Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session
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Not Synced
-
Not SyncedBr. Phap Huu: Good morning,
dear respected Thay, -
Not Synceddear brothers, dear sisters,
dear friends. -
Not SyncedI hope you had a relaxing
and lazy morning. -
Not SyncedYou could sleep in
and feel more rested -
Not Syncedand enjoy the wonderful space
provided for us -
Not Syncedto be in touch with our breath,
with the trees, with the space. -
Not SyncedWe have an opportunity
for questions & answers. -
Not SyncedThis is a great opportunity
to put into words something -
Not Syncedwe may have been chewing on
for a long time. -
Not SyncedBut with regards to the practice
of mindfulness and meditation. -
Not Syncedthe teachings of Plum Village,
and looking back -
Not Syncedat our way of life,
our happiness, our suffering -
Not Syncedand how to apply the practice
in our daily lives. -
Not SyncedThis is an opportunity to ask questions.
We call it "Asking from the heart." -
Not SyncedWe tend to come more
towards the intellect, -
Not Syncedbut here in Plum Village
we always encourage to ask: -
Not SyncedHow do we bring these teachings
into our daily life? -
Not SyncedThis is more important to us
than philosophy. -
Not SyncedAnd we have children with us.
I'm surprised they are here. -
Not SyncedI thought you would
enjoy more laziness. -
Not SyncedIt is a wonderful tradition to have
space for the children to ask questions. -
Not SyncedWe would like to offer space to the kids
to ask three to four questions. -
Not SyncedA good question can benefit many of us.
It doesn't have to be long. -
Not SyncedIt can be clear and simple.
-
Not SyncedWe have our brother filming the session.
-
Not SyncedPlease raise your hand if you
prefer not to be on camera -
Not Syncedand our brother will know. He will
focus the camera on the monastics. -
Not SyncedSo you can be at ease if you would like
to ask a question, but not be filmed. -
Not SyncedBefore we listen to a question,
we will listen to a sound of the bell -
Not Syncedto come back to our breathing,
and then we ask the question. -
Not SyncedSo, we would like to invite
the children first. -
Not SyncedIf there is a child with a question,
you are welcome to come up -
Not Syncedand sit on this chair and breathe with us.
And then you can ask your question. -
Not SyncedDo any of you have a question?
-
Not SyncedWe do.
-
Not Synced[sound of the bell]
-
Not SyncedDear community, this is the first
question. Our friend will ask in Italian. -
Not SyncedGiacomo: [Italian] If there is
something that we like to do, -
Not Syncedand we see someone else
do something that we might not like, -
Not Syncedbut so many people are doing it,
why do we end up doing that, too? -
Not SyncedVoice offscreen: I will try to translate it
and Giacomo can help me -
Not Syncedif it's not correct, because
you speak English quite well? -
Not SyncedI think the idea is: We know what we want,
what we like to do. -
Not SyncedBut then we see others do something
that we don't approve of. -
Not SyncedWe don't like what they're doing.
-
Not SyncedHow come we end up what they're doing
even though we don't like it? -
Not SyncedBr. Phap Huu: Do you need translation?
-
Not SyncedBr. Phap Linh: Thank you.
That's a great question. -
Not SyncedWe could all ask ourselves that question
at the level of the whole planet. -
Not SyncedWhy, when there are things that we know
we don't want to do, or we don't like, -
Not Syncedbut we see that society is going that way,
and we end up doing it as well. -
Not SyncedThat can happen with a group of friends,
or in a choice of career that we make, -
Not Syncedor how much money we think we need,
where we should live, -
Not Syncedwhat lifestyle we think we should have.
It's all a similar problem. -
Not SyncedWe get pulled into things that
at some level we don't want to do, -
Not Syncedbut we find ourselves doing anyway.
-
Not SyncedSo ... I think the first question
that I would ask. -
Not SyncedYou started by saying that we know
what it is that we like to do. -
Not SyncedWe know what we want.
I'm not sure that that's true. -
Not SyncedWe kind of know.
But do we really know? -
Not SyncedDo we know with the power,
with the strength, -
Not Syncedthat would be enough to stop us
from getting pulled into things -
Not Syncedthat we don't want to do?
-
Not SyncedSo we know a little bit.
-
Not SyncedBut could we make that more clear?
-
Not SyncedWhat is it that we want to do
and what is it we do not want to do? -
Not SyncedThat takes contemplation. In a way,
that's what meditation can be for. -
Not SyncedOur teacher used to ask us to go
and quietly sit in the forest -
Not Syncedand ask ourselves:
What is my deepest desire? -
Not SyncedWhat is the thing that I want most of all?
