04:03.906,0:04:07.957 We will take turns to sit on this chair, 0:04:09.977,0:04:15.377 so that everyone can see us [br]before we ask the question. 0:04:18.725,0:04:25.005 We know that a question, a good one,[br]can benefit many people. 0:04:26.655,0:04:31.937 Therefore, it would be more helpful[br]to ask a question 0:04:31.937,0:04:34.647 that has to do with the practice,[br] 0:04:35.487,0:04:39.637 to do with transformation and healing. 0:04:43.573,0:04:47.449 You may like to write down your question [br]on a piece of paper also, 0:04:47.449,0:04:50.899 if you don't want to come up here. 0:04:50.899,0:04:54.103 But looking from here is so beautiful! 0:04:55.363,0:04:57.536 (Laughter) 0:04:59.513,0:05:04.997 So those of us [br]who already have a question, 0:05:05.275,0:05:08.856 please come up and sit around here, 0:05:09.560,0:05:13.766 and we will take turns [br]to sit on the chair. 0:05:15.358,0:05:19.658 The practice, according to the tradition: 0:05:23.114,0:05:26.186 Before we ask a question, 0:05:26.764,0:05:31.027 we breathe in and out three times [br]with the sound of the bell, 0:05:31.323,0:05:34.408 and everyone is breathing with us. 0:05:34.641,0:05:36.703 Then, we take the microphone 0:05:36.703,0:05:39.749 and we ask the question. 0:05:40.926,0:05:45.042 And we know that a good question[br]does not have to be very long. 0:05:45.350,0:05:47.584 (Laughter) 0:05:49.108,0:05:53.058 A question is not a statement. 0:05:53.929,0:05:57.255 So please, [br]those of us who have a question already, 0:05:57.590,0:06:03.499 come and sit close to Thay[br]and we will take turns. 0:06:04.092,0:06:06.215 And if you have written a question,[br] 0:06:06.215,0:06:11.541 ask someone to bring it here [br]to Brother Mountain, 0:06:11.915,0:06:16.815 who is sitting to the left of Thay. 0:06:17.063,0:06:23.223 From time to time, [br]he will read from one of these questions. 0:06:33.760,0:06:37.155 This is your opportunity, please come. 0:06:37.969,0:06:39.591 (Thay laughing) 0:07:26.465,0:07:33.555 Let us listen to the bell and breathe [br]before you ask the first question. 0:07:39.774,0:07:42.843 (Half Bell) 0:07:45.183,0:07:52.787 (Bell) 0:08:07.141,0:08:13.988 (Bell again) 0:08:27.847,0:08:35.701 (Bell again) 0:08:54.537,0:08:56.247 Hi, 0:08:58.576,0:09:01.799 My question is: 0:09:03.512,0:09:15.652 How do we do [br]when we go back to our real home? 0:09:15.968,0:09:20.187 This retreat has been really nice 0:09:23.684,0:09:27.474 But when we go to our real home? [br] 0:09:27.644,0:09:31.224 What recommendations can you give us 0:09:31.373,0:09:36.693 to bring at home and be [br]every second of our lives? 0:09:37.777,0:09:40.253 (Br. Mountain) Thay, the... 0:09:40.493,0:09:44.753 (Thay) Please speak in the microphone. 0:09:46.701,0:09:50.365 (Br. Mountain) If I understand correctly, [br]the question is: 0:09:50.365,0:09:53.345 "How to bring this practice [br]into your daily life?" 0:09:54.075,0:09:55.384 Yes? 0:09:55.724,0:10:02.764 (Repeats question in Spanish) 0:10:10.900,0:10:13.220 We just do it! 0:10:14.154,0:10:16.369 (Laughter) 0:10:17.509,0:10:24.692 Suppose when you turn on the water tap 0:10:25.529,0:10:29.333 and you see the water flowing, 0:10:29.512,0:10:34.142 you pay attention to the water. 0:10:34.488,0:10:37.516 You tell yourself that it's wonderful, 0:10:37.516,0:10:40.899 that the water has come to you, 0:10:41.141,0:10:43.401 to your kitchen, to your bathroom, 0:10:43.481,0:10:46.692 from high up in the mountains, 0:10:46.792,0:10:51.772 from deep in the earth, 0:10:52.532,0:10:57.872 and you feel grateful, you feel happy, 0:10:58.600,0:11:01.004 because the water is there for you. 0:11:02.334,0:11:06.982 That is how to apply [br]the teaching of mindfulness 0:11:06.982,0:11:08.828 in our daily life. 0:11:09.068,0:11:12.318 When you brush your teeth, 0:11:12.688,0:11:16.543 you may like to focus your attention [br]on brushing your teeth, 0:11:16.980,0:11:19.098 not thinking! [br] 0:11:19.218,0:11:25.884 Because you have the water, [br]the toothpaste, the brush, 0:11:26.124,0:11:29.610 and you still have teeth to brush! 0:11:30.530,0:11:33.142 (Laughter) 0:11:35.676,0:11:38.454 I am over 80 and every time[br]I brush my teeth, 0:11:38.614,0:11:40.146 I always say: 0:11:40.236,0:11:45.380 "It's wonderful at this age [br]to still have some teeth to brush!" 0:11:45.630,0:11:47.416 (Laughter) 0:11:47.906,0:11:52.560 And happiness can come right away. 0:11:53.052,0:11:57.400 And when you cook your breakfast, [br]do it mindfully. 0:11:57.556,0:12:01.674 Pouring the water into the kettle,[br]boiling the water, 0:12:01.874,0:12:06.574 every moment can be a moment of joy. 0:12:08.952,0:12:15.030 Laying the table, preparing your tea, 0:12:15.120,0:12:19.164 everything you do[br]can be the practice of mindfulness 0:12:19.274,0:12:22.111 and can bring you joy, happiness. 0:12:22.291,0:12:27.024 You are fully present[br]in the here and the now! 0:12:27.190,0:12:29.749 When you drive your car, [br]you can drive it mindfully, 0:12:29.749,0:12:33.669 and enjoy every minute of driving. 0:12:33.742,0:12:36.992 When you walk [br]from the parking lot to your school,[br] 0:12:37.151,0:12:40.284 you do the same. 0:12:40.924,0:12:43.815 So just do it! 0:12:44.133,0:12:49.353 And you have verses to memorize 0:12:49.503,0:12:53.931 in order to brush your teeth, to sit down, 0:12:54.166,0:12:57.459 to open your window. 0:12:57.749,0:13:05.329 Every daily act can be accompanied [br]by our breathing, 0:13:05.439,0:13:10.429 our recitation of the verse. 0:13:11.674,0:13:13.076 It's very convenient, 0:13:13.146,0:13:16.890 because people who have come before us, 0:13:17.150,0:13:22.771 they have prepared the practice for us. 0:13:22.960,0:13:27.190 And walking in a railway station,[br]walking at the airport, 0:13:27.575,0:13:30.816 you can always enjoy walking meditation. 0:13:31.146,0:13:38.336 You do not have to set up a separate time[br]to do meditation. 0:13:40.740,0:13:44.176 But one thing can be said: 0:13:44.742,0:13:48.673 If you have a home to yourself,[br]in your home town, 0:13:48.673,0:13:57.203 you can create a group of practitioners,[br]practicing together. 0:13:58.719,0:14:03.647 Every weekend you come together, [br]to enjoy walking together, 0:14:03.817,0:14:08.810 sitting together, having tea together, 0:14:10.767,0:14:13.916 sharing the practice together. 0:14:13.916,0:14:16.051 That would be wonderful, 0:14:16.051,0:14:23.772 because that community will help you [br]to continue the practice for a long time. 0:14:23.826,0:14:26.705 Otherwise you will be carried away 0:14:26.705,0:14:31.450 and you'll abandon the practice [br]after few weeks. 0:14:35.024,0:14:36.672 Good luck! 0:14:36.912,0:14:38.922 (Laughter) 0:14:53.004,0:14:57.508 (Inaudible) 0:14:58.058,0:15:01.096 (Half Bell) 0:15:01.440,0:15:07.640 (Bell) 0:15:32.018,0:15:34.925 ( Spanish) My question 0:15:36.014,0:15:42.530 is about the subconscious,[br]the store, the seeds, 0:15:44.233,0:15:48.522 how mindfulness can help 0:15:49.228,0:15:54.828 to stop the wrong consumption,[br]the toxins, 0:15:56.127,0:16:01.955 because our being is[br]from the subconscious 0:16:02.990,0:16:05.464 to consciousness. 0:16:05.699,0:16:08.458 True consciousness. 0:16:10.051,0:16:15.641 (Br. Mountain) There is too much echo, [br]so I can't really understand. 0:16:22.014,0:16:25.640 (Br. Mountain) Can you repeat [br]the question? 0:16:27.159,0:16:30.289 (Translating what Br. Mountain just said[br]into Spanish for the lady) 0:16:30.795,0:16:34.868 (Spanish )Yes, my question is... 0:16:34.868,0:16:37.801 (Br. Mountain) How can mindfulness help... 0:16:37.801,0:16:40.817 (Thay) You have to translate[br]into English later. 0:16:40.937,0:16:42.129 (Brother) Yes. 0:16:42.389,0:16:49.129 (Spanish)... how mindfulness helps[br]to bring out the subconscious, the mind, 0:16:50.791,0:16:58.631 to stop the toxic seeds[br]that are in the store consciousness. 0:16:59.102,0:17:02.459 To know how to identify them. 0:17:02.940,0:17:07.860 How mindfulness can[br]not only plant the seeds, 0:17:08.557,0:17:11.965 but stop the seeds[br]that have already been planted. 0:17:12.351,0:17:14.645 To be more aware 0:17:15.702,0:17:19.456 of what is already inside. 0:17:27.986,0:17:30.148 (Brother) The essence [br]of the question is: 0:17:30.428,0:17:34.213 How can mindfulness help transform[br]the toxic seeds 0:17:34.430,0:17:40.329 or the seeds of suffering[br]that are in the store consciousness? 0:17:47.844,0:17:52.630 Mindfulness can recognize... 0:17:54.514,0:17:59.614 the manifestation of a seed. 0:18:02.971,0:18:08.291 In fact, to be mindful is to[br]be aware of what is going on. 0:18:11.780,0:18:20.098 So from the depth of our consciousness, [br]called the store consciousness, 0:18:20.388,0:18:26.100 there are many seeds, [br]good ones and negatives ones. 0:18:26.943,0:18:37.361 And every time a good seed comes up [br]to the level of the mind 0:18:38.842,0:18:43.922 and you recognize it [br]as a good mental formation, [br] 0:18:45.077,0:18:57.657 like joy, brotherhood, sisterhood, [br]forgiveness, and so on.[br] 0:18:58.642,0:19:05.262 So mindfulness recognizes [br]the good mental formation 0:19:05.402,0:19:08.416 that has manifested. 0:19:08.866,0:19:18.466 Mindfulness can help to keep it longer[br]for your nourishment and healing. 0:19:18.935,0:19:21.580 You continue to breathe or walk 0:19:21.720,0:19:25.710 and maintain the energy of love, 0:19:25.760,0:19:28.780 or happiness, or joy,[br]or brotherhood, alive 0:19:28.970,0:19:32.370 as long as you want. 0:19:33.183,0:19:44.537 That is what you do when a good seed[br]like love, forgiveness or joy, manifests. 0:19:44.703,0:19:50.323 But when negative seed in you [br]begins to manifest: 0:19:50.703,0:19:55.183 fear, anger, sorrow, hate, violence. 