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Morning Dharma Talk

Thich Nhat Hanh · November 22, 2002 · Bao Guo Temple, China · Audio Only
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The practice begins with four prostrations to the Bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Kshitigarbha, allowing their energy to penetrate the body for transformation and healing. Using the image of a pot of tea, the body is likened to the pot while the tea flows out into the world. The best part of a person is not the residue remaining in the body, but the thoughts, speech, and actions offered to the world. One must look with the eyes of signlessness to see the continuation of a person outside of their physical form, just as a cloud continues as rain or snow. Rebirth happens in every moment of daily life, not just after death.

A tangerine with five sections represents the five skandhas. The first section is form. The Nian Shen Jing (Sutra on Contemplation of the Body) teaches mindfulness of the body in four positions: standing, walking, sitting, and lying. Like a farmer recognizing different seeds, one scans the body with the ray of mindfulness to release tension. The second section represents the river of feelings, which can be pleasant, unpleasant, neutral, or mixed. When a strong emotion arises, it is like a storm shaking a tree; one must focus attention on the Dan Tian (the trunk) rather than the brain (the branches) and practice deep belly breathing. Mindfulness acts as a mother holding a crying baby, embracing the emotion tenderly rather than fighting it.

To transform anger, one follows specific steps: say and do nothing, return to breathing, and communicate within twenty-four hours. This communication involves three sentences: “I am angry. I suffer. And I want you to know it,” “I am trying my best to practice according to the teaching of the Buddha in order to transform my anger,” and “Please help me.” The story of Mr. and Mrs. Truong illustrates the danger of pride and wrong perceptions. A husband’s belief that his wife’s shadow on the wall was a secret lover leads to tragedy, highlighting the necessity of seeking help and clarifying perceptions to avoid unnecessary suffering.

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