-
Not SyncedBecause when we know that really clearly,
it makes it much easier to say No -
Not Syncedwhen other people are trying
to pull us into something. -
Not SyncedThat's the first thing. Do we really know
what it is we do and don't want to do? -
Not SyncedAnd the second thing is that
there's a competition in us, -
Not Syncedbecause we like two things:
-
Not SyncedWe like to do the thing we want to do,
but we also like to be with our friends. -
Not SyncedWe like to feel connected to others.
-
Not SyncedWe like to not stick out,
so that we're not left out of the group. -
Not SyncedIf there's a group going one way, a strong
part of us wants to be part of the group. -
Not SyncedEven if they're doing something
we don't really want to do. -
Not SyncedThere are two different pulls.
One is: I need to be part of the group. -
Not SyncedI am in danger if I'm not
part of the group. -
Not SyncedThere's a very old feeling in our bodies.
For a long time, maybe millions of years, -
Not Syncedif we didn't belong to the group,
we wouldn't be able to survive. -
Not SyncedWe would die. So there's a
strong need to be part of the group. -
Not SyncedAnd when that need is in conflict
with this other part of us that says: -
Not Synced"I don't want to do what they're doing",
it's difficult. -
Not SyncedIt depends which one is stronger.
But it helps just to know that. -
Not SyncedYou're here, we're all here. We've heard
about the energy of mindfulness. -
Not SyncedThe energy that allows us to be aware
what's going on inside and around us. -
Not SyncedThat is the capacity to recognise:
"I want to be part of the group." -
Not SyncedWhen you can see and recognise it,
you also have a bit more freedom. -
Not Synced"I know, I hear you. I hear the part
of me that wants to jump in, -
Not Syncedbut I can also say No thank you."
-
Not SyncedSometimes in a group,
when there's one person that says: -
Not Synced" No. Actually, I don't want to do that."
-
Not SyncedThen maybe there's two or three
or four other people in the group -
Not Syncedwho also feel uncomfortable.
Once that one person has said no, -
Not Syncedthey can also say: "Actually,
I also don't want to do that." -
Not SyncedAnd suddenly, the whole group
can change direction -
Not Syncedbecause one person had
the freedom and the courage to say No. -
Not SyncedIt's like you are watching
what's happening around you, -
Not Syncedbut a part of you is watching
what is happening inside of you. -
Not SyncedIt's like you have an eye tracking:
"I want to jump in, -
Not Syncedbut I also don't feel comfortable
with what we're doing." -
Not SyncedAnd then you get to choose.
-
Not SyncedBecause otherwise you jump in
before you even know. -
Not SyncedIt just happens, and then later,
maybe a day, maybe a week later, -
Not Syncedyou realize you didn't want to do that.
But with the energy of mindfulness, -
Not Syncedyou have more time,
you have more freedom to choose. -
Not SyncedAnd then maybe many other people
in the group will thank you later -
Not Syncedbecause they also didn't want to do that.
-
Not SyncedAnd thanks to you,
they had the choice to say No. -
Not SyncedMaybe as a society we're a bit like that.
-
Not SyncedWe rely on a few people with the strength
and awareness to say no to the current -
Not Syncedthat is taking us in the direction
of destroying the planet -
Not Syncedand causing suffering to each other.
-
Not SyncedMaybe if a few of us can see us and say:
"We don't want to go that way", -
Not Syncedthen others can get to also say No
and go a different way. -
Not SyncedThank you for your question.
-
Not Synced[sound of the bell]
-
Not SyncedGirl: (French) Do plants
have a nervous system? -
Not SyncedFor example if you snap a twig,
are you hurting the tree? -
Not SyncedBr. Phap Linh: Do the plants
have a nervous system? -
Not SyncedFor example if you break a branch,
does it hurt the plant? -
Not SyncedBr. Phap Huu: The quickest answer
is "Oui" - yes. -
Not SyncedBr. Phap Linh: I can add a little bit.
-
Not SyncedI would say the answer is yes and no.