0:19:55.744,0:19:58.314 Then mindfulness helps you [br]to recognize it: 0:19:58.414,0:20:03.569 "Hello! Good morning my fear, [br]I know you are there," 0:20:03.869,0:20:06.459 "I will take good care of you!" 0:20:06.586,0:20:11.426 So, the first thing mindfulness does [br]is to recognize what is there. 0:20:12.892,0:20:16.089 "Good morning my anger, [br]I know you are there," 0:20:16.179,0:20:18.719 "I will take good care of you!" 0:20:19.049,0:20:23.428 And you breathe in and out mindfully, 0:20:23.758,0:20:27.598 and continue to generate [br]the energy of mindfulness, 0:20:27.598,0:20:32.292 with which you embrace [br]your fear, your anger. 0:20:33.140,0:20:37.586 You are protected [br]by the energy of mindfulness, 0:20:37.913,0:20:40.813 because your fear, your anger, [br]will not push you 0:20:40.943,0:20:44.700 to do or say things [br]that will cause damage 0:20:44.880,0:20:47.150 to you and to the other person. 0:20:47.632,0:20:49.512 So mindfulness protects you, 0:20:49.795,0:20:53.687 if you know how to use [br]the energy of mindfulness, 0:20:53.917,0:20:58.269 to recognize and embrace [br]your fear, your anger, tenderly, 0:20:58.429,0:21:01.101 like a mother holding a baby. 0:21:01.591,0:21:05.051 Then mindfulness can do more. 0:21:05.883,0:21:11.083 Mindfulness can help you [br]to look into that fear, that anger 0:21:11.463,0:21:15.723 and see what kind of roots they have. 0:21:15.963,0:21:20.855 It has come from somewhere,[br]some wrong perceptions, 0:21:21.085,0:21:23.387 something like that. 0:21:24.827,0:21:29.780 With the practice of looking deeply [br]into the fear, the anger, 0:21:30.010,0:21:34.760 you can recognize the roots [br]of your anger, of your fear, 0:21:35.190,0:21:39.001 and you get an understanding of it. 0:21:39.928,0:21:42.980 Your understanding [br]of the roots of something 0:21:43.160,0:21:45.740 will liberate you from it. 0:21:47.134,0:21:49.738 So mindfulness can do many things. 0:21:50.640,0:21:54.030 And the practice of mindful breathing, [br]mindful walking 0:21:54.570,0:21:58.357 can help generate [br]the energy of mindfulness, 0:21:58.522,0:22:03.582 with which you can nourish yourself, [br]and you can heal yourself! 0:22:25.883,0:22:28.802 (Half Bell) 0:22:31.427,0:22:38.530 (Bell) 0:22:53.544,0:22:56.062 My question is personal 0:22:56.450,0:22:59.603 but it can help a lot of people. 0:23:00.157,0:23:02.764 At this moment[br]I am feeling a lot of pain 0:23:03.235,0:23:06.568 because I am unable to follow[br]what makes me happy, 0:23:06.739,0:23:08.332 my style of life. 0:23:08.611,0:23:10.667 What would be your message 0:23:10.827,0:23:13.169 for the people who, as me, 0:23:13.369,0:23:16.517 do want to follow a good path,[br]a safe path 0:23:16.855,0:23:19.828 who want to follow[br]what makes us happy 0:23:20.853,0:23:23.813 but we fight against[br]a lot of negativity, 0:23:24.697,0:23:27.241 messages of...[br]insanity, 0:23:27.564,0:23:30.841 but we feel that[br]that is a wrong path. 0:23:31.141,0:23:33.071 Thank you. 0:23:41.623,0:23:45.168 (Br. Mountain) The question is: 0:23:45.370,0:23:50.330 How can we find a new path for society? 0:23:50.604,0:23:52.896 How can we find a new path 0:23:53.146,0:23:58.440 and nourish our aspiration[br]in this society? 0:23:58.840,0:24:01.579 And what would be Thay's message [br]for young people? 0:24:01.689,0:24:04.313 What would be Thay's encouragement[br]for young people... 0:24:04.443,0:24:09.316 considering the society is not [br]a very healthy place? 0:24:09.426,0:24:13.206 What can we do? 0:24:24.486,0:24:30.662 When we look at an adult 0:24:34.682,0:24:41.312 and see that that person is not happy, 0:24:49.078,0:24:59.994 we cannot believe what that person [br]tells us about happiness, 0:25:00.624,0:25:03.524 or the path leading to happiness. 0:25:04.684,0:25:06.751 Because if the path is correct, 0:25:06.951,0:25:13.321 then the person would not be [br]the way he or she is! 0:25:14.559,0:25:23.109 So what that person recommends us to do[br]may not work. 0:25:27.346,0:25:34.445 Sometimes they recommend us [br]to do something, 0:25:34.615,0:25:38.655 but they don't do it themselves! 0:25:40.545,0:25:44.368 So we have to be careful. 0:25:47.706,0:25:50.249 So we can... 0:25:53.029,0:25:59.499 we can make a decision [br]based on our own experience. 0:26:03.989,0:26:08.209 Whatever you do [br]that brings you true happiness, 0:26:08.339,0:26:09.876 you believe that. 0:26:09.926,0:26:12.636 That is the right thing to do. 0:26:13.190,0:26:22.152 What you say can bring you happiness[br]and can bring the other person happiness. 0:26:23.002,0:26:26.048 We can believe in that kind of thing, 0:26:27.438,0:26:30.462 and you can continue [br]to say things like that. 0:26:30.462,0:26:36.442 So it's much safer to base it [br]on our own experience of life. 0:26:38.597,0:26:48.377 I think the first thing is to have [br]a correct idea about happiness, 0:26:49.908,0:26:53.678 because everyone has an idea of happiness. 0:26:55.259,0:27:02.009 Our idea of happiness may be the obstacle[br]for our true happiness. 0:27:03.990,0:27:10.295 So you have to look, look deeply, 0:27:11.015,0:27:14.345 and have your own idea of happiness. 0:27:17.937,0:27:25.757 Many people believe [br]that power, fame, diplomas, 0:27:30.504,0:27:33.434 money, sensual pleasures, 0:27:34.745,0:27:36.824 can make you happy. 0:27:37.344,0:27:39.189 But when you observe, 0:27:39.549,0:27:41.186 you can see that many people... 0:27:41.406,0:27:44.216 who have plenty of these things [br]still suffer a lot. 0:27:45.780,0:27:47.962 So you don't believe it. 0:27:48.472,0:27:53.922 You feel that when you have [br]understanding and love in you, 0:27:55.562,0:27:58.312 you are happy. 0:27:59.299,0:28:03.049 You look around, [br]you see people who are not so rich, 0:28:03.649,0:28:05.235 who are not powerful, 0:28:05.395,0:28:08.985 but who have plenty [br]of understanding and compassion. 0:28:09.615,0:28:11.415 You see them happy. 0:28:11.775,0:28:14.765 So you tell yourself:[br]that's what I want! 0:28:16.425,0:28:19.335 I want to be happy like him, like her, 0:28:19.865,0:28:23.135 and in order to do that, 0:28:23.755,0:28:28.565 I have to cultivate [br]more understanding and compassion... 0:28:29.611,0:28:31.267 and love. 0:28:31.897,0:28:35.041 Because it's very difficult to live [br]with a person 0:28:35.181,0:28:38.337 who cannot understand you. 0:28:39.267,0:28:41.796 You see? Very frustrating! 0:28:43.206,0:28:45.955 So you don't want to be [br]like him, like her. 0:28:46.645,0:28:51.535 You want to be a person[br]who has a lot of understanding. 0:28:52.381,0:28:56.070 It's very pleasant to be with someone[br]who can understand you. 0:28:57.390,0:29:01.510 And to understand is a power. 0:29:04.659,0:29:07.813 Not money - understanding is a power. 0:29:09.273,0:29:12.770 When you love someone,[br]if you understand him or her, 0:29:13.320,0:29:15.288 you are a true lover. 0:29:15.768,0:29:18.797 So cultivating understanding [br]is a practice. 0:29:19.607,0:29:22.553 If you do not have the time [br]to look deeply, 0:29:22.663,0:29:25.302 you cannot understand. 0:29:25.422,0:29:31.292 You have to understand first of all[br]the suffering in you and the other person. 0:29:33.765,0:29:37.284 So cultivating understanding [br]is very important. 0:29:38.044,0:29:43.924 When you have understood,[br]love and compassion are born. 0:29:45.649,0:29:48.709 And love is another kind of power. 0:29:49.139,0:29:51.903 Love has the power to heal. 0:29:53.673,0:29:56.732 When you have true love in you,[br]you can heal yourself 0:29:56.922,0:30:00.145 and you can help to heal the other person. 0:30:00.885,0:30:06.781 So understanding and love are two powers 0:30:07.871,0:30:12.161 and with them you can create happiness, 0:30:15.241,0:30:19.081 restore communication, reconcile. 0:30:25.318,0:30:28.834 You are determined [br]to go in that direction, 0:30:29.694,0:30:35.914 not running after fame, power, [br]money, sensual pleasures, 0:30:36.334,0:30:41.460 but taking your time to cultivate[br]more understanding 0:30:42.310,0:30:44.596 and love and compassion. 0:30:45.106,0:30:49.496 Even if you live a very simple life, 0:30:50.336,0:30:54.211 you can be a very happy person. 0:30:55.791,0:31:01.477 I think the young people have [br]the power to do it. 0:31:02.317,0:31:07.569 They don't have to follow any tradition. 0:31:08.789,0:31:11.176 They can find their own way. 0:31:15.140,0:31:18.970 They can practice true love, [br]true understanding, 0:31:18.970,0:31:20.806 brotherhood, sisterhood, 0:31:20.806,0:31:26.156 in order to make themselves happy[br]and to stop suffering. 0:31:27.354,0:31:34.464 If they can succeed, they can inspire [br]many people to do the same. 0:31:57.766,0:32:01.276 (Half Bell) 0:32:02.925,0:32:10.202 (Bell) 0:32:27.989,0:32:31.339 (Man) First[br]I would like to thank you, Thay, 0:32:31.479,0:32:34.479 on behalf of everyone 0:32:34.601,0:32:37.601 (inaudible) 0:32:44.194,0:32:45.823 English or Spanish? 0:32:46.013,0:32:47.133 (Br. Mountain) Both. 0:32:47.713,0:32:50.713 (Man replying but inaudible) 0:32:55.518,0:32:59.048 (Man asking question, [br]inaudible due to echo) 0:32:59.338,0:33:04.248 ...Mindfulness speaking, [br]mindfulness walking... 0:33:06.238,0:33:08.878 mindfulness eating... 0:33:10.078,0:33:13.788 But the last few days you spoke about... 0:33:14.558,0:33:16.948 (Laughing) 0:33:18.668,0:33:21.938 Mindfulness (Spanish) "of suffering" 0:33:23.928,0:33:26.908 ....the minfulness of suffering. 0:33:27.128,0:33:31.601 (Spanish) For me, that is[br]a little more difficult. 0:33:32.357,0:33:37.289 (Spanish) To be mindful of the suffering 0:33:38.379,0:33:41.379 to avoid (inaudible). 