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Gardening the Mind: Cultivating Compassion and Inner Peace
This title has been reviewed for accuracy.
Thầy begins: “I myself like to grow lettuce.” He says he finds nourishment and joy for himself in gardening; growing lettuce also reminds him of the importance of doing what is best for the lettuce. With this beautiful metaphor for taking care of oneself and others, Thầy explains how parenting and cultivating other relationships is like growing lettuce: it requires attention, true presence and avoiding blame—You do not blame the lettuce when it does not grow.
Taking care of oneself enables extending compassion to others, even transforming enemies into beings deserving of care. We learn that compassion and mindfulness are essential for peaceful coexistence with all beings, fostering love, and preventing conflicts.
This is the seventh of fifteen talks given during the Summer Opening retreat, in 1995. Thầy offered this talk at the Lower Hamlet, Plum Village, France.