-
Not SyncedBecause they don't exactly
have a nervous system like ours. -
Not SyncedThere's no central brain where
all the nerve impulses arrive. -
Not SyncedIt's been a question in science
for a long time. -
Not SyncedAnd most scientists have said:
"No, plants don't feel anything." -
Not SyncedBut it's changing. So in recent years,
there are a few scientists -
Not Syncedfinding evidence to say that plants
do feel and we still don't know how. -
Not SyncedBut we know that there are electrical
signals passed through the plant cells - -
Not Syncedall cells are electrical in nature,
just like nerve cells. -
Not SyncedThey're not exactly like brain cells,
-
Not Syncedbut they are similar enough
that there is a Spanish scientist -
Not Syncedwho really believes, and has good
evidence to show, that plants can feel. -
Not SyncedOne of the ways they can test this
is by using anaesthesia. -
Not SyncedIf you have to go to a hospital
to have surgery, -
Not Syncedthey give you an injection or a gas
that makes you fall asleep, -
Not Syncedso you don't feel any pain.
-
Not SyncedFor a long time, everybody thought
that only works on humans and animals. -
Not SyncedBut plants respond to anaesthesia
in very much the same way, -
Not Syncedto being put to sleep.
-
Not SyncedThis is all very new research.
You ask a very good question. -
Not SyncedYou could make
a whole career as a scientist -
Not Syncedout of trying to answer that question.
-
Not SyncedBut that's answering
at the level of the head. -
Not SyncedThere's also an answer
at the level of the heart. -
Not SyncedIt's the answer that Thay Phap Huu gave
-
Not Syncedand it's the answer you already know.
-
Not SyncedWe don't feel comfortable
to break a plant for no reason. -
Not SyncedWe feel like maybe we should
respect them a little bit more. -
Not SyncedWe should care for them
a little bit better. -
Not SyncedMaybe we should not be so sure
that it is only us who can feel things. -
Not SyncedIf we're very sure,
we can cause a lot of harm -
Not Syncedwe can be very careless.
-
Not SyncedBut if we're not sure,
if there's a part of us wondering: -
Not Synced"Will the tree feel it
if I break the branch?" -
Not Syncedthat little space of openness, of
"I don't know, maybe the tree can feel it" -
Not Syncedcan make us more careful.
-
Not SyncedNot only as individuals,
but collectively as a species. -
Not SyncedThere's an awakening happening
in the whole of society. -
Not SyncedThere are more and more people
waking up to the suffering -
Not Syncedthat we are maybe causing to
not just the animals that we kill to eat, -
Not Syncedbut also to the trees that we cut to
build houses, like this meditation hall, -
Not Syncedthe paper that we use in the toilet,
or to write on. -
Not SyncedMaybe it is impossible to live completely
without hurting anything. -
Not SyncedIt's actually really hard.
-
Not SyncedBut maybe there's a way to live
where we cause as little harm as possible. -
Not SyncedWe try to do less damage.
Maybe we can't do no damage. -
Not SyncedBut I'm sure we can do less damage.
-
Not SyncedThank you for your question.
-
Not SyncedBr. Phap Huu: One more question
from the children sangha. -
Not SyncedIf there are no more questions
from the children sangha, -
Not Syncedyou are welcome to stay or
you are welcome to go out and play. -
Not SyncedI was told there's no children program,
but there's a lot of space. -
Not SyncedSo feel free.
-
Not SyncedAnd now we'd like to offer space
for the bigger children. -
Not Syncedif you have questions from the heart,
you are welcome to come up -
Not Syncedjust like the children to ask
your questions to all of us adults. -
Not Synced[sound of the bell]
-
Not SyncedWoman: Okay. I'm nervous.
Lots of people. -
Not SyncedIt's a question I've had
in my head for some months. -
Not SyncedIt's about how to handle
the suffering that is attached -
Not Syncedto a mental formation that has its
beginning somewhere during childhood, -
Not Syncedsomething traumatic that happened.
-
Not SyncedBecause it's different to handle emotions
that come back in a never-ending circle, -
Not Syncedor an emotion that comes from something
that happens in a moment and goes away. -
Not SyncedI'd like a little advice how to do it.
-
Not SyncedIt confuses me to learn something that
helps me to always be happy or be at peace -
Not Syncedbut without wanting that the pain
goes away. It's like a contradiction: -
Not SyncedHow to embrace it without getting
caught in it, or holding it back. -
Not SyncedThe concrete question is: How can I see
when something that comes up -
Not Syncedneeds to be embraced, or I can just
let it go and focus on something else, -
Not Syncedor how can I see the point
where I'm holding it back? -
Not SyncedThis difference where I'm embracing it
or where I'm getting stuck on it. -
Not SyncedHow to let it go
without wanting to let go. -
Not SyncedI hope you understand it.
-
Not SyncedBr. Phap Huu: Thank you for your question.