0:33:41.710,0:33:44.450 So Thay, I would like to ask you. 0:33:44.650,0:33:48.426 Could you explain a little bit more[br]about mindfulness of suffering? 0:33:48.616,0:33:51.834 Because I find this very difficult, 0:33:51.984,0:33:56.884 because it sometimes generates[br]a negative state of mind. 0:34:00.828,0:34:03.784 (Brother) The essence[br]of the question is 0:34:03.904,0:34:07.241 that Thay has spoken about [br]different types of mindfulness practices, 0:34:07.421,0:34:11.233 and Thay has also spoken about[br]mindfulness of suffering. 0:34:11.443,0:34:14.413 When our friend practices [br]mindfulness of suffering, 0:34:14.533,0:34:19.035 it brings up negative feelings[br]or thoughts or emotions. 0:34:19.333,0:34:20.831 (Man) Towards myself. 0:34:20.891,0:34:23.091 (Brother) For yourself?[br](Man) Yes. 0:34:23.311,0:34:26.783 (Brother) So how to work[br]with the mindfulness of suffering, 0:34:26.893,0:34:28.211 how to practice? 0:34:28.361,0:34:30.021 (Man) Clarify the practice. 0:34:30.171,0:34:33.219 (Brother) If Thay can clarify[br]what it means 0:34:33.830,0:34:36.187 by working with[br]mindfulness of suffering. 0:34:38.070,0:34:42.980 (Thay) Mindfulness of suffering[br]is a very important practice. 0:34:48.241,0:34:54.001 Mindfulness, first of all, [br]is the kind of energy that helps you 0:34:54.461,0:34:57.374 to know what is going on. 0:34:59.184,0:35:02.037 When suffering is coming up, 0:35:02.505,0:35:05.825 you should know that suffering is there. 0:35:06.727,0:35:10.454 That is mindfulness of suffering. 0:35:10.948,0:35:14.664 Most of us do not want to do it, 0:35:15.517,0:35:21.997 because we feel that when we get in touch [br]with the suffering inside, 0:35:22.367,0:35:26.644 we will be overwhelmed by it. 0:35:28.016,0:35:32.862 So everyone is trying to run away[br]from their own suffering. 0:35:35.718,0:35:39.605 They try to cover up the suffering inside. 0:35:40.287,0:35:43.906 When you pick up a newspaper to read, 0:35:44.593,0:35:47.167 when you turn on your television, 0:35:47.491,0:35:50.398 maybe it's not [br]because you need to do that, 0:35:50.788,0:35:53.770 but you do that in order [br]not to have to get in touch 0:35:53.930,0:35:56.214 with the suffering inside. 0:35:57.102,0:36:01.910 So pick up the phone and talk to someone, 0:36:02.210,0:36:04.601 take the car and go out, 0:36:05.414,0:36:10.794 we do many things in order [br]not be in touch with the suffering inside. 0:36:13.672,0:36:18.463 The suffering inside remains the same[br]and continues to grow, 0:36:19.942,0:36:24.928 because you do not know [br]how to take care of suffering inside 0:36:25.108,0:36:27.090 and how to transform it. 0:36:27.544,0:36:32.540 So mindfulness of suffering is [br]first of all to have the courage... 0:36:32.780,0:36:37.130 to go home to yourself[br]and recognize that suffering is there. 0:36:40.266,0:36:43.921 And then, as I have said several times, 0:36:45.141,0:36:49.409 you can use the energy of mindfulness [br]to embrace your suffering, 0:36:49.409,0:36:51.420 your fear, your anger. 0:36:51.960,0:36:55.250 If you know how to do it,[br]then you will suffer less. 0:36:56.739,0:36:59.403 It's like a mother holding her baby, 0:36:59.573,0:37:03.396 the baby suffers less after a few minutes. 0:37:06.041,0:37:09.361 I have also said [br]that if you are a beginner, 0:37:09.731,0:37:15.611 you may like to borrow [br]the energy of mindfulness of someone else 0:37:15.741,0:37:19.439 in order to help you [br]to embrace your suffering. 0:37:21.461,0:37:24.143 Three or four people sitting with you, 0:37:24.333,0:37:26.151 breathing with you, 0:37:26.391,0:37:29.209 and offering their energy of mindfulness, 0:37:29.799,0:37:33.575 to help you to recognize [br]and embrace the pain in yourself. 0:37:33.955,0:37:36.723 That is brotherhood, sisterhood. 0:37:37.653,0:37:42.523 If you live[br]in the heart of a practice community, 0:37:43.173,0:37:46.615 you profit from the [br]collective energy of mindfulness, 0:37:46.615,0:37:49.272 of the community. 0:37:53.930,0:37:56.318 We have learnt a very important thing: 0:37:56.318,0:37:59.300 if you know how to suffer, 0:38:00.324,0:38:03.228 you suffer much less. 0:38:05.202,0:38:09.180 That is an art,[br]to suffer is an art. 0:38:10.080,0:38:12.216 Everyone has to suffer, 0:38:12.716,0:38:14.892 including the Buddha, 0:38:15.182,0:38:17.280 including Jesus Christ. 0:38:17.788,0:38:20.626 But those of us who know how to suffer, 0:38:20.726,0:38:23.326 we suffer much, much less. 0:38:29.314,0:38:31.460 We have to learn. 0:38:32.722,0:38:37.450 If you have the energy of mindfulness,[br]you can go back to yourself. 0:38:38.512,0:38:43.684 You are not afraid of being overwhelmed [br]by the suffering inside. 0:38:48.610,0:38:52.460 With that energy of mindfulness,[br]you can embrace your suffering. 0:38:53.100,0:38:55.967 Even smile to your suffering, 0:38:56.954,0:38:58.952 as a mother holding her child. 0:38:59.052,0:39:01.228 If you know how to do that, 0:39:01.318,0:39:04.237 in three, five or eight minutes,[br]you suffer less. 0:39:06.086,0:39:10.260 The energy of mindfulness is holding [br]the energy of anger, 0:39:10.260,0:39:12.570 of fear, of despair. 0:39:13.468,0:39:15.296 Two kinds of energy. 0:39:15.296,0:39:18.462 They are not fighting each other, 0:39:18.920,0:39:22.518 but one is holding the other. 0:39:22.628,0:39:26.717 Very non-violently, very tenderly. 0:39:28.318,0:39:32.065 That is what everyone should learn, 0:39:32.065,0:39:38.375 it is possible [br]to embrace our pain tenderly, 0:39:38.535,0:39:40.327 with compassion. 0:39:41.075,0:39:46.722 That helps you to get a relief[br]after a few minutes of practice. 0:39:47.105,0:39:54.101 So we should remember[br]that someone who knows how to suffer, 0:39:54.377,0:39:56.884 will suffer much less. 0:39:58.098,0:40:00.736 And then he can go further, 0:40:00.976,0:40:03.484 he can make good use of suffering 0:40:03.484,0:40:08.772 in order to create understanding,[br]compassion and happiness. 0:40:10.924,0:40:17.610 Suffering has a role to play[br]in creating happiness. 0:40:20.252,0:40:24.431 It's like when you grow lotus flowers,[br]you need the mud. 0:40:26.112,0:40:29.489 Without the mud, [br]lotus flowers cannot grow. 0:40:30.289,0:40:32.597 It's the same with happiness. 0:40:32.597,0:40:35.071 Happiness is a kind of lotus 0:40:35.651,0:40:40.374 and it needs some kind of mud,[br]in order to grow. 0:40:42.311,0:40:45.043 The process is like this: 0:40:45.043,0:40:47.167 there is suffering, 0:40:48.227,0:40:55.077 and there is mindfulness[br]that can look deeply... 0:40:55.077,0:40:58.057 into the nature of suffering. 0:40:59.013,0:41:02.899 We listen, we look deeply, 0:41:02.899,0:41:08.229 and from that kind of practice,[br]called mindfulness of suffering, 0:41:08.237,0:41:13.007 understanding and compassion are born. 0:41:13.767,0:41:17.493 Understanding of suffering, 0:41:18.233,0:41:23.372 compassion coming out of [br]that kind of understanding. 0:41:25.911,0:41:31.943 Understanding and compassion[br]are the very foundation of happiness. 0:41:33.743,0:41:37.583 We know that understanding and compassion[br]come from the mud, 0:41:39.359,0:41:41.709 come from suffering. 0:41:42.489,0:41:47.059 So there is a very deep connection[br]between suffering and happiness, 0:41:48.519,0:41:52.775 like the connection[br]between the mud and the lotus. 0:41:53.977,0:41:58.414 If you try always [br]to run away from suffering, 0:41:58.544,0:42:01.073 you have no chance. 0:42:01.516,0:42:06.847 You have to see the goodness of suffering. 0:42:09.514,0:42:14.594 The goodness of suffering - [br](French) la bienfaisance de la suffrance. 0:42:15.470,0:42:21.163 It's like the mud,[br]the mud is essential for the lotus. 0:42:22.470,0:42:29.128 So suffering is essential[br]for the making of understanding and love, 0:42:29.858,0:42:33.278 which are[br]the very foundation of happiness. 0:42:34.031,0:42:37.579 When you have seen that [br]you have Right View. 0:42:38.749,0:42:45.025 Right View is the first element [br]of the Noble Path leading to happiness. 0:42:46.009,0:42:51.021 You don't have any discrimination [br]any more. 0:42:51.971,0:42:57.011 You know that there is a deep connection[br]between suffering and happiness. 0:42:58.611,0:43:03.569 If you know how to make[br]good use of suffering, 0:43:04.109,0:43:08.462 you can create a lot of understanding[br]and compassion 0:43:08.887,0:43:12.757 that can create happiness in you[br]and in the other person. 0:43:13.859,0:43:17.579 So there are two things[br]we have to remember concerning suffering: 0:43:18.559,0:43:21.684 if you know how to suffer,[br]you suffer less; 0:43:22.887,0:43:25.991 if you know how to make good use[br]of suffering, 0:43:26.101,0:43:28.411 you can create happiness. 0:43:29.101,0:43:33.470 That is why mindfulness of suffering[br]is very, very important. 0:43:33.640,0:43:37.458 We should not try [br]to run away from suffering, 0:43:37.738,0:43:40.916 pretending that it's not there. 0:43:42.406,0:43:46.986 In our civilization,[br]most people do that. 0:43:48.240,0:43:52.666 They pretend that there is no suffering 0:43:53.266,0:43:58.826 and they buy, they consume,[br]in order to cover up the suffering inside. 0:44:01.716,0:44:05.014 We consume not because we need to consume. 0:44:06.454,0:44:11.768 There are people who go [br]to look for something to eat, 0:44:13.146,0:44:16.469 but they are not hungry at all. 0:44:19.042,0:44:23.052 They eat because they want to forget[br]the suffering inside. 0:44:23.532,0:44:25.304 Eating is one way, 0:44:27.392,0:44:31.808 one of the ways to help us to run away 0:44:32.380,0:44:37.387 and not to have to confront,[br]to get in touch with the suffering. 