The details of this talk mark the beginning of the winter retreat 2012-2013 at Plum Village, where Thich Nhat Hanh shares about the origin and meaning of the ten mindful movements from Herbert Spencer, which he has adapted to be gentle and incorporate breathing. He emphasizes that mindfulness brings immediate happiness and that life is impermanent, precious in each present moment. He encourages everyone to practice mindfulness 100%, keeping the mind awake, focusing on the breath and steps to achieve peace and freedom from the past and future. He also shares about brotherhood, equality, and independence in society, emphasizing that happiness does not depend on external factors but lies in the ability to be free from afflictions. He explains that correctly understanding the Buddha’s teachings requires flexibility and suitability to each capacity, using the method of the Four Siddhantas and the four standards of truth, including Worldly Siddhanta, Individual Siddhanta, Therapeutic Siddhanta, and Ultimate Siddhanta. He notes that suffering and happiness inter-are, studying the Buddha’s teachings needs to be based on definitive sutras, clearly distinguishing between this and that, and applying the four reliances: rely on the Dharma, not on the person; rely on the meaning, not on the words; rely on wisdom, not on consciousness; and rely on definitive meaning, not on non-definitive meaning.

The details of this Dharma Talk begin by noting that today is November 11, 2012, at the Full Moon Meditation Hall, where the winter retreat season is approaching. Buddha Shakyamuni, who lived about 500 years before Jesus Christ, adopted the teachings of reincarnation from the Indian tradition. In Brahmanism, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the three most important deities. Brahmin priests played a significant role in ancient society with their ability to change the weather and avert disasters through prayer. Thich Nhat Hanh analyzes the ancient society divided into four classes: workers, merchants, politicians, and monks, emphasizing that precious spirit lies within each class. He also discusses Jainism and Buddhism, the transition from Vedic texts to Upanishads and Brahmanas, and Siddhartha’s method of the four dhyanas. He emphasizes that everyone has the ability to attain miraculous powers through the practice of mindful breathing and walking. He provides a profound analysis of the concepts of interbeing and interdependence, emphasizing that everything is interconnected and dependent on each other. He also discusses the principles of symmetry and the balance between light and darkness, birth and death, samsara and liberation. Finally, he emphasizes that a deep understanding of Buddhism requires a method of learning and studying the Dharma.

The details of this talk revolve around Thich Nhat Hanh sharing about the ability to perform miracles while still being ordinary, emphasizing that everyone carries within them the seeds of wisdom and mindfulness. He explains that right mindfulness and right concentration activate holy energy, transforming the mundane into the sacred, just like a lotus blooming from the mud. He stresses that everyone has the potential to achieve a state of holiness like the Pope or the Dalai Lama through the practice of mindfulness, particularly “the miracle of walking.” He also discusses Mindfulness, Concentration, Insight, and Faith as the keys to unlocking the Buddha and the Saint within each person, and that true happiness lies in the ability to look deeply into the present moment. He explains about right view, transcending the concepts of being and non-being, and emphasizes that all things are impermanent and non-self. He tells the story of Master Chienda and Venerable Ananda to illustrate a deep understanding of Buddhist teachings. He also discusses science and Buddhism, particularly the laws of thermodynamics and the constant transformation of everything, to illustrate the principles of impermanence and non-self. He emphasizes that Nirvana is a state that transcends all notions and achieves serenity and stability in the present life.

Details of this Dharma Talk took place on November 18, 2012, at the Full Moon Meditation Hall, Thien Nghiem Temple, New Hamlet during the Winter Retreat 2012-2013. In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path are not the central teachings, contrary to Brahmanism where Brahma and Atma represent the universal soul and the individual soul. In Buddhism, samsara represents the cycle of rebirth but without a fixed soul. Thich Nhat Hanh taught that Buddhism changes the concept of karma to reflect the philosophy of impermanence and that each person is responsible for their individual and collective actions. He provided a profound analysis of the concepts of self-nature, interbeing, and the connection between suffering and happiness. He also emphasized that understanding the causes of suffering leads to happiness through the practice of the path. He explained that everything is interdependent and that peace and tranquility should be found within. In today’s walking meditation, he encouraged everyone to practice unity and convey the message in Vietnamese, English, and French.

