What does 'observation of the body in the body' mean? | Talk by Thich Nhat Hanh (EN subtitles)

Why didn't the Buddha say "the observation of the
body" but "the observation of the body in the body"?

If we are a researcher,

we tend to believe

the object of our study

is independent of our mind, our consciousness.

It's like the bacteria lying under the lenses
of the scientist's microscope

has nothing to do with the scientist themself.

The observer and the observed are considered
two distinctive, separate entities.

That's the scientific approach,

or the approach of common perceiving out there.

But when practicing mindful awareness and deep looking,

we should learn to transcend...

the boundary dividing...

the subject who observes
and the object being observed.

Look in such a way that
the subject of observation

and the object of observation become one.

Only then, can our understanding deepen.

Because...

we should know that

the object being observed carries within it the color
of the mind, or the consciousness, of the observer.

Because you can't separate
the observed from the observer.

Especially when in Buddhism, they always say,

dharmas are the objects of the mind.

There's no dharmas outside the mind.
And there's no mind outside the dharmas.

For that reason,

the subject who observes...

enters into the object being observed.

And the boundary between the observer
and the observed is dissolved.

Scientists now have also begun to see that.

They know that the subject of observation

influences the object of observation.

It's impossible to remove the observer's subjective mind
or consciousness from the object of observation.

It's like when people shed light

on an...

object of observation, such as...

an electron.

Without that light, there's no way to see it.

But when one directs the light to it,
the light will transform,

the light will have an effect...

on that object.

Because this light is also a source of energy,

when that light shines on an object
or when it...

envelops an object,
that object will change.

The same with our consciousness.
Our consciousness is also a source of energy.

When we embrace an object with our awareness
or look deeply into an object,

that object will also change.

That's the connection between
the subject and the object.

So, nuclear scientists now

also advise us that

if we want to understand deeply
the nature of an elementary particle,

we have to learn

to be a participant,

and not to hold on tightly
to the role of an observer.

They use the nouns

"the participant"

and "the observer".

If we're an observer standing outside an object,
we'll never understand it.

We have to learn to be a participant.

It means we have to participate in it,
we have to be one with it.

It's like, in French, we have
the verb "comprendre".

"Comprendre" means to understand.

But 'comprendre' has the prefix 'com-',

and the verb 'prendre' meaning 'to pick up'.

To understand an object
means to pick it up ('prendre')

and become one with that object ('com-).

That's the meaning of the prefix 'com-'.

'Comprendre'

means 'to understand'.

Let's say, we want to understand our elder sister.

We have to put ourselves
into our elder sister's skin.

We have to be one with her mental formations, her
worries, her griefs, her hopes, and her happinesses.

We put ourselves into her flesh and her bones, and
are one with her. Only then, can we understand her.

However, if we're still an outside observer,

it's impossible to understand her in the true sense.

So, in India,

they usually use the example of a grain of salt.

While standing on a beach, it longed to know
how salty the water in the ocean was.

They told that grain of salt,

"If you really want to know
how salty the water in the ocean is,

"there's only one way: you have to
jump into the ocean and be one with it.

"Only then, can your understanding of the
ocean's salinity be complete and perfect."

That's the way they explain

why, if we want to truly understand something,
we have to participate in it.

Only when we become one with that thing, can
our understanding of it be deep. Otherwise,...

our perceptions and understanding of it are
still characterized by discrimination and dualism.

From the political...

as well as cultural points of view,

when there are...

conflicts

or disputes,

more often than not,

each side considers themself right
and the other side wrong.

If the two sides sit at a conference table

and if somebody can help
both sides understand one another,

naturally they will come to understand the
difficulties and sufferings of the other side

and come to a...

treaty

that makes it easy to live together
in peace and harmony.

Two siblings or two partners are angry
with one another, are against one another,

are sad because of one another,
or make each other suffer,

because this person thinks that, the other person
is completely different from them.

But if we find ways

to put ourselves in the other person's shoes,

and come to see all the sufferings, hopes and
dreams, worries, and difficulties they're having,

we can see that person in a new light. From that
understanding, we can come to accept them.

With acceptance, we can come to...

forgive

and live in peace and harmony
with them without any problem.

So, not only when we sit on our cushion
practicing meditation and deep looking

do we need to dissolve the boundary
between the subject and the object,

but when going about our daily life also.
If we want to arrive at understanding and love,

we also need to learn to dissolve the boundary
between the subject and the object.

That's why "observation
of the body in the body" means...

we observe the body in such a way
that we participate in the body,

that we become one with the body,
and the boundary between...

the subject who observes and the object
being observed i.e. the body, is no longer there.

Only then, can we be successful in this practice.