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Lecture of Thay at Dortmund
Peace is always present inside and outside, yet it must be touched to be realized. Using mindful breathing to touch the heart brings comfort and relief, acknowledging its ceaseless work to preserve well-being. This act serves as a promise to eat, drink, and work in a way that preserves the heart’s condition. Touching the eyes reveals the paradise of forms and colors available in the present, while touching the liver allows for reconciliation with the body and an understanding of its suffering. Reconciling with the body and feelings is necessary to end the internal war that fuels conflict with others, as daily life often waters seeds of violence and fear.
The energy of mindfulness is the capacity to be aware of what is going on in the present moment, allowing for deep looking and listening. This energy is the foundation of true love; the most precious gift one can offer is their true presence, which soothes the suffering of beloved ones without the need for words. Mindfulness is the energy that makes a Buddha and is equivalent to the Holy Spirit, serving as the door to the Kingdom of God or nirvāṇa.
Reality consists of the historical dimension, likened to a wave with a beginning and end, and the ultimate dimension, the water itself. Touching the ultimate dimension in the here and now brings the gift of non-fear, removing the fear of death. Teachings are merely a raft to cross the river or a finger pointing to the moon; one must not be caught in concepts or dogmas, even to the point of “killing the Buddha” to allow the true Buddha to manifest.