0:44:40.543,0:44:43.553 We can practice by ourselves, 0:44:44.173,0:44:49.813 but if we have a community of practice[br]supporting us, 0:44:51.233,0:45:01.435 the practice of mindfulness of suffering[br]can be easier, 0:45:03.475,0:45:09.179 because we have brothers and sisters[br]in the practice supporting us. 0:45:10.451,0:45:13.597 They provide understanding and compassion, 0:45:13.887,0:45:16.475 and with that kind of collective energy, 0:45:16.665,0:45:22.097 we can easily recognize and embrace[br]our suffering. 0:45:24.639,0:45:26.045 Clear? 0:45:26.165,0:45:27.654 (Laughter) 0:45:27.694,0:45:29.564 Thank you. 0:45:32.972,0:45:37.262 We'll read from one written question. 0:45:42.473,0:45:44.163 Bell, the bell. 0:45:44.784,0:45:46.078 (Laughter) 0:45:46.258,0:45:48.464 (Half Bell) 0:45:51.541,0:45:59.329 (Bell) 0:46:14.858,0:46:19.447 (Br. Mountain) "The errors of the past[br]have caused a lot of suffering" 0:46:19.557,0:46:21.905 "and are very difficult to liberate." 0:46:21.955,0:46:26.584 "My errors have created in the past[br]quite a heavy burden." 0:46:26.884,0:46:30.843 "How can I forgive myself[br]for this pain I've caused" 0:46:31.333,0:46:35.303 "and how to be sure[br]that I've forgiven others?" 0:46:36.181,0:46:39.950 "What can I do if I offer [br]forgiveness and reconciliation" 0:46:40.040,0:46:41.696 "again and again to others," 0:46:41.786,0:46:45.402 "but the others don't respond positively" 0:46:45.482,0:46:49.135 "and they keep the door closed?" 0:47:00.468,0:47:02.511 This is a very good question. 0:47:03.391,0:47:05.478 (Laughter) 0:47:15.007,0:47:26.743 First of all, everyone can learn [br]from their own mistakes, unskillfulness. 0:47:27.803,0:47:31.373 All of us are unskillful at times. 0:47:35.915,0:47:38.009 Even the Buddha as a teacher, 0:47:38.179,0:47:40.616 he was unskillful at times, 0:47:40.806,0:47:43.734 and he learnt from his unskillfulness. 0:47:55.754,0:47:58.062 (Laughter) 0:48:01.373,0:48:07.567 So first of all, we should remember[br]that we are a human being, 0:48:08.427,0:48:11.757 and we can be unskillful at times. 0:48:17.857,0:48:22.439 The practice of mindfulness [br]can always transform, 0:48:24.451,0:48:27.355 even transform the past. 0:48:29.541,0:48:32.127 You think that the past is already gone 0:48:32.237,0:48:35.425 and you can't do anything [br]concerning the past, 0:48:36.258,0:48:38.489 but that is not true. 0:48:38.869,0:48:40.963 You can change the past, 0:48:41.633,0:48:45.454 because the past is still there [br]in the present. 0:48:46.334,0:48:49.845 The wound of the past is still there[br]in the present moment 0:48:50.275,0:48:52.605 and you can touch it. 0:48:54.695,0:49:01.145 Suppose in the past you have said [br]something unkind to your grandma, 0:49:06.078,0:49:08.590 and now you regret it. 0:49:09.230,0:49:13.880 Your grandma is no longer there[br]for you to say sorry. 0:49:18.721,0:49:22.741 You have that complex of guilt [br]following you all the time, 0:49:24.602,0:49:28.094 but according to this practice,[br]you can do something. 0:49:31.424,0:49:34.239 You breathe in and out mindfully, 0:49:34.359,0:49:39.679 and you recognize that your grandma[br]is still alive in every cell of your body. 0:49:40.981,0:49:43.446 You continue your grandma. 0:49:44.296,0:49:46.586 That is the truth. 0:49:46.867,0:49:50.307 The genes of your grandma are in you. 0:49:52.565,0:49:56.543 Your grandma has not really died. 0:49:57.163,0:49:59.551 She continues in you. 0:50:00.311,0:50:05.041 So having seen your grandma in you,[br]you say: 0:50:05.241,0:50:06.893 "Grandma, I am sorry." 0:50:09.987,0:50:12.175 "I was not skillful." 0:50:13.065,0:50:15.753 "I promise you that from now on," 0:50:15.943,0:50:19.683 "I will never say [br]something like that again." 0:50:22.199,0:50:27.629 And if you are sincere, mindful, [br]determined, 0:50:29.345,0:50:32.571 then you can see your grandma in you,[br]smiling, 0:50:33.431,0:50:36.289 and you are healed,[br]you are healed. 0:50:37.769,0:50:40.559 So you can transform the past. 0:50:41.945,0:50:46.493 You make an aspiration,[br]a strong aspiration, 0:50:47.523,0:50:51.301 that from now on, you will not say [br]things like that any more. 0:50:51.461,0:50:54.223 You will not do things like that any more. 0:50:54.553,0:50:56.939 That is a powerful energy, 0:50:57.439,0:51:01.709 that can transform even the past[br]and you feel lighter. Lighter! 0:51:12.723,0:51:16.581 During the Vietnam war,[br]there was an American soldier 0:51:18.141,0:51:21.301 who killed five children in Vietnam. 0:51:26.567,0:51:34.193 His unit was destroyed by the guerillas, 0:51:35.133,0:51:37.781 so he was very angry. 0:51:38.161,0:51:40.271 He came back to that village, 0:51:40.941,0:51:43.115 looking for a way to retaliate. 0:51:44.534,0:51:47.769 He brought with him a bag of sandwiches, 0:51:51.924,0:51:55.059 and he put explosives in the sandwich. 0:51:56.507,0:51:59.870 He left them by the gate of the village. 0:52:00.760,0:52:04.860 He hid himself[br]and he saw five children coming out, 0:52:06.020,0:52:08.681 and enjoying eating the sandwiches. 0:52:09.061,0:52:13.922 After that, the children [br]showed the signs of sickness 0:52:14.042,0:52:16.653 and they cried, they yelled, 0:52:16.923,0:52:20.575 and their mothers came out[br]and tried to help. 0:52:21.655,0:52:24.586 But the soldier knew [br]that nothing could be done, 0:52:25.826,0:52:29.356 because the village was so far[br]from a city. 0:52:31.748,0:52:37.298 He saw the five children dying[br]in the arms of their mothers. 0:52:40.564,0:52:44.794 The soldier survived the war[br]and went back to America. 0:52:46.610,0:52:49.020 He could no longer sleep. 0:52:51.598,0:52:56.742 Every time he found himself[br]with a few children in the same room, 0:52:57.512,0:53:00.342 he could not stand it,[br]he had to run out of the room. 0:53:02.083,0:53:05.535 He could not share the story with anyone, 0:53:05.975,0:53:07.525 until one day, 0:53:12.797,0:53:17.434 we offered a retreat for war veterans[br]in California, 0:53:19.200,0:53:21.512 and he came. 0:53:23.000,0:53:29.410 After four days of practice, [br]he got enough trust. 0:53:31.667,0:53:38.447 During the sharing, he told us the story,[br]crying a lot. 0:53:44.693,0:53:46.823 I was in the group. 0:53:48.707,0:53:52.127 I promised to give him a consultation. 0:53:55.699,0:54:00.420 I told him: "Daniel, [br]you have killed five children." 0:54:01.750,0:54:03.530 "That is the truth." 0:54:04.496,0:54:06.543 "And you suffer." 0:54:07.076,0:54:09.943 "But now there are other children[br]who are dying" 0:54:11.428,0:54:15.028 "in Africa, in Asia, in many countries," 0:54:15.938,0:54:18.939 "and even in America,[br]children are dying." 0:54:19.559,0:54:21.580 "There are poor people." 0:54:22.040,0:54:26.154 "There are children who only need[br]one tablet of medicine" 0:54:27.024,0:54:29.834 "in order for their life to be saved." 0:54:30.287,0:54:34.058 "Thousands and thousands of children[br]like that are dying all over the world." 0:54:34.848,0:54:41.438 "If you make the aspiration to go to them,[br]every day you can save five children." 0:54:42.766,0:54:47.816 "You don't have to lie down [br]in the corner of the past" 0:54:48.346,0:54:50.266 "and suffer like that." 0:54:50.356,0:54:52.709 "If in the past you have [br]killed five children," 0:54:52.889,0:54:55.641 "then today, you can save five." 0:54:55.721,0:54:59.065 "If you can save five today,[br]five tomorrow," 0:54:59.235,0:55:03.763 "then you can see the five you killed[br]begin to smile in you" 0:55:03.903,0:55:06.533 "and you are healed." 0:55:07.669,0:55:11.459 So he followed those instructions. 0:55:13.487,0:55:17.875 I could see the transformation [br]and healing taking place 0:55:18.725,0:55:22.655 right during the time he listened[br]to the advice, 0:55:23.515,0:55:26.199 because during the time he listened to me, 0:55:26.369,0:55:28.253 he made that vow: 0:55:28.613,0:55:31.623 "I will go out and try to save children." 0:55:32.023,0:55:34.687 "I am young enough to do the work." 0:55:36.237,0:55:41.241 The tremendous amount of energy[br]given to him by that aspiration... 0:55:42.081,0:55:44.811 began to heal him right away. 0:55:45.727,0:55:50.877 After that he practiced helping[br]children in the world to survive. 0:55:56.073,0:55:58.203 He was healed. 0:55:58.653,0:56:02.393 He married a dentist in England 0:56:03.303,0:56:05.382 and lead a normal life. 0:56:06.102,0:56:08.462 This is a real story. 0:56:09.836,0:56:16.927 So the fact is that you can [br]liberate yourself from the past, 0:56:17.167,0:56:19.437 from the prison of the past. 0:56:20.820,0:56:27.030 You can make a strong determination,[br]a strong aspiration, to go and help: 0:56:27.850,0:56:30.716 to help the people who are abused, 0:56:30.788,0:56:34.278 to help the people who are victims[br]of sexual abuse, and so on. 0:56:35.778,0:56:38.148 And then you can heal yourself. 0:56:40.306,0:56:45.646 That is the power of aspiration -[br]the [third] nutriment we call "volition." 0:56:50.162,0:56:53.722 If you have transformation [br]and healing in you, 0:56:56.408,0:56:59.546 you become a pleasant person, 0:57:00.444,0:57:03.404 you are full of compassion, understanding, 0:57:04.354,0:57:10.179 and your presence is very fresh, 0:57:11.179,0:57:13.890 very pleasant for other people. 0:57:14.580,0:57:20.210 If you propose to him or to her[br]the practice of reconciliation 0:57:21.510,0:57:24.406 and if the other person refuses to do it, 0:57:25.226,0:57:27.544 it's because you are not fresh enough, 0:57:27.632,0:57:30.510 you have not healed yourself enough. 0:57:32.802,0:57:37.572 You have to show yourself[br]as someone who has transformed, 0:57:38.252,0:57:42.170 who has healed himself, or herself. 0:57:45.598,0:57:51.228 The healing in you will help start[br]the healing in the other person. 