We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track. If this problem persists help us by reporting it so we can investigate it.
Watch this talk
Login or create a free account to watch this talk and discover other teachings from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Log in or create an account
Basic Buddhist Teachings (Spring) 27 - Sutra on Peace
Lightness—“a light mind,” an is “a peaceful mind”—is “one of the eleven wholesome mental formations” and “one of the seven factors leading to enlightenment.” It is necessary to nourish both “physical lightness and mental lightness”: eating a light dinner, practicing walking meditation, lying meditation “on a firm surface” to “completely relax the body,” while also practicing “putting down the burden,” letting go of “sorrow, anger, longing, or despair.” “Practice is not only to cultivate the mind but also to cultivate the body… if the body is not light, the mind will also find it difficult to be light.”
Flexibility—“souplesse,” “flexibilité”—is likened to “soft clouds” or the martial art “jujutsu,” helping “when the body is flexible, the mind can also be flexible.” To do this, we rely on
• the three wholesome roots: “non-greed, non-hatred, non-delusion”
• and fully embrace the four immeasurable minds: “loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.”
“Diligence” is “apramāda”: “not being careless, not letting the mind drift… as if saving a fire burning on your head,” always asking yourself, “What am I doing with my life?”
On this foundation, the wholesome mental formations are further presented: “non-harming (Ahimsa),” “fearlessness,” “worrylessness,” “steadfastness (abiding firmly),” “joy,” “freedom,” and “humility.” Non-harming is based on “the spirit of non-duality”—“the true enemy is delusion, fanaticism, discrimination.” Fearlessness is “great courage,” worrylessness is “the medicine for our times,” steadfastness is “holding on to the Sangha,” joy is “the path of happiness,” freedom is “maintaining your own sovereignty,” and humility is “modesty, simplicity, and humbleness.” The sessions on “Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 9:30 in the morning” are dedicated to “dwelling happily in the present moment,” writing “like love letters” to share our lived experience—“our heart and our experience,” not just book theory.