The details of this Dharma Talk encompass many profound aspects of Buddhism as conveyed by Thich Nhat Hanh. He emphasizes right view, the exploration of relative and absolute truth, and transcending the concepts of birth, death, being, and non-being. He explains that right view leads to enlightenment through concentration and mindfulness, and that wisdom is the highest goal of a practitioner. He elucidates that thoughts originate from small notions, similar to atoms combining into molecules. He warns that uncontrolled thinking causes anxiety and fear, emphasizing that proper attention helps maintain calmness. He encourages stopping thoughts to deeply experience the present moment, illustrating that each step and breath is a miracle. He explains that understanding impermanence and non-self reduces suffering, that everything exists depending on conditions, and that Buddhism does not require a “self” to experience existence. He emphasizes that attaining nirvana is a state of freedom beyond birth and death, that science proves matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed. He warns that misunderstanding Nirvana as eternal death is incorrect and that cooperation between science and Buddhism brings benefits. He tells the story of Master Chunda attaining enlightenment by opening his heart to the enlightenment from Master Ananda.

The details of this Dharma Talk include discussions on the Chiên Ðà Sutra and the Cát Chá Gia Na Sutra, with a particular emphasis on the Middle Way Dependent Origination Sutra (Sutra number 262 in the Pali Canon). Master Chiên Ðà sought enlightenment through the three marks of existence: impermanence of all formations, non-self of all dharmas, nirvana, and tranquil nature. However, the current Theravada tradition replaces nirvana with suffering. Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes practical Buddhism, transforming suffering into happiness. He provides deep analysis of the three marks of existence and reflects that teachings lacking this mark are not authentic. He also discusses the transmission of teachings, the restoration of the three marks of existence, and the structure of sutras. He explains that correctly understanding the Dharma avoids dangerous misunderstandings, similar to how medicine saves lives if used correctly. He shares about transcending the extremes of existence and non-existence, understanding the principle of interbeing, and overcoming wrong views to attain enlightenment. He also discusses the law of cause and effect, the three times and two layers of cause and effect, and the teaching of the twelve links of dependent origination to deeply understand the cycle of birth and death and achieve a state of serenity.

This talk focuses on the practice of walking meditation and sitting meditation, emphasizing not thinking in order to concentrate the mind and soul on each step, achieving enlightenment and healing the soul. Thich Nhat Hanh explains that entrusting issues to the deep consciousness is like planting seeds in the soil and waiting. He distinguishes between individual and collective consciousness, warning to stay away from places filled with hatred. He shares that the past is gone and ruminating on negative emotions causes suffering. He lectures on samskrita (conditioned phenomena) and Nirvana (unconditioned phenomena), explaining that all phenomena are interdependent. He mentions non-action and non-doing, that there is no actor apart from the action. He emphasizes the teachings of non-self and non-dharma, that everything is empty, without a separate essence. He refers to the influence of the Theravada and Sarvastivada schools, and the transmission of the Dharma through generations.

Excerpt from the Dharma talk on December 6, 2012, by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh at Phap Van Temple, Upper Hamlet, Plum Village.

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This Dharma Talk took place at the Hall of a Thousand Stars in Cam Lo Lower Hamlet during the Winter Retreat of 2012-2013. Thich Nhat Hanh shared about the concept of a spiritual homeland, a place that holds love and peace, similar to the spiritual home that Jesus Christ and Siddhartha Gautama sought. He emphasized that the homeland is not a physical place but exists in the heart of each person. Through the practice of Mindfulness and Concentration, each step and breath can bring us back to our homeland immediately. He also discussed Buddhist teachings, including the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the concept of no birth and no death, illustrated with scientific and life examples. He encouraged everyone to understand ignorance and take action to end the cycle of suffering, achieving Nirvana and true happiness. He concluded that the homeland is a place that exists in each step and breath, a place that holds peace and light.