0:57:52.284,0:57:54.460 There are many ways. 0:57:56.830,0:58:00.838 You can write him or her a letter of love. 0:58:02.048,0:58:07.138 You can ask a friend to talk to him or her[br]on your behalf. 0:58:11.172,0:58:13.662 There are many ways to do it. 0:58:16.180,0:58:20.680 If you have already [br]reconciled with yourself, 0:58:21.878,0:58:25.566 renewed yourself to become a new person, 0:58:25.796,0:58:29.538 then transforming him,[br]reconciling with him, 0:58:29.788,0:58:31.729 becomes much easier. 0:58:32.259,0:58:38.327 If you still find it difficult [br]to invite the other person to reconcile, 0:58:38.546,0:58:43.057 it's because you have not started[br]the process of reconciliation from within. 0:58:45.007,0:58:48.624 If you have, [br]then you have healed yourself. 0:58:49.844,0:58:55.914 Then it will be much easier to help him[br]to reconcile, 0:58:56.914,0:58:59.362 with himself and with you. 0:59:01.605,0:59:03.000 OK? 0:59:03.690,0:59:05.530 (Br. Mountain) Thank you, Thay. 0:59:22.778,0:59:25.064 (Half Bell) 0:59:28.938,0:59:36.129 (Bell) 1:00:00.207,1:00:01.403 Well... 1:00:01.865,1:00:03.836 (Spanish) Sorry, in Spanish. 1:00:06.503,1:00:11.057 First, I would like to thank you, 1:00:11.565,1:00:14.207 because until yesterday, 1:00:14.972,1:00:21.966 I thought I was practising[br]mindful listening properly, 1:00:23.351,1:00:26.526 just because I tried[br]to listen to every word[br] 1:00:26.758,1:00:29.259 that the other person was saying. 1:00:29.566,1:00:31.825 Yesterday I understood 1:00:32.065,1:00:34.660 that my practice was not right, 1:00:34.906,1:00:38.069 because no matter[br]how hard I tried to listen, 1:00:38.292,1:00:41.166 if I did not add compassion, 1:00:41.627,1:00:46.785 the practice was not going to improve. 1:00:48.503,1:00:50.735 I thank you for that. 1:00:51.028,1:00:53.433 My question has nothing to do with myself, 1:00:53.926,1:00:55.807 it has to do with my daughter. 1:00:56.128,1:00:58.006 She is 3 years old. 1:00:58.965,1:01:06.832 I wish she will not need to be 35[br]to begin to practice mindfulness, 1:01:07.294,1:01:09.898 as it happened to her mother. 1:01:10.057,1:01:12.926 I want to begin to practice with her, 1:01:13.165,1:01:16.970 but everyone tells me[br]that she is still too young. 1:01:17.367,1:01:23.011 I see that children live more[br]in the present moment than us, adults. 1:01:23.470,1:01:26.365 But they do it for short periods. 1:01:27.027,1:01:31.268 I don't want to begin with[br]formal practices too early, 1:01:35.059,1:01:39.825 because it would not be[br]appropriate for her age. 1:01:40.380,1:01:44.929 Is there a good age 1:01:45.114,1:01:49.565 to begin the practice of mindfulness[br]with children? 1:01:53.658,1:01:58.667 (Br. Mountain) So I will try to touch[br]the essence of the question. 1:01:58.857,1:02:01.388 She has a daughter [br]who is 3 years old 1:02:01.588,1:02:04.414 and she would like [br]to teach her mindfulness 1:02:04.564,1:02:08.292 and start already with the seed[br]of mindfulness at that age, 1:02:08.392,1:02:13.902 and not wait until her daughter is 35[br]to start the practice of mindfulness. 1:02:14.052,1:02:19.862 So is there any good age[br]to start teaching mindfulness to children? 1:02:20.022,1:02:25.412 Some people say she's too young[br]for me to teach her mindfulness. 1:02:25.692,1:02:27.548 She's only 3 years old. 1:02:27.778,1:02:31.428 Is there a good age to start teaching[br]mindfulness to children? 1:02:35.594,1:02:40.458 (Thay) You can teach [br]your child mindfulness, 1:02:40.846,1:02:46.339 even when your child [br]is still inside of you! 1:02:46.339,1:02:47.958 (Laughter) 1:02:58.401,1:03:01.168 You practice mindful breathing 1:03:01.358,1:03:03.344 and you talk to your child: 1:03:03.484,1:03:06.205 "Breathing in, I know you are there" 1:03:06.325,1:03:08.285 "and I am so happy." 1:03:09.350,1:03:14.870 You are mindful of the presence [br]of the baby in yourself. 1:03:16.818,1:03:22.478 If you are mindful, the child in you [br]is mindful at the same time, 1:03:22.618,1:03:29.779 because you and him or her [br]are not two entities. 1:03:36.058,1:03:38.876 Everything you eat is for your child. 1:03:39.156,1:03:42.484 Everything you drink is for your child. 1:03:45.664,1:03:49.889 Your happiness is your child's happiness. 1:03:50.549,1:03:53.499 Your anger is your child's anger. 1:03:54.929,1:03:58.608 If you conceive a baby,[br]you have to be very careful. 1:03:59.037,1:04:01.308 You have to be very mindful. 1:04:03.611,1:04:06.234 Anything you consume [br]of the Four Nutriments, 1:04:06.484,1:04:09.294 the child consumes also. 1:04:09.970,1:04:15.488 So be gentle, [br]consume only the healthy things, 1:04:16.998,1:04:19.329 in terms of the Four Nutriments: 1:04:19.499,1:04:23.439 what you read, what you listen to, 1:04:24.549,1:04:30.128 what you eat, [br]what you hear as conversation. 1:04:30.348,1:04:32.686 They will go directly to the baby. 1:04:33.066,1:04:40.216 So your practice of mindfulness is[br]the practice of mindfulness of your child. 1:04:41.730,1:04:48.700 So you can begin at a very early age[br]with your child. 1:04:59.575,1:05:07.065 The baby may not understand yet[br]the talking of adults, 1:05:11.813,1:05:19.713 but the baby can be aware of the energy[br]that you radiate. 1:05:21.861,1:05:28.850 If father and mother are in harmony,[br]loving each other, 1:05:29.160,1:05:31.580 the baby feels that. 1:05:33.142,1:05:39.355 Don't say that he does not understand[br]what we are saying to each other yet. 1:05:39.485,1:05:41.545 Don't do that. 1:05:42.592,1:05:45.513 The baby may not understand [br]what you are saying, 1:05:45.943,1:05:51.123 but the baby can feel[br]the harmony or disharmony between you. 1:05:53.908,1:06:03.247 So your practice of mindfulness,[br]of reconciliation, of harmony... 1:06:03.707,1:06:08.287 has a direct impact on your child. 1:06:11.411,1:06:13.878 When you hold your baby, 1:06:14.118,1:06:18.123 if you hold your baby in mindfulness, 1:06:18.773,1:06:20.883 the baby feels that. 1:06:21.674,1:06:24.284 That is a way to teach mindfulness. 1:06:27.184,1:06:30.336 When you feed your baby [br]with your own milk, 1:06:31.476,1:06:33.838 you are aware of that, 1:06:34.248,1:06:36.489 you feel the happiness, 1:06:37.029,1:06:41.546 so the baby not only is feeding himself[br]from the milk, 1:06:41.866,1:06:44.343 but from your love too. 1:06:44.923,1:06:49.773 So you can teach the baby mindfulness[br]right away in the beginning. 1:06:54.141,1:06:59.911 I remember at a Dharma talk in Germany, 1:07:00.857,1:07:06.267 there were 1000 people in the talk. 1:07:07.403,1:07:09.245 I remember in the front row, 1:07:09.545,1:07:15.215 there were 3 or 4 mothers,[br]breast-feeding their babies. 1:07:17.608,1:07:21.968 The atmosphere in the talk[br]was very, very peaceful, 1:07:23.921,1:07:29.081 because we practiced mindful breathing,[br]mindful smiling. 1:07:30.539,1:07:32.513 It was very nice. 1:07:33.343,1:07:39.746 Before I started the talk,[br]I looked at the babies. 1:07:40.376,1:07:42.966 They were so happy, so calm. 1:07:43.242,1:07:48.192 They were getting the nutriments[br]not only from the breast of their mother, 1:07:48.702,1:07:51.843 but they were getting nutriments 1:07:52.083,1:07:56.993 from the collective energy[br]of mindfulness and compassion 1:07:57.763,1:08:00.080 generated by the practice. 1:08:00.822,1:08:07.452 So children, they know the value[br]of the practice of mindfulness. 1:08:12.958,1:08:17.748 When you are about to have breakfast[br]with your child, 1:08:19.666,1:08:26.792 if the child is 3, or 4, or 5 years old,[br]you can say: 1:08:28.586,1:08:33.703 "Darling, it's wonderful [br]that we have breakfast together." 1:08:34.273,1:08:36.914 You show your appreciation...[br] 1:08:37.244,1:08:43.431 that mother and son, mother and daughter,[br]are there having breakfast together. 1:08:43.801,1:08:46.421 You cherish every moment. 1:08:50.746,1:08:55.836 There is a mantra that we practice[br]in Plum Village. 1:08:58.791,1:09:04.111 From time to time, we remind [br]the other person or people... 1:09:06.259,1:09:13.269 that the moment we spend together[br]is a wonderful moment. 1:09:16.826,1:09:20.396 That can be practiced with children too. 1:09:21.794,1:09:27.194 The mantra is: "This is a happy moment." 1:09:28.515,1:09:31.574 "This is a wonderful moment." 1:09:31.834,1:09:34.544 "Don't you agree?" 1:09:35.122,1:09:39.402 "This is a legendary moment[br]that we share with each other." 1:09:40.180,1:09:47.210 That mantra, we can practice,[br]we can pronounce, several times a day. 1:09:49.546,1:09:52.996 I myself practice that mantra a lot[br]with my students. 1:09:54.642,1:09:58.842 Walking together, sitting together,[br]eating together, 1:10:01.041,1:10:04.095 we remind each other[br]that this is a wonderful moment. 1:10:05.345,1:10:10.195 We are still alive, [br]we are sharing a cup of tea. 1:10:11.860,1:10:14.040 This is always possible. 1:10:17.611,1:10:21.607 So children are receptive [br]to that kind of practice. 1:10:23.027,1:10:25.417 They know that [br]we appreciate their presence. 1:10:26.772,1:10:31.512 We offer attention to them,[br]and they are happy. 1:10:32.400,1:10:35.700 They learn in a way[br]that we cannot conceive. 1:10:37.784,1:10:42.504 They learn without knowing[br]that they are learning. 1:10:43.710,1:10:47.990 We transmit the practice of mindfulness[br]by our way of life. 1:10:51.619,1:10:55.196 If the parents smoke and drink alcohol, 1:10:55.596,1:10:58.526 the children will smoke and drink alcohol. 1:10:59.181,1:11:03.869 If the parents practice mindfulness,[br]loving speech, and deep listening, 1:11:04.209,1:11:06.094 then the children will do it. 1:11:06.394,1:11:09.424 They do not have to know[br]that they are learning. 1:11:10.592,1:11:14.902 So the learning, the practice,[br]can be non-formal. 