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The Questions We Ask Ourselves During Meditation

Thich Nhat Hanh · February 18, 2001 · Plum Village, France

Transcript English

We are at Dharma Cloud Temple, Upper Hamlet of Plum Village on February 18, 2001, concluding the 2000-2001 Winter Retreat. While sitting in meditation, we can make the in-breath become a Question and the out-breath become an Answer to establish our presence in the present moment.

Below are Questions that can be used for looking deeply during the practice:

Am I truly present?
Am I at ease right now?
Is there ease and relaxation in my body?
Is my mind at ease right now, or is it caught in anything?
Do I know that I have the good fortune to be sitting with the Sangha?
Do I know that things are impermanent?
Do I know that I am impermanent, that I am changing?
Is my mother impermanent?
Is my teacher impermanent?
Can I see the nature of no-self in myself?
How do I feel right now?
What am I doing?
What is my original aspiration?
Who am I?
Can I truly touch the nature of no-self?
What Question needs to be asked right now?
What can I let go of right now?
What can I do right now that is nourishing?
Is what I am doing right now nourishing me?
Am I looking with the eyes of the Buddha?
What am I thinking?
Which seed am I watering right now?
Am I free?
How am I breathing?
Can I live without fear?
Am I truly practicing mindfulness?
What opportunity do I have right now?
What elements am I made of?
Is my mind right now an awakened mind or a deluded mind?

Next are Questions to look deeply into the wounds of the past in order to transform and heal:

Is the person who made me suffer happy?
How was that person treated when they were a child?
What difficulties and misfortunes did that person encounter?

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Previous Talk February 15, 2001

First Untie Yourself Before Rescuing Others

Next Talk March 1, 2001

Speaking About the Fruits of Illumination

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Transcript English

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Introduction to the Dharma Talk and the Practice of Asking a Question in the Breath

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Sangha Member

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How do I feel right now?

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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What Am I Doing?

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What is my original aspiration?

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Who am I?

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When I touch no-self, who am I really touching?

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What question needs to be asked right now?

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What can I let go now?

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What can I do right now to nourish me?

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Is what you are doing right now nourishing you?

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Are you looking with the eyes of the Buddha?

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What am I thinking?

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What seeds am I watering?

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Am I Free and at Ease?

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How am I breathing?

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Can I live without my fear?

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Am I truly practicing mindfulness?

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What Opportunity Do We Have?

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What Elements Are We Made Of?

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The Compass Within You: Deluded Mind or Awakened Mind?

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Instructions on Making a List of Questions and Transforming Past Suffering

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