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Establishing Communication
This morning, three children from Lower Hamlet raised 360 francs and 25 centimes to send to hungry children around the world by selling their own works of art—drawings, sculptures, handicrafts—and setting up a small stall in the yard, expressing their compassion and spirit of sharing. Handsome and intelligent, but lacking happiness because he carries within himself much sorrow, resentment, and anger, not knowing how to listen or keep his mind at peace, so even though he has family and friends, he still feels deeply lonely. The brief encounter with the young woman at the temple, the painting displayed at the Cua Dong market, and the image in his dream show that conditions come and go, reminding us to learn the art of letting go and to nourish peace in our hearts.
The story from Truyen Ky Man Luc about Tu Uyen and Giang Kieu illustrates the lesson of true communication through mindful breathing, the insight of emptiness, and the “fragrance of the mind” which consists of three qualities: mindfulness trainings, concentration, and insight. Only when we practice the Five Mindfulness Trainings do we have the “fragrance of mindfulness trainings” to offer to the Buddha and to send to our loved ones to restore broken relationships. These five trainings are:
- not telling lies
- not speaking harshly
- not drinking alcohol
- not using intoxicants
-
not killing living beings
Lighting the fragrance of mindfulness trainings, concentration, and insight, Giang Kieu returns, and the two sit together to practice loving speech and deep listening, cultivating lasting happiness.