1:11:16.848,1:11:20.446 You don't have to say that,[br]"I am practicing mindfulness." 1:11:21.016,1:11:25.554 You just enjoy the practice[br]of mindfulness, of breathing, 1:11:25.754,1:11:28.126 walking, eating and so on. 1:11:28.406,1:11:31.956 That will have an effect on the children, 1:11:32.366,1:11:34.352 even the very young ones. 1:11:36.679,1:11:40.139 Three years old may be too late! 1:11:41.127,1:11:43.537 (Laughter) 1:12:06.034,1:12:07.658 (Half Bell) 1:12:12.026,1:12:19.451 (Bell) 1:12:32.875,1:12:36.315 Dear Thay, dear brothers and sisters, 1:12:37.995,1:12:42.735 I want to deeply thank you[br]for sharing your time with us. 1:12:44.955,1:12:48.925 My question is regarding hurt kids. 1:12:51.467,1:13:00.357 How can we guide them, [br]help them to look deeply, 1:13:01.178,1:13:07.566 and try to understand the root cause[br]of their suffering, 1:13:08.626,1:13:12.475 such as anger, anguish, or fear, 1:13:14.184,1:13:16.994 when they are small? 1:13:23.393,1:13:28.803 (Br. Mountain) So the question is[br]about children: 1:13:29.063,1:13:31.388 How to guide them to look deeply, 1:13:31.708,1:13:35.210 and try to understand the cause[br]of these children's suffering 1:13:36.140,1:13:39.175 - anger, anguish, fear - 1:13:39.526,1:13:41.311 so how to help them? 1:13:41.311,1:13:42.977 Any particular age? 1:13:43.137,1:13:46.318 (Lady) Maybe six, seven or eight.[br] 1:13:46.628,1:13:49.309 (Br. Mountain) Six, seven or eight. 1:13:49.819,1:13:54.739 So how to help little children [br]understand the cause of their suffering? 1:14:04.817,1:14:09.129 We should not try [br]to give the teaching... 1:14:10.779,1:14:14.219 orally only, 1:14:15.718,1:14:19.268 because often it does not work. 1:14:23.166,1:14:28.096 As teachers, we have [br]the tendency to explain. 1:14:31.546,1:14:35.001 In order to explain, we have to use words. 1:14:37.109,1:14:39.940 That may turn them off. 1:14:41.032,1:14:45.281 They are not interested [br]in words and concepts. 1:14:55.495,1:15:01.897 I think we should use [br]very simple expressions, 1:15:02.497,1:15:04.727 simple, simple words. 1:15:15.897,1:15:18.429 Suppose when... 1:15:21.327,1:15:25.337 when we have anger in us, 1:15:28.116,1:15:33.666 when mother has anger in herself, 1:15:42.114,1:15:47.189 if the child wants her [br]to do something, 1:15:48.209,1:15:51.359 to say something, for him. 1:15:53.668,1:16:00.606 If the mother realises that it's not good[br]to do it, to say it, 1:16:00.876,1:16:03.256 when she's angry, 1:16:03.681,1:16:06.950 she may tell her child 1:16:07.320,1:16:10.998 that Mummy does not feel good in herself. 1:16:11.458,1:16:13.691 Mummy is a little bit angry. 1:16:14.261,1:16:19.646 You should allow Mummy [br]to breathe, to walk, 1:16:19.906,1:16:22.949 in order to calm herself first. 1:16:23.884,1:16:26.344 You can do it like that. 1:16:26.834,1:16:28.832 That is teaching. 1:16:31.722,1:16:34.902 You teach by your own life. 1:16:37.950,1:16:42.430 If they see you practicing [br]when you are angry, 1:16:44.055,1:16:45.915 they will believe you. 1:16:47.428,1:16:49.714 Next time when they get angry, 1:16:50.844,1:16:52.964 you may say something: 1:16:53.194,1:16:56.154 "Darling, why don't you do it like Mummy?" 1:16:57.553,1:17:01.159 "Don't say anything, don't do anything," 1:17:01.339,1:17:05.707 "it may do harm to yourself[br]and to others." 1:17:06.487,1:17:09.048 "Do like Mummy, just breathe" 1:17:09.508,1:17:11.458 "and know that we are angry." 1:17:12.296,1:17:17.316 "If we know how to breathe like that,[br]walk like that," 1:17:17.466,1:17:19.383 "then we will feel better." 1:17:19.503,1:17:22.261 "Why don't you hold Mummy's hand" 1:17:22.451,1:17:26.549 "and we will breathe together,[br]make a few steps together." 1:17:27.755,1:17:30.027 That is teaching. 1:17:31.276,1:17:35.434 The same thing is true [br]with other mental formations, 1:17:36.594,1:17:40.294 like fear, jealousy and so on. 1:17:42.843,1:17:52.115 So there is a kind of teaching[br]called teaching by your own life, 1:17:53.555,1:17:55.104 by your own body. 1:17:55.524,1:17:57.874 This is very good. 1:17:58.229,1:18:04.609 So as a teacher, I know the value[br]of that kind of teaching. 1:18:08.269,1:18:10.937 You teach by the way you walk, 1:18:11.997,1:18:14.251 by the way you sit down, 1:18:14.571,1:18:17.011 by the way you eat, 1:18:17.617,1:18:19.629 by the way you look, 1:18:19.909,1:18:23.139 by the way you react to a provocation. 1:18:25.395,1:18:30.675 That teaching is well received[br]by the young people. 1:18:31.323,1:18:34.303 You don't have to use a lot of words. 1:18:38.771,1:18:41.561 Another question from the floor. 1:18:44.232,1:18:46.627 (Br. Mountain) Dear Thay, dear Sangha, 1:18:46.827,1:18:50.463 this is a question from a man, I guess, 1:18:50.653,1:18:52.504 because it says: 1:18:52.594,1:18:56.634 "How can men today [br]avoid becoming soft men?" 1:18:58.682,1:19:03.859 "How can men become more confident," 1:19:04.219,1:19:06.609 "without becoming aggressive?" 1:19:07.436,1:19:13.316 "How can a man avoid becoming a soft man?" 1:19:14.284,1:19:20.928 Sometimes men, maybe in Spain,[br]have been aggressive in the past 1:19:21.068,1:19:23.235 and now when we practice, 1:19:23.435,1:19:26.606 we become soft, [br]very receptive and attentive, 1:19:26.736,1:19:29.476 and maybe we become too soft. 1:19:30.082,1:19:31.930 Too soft! 1:19:32.880,1:19:35.156 (Laughter) 1:19:48.059,1:19:52.309 Yesterday, we spoke about Noble Silence, 1:19:55.037,1:19:58.317 a kind of silence that is very powerful. 1:20:00.087,1:20:02.607 It's not oppressive at all. 1:20:03.986,1:20:05.736 It's very alive. 1:20:06.681,1:20:10.307 When we stop our talking, 1:20:11.577,1:20:13.615 when we stop our thinking, 1:20:13.896,1:20:16.655 we breathe, we become alive, 1:20:17.236,1:20:23.087 we are aware of being with each other 1:20:23.577,1:20:27.577 and that kind of silence is very powerful. 1:20:28.339,1:20:30.320 In the Buddhist tradition, 1:20:30.690,1:20:36.830 they describe the silence [br]as "thundering silence." 1:20:38.001,1:20:40.201 Powerful like thunder. 1:20:42.152,1:20:44.064 (French) The thunder. 1:20:44.495,1:20:46.764 Thundering silence. 1:20:47.587,1:20:53.037 There are those who believe that [br]when they have too much compassion, 1:20:53.537,1:20:55.553 they become very soft, 1:20:56.204,1:20:58.164 and that is not true. 1:20:58.846,1:21:00.806 Compassion is not soft. 1:21:01.763,1:21:05.188 Compassion is very, very powerful. 1:21:10.678,1:21:13.802 When you have great compassion, 1:21:14.272,1:21:20.417 you can die, you are ready to die[br]for the sake of helping people. 1:21:21.367,1:21:23.497 You are very powerful. 1:21:26.490,1:21:34.700 It is violence that makes you weak, 1:21:36.302,1:21:37.987 because you are weak, 1:21:38.147,1:21:40.686 that is why you need a gun, 1:21:41.016,1:21:42.869 you need an army. 1:21:45.774,1:21:48.310 If you are really powerful, 1:21:48.625,1:21:51.338 you can help many people around, 1:21:51.808,1:21:53.993 many countries around, 1:21:54.233,1:21:55.843 and you are safer. 1:21:56.601,1:21:59.151 If you are too afraid, 1:21:59.761,1:22:02.671 you need a gun, you need an army. 1:22:04.569,1:22:07.795 That is why cultivating compassion, 1:22:08.868,1:22:11.234 you protect yourself much better 1:22:12.017,1:22:16.984 than with an army, with a gun. 1:22:19.222,1:22:22.762 If you carry a gun, [br]that means you are afraid, 1:22:24.220,1:22:26.140 you are fearful. 1:22:36.228,1:22:39.117 Compassion makes us... 1:22:42.871,1:22:46.221 Compassion gives us a lot of energy. 1:22:51.659,1:22:59.829 With compassion, you can do everything[br]in order to help people. 1:23:01.502,1:23:03.034 You are not afraid. 1:23:04.847,1:23:06.565 In the Lotus Sutra, 1:23:06.795,1:23:11.125 compassion is described as "thunder." 1:23:14.303,1:23:18.379 It's like a cloud, a big cloud in the sky. 1:23:19.062,1:23:22.122 It looks very soft, 1:23:23.807,1:23:27.941 but a cloud can generate thunder, 1:23:28.721,1:23:30.741 lightning and thunder. 1:23:32.119,1:23:34.499 So in the Lotus Sutra, 1:23:34.659,1:23:38.268 compassion is described [br]as lightning and thunder. 1:23:38.528,1:23:40.928 Very, very powerful. 1:23:43.360,1:23:46.499 If you have violence in you, 1:23:46.819,1:23:51.569 your nature is weak, and not powerful. 1:23:53.045,1:23:55.061 But if you have compassion in you, 1:23:55.191,1:23:57.011 you are really powerful. 1:23:59.103,1:24:02.983 With violence in you, you suffer. 1:24:09.580,1:24:14.138 Children, adults, teenagers, 1:24:15.298,1:24:19.284 if they have a lot of violence in them, 1:24:19.584,1:24:21.075 then they suffer, 1:24:21.195,1:24:23.365 and we can see the suffering. 1:24:23.966,1:24:25.986 And they are weak. 1:24:27.834,1:24:31.338 If we cultivate compassion, [br]we are healthy, 1:24:32.695,1:24:34.970 and we are powerful. 1:24:37.039,1:24:39.309 Violence makes you sick. 1:24:41.354,1:24:47.344 It is destroying our health,[br]physical and mental. 1:24:48.358,1:24:49.858 Violence. 1:24:52.462,1:24:57.612 When you produce a thought [br]full of hate and violence, 1:25:00.342,1:25:04.872 that thought begins to destroy you[br]and destroy the world. 1:25:07.149,1:25:10.078 But if you have Right Understanding, 1:25:10.348,1:25:14.994 you generate a thought [br]of compassion, of understanding. 1:25:15.984,1:25:18.904 That thought begins to heal you 1:25:19.194,1:25:21.564 and begins to heal the world. 1:25:23.842,1:25:26.588 That is the practice of Right Thinking: 1:25:26.828,1:25:28.608 thinking in such a way 1:25:28.868,1:25:33.028 that you can generate [br]understanding and compassion. 1:25:35.381,1:25:37.991 That is real power. 