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Linh Quang Temple - Dharma Talk

Thich Nhat Hanh · October 13, 2001 · China · Audio Only
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The Buddha is in our heart, but when the mind is occupied with anger, hatred, and jealousy, the Buddha cannot manifest. To allow the Buddha to manifest, one must learn to deal with these emotions using specific methods. The first method is mindful breathing: “Breathing in, I calm myself. Breathing out, I smile.” When strong emotions like anger or despair arise, they are like a storm shaking the branches of a tree. To remain stable, one must not stay at the level of thinking or feeling—the top of the tree—but bring attention down to the trunk, the abdomen. By focusing solely on the rising and falling of the abdomen for ten to fifteen minutes, the storm passes, and the emotion is appeased.

Walking meditation is a practice that heals pain and brings joy. Walking slowly, one coordinates steps with the breath, perhaps taking two steps while breathing in and two while breathing out, fully aware of every step. The practice is accompanied by the gatha: “I have arrived, I am home.” “I have arrived” means stopping the habit of running toward the future and returning to the present moment. “I am home” signifies dwelling in the here and now, free from regret about the past or fear of the future.

Happiness is not found in wealth, power, or fame, but is available in the present moment through the many conditions of happiness already possessed. These include the blue sky, the songs of birds, the faces of loved ones, having healthy eyes to see forms and colors, and a heart that functions normally. By recognizing these conditions, one avoids sacrificing the present for the future. When one is free from craving, anger, and despair, the Pure Land manifests in the here and the now. There is no need to wait until death; it is possible to walk in the Pure Land at this very moment.

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