-
Not SyncedI will share from my own experience
as a practitioner. -
Not SyncedFirst of all, we have to understand that
meditation is not to get rid of feelings. -
Not SyncedWe don't practice it to have a single
field of emotions that we feel is us. -
Not SyncedBut meditation, mindfulness,
is the ability to stop, -
Not Syncedto recognise what is happening,
what is present. -
Not SyncedName it. To identify it.
To call it by its name. -
Not SyncedAnd that is acceptance.
-
Not SyncedFor me, a good word that I use,
particularly with emotions -
Not Syncedand feelings that are very linked
to childhood experiences, -
Not Syncedis to befriend it.
To befriend that emotion, that feeling. -
Not SyncedWe can have a natural reaction, like
trying to get rid of it, or run from it. -
Not SyncedI've run away from particular
emotions for a very long time. -
Not SyncedLike you shared in your question,
it doesn't go away. -
Not SyncedThe word that we use
in our training is 'transformation'. -
Not SyncedWe can transform a seed, a feeling
that we have experienced -
Not Syncedinto another feeling.
-
Not SyncedInviting another feeling
to embrace and take care. -
Not SyncedMindfulness is an energy
that we can cultivate -
Not Syncedto befriend these emotions.
-
Not SyncedThe practice of our arriving
in every moment is the present moment. -
Not SyncedThe present moment
is the place where life truly is. -
Not SyncedWhere we can invite that emotion
to be present, to embrace it -
Not Syncedwith our present moment of who you are.
-
Not SyncedI can say that all of us have suffered.
-
Not SyncedSuffering is a noble truth.
We all can understand suffering. -
Not SyncedIt can make us relate to one another.
-
Not SyncedSuffering can also be a prison.
We can be attached to our suffering. -
Not SyncedAnd the suffering we tend to be
attached to might not be the feeling, -
Not Syncedbut it's the story.
-
Not SyncedEvery time that emotion, that feeling,
comes up, that story is recalled. -
Not SyncedOur practice is to identify the story.
Recognise the story, embrace it, -
Not Syncedbut have the mindfulness of this present
moment that I am not in that situation. -
Not SyncedI am a new me today.
-
Not SyncedThis new me has the ability to embrace.
-
Not SyncedTo recognise. And to tell the child
that was wounded inside: -
Not Synced"Yes, I have suffered,
I have experienced such pain. -
Not SyncedBut in this present moment, I have
other energies that I can cultivate." -
Not SyncedLove for oneself. Compassion.
Courage. Solidity. -
Not SyncedIn this present moment,
by embracing this pain, -
Not Syncedwe don't just get lost in this story.
-
Not SyncedIt's like when we've been slapped.
We're not being slapped again. -
Not SyncedBut this time we are aware of that pain
and we are telling ourselves -
Not Syncedthat in that moment,
I'm cultivating something new. -
Not SyncedSo you are healing the child.
You are transforming it -
Not Syncedto live, deeply, this present moment.
-
Not SyncedAnd this is the work of transformation
for the samsara, the cycle. -
Not SyncedTo have an opportunity to stop.
-
Not SyncedOn a personal note:
I've practised for more than 20 years. -
Not SyncedFear is a seed that is still
very present in me. -
Not SyncedIn particular situations, maybe if
I meet somebody who reminds me -
Not Syncedof someone who offered
a lot of pain to me, -
Not Syncedthat seed of fear gets watered.
-
Not SyncedBut now as a practitioner,
I'm not afraid. -
Not SyncedI can become aware of my body.
-
Not SyncedYour body will have reaction
to the fear that is channeled. -
Not SyncedThe first place of mindfulness
is the body. -
Not SyncedI come back, I recognise the fear.
-
Not SyncedI know exactly where
the reaction is coming from. -
Not SyncedI bring my mindfulness
to those body parts. -
Not SyncedI calm the nervous system
with mindful breathing, -
Not Syncedwith total relaxation.
And in this moment of recognition, -
Not SyncedI tell myself: "Phap Huu, don't be afraid.
You're much more than that emotion." -
Not SyncedYou have many other wonderful emotions.
-
Not SyncedI call up the other emotions.
I have confidence in my practice. -
Not SyncedI know how to breathe.
Nobody can take that away. -
Not SyncedI know how to be present.
-
Not SyncedI have learned to recognise
how to be myself. -
Not SyncedTo be with my loved ones.
-
Not SyncedI know how to do it.
-
Not SyncedMindfulness is also remembering.
