Thay’s teachings on Buddhist Psychology during the November 2-9, 1997 Retreat at Key West, Florida, USA, focus on store consciousness and the concept of interbeing. On November 3, 1997, Thay introduces the interbeing and gives a teaching on store consciousness.

Seeing things in the light of Interbeing, Thay explains that the right is made of the left and the left is made of the right. They are not enemies, but they contain each other. Thay teaches in the context of politics, emphasizing that the Buddha taught, “this is because that is.” He then moves to the relationship between body and mind, highlighting their interbeing and non-duality. In each cell of our body is stored the whole cosmos. In the study of Buddhist studies of the mind, the body is always first an object of our perception. Thay teaches on object and perception, touching the present moment to heal past suffering and applying this to the future.

The talk also covers the concept of Namarupa, the body and the mind, and the observation of the mind in the mind and the body in the body, stressing non-duality. Thay provides an overview of the five skandhas, or aggregates, which are distinctions to help with practice. He explains formations and how the five skandhas interare.

The teaching then shifts to focus primarily on consciousness, specifically store consciousness and seeds. Thay discusses working with our seeds using mindfulness, such as mindfulness of anger. Store consciousness is likened to a garden that maintains and stores the totality of all seeds. The practice of meditation involves being aware of and recognizing the seeds inside us and watering the good seeds, recognizing and taking care of our seeds.

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