The details of this talk include Thich Nhat Hanh’s profound advice on healing oneself and caring for the soul by returning to the present moment instead of seeking happiness elsewhere. He emphasizes the practice of mindfulness through breathing and walking to achieve peace and heal society. He mentions the New Town massacre and the question of the ability to heal the ailments of modern society. He shares the story of a young man facing psychological difficulties leading to violence and encourages to send energy of love to wounded children. He discusses the three marks of Buddhism: impermanence, non-self, and Nirvana, emphasizing that the Buddha’s purpose is to help people escape suffering. He warns against fanaticism and dogmatism, stressing that Buddhism does not contain violence. He shares about the scientific spirit of Buddhism through the Kalama Sutta, encouraging thorough reflection before accepting teachings. He also discusses the principle of dependent origination and the middle way, emphasizing that understanding dependent origination helps achieve a state of peace and enlightenment.

The details of this talk focus on Thich Nhat Hanh sharing about listening to the rain and earth-touching meditation, emphasizing that listening to the rain is a state of concentration, not philosophy. He discusses non-self, that a large ego leads to suffering and that overcoming the ego requires practice rather than relying solely on intellect. He tells the story of the Buddha attaining enlightenment under the challenge of Mara, demonstrating that Mother Earth affirms success. He emphasizes that each person does not exist separately but is part of their lineage, country, and environment. He provides evidence that everything depends on each other to exist and that understanding this interconnectedness leads to enlightenment. He discusses the concepts of no birth, no being, no action, no movement, and that everything exists in a state of interdependence. He warns that understanding the true meaning of reincarnation, karma, and retribution needs to be seen in the light of non-self. He analyzes that everything transforms, like clouds turning into rain and then vapor, demonstrating that there is no immortal soul. He concludes that transcending the concepts of being and non-being leads to enlightenment and that the goal of meditation is to reach the state of no birth and no death.

The Wisdom of Adaptation: Bridging Conventional and Ultimate Truths

Thầy begins with a question from the Rohitassa Sutta in which the god Rohitassa asks if there is a way to get out of this world of suffering by traveling. The Buddha tells him that he cannot escape the world of suffering by traveling even at the speed of light, but that it is possible just by looking into his body, with enough mindfulness and concentration, he will get the insight of no-birth, no-death–and that will help him get out of the world of suffering.

Thầy offers a detailed teaching on realizing this insight of the Buddha through the wisdom of adaptation, showing how to bridge the conventional and ultimate truths. He explores the interconnectedness of non-self and ancestral healing, drawing parallels between Newtonian science, quantum physics, and the nature of conditioned and unconditioned dharmas.

Thầy teaches: “You are not only conditioned; you are conditioning.” He explores interbeing, the Middle Way, and the transcendence of pairs such as sameness and otherness, saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, and subject and object. He further clarifies the true nature of perception and the relationship between the creator and the created, concluding with Spinoza’s insight that “God is nature.”

At the end of the talk, Thầy comes back to Rohitassa’s question about a way to escape suffering. He says: “The conclusion of this talk is that there is a way. There is a way that leads you from the realm of the conventional truth to the realm of absolute truth, and the wisdom that you may use to do that is called the wisdom of adaptation.”

This is the twenty-fifth talk in a series of thirty-five given during the 2012-2013 Winter Retreat. Thầy offered this talk at the Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, France.

