The title, description and transcript may contain inaccuracies.

Christmas Day Talk (During Christmas Celebrations)

Thich Nhat Hanh · December 24, 1990 · New Hamlet, Plum Village, France

In the Western tradition, Christmas is a very important holiday, equivalent to the Vietnamese Tết, where people try their best to go home to be with their family. This is an occasion to really look at our father, mother, brother, and sister. The practice center is also a real family where people look at each other as brothers and sisters.

By learning how to breathe, smile, and recognize, we discover that everyone in the community is a gem, a jewel. Breathing deeply allows us to see that everyone living in the community is a real treasure, making us feel very rich. We are surrounded by people who know how to suffer and how to enjoy the present moment, learning the art of loving oneself and others.

While there are centers where people learn the art of killing, being together to practice love is a real golden opportunity. The true meaning of Christmas is to learn to look at each other as a jewel. If something befalls one of us, we will suffer. Therefore, we wish everyone good health, smiles, and joy, for that kind of peace is our own health, joy, and peace.