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Practice Is an Art - Dharm Talk No2
Touching the Buddha is as natural as touching your own hand—you can touch with your body, your senses or your mind. Whether with your arm, your eyes or your mind (through breathing in–out and mindful awareness), you learn to touch the Buddhahood—the seed of lovingness, understanding and awakening—in yourself and in others. Every mindful breath and gentle smile gives that seed a chance to bloom, even in someone far away or caught in suffering (as in the family-conflict practice where the magic mantra, “Mommy, I think there is a cake in the refrigerator,” breaks the tension).
Loving speech and deep listening go hand in hand and form the heart of the Fourth Precept:
- Deep listening lets you truly hear another’s suffering.
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Loving speech offers the “right medicine” of words that respond directly to their need.
Taking refuge in the Sangha ensures you find someone—like Avalokiteśvara—to listen compassionately, help you transform your own pain, and then bring joy to others.
Our mind has two levels:
• Store consciousness (the basement), where every seed of anger, fear, joy or peace sits;
• Mind consciousness (the living room), where mindfulness shines like a sun, deciding which seeds to water.
Mindfulness nourishes seeds of happiness and prevents watering seeds of suffering. Through the Precepts we learn a threefold practice of diet—for body and consciousness—to stop ingesting toxins (unhealthy foods, violent media, unmindful speech) and instead water only what brings health, joy and peace. This approach extends beyond the individual to family, community and society, embodying true engaged Buddhism.