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Heal the Mind, Heal the World
This title has been reviewed for accuracy.
“There is No Way to Nirvāṇa—Nirvāṇa is the Way”_
Thầy teaches that nirvāṇa means cooling down in order to find peace, joy, and healing; it means extinguishing the fires within—the fire of anger, the fire of fear, the fire of afflictions and wrong perceptions.
The talk explores how to take refuge in the island within—the true home in the here and now that is within ourselves where we can find healing and nourishment. Here, the power of mindfulness helps us get in touch with the wonders of life. We are invited to practice mindfulness in order to be fully alive in moments like brushing our teeth, taking a shower, and doing the dishes. Our teacher adds that when you walk mindfully, “You might be aware that Mother Earth is not only beneath, but inside you.” Living in mindfulness, he says, is the art of living.
A detailed explanation follows of each element of the Noble Eightfold Path, showing how they are interrelated and interconnected—how they inter-are. To conclude, Thầy explains how we can better understand the teachings of Buddhism—and Christianity—by letting go of our dualistic thinking.
So what kind of resolution would Thầy make before the coming of the year?
I am determined not to waste my life, not to waste my time. I dare to live the life that I want to live. And I want every step I make on this planet bring joy, happiness to me and to the people. I want every step I make on this planet is a step I made in the Kingdom of God, in touching nirvāṇa because it’s my conviction—the path and nirvāṇa, the path and the Kingdom are the same. You cannot remove the Kingdom from the path. You cannot remove nirvāṇa from the path. You cannot remove the path from the Kingdom or nirvāṇa.
“There is no way to nirvāṇa—nirvāṇa is the way.”
This talk was offered on New Years Eve during the Christmas and New Year Retreat in the year 2012. Thầy offered this talk at the Lower Hamlet, Plum Village, France.
Part of the following collections
“Breathing In” is not just for Beginners