1:25:42.699,1:25:47.219 Compassion can be expressed [br]in the way you think, 1:25:48.157,1:25:51.187 in the way you speak, 1:25:52.365,1:25:55.435 and in the way you act. 1:26:02.241,1:26:09.181 If you are motivated by the desire [br]to help a person to suffer less, 1:26:10.087,1:26:16.037 you can use loving speech,[br]compassionate speech. 1:26:16.915,1:26:19.935 What you write down in a letter, 1:26:20.255,1:26:22.464 what you say, 1:26:22.524,1:26:25.966 what you tell him or her [br]on the telephone... 1:26:26.386,1:26:29.616 has so much compassion. 1:26:31.980,1:26:35.620 When you are able [br]to say something compassionate, 1:26:36.326,1:26:39.024 you feel wonderful within yourself, 1:26:39.324,1:26:41.224 you can heal yourself. 1:26:47.069,1:26:50.919 You can begin to help [br]heal the other person. 1:26:52.696,1:26:56.026 So compassion has the power to heal. 1:27:02.090,1:27:04.430 That is why all of us have to learn 1:27:04.798,1:27:09.068 how to generate [br]the energy of compassion in us. 1:27:09.986,1:27:12.320 If we want to heal ourselves, 1:27:12.431,1:27:16.011 we have to generate[br]the energy of compassion. 1:27:16.191,1:27:18.498 If we want to heal our family, 1:27:19.248,1:27:22.420 make our family happy, harmonious again, 1:27:22.608,1:27:28.218 we have to generate, [br]to cultivate compassion. 1:27:28.428,1:27:31.438 If we want to heal our community, 1:27:32.791,1:27:36.157 our city, our nation, 1:27:36.607,1:27:40.837 we have to cultivate more compassion. 1:27:41.709,1:27:47.120 Compassion comes from understanding,[br]understanding suffering: 1:27:47.350,1:27:51.097 our own suffering[br]and the suffering of the other person, 1:27:51.277,1:27:55.487 even the suffering of the people[br]who we believe to be our enemies. 1:27:56.454,1:28:00.134 They have a lot of suffering [br]in themselves also. 1:28:04.458,1:28:08.878 So the answer to our situation [br]is compassion. 1:28:10.575,1:28:18.042 And medically speaking, [br]doctors are beginning to understand 1:28:18.302,1:28:21.262 that compassion has a healing power. 1:28:22.420,1:28:25.206 If you have so much hate,[br]and despair, and anger, 1:28:25.376,1:28:27.207 then it's difficult to heal. 1:28:27.447,1:28:29.676 But if you have compassion, 1:28:29.966,1:28:32.066 it's easier to heal yourself. 1:28:33.234,1:28:35.056 At Stanford University, 1:28:35.228,1:28:40.016 they have begun to study[br]the healing power of compassion. 1:28:40.845,1:28:46.130 Thay was invited to speak at Stanford 1:28:46.290,1:28:50.228 about the practice of compassion, 1:28:50.448,1:28:53.568 and someone asked [br]exactly the same question. 1:28:55.769,1:28:59.009 Is it not true that [br]compassion makes you weak? 1:29:00.170,1:29:02.186 No, the opposite. 1:29:02.446,1:29:04.926 Compassion makes you very strong. 1:29:20.546,1:29:22.216 Bell first. 1:29:23.442,1:29:25.016 (Bell) 1:29:28.952,1:29:37.619 (Bell) 1:29:57.723,1:29:59.332 I would like to ask: 1:29:59.482,1:30:04.112 If someone, at one moment,[br]comes to me for help, 1:30:04.922,1:30:09.246 and I cannot (inaudible) for that person, 1:30:09.586,1:30:12.724 and I have that moment, 1:30:12.934,1:30:17.062 when I tell that person [br]to embrace the pain, 1:30:17.442,1:30:19.422 to embrace the suffering. 1:30:19.689,1:30:22.267 What if the person doesn't accept 1:30:22.477,1:30:25.367 and maybe gets mad? 1:30:25.678,1:30:28.538 How can I keep helping the person? 1:30:28.958,1:30:31.429 I only have maybe a few minutes, 1:30:31.519,1:30:34.709 and then this person will go away. 1:30:36.907,1:30:40.727 (Br. Mountain) (Spanish) Could you ask[br]the question in Spanish? 1:30:41.128,1:30:45.692 (Spanish) If someone[br]comes to me for help 1:30:46.223,1:30:48.976 and I have a limited time, 1:30:49.600,1:30:55.929 and I try to help him[br]and tell him to embrace his suffering, 1:30:56.151,1:30:58.484 his sorrow, his hate, 1:30:58.675,1:31:02.514 and that person at that moment[br]refuses to do it 1:31:02.828,1:31:05.459 and gets even more angry, 1:31:05.800,1:31:10.396 How can I help that person[br]in that limited time I have? 1:31:12.308,1:31:16.206 (Br. Mountain) So somebody comes to her,[br]asking for help, 1:31:16.346,1:31:19.934 but she doesn't have [br]much time to offer to this person, 1:31:20.294,1:31:25.525 and she tells this person that[br]she just needs to embrace her suffering, 1:31:25.685,1:31:27.876 or anger, or whatever emotion, 1:31:28.106,1:31:32.197 but that person reacts,[br]they don't want to hear that. 1:31:32.407,1:31:35.369 With this limited time that I have, 1:31:35.759,1:31:39.349 how can I help this person transform? 1:31:40.374,1:31:45.875 So basically, she says to this person[br]that she needs to embrace her suffering, 1:31:46.505,1:31:50.334 but the person reacts[br]and doesn't want to embrace the suffering. 1:31:50.884,1:31:55.474 And she doesn't have much time available[br]to help the person. 1:31:58.492,1:32:01.532 What work do you do? [br]What is your profession? 1:32:01.652,1:32:04.873 Is this something professional? 1:32:07.377,1:32:13.247 (Lady) I am a teacher, [br]but I also help people with problems. 1:32:17.188,1:32:21.858 (Br. Mountain) So... a teacher,[br]and you help people professionally? 1:32:22.129,1:32:25.502 (Lady) Teaching, yes, it's my profession. 1:32:25.852,1:32:30.412 And I help people... (inaudible) 1:32:33.813,1:32:36.943 (Thay) [br](Speaking in Vietnamese) 1:32:37.963,1:32:42.644 (Br. Inclusiveness) [br](Replying in Vietnamese) 1:33:20.408,1:33:22.818 If we are so busy, 1:33:23.886,1:33:26.686 if we do not have the time, 1:33:27.604,1:33:29.644 we cannot do anything. 1:33:31.380,1:33:35.040 So the problem is to arrange [br]that you have plenty of time. 1:33:39.366,1:33:42.308 (Laughter) 1:33:54.384,1:34:01.480 There are those of us[br]who are doctors, 1:34:03.160,1:34:05.183 lawyers, 1:34:06.650,1:34:13.110 and who are able to help people, 1:34:17.079,1:34:24.046 but our capacity is limited. 1:34:25.849,1:34:31.013 So many of us have become monks and nuns[br]in order to have more time. 1:34:31.743,1:34:33.293 (Laughter) 1:34:34.013,1:34:36.561 Because as a monk or nun 1:34:37.438,1:34:40.076 you don't have to make a living. 1:34:40.875,1:34:43.194 You don't have to make a living. 1:34:45.424,1:34:49.729 You don't need a private house, [br]you don't need a salary. 1:34:50.054,1:34:52.563 You don't need 1:35:01.161,1:35:06.098 a private bank account[br]and so on. 1:35:06.588,1:35:12.367 So you have plenty of time to practice[br]helping yourself 1:35:14.123,1:35:16.681 and helping other people. 1:35:20.020,1:35:25.780 So one of the ways to have the time[br]is to live a simple life. 1:35:29.645,1:35:33.975 Especially and if possible to live[br]in a community. 1:35:35.641,1:35:40.019 You don't need[br]a private car, a private house, 1:35:40.829,1:35:45.709 a private bank account and so on. 1:35:46.559,1:35:48.539 You have plenty of time. 1:35:49.491,1:35:52.939 That is what the Buddha and his monks did. 1:35:53.719,1:35:57.889 They had plenty of time walking, sitting, [br]helping people. 1:36:05.901,1:36:11.321 Time is not money. 1:36:14.105,1:36:18.935 But in our society,[br]many people think of time as money. 1:36:19.793,1:36:21.813 Time is to make money. 1:36:24.181,1:36:26.336 Time is much more than money. 1:36:26.540,1:36:31.089 Time is life, and time is love. 1:36:33.106,1:36:37.523 You are given years,[br]months and days 1:36:38.013,1:36:39.874 and hours and minutes 1:36:40.007,1:36:45.497 in order to live your life and to love,[br]not to make money. 1:36:46.117,1:36:52.831 If your priority is to make money, 1:36:53.236,1:36:58.442 then you don't have the time[br]to do the work of loving. 1:36:59.468,1:37:01.638 You have to love yourself. 1:37:02.367,1:37:05.286 Do you have the time to love yourself? 1:37:05.696,1:37:12.106 To take care of your body, [br]to take care of your feelings and so on? 1:37:13.626,1:37:15.477 If you don't have the time to do that, 1:37:15.768,1:37:18.705 how can you help another person? 1:37:24.084,1:37:27.724 If you don't have the time,[br]how can you love? 1:37:31.330,1:37:35.660 Everything you do in your daily life[br]is an act of love. 1:37:37.728,1:37:41.375 Everything you say, everything you do[br]in your daily life 1:37:41.815,1:37:46.355 can be an act of love,[br]that is possible. 1:37:49.456,1:37:54.316 So please, [br]reconsider the way you use your time. 1:37:54.967,1:37:58.197 What are you doing with your time? 1:37:58.760,1:38:06.296 Your time is to be, 1:38:07.869,1:38:11.250 to live your life and to love. 1:38:13.329,1:38:19.309 Look at the people in our society,[br]the way they make use of their time. 1:38:20.075,1:38:25.915 They don't have the time[br]to breathe, to sit, to walk, 1:38:26.953,1:38:29.037 to enjoy being alive, 1:38:29.989,1:38:32.557 to look at their children. 1:38:37.874,1:38:39.774 We are always in a hurry. 1:38:41.156,1:38:43.806 So there must be a kind a revolution. 1:38:46.490,1:38:50.680 Those of us who have chosen[br]to be monks and nuns 1:38:51.188,1:38:56.238 or the lay practitioners[br]who are living in the community, 1:38:57.086,1:38:59.793 we want a lot of time 1:39:01.062,1:39:04.671 so that we can[br]take care of ourselves fully. 1:39:05.501,1:39:09.811 Heal ourselves and help heal [br]and help other people. 1:39:10.823,1:39:17.213 When we organize a retreat, [br]we do it as an act of love. 1:39:26.647,1:39:32.497 When we see the people[br]transformed and healed, 1:39:32.947,1:39:34.919 that is our reward. 1:39:36.261,1:39:38.836 That is the benefit we get. 1:39:39.499,1:39:42.323 When we see people suffering less,[br] 1:39:42.666,1:39:46.163 beginning to smile,[br]reconciling with each other, 1:39:46.413,1:39:48.002 we are very happy. 1:39:48.452,1:39:51.142 We see that our life has a meaning. 