Remembering how to. -
Not SyncedHow to be in the moment
where you can be solid. -
Not SyncedSo our practise of this present moment
-
Not Syncedis training to take care
and to heal the wounds. -
Not SyncedAs a mindfulness practitioner,
-
Not Syncedwe have to have the ability to know
when it's enough to be with suffering. -
Not SyncedWe can be very ambitious
as a practitioner. -
Not Synced"The monks, the nuns,
are telling me to recognise my suffering. -
Not SyncedOK, I see it. And now
I want to transform it all." -
Not SyncedDon't do that. It's a dark hole.
-
Not SyncedBe generous and patient with yourself.
-
Not SyncedFor us, the practise is a path
of transformation. It takes time. -
Not SyncedWe have to develop the joy and
the happiness in the present moment. -
Not SyncedTo also let the wounded child know
that you have the ability -
Not Syncedto live happily in this present moment.
-
Not SyncedThis doesn't mean
"to have something to be happy". -
Not SyncedBut in this moment, I am present.
I still have the ability to recognise -
Not Syncedthe simple joy, the wonderful
conditions that are there. -
Not SyncedRecognising pain is a happy condition.
-
Not SyncedKnowing what to do,
what not to do. -
Not SyncedI hope that helps. Thank you.
-
Not SyncedWoman: Can I say one more thing?
-
Not SyncedSo it's important not to identify
with the emotion, or with this thing. -
Not SyncedI understand it.
-
Not SyncedAnd to know that I can decide
when I look at it and when not. -
Not SyncedBecause it really was like you said.
I thought: "Let's look at it" for years. -
Not SyncedBr. Phap Huu: Yes and no.
-
Not SyncedTo not be caught and
just identify as one emotion. -
Not SyncedAs one past story.
-
Not SyncedBecause we are
a continuous stream of life. -
Not SyncedIf we are just caught in one story,
we'll become a victim of the story forever -
Not SyncedBut our practise is to identify:
"Yes, in this moment, I am angry." -
Not Synced"That is just one emotion, though."
-
Not SyncedIn this moment, I can invite
and invoke other energies. -
Not SyncedAnd therefore, you are
more than that emotion. -
Not SyncedI've done this myself: Feel very entangled
in an emotion, in a story. -
Not SyncedAnd I see myself as just that.
-
Not SyncedBut our mindfulness
of coming home to oneself, -
Not Syncedwe know we are much more than just that.
-
Not SyncedWe are a continuation of our ancestors.
-
Not SyncedWe are a continuation of this earth.
-
Not SyncedSometimes, I take refuge
in land ancestors. -
Not SyncedI am much more than just this suffering.
-
Not SyncedBut also to own our suffering,
and be responsible to transform it. -
Not Synced'Cause I've met people, sorry,
I'm going on a little bit long. -
Not SyncedI've met people who've become
very attached to their suffering. -
Not SyncedAnd that suffering
becomes a way to blame life. -
Not SyncedAnd using that as an excuse.
-
Not SyncedAnd our teacher shared with us
that we all have the right to suffer. -
Not SyncedBut it is our responsibility to
transform it. This is it. Thank you. -
Not Synced[sound of the bell]
-
Not SyncedPaolo: This matter about gardening
and nourishing our seeds. -
Not SyncedHelp me to understand and to cope,
I would say, with my inconsistency. -
Not SyncedHaving both grown, beautifully,
my seeds of generosity, and greed. -
Not SyncedOf welcoming, loving,
and of anger. -
Not SyncedDealing with this source of having both
parts, and experience in both parts. -
Not SyncedThis is one big topic I'm working on.
-
Not SyncedBut my question is about
gardening others' gardens. -
Not SyncedOf course, unwillingly, I also grew anger
and pain and sadness and distrust -
Not Syncedin people I love.
It's very convenient for me to say: -
Not Synced"Oh, I'm a new Paolo. I'm in the moment.
The past is the past, don't worry." -
Not SyncedIt's very convenient for me.
-
Not SyncedBut I understand that this is
not so easy for the other, -
Not Syncedbecause the pain is not mine.
-
Not SyncedWhat can I do about the pain
that I generated, over many years maybe, -
Not Syncedand how can I deal with it today?
-
Not SyncedBr. Troi Bao Tang:
- Title:
- Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session
- Description:
-
This session was recorded during our first week of the Plum Village Summer Opening retreat in July 2023.
Thumbnail photo credit ©Jerome Cabeen -- jeromecabeenphotography.com
Please participate in supporting Thich Nhat Hanh’s community and legacy at: https://plumvillage.org/support
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- Video Language:
- English
- Duration:
- 01:16:22
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session | ||
Judith Matz edited English subtitles for Direction, Aspiration, and Obstacles on the Path | A Monastic Q&A Session |