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Compassion

Thich Nhat Hanh · November 3, 2013 · Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, France
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Thay asks Sr. True Dedication to share about the monastics’ recent visit to Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, on the topic of compassion. The meeting at Stanford was sponsored by The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (CCARE). Sr. True Dedication describes the event and summarizes that Thay’s engagement with every question from the audience demonstrated the living practice of compassion.

Thay continues with more information about CCARE and notes a connection between the community intentions of CCARE and the global ethics work of Plum Village. Thay relates some of what he had said to those gathered at Stanford and addresses questions that went unanswered there.

The Buddha taught that compassion is powerful. Compassion is born from an understanding of suffering. The Dharma tells us how to suffer, how to understand suffering, and how to generate compassion. A community can generate a collective energy of compassion. Compassion can transform and protect. We have to learn how to transform our suffering, to water the seed of compassion every day, and nourish ourselves with joy and happiness.

This talk was given on a Day of Mindfulness during the autumn retreat in 2013. Thay offered this talk at the Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, France.

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