The title, description and transcript may contain inaccuracies.

Autumn Retreat - The Recorded Sayings of Linji

Thich Nhat Hanh · December 14, 2003 · Lower Hamlet, Plum Village, France

Practice is not a laborious task to “wait for a prosperous day,” but to find peace and liberation right in each present moment. Mindful manners should be a source of joy, not something that makes us suffer. If there is only fatigue and no joy in practice, then that is not practicing in the spirit of the Linji (Rinzai) tradition and Plum Village. Even great acts of giving—cities, elephants and horses, the seven precious things—become torture if lacking right understanding; sacrifice for merit needs joy, not endurance.

The Arhat (Theravada),
The Bodhisattva (Mahayana),
The person at ease (Zen Master Linji’s tradition)

are the three ideal images in Buddhism. The person at ease is relaxed, without entanglement in plans, without craving for fame or gain, living freely in the present. “When mind arises, all dharmas arise; when mind ceases, all dharmas cease; when mind does not arise, no dharma can disturb us.” There is no need to search for the Buddha outside—“The Buddha does not need to become anything,” because Buddha and ourselves are not two. When we sit, walk, eat with mindfulness, not seeking anything, that is exactly “sitting meditation is just sitting meditation,” living fully in non-attainment.

Previous Talk December 11, 2003

43m