1:39:52.804,1:39:56.224 This is nourishing us a lot. 1:39:57.174,1:39:59.904 So every one of us has to sit down 1:40:00.151,1:40:04.361 and reconsider how do we use our time. 1:40:05.202,1:40:10.202 Do we have the time[br]to love, to serve? 1:40:11.321,1:40:14.940 Do we have the time[br]to take care of ourselves? 1:40:15.180,1:40:18.936 Heal ourselves[br]and help heal our society? 1:40:19.899,1:40:21.529 This is the question. 1:40:22.424,1:40:26.014 And you have to give[br]the answer by yourself. 1:40:46.373,1:40:47.912 (Bell) 1:40:51.152,1:40:56.948 (Bell) 1:41:16.097,1:41:18.379 (Spanish) Dear Thay, 1:41:19.509,1:41:23.161 (inaudible) 1:41:26.501,1:41:34.375 How can we protect our Sangha, 1:41:35.900,1:41:40.448 especially if it is a very young Sangha, 1:41:41.324,1:41:44.820 composed by young people 1:41:45.369,1:41:50.650 who have few experience[br]with the practice? 1:41:51.254,1:41:56.392 How can we protect ourselves[br]when there are frailties? 1:41:57.500,1:41:59.346 (Brother) When there is what? 1:41:59.466,1:42:01.376 (Spanish) Frailties. 1:42:03.789,1:42:05.556 (Brother) Weakness? 1:42:08.295,1:42:11.112 (Br.Mountain) Can you[br]repeat the question? 1:42:11.522,1:42:16.407 (Spanish) How can we,[br]my Sangha friends and myself... 1:42:16.557,1:42:21.644 (Br.Mountain) How can my friends [br]of the Sangha and myself... 1:42:22.610,1:42:24.922 ... protect our Sangha... 1:42:25.002,1:42:27.612 (Brother) ...how can we[br]protect our Sangha... 1:42:27.752,1:42:30.403 ...especially if it is a young Sangha... 1:42:30.832,1:42:34.432 (Brother) ...especially[br]if it's a young Sangha? 1:42:35.372,1:42:37.432 Yes, it is OK. 1:42:38.508,1:42:40.934 (Brother) You said something more. 1:42:41.080,1:42:44.246 -It is a young Sangha.[br]-(Brother) It's a young Sangha. 1:42:44.483,1:42:48.118 -We are all young people...[br]- (Br.) We are all quite young... 1:42:48.233,1:42:51.544 -...with little experience...[br]-(Br.)...with little experience... 1:42:51.672,1:42:55.540 -...in the practice.[br]-(Br)...in the practice. 1:42:56.168,1:42:59.364 (Br. Mountain) So how can we[br]protect our Sangha 1:43:00.110,1:43:04.574 because we are a young Sangha,[br]we have little experience. 1:43:24.843,1:43:31.633 Building a Sangha[br]is a very basic practice. 1:43:38.060,1:43:43.460 If you have an aspiration, 1:43:45.593,1:43:47.558 a deep aspiration, 1:43:47.808,1:43:52.128 if you have a dream to realize, 1:43:54.087,1:43:59.337 you cannot do it [br]without a community. 1:44:15.655,1:44:22.605 And that is why, building a community [br]is very important. 1:44:24.289,1:44:27.149 The Buddha, after enlightenment,[br] 1:44:29.412,1:44:34.542 knew that he needed a Sangha[br]in order to realize his dream, 1:44:36.090,1:44:39.480 offering the practice[br]and help change the world. 1:44:41.396,1:44:46.396 So he spent his time looking for friends 1:44:46.796,1:44:50.628 and set up a community of practice. 1:44:54.186,1:45:00.336 And at the end of the first year[br]after enlightenment, 1:45:00.676,1:45:04.466 he already had a community [br]of one thousand people. 1:45:05.794,1:45:12.604 He spent his time training them[br]how to walk. 1:45:13.598,1:45:18.356 How to walk mindfully and generate peace [br]and joy with every step. 1:45:18.586,1:45:22.186 How to hold their bow,[br]how to sit, how to breathe. 1:45:23.828,1:45:26.008 So you will do the same. 1:45:27.544,1:45:30.130 With young members of the Sangha 1:45:30.220,1:45:35.730 the first thing you do is not to organize. 1:45:37.222,1:45:42.082 For other people, we have to organize[br]so that we can practice together. 1:45:43.363,1:45:47.189 We should practice sitting together, 1:45:47.437,1:45:51.655 walking together,[br]eating together, sharing together 1:45:52.405,1:45:55.727 in such a way, that every time we do that 1:45:56.417,1:45:59.146 we create more brotherhood[br]and sisterhood 1:45:59.617,1:46:01.934 and mutual understanding. 1:46:02.440,1:46:08.980 We learn to make decisions[br]together by consensus. 1:46:11.512,1:46:14.052 We try to listen to each other. 1:46:14.754,1:46:17.634 We try to understand different views. 1:46:18.410,1:46:21.357 We try to combine all these kind of views[br] 1:46:21.487,1:46:24.927 in order to make a synthesis of all views 1:46:26.525,1:46:32.115 and we make a decision collectively. 1:46:33.996,1:46:41.711 Only when we have enough harmony,[br]brotherhood, sisterhood, joy 1:46:42.071,1:46:47.321 should we organize a day of mindfulness[br]or a retreat of mindfulness 1:46:47.711,1:46:49.868 and invite other people to come. 1:46:53.724,1:46:59.874 We operate as a Sangha[br]and not as individuals. 1:47:01.122,1:47:05.502 An individual, no matter[br]how talented he is or she is 1:47:07.087,1:47:09.627 cannot realize the big dream. 1:47:10.061,1:47:14.081 So we learn to organize, 1:47:14.421,1:47:21.989 to lead a retreat as a Sangha[br]and not as a person. 1:47:22.499,1:47:24.336 An individual. 1:47:25.604,1:47:28.329 In Plum Village, we try to do that. 1:47:29.558,1:47:33.138 It's the Sangha who makes the decision 1:47:35.437,1:47:37.337 and not a person. 1:47:38.123,1:47:44.983 For this trip to Spain, organizing the [br]retreats and the public talks 1:47:45.373,1:47:47.243 the Sangha did everything, 1:47:48.183,1:47:51.797 including choosing the title[br]of the talk and the retreat. 1:47:52.109,1:47:54.369 Thay did not have to do anything. 1:47:54.509,1:47:56.429 He just obeyed the Sangha. 1:47:57.187,1:48:01.477 So you have plenty of time to walk,[br]to sit, to breathe. 1:48:02.207,1:48:03.817 It's very good. 1:48:04.030,1:48:08.782 We should operate as a Sangha, [br]not as individuals. 1:48:10.473,1:48:15.014 If you are able to build a Sangha [br]with harmony and brotherhood, 1:48:15.181,1:48:19.864 you can do a lot of things[br]in order to help people to suffer less. 1:48:21.066,1:48:29.356 Building a Sangha is[br]the most noble thing to do for a person. 1:48:32.385,1:48:37.945 When I met with Dr. Martin Luther King[br]for the first time in Chicago, 1:48:42.654,1:48:46.301 in 1966, we discussed about that. 1:48:46.704,1:48:50.593 Because he knew that without a Sangha,[br]without a community 1:48:51.113,1:48:53.733 he could not realize his dream. 1:48:54.951,1:48:59.461 A year before that, he spoke[br]with the theme "I have a dream". 1:49:02.779,1:49:04.355 I told him that: 1:49:04.501,1:49:08.050 "Your dream cannot become true[br]if you don't have a community." 1:49:08.180,1:49:09.940 And he agreed. 1:49:10.076,1:49:13.295 I was using the word Sangha, 1:49:14.541,1:49:18.592 but he used the word 'beloved community'. 1:49:20.182,1:49:24.652 The second time we met was in Geneva. 1:49:26.086,1:49:29.116 We attended a Peace conference. 1:49:29.618,1:49:34.358 We had the opportunity to discuss more[br]about building a Sangha. 1:49:37.717,1:49:42.667 Unfortunately, he was assassinated 1:49:45.650,1:49:48.130 not very long after that. 1:49:49.054,1:49:57.984 So, I made the vow[br]to continue to build the Sangha, 1:49:58.914,1:50:02.494 not only for us, but for him. 1:50:03.949,1:50:06.661 Building a Sangha is very important. 1:50:07.608,1:50:12.201 With a Sangha, you can maintain [br]your practice for a long time. 1:50:13.144,1:50:17.842 With a Sangha, you have an instrument[br]to help people. 1:50:18.532,1:50:21.367 People can come[br]and take refuge in the Sangha, 1:50:21.482,1:50:24.562 learn the practice[br]of healing and transformation. 1:50:25.564,1:50:32.592 So everyone of us who finds[br]the practice of mindfulness useful 1:50:33.182,1:50:36.488 should go home, to his city 1:50:36.858,1:50:41.918 and look around and identify[br]elements of a future Sangha. 1:50:42.814,1:50:48.524 We should set up a group of people,[br]learn to sit together, walk together, 1:50:48.694,1:50:52.702 breathe together,[br]create brotherhood and sisterhood. 1:50:53.390,1:50:58.230 Then we will be able to help many people. 1:50:59.519,1:51:03.619 Schoolteachers have to set up [br]their Sangha of schoolteachers. 1:51:04.362,1:51:08.941 Psychotherapists also have to set up [br]Sanghas of psychotherapists. 1:51:09.981,1:51:19.651 Doctors, nurses, even business leaders[br]have to come together and set up a Sangha 1:51:19.821,1:51:22.481 in order to support each other. 1:51:22.860,1:51:24.913 We all need a Sangha. 1:51:25.383,1:51:29.269 Without a Sangha,[br]Thay cannot do anything. 1:51:29.539,1:51:33.171 So he is taking refuge in the Sangha. 1:51:33.869,1:51:37.182 We always operate as a Sangha. 1:51:37.354,1:51:44.254 If the Sangha has harmony, brotherhood,[br]you can do a lot of things. 1:51:48.953,1:51:51.944 (inaudible) 1:51:54.683,1:51:59.290 Today we have walking meditation again, 1:52:00.060,1:52:05.987 but we should go with the same speed, 1:52:08.136,1:52:11.165 we should not walk too slow. 1:52:12.228,1:52:17.757 We should not create a traffic jam. 1:52:18.407,1:52:20.286 (Laughter) 1:52:20.936,1:52:24.745 Breathing in 2 steps, [br]breathing out 3 steps, 1:52:25.155,1:52:29.855 and do not allow the line[br]to be broken as yesterday. 1:52:31.006,1:52:36.896 We can enjoy every step and we are aware[br]that we are walking with a community. 1:52:37.296,1:52:41.628 We flow like a river[br]and not drops of water. 1:52:41.961,1:52:43.857 (Laughter) 1:52:51.656,1:52:53.486 (Bell) 1:52:55.082,1:53:02.203 (Bell) 1:53:06.958,1:53:10.145 That's long enough, that's good. 1:53:10.905,1:53:12.881 Thank you. 1:53:13.441,1:53:20.151 We shall gather and begin[br]our walking meditation in... 1:53:21.848,1:53:23.567 (Br. Inclusiveness) 30 minutes, 1:53:24.347,1:53:26.587 ...in half an hour. 1:53:35.528,1:53:41.464 (The Plum Village Online Monastery) 1:53:41.531,1:53:47.609 (Mindful online broadcasts like this) 1:53:47.837,1:53:53.864 (are supported by viewers like you.) 1:53:54.076,1:54:00.512 (Donate at http://pvom.org) 1:54:01.312,1:54:09.946 (Thank you for your generosity.)