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Embracing Every Cell in Our Body

Thich Nhat Hanh · March 2, 2003 · Hermitage, Plum Village, France · Monastic talk
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The weekly Compassionate Council is organized in order to remove pain (compassion) before it becomes suffering, and to offer joy (loving-kindness). The community has the responsibility to recognize every “pebble in each other’s shoes,” even before it causes discomfort, so that we may act with true compassion. When a younger brother or sister lacks energy, we must immediately consider two key factors:

  • whether the mentor has enough energy to offer guidance; if not, a new mentor should be introduced
  • the living environment has a deep influence on one’s energy, so it may be necessary to change one’s living space or to assign a few close elder brothers or sisters to accompany and help transform negative states

A Dharma teacher must be happy and in harmony with the Sangha; if they do not have enough energy, they should not be invited to lead retreats or to teach, because that would be “selling counterfeit goods.” At the same time, each member needs to discover and develop their own talents to serve the Sangha, for example: chanting, making bonsai, painting, composing music for chanting, etc. The nurturing of talent is not the work of one person alone, but the shared responsibility of the whole community.

Gratitude is the source of happiness; when we lose our awareness of gratitude, discouragement and suffering arise. In the Vietnamese Buddhist tradition, there are the Four Great Gratitudes:

  • gratitude to parents
  • gratitude to teachers
  • gratitude to friends
  • gratitude to all living beings

Our inner strength consists of the five faculties—the five “factories” that produce the five powers—which help the community attain true happiness in each moment:

  • faith
  • diligence
  • mindfulness
  • concentration
  • insight
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