The details of this Dharma Talk took place on January 6, 2013, at the Full Moon Meditation Hall, Tu Nghiem Temple, New Hamlet, Plum Village during the Winter Retreat 2012-2013. Thich Nhat Hanh spoke about the goal of practice being to achieve calmness and joy, reducing anxiety, and taking care of body and mind. He emphasized that anxiety is caused by worry, anger, fear, craving, and despair. He shared that proper meditation helps achieve immediate peace, without striving for future enlightenment. He told the story of Nelson Mandela maintaining calm despite difficulties. He warned that material possessions do not bring true happiness. He shared that each mindful step is a miracle, similar to the experience of astronauts viewing the Earth from space. He cited that seeing the Earth from afar changed their perspective on life. He explained that complete Nirvana is only achieved at death, but relative Nirvana can be attained in life by reducing afflictions. He emphasized that overcoming all notions causing suffering leads to complete enlightenment. He shared that attaining the state of Nirvana Without Residue is the ultimate goal of the practitioner.

The details of this Dharma Talk took place on January 10, 2013, during the Winter Retreat 2012-2013 at Plum Village. Monks, nuns, and lay practitioners practiced touching the earth with the theme of the Three Jewels, which include the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Thich Nhat Hanh emphasized that understanding the Three Jewels helps achieve happiness and a strong spirit. He explained that understanding and love are the keys to happiness, starting with understanding and loving oneself before loving others. He also emphasized that everyone has the ability to transform suffering into happiness through the practice. He shared that building a Sangha is the top priority, helping everyone transform suffering and reconcile. He taught that everything exists due to interbeing and interdependence, relying on each other. He also emphasized that Buddhist teachings are not dogmas but means to liberation.

Details of this talk include the content of Thich Nhat Hanh’s winter retreat, emphasizing the importance of taking notes to remember the lecture. He tells the story of King Ajatasatru regretting killing his father, King Bimbisara, and meeting the Buddha Siddhartha to heal his mind. Siddhartha became the Buddha and spread the Dharma, meeting King Bimbisara and Prince Ajatasatru, who conspired to divide the Sangha. Thich Nhat Hanh shares about observing precepts, achieving spiritual freedom, not possessing material wealth, and experiencing serenity. He teaches about the truth beyond extreme concepts, the law of energy conservation, and the spirit of no birth and no death. He emphasizes that everything is impermanent, including enlightenment, and that transforming afflictions into bodhi is the key to attaining peace. He encourages living in the present moment and finding happiness in daily life.

In this Dharma Talk, Thich Nhat Hanh shares the reasons why wealthy people do not act to protect the environment, emphasizing that they are trapped in their own lives and personal worries. He encourages changing the concept of happiness through direct experience rather than just listening to teachings. He illustrates this with the story of Jesus advising a fisherman to help others instead of catching fish. He also shares about attaining true happiness through proper breathing and mindfulness practice, emphasizing that happiness does not come from money or power but from letting go and helping others. He tells the story of Anathapindika, a generous businessman who built a practice center for Buddhist monks. He discusses absolute and relative truth, distinguishing between classical science and quantum science, and emphasizes that peace is a way of daily living. He encourages practicing the Five Precepts and the Four Establishments of Mindfulness to experience immediate happiness and shares a story about guiding meditation for the sick so they can pass away peacefully.

The White-Clad Layperson Sutra and the Teaching the Sick Sutra point out a simple yet profound path of practice for lay friends, helping them to attain Happiness in the Present Moment—joy and peace right in the here and now, without struggle.

1. Two sutras for lay friends:
   1. The White-Clad Layperson Sutra (Majjhima Agama, Anguttara Nikaya) teaches the practice of two Dharma doors for immediate happiness:
      • The Five Precepts: keeping the precepts to avoid the three realms of suffering (hell, hungry ghosts, animals).
      • The Four Recollections (strengthening the mind): recollection of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and the Precepts.
   2. The Teaching the Sick Sutra (Majjhima Agama, Majjhima Nikaya) offers guidance to comfort and bring peace to those about to pass away, helping them to depart peacefully through understanding of impermanence.

