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Phat Phap Can Ban X16 - Mindfulness - Spring Retreat
Our mind is described as soil that contains all kinds of seeds—seeds of suffering, seeds of happiness, seeds of hope, and seeds of despair. The practice is to “remember to remember” and touch the seeds of happiness that are in us. This involves Right Mindfulness, chánh niệm, which is being grounded in the present moment, as opposed to Wrong Mindfulness, tà niệm, where you are drowned in the past or future. It is not forbidden to review the past or look at the future, as long as you are firmly grounded in the present. The present is made of the past, and the future will be made of the present. By touching the present deeply, we can heal and change the past, and take care of the future.
The Dharma is like a spring rain that penetrates the soil of the mind, giving an opportunity for the seed of happiness to be touched and to sprout. We are advised to listen to the Dharma without using our intellect, allowing it to sink deeply into the soil of our mind, our store consciousness (ālayavijñāna). There are two ways to deal with your suffering:
- Direct intervention.
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Leaving the seeds of suffering alone for some time and practicing touching the opposite kind of seeds.
When the positive, beautiful seeds in you grow, they will know how to influence the negative seeds and transform them.
The seed of mindfulness in us is the baby Buddha. It is the capacity to be aware of what is going on, and it is generated through our practice of walking, sitting, and breathing. Mindfulness is always mindfulness of something. We can practice mindfulness of our breathing, of the blue sky, or of our own heart. Touching your heart with mindfulness and a smile is an act of care and love. Mindfulness is a healing and transforming energy. Everything you touch with it transforms for the better. If it is beautiful, it becomes more beautiful. If it is suffering, mindfulness can help to relieve it.