August 24, 2010. 100-minute dharma talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, Dharma Cloud Temple during the Retreat for Young People with the theme Truly Alive. Thay begins by calling this a “dharma talk à la carte,” inviting about ten questions, writing them on the white board; after about twenty minutes there are far more than ten, and he happily continues to note them.

After the bell, we see that all the questions are linked; answer one and we can answer all. The remaining hour is devoted to peace, understanding, and compassion, exploring how even when we get what we need we still suffer. The central inquiry is how to understand one’s own suffering: it is the art of listening. One must train—practice mindful living—so as to listen to the suffering within; intention alone is not enough.

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The young people’s retreat is gathered in the Upper Hamlet of Plum Village on August 27, 2010, with the theme Truly Alive. A good question of the heart can benefit many people, touching upon suffering, happiness, and aspiration.

1. Is it possible to have wholesome sexual activity without creating a baby, and if not, why not?
2. Is choosing to be alone rather than in a relationship running away from the opportunity to know oneself and learn how to communicate?
3. What is the sense of life when we are born, try to be happy, and then die?
4. How do we find the strength to love ourselves?
5. Why does humanity, surrounded by such beauty, create a world of suffering and destruction?
6. Is it possible to forgive everything, and how?
7. How can one keep their heart open and humble?
8. What is the source of mindfulness?
9. Why don’t things composed of many parts just fall apart, and what keeps them together?
10. How can one develop focus and concentration to follow an aspiration when distracted by worries, fear, emails, the internet, and Facebook?
11. How can we help another person without losing or forgetting ourselves?
12. Is meditation an act of solitude, and is solitude important?
13. Can meditation help us feel and be in touch with a deceased loved one?
14. Who is the one being aware of our habits, emotions, and reactions?
15. Do you often think about death, and what do you think about it?
16. How can one listen better to their heart, find a way to act concretely, and choose the right path of action to serve others?