Practicing these two Dharma doors not only brings happiness in the present, but also ensures that one does not fall into unfortunate realms, and at the same time opens the possibility of “entering the stream” (stream-enterer)—the first sure step on the path of complete liberation, with rebirth at most seven times in the human and heavenly realms, or even in this very life. This teaching possesses the qualities of Sanditthika (immediate), Akalika (timeless), and Ehipassika (to be experienced by oneself), and is based on the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

Practicing “not thinking while walking” by returning to the breath and the steps, deeply touching the feelings in body and mind, choosing those feelings that bring peace and happiness. Recognizing the miracle of the body—two lungs, the heart, the steady feet—when the feet touch the earth, we live fully in the present moment, nourishing and healing, finding happiness right in each step.

The Three Dharma Seals:

1. Impermanence – all phenomena are constantly changing in every instant.
2. Non-self – there is no permanent “I”; consciousness is a stream of moments.
3. Nirvana – the nature of no birth and no death, transcending the duality of birth and death; expressed through the law of conservation of energy and matter, and the image of the cloud that is neither born nor dies.

The Five Mindfulness Trainings in the retreat, each training is practiced with mindfulness, concentration, and insight to transform every moment into nirvana:

1. Protecting the lives of all beings.
2. True happiness (understanding and loving).
3. True love (understanding and sharing suffering).
4. The art of speaking and listening (reconciliation and restoring trust).
5. Consuming the four kinds of nutriments (edible food, sense impressions, volition, and consciousness) in order to maintain a healthy body and mind and to avoid unwholesome mental formations.

The Buddha taught that lay friends only need to practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings and the Four Recollections (recollection of body, feelings, mind, and objects of mind) in order not to fall into lower realms, to attain happiness right in the present moment, and to realize the fruit on the stream, like “sitting on a TGV train, certain to arrive in Paris.” In a Dharma talk on the Discourse to the White-Clad Laypeople, given to businesspeople, about 500 entrepreneurs attended, demonstrating that this teaching is very suitable for those engaged in the marketplace.

When guiding politicians and kings, the Buddha expanded the framework of practice as follows:

1. Added the Five Powers: faith, diligence, mindfulness, concentration, and insight.
2. In recollection, included the four practices of recollection (recollection of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and the Precepts), and added two recollections specific to politics: recollection of giving (generosity in helping the poor) and recollection of the heavenly realms (remembering the heavens and their inhabitants).
3. The image of the Wheel-Turning Monarch illustrates the seven treasures of a king who governs with virtue and the Dharma:
   1. the chariot (wheel)
   2. the war elephant
   3. the war horse
   4. precious jewels
   5. the queen
   6. lay friends (ministers)
   7. the chief army commander (generals)

For an ideal democratic republic like the Vajjians, the Buddha praised seven practices that create an invincible strength: meeting regularly in joy, upholding the law strictly, respecting elders and arahats, truthfulness, honoring sexual ethics, going to places of practice for cultivation, and diligently seeking counsel from elders. Faith in interbeing (“You are, therefore I am”) is considered the most appropriate spiritual foundation for democracy.

*The Buddha was not saddened by being misunderstood; the important thing is how to help others see clearly through small experiences, not letting unpleasant things (“a rock”) make us pessimistic. There are two kinds of Buddhism: the path of insight—recognizing the Buddha nature already present in our own mind—and the path of devotion—arousing faith in sacred objects outside ourselves. The Four Recollections—recollection of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and the precepts—are themes of refuge that help reduce suffering and bring about inner freedom. We can practice either through insight (watering wholesome seeds) or through devotion (placing our faith in external objects).

*The Buddha did not disappear after passing into nirvana, because he is the Dharma body (Dharmakāya)—the living, indestructible principle, like a cloud transforming into rain, snow, or a river. We can establish a “living Buddha” through wholesome speech, thoughts, and compassionate actions. There are many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas present around us, for example:

1. Aksobhya – the Unshakable Buddha
2. Amitabha – Infinite Light
3. Amitayus – Infinite Life
4. Medicine Buddha – the one who heals life
5. Avalokiteshvara
6. Samantabhadra
7. Kṣitigarbha
8. Mañjuśrī
   When we understand this, we will realize that the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are accompanying us with every breath, every sight, and every act of mindfulness.