The description and transcript may contain inaccuracies.

Protecting and Serving: Questions and Answers

Thich Nhat Hanh · August 28, 2003 · United States

The sangha is gathered at Green Lake on August 28, 2003. The children, teenagers, and adults are invited to ask questions. The session begins with the monks and nuns offering two songs, May the Day Be Well and The Willow Branch with the Compassionate Water.

We begin with a few questions from the children:

What happens to promises to protect life if one likes to go fishing?
How does one become a monk or a nun?
Is it possible for the teacher to stay at the retreat longer?
When, why, and where did the teacher first meditate?
How was the Earth made?

Followed by questions from teenagers and adults:

Is there such a thing as mindful thinking, or does thinking always carry one away from the here and the now?
How can one deal with anger when it manifests?
At what point does human life begin, and is abortion always against the First Mindfulness Training?
How can one compassionately respond to the cynicism of colleagues when introducing the practice of loving speech and listening?
Does catching and releasing fish break the promises of protecting life?
Is hope for a world on a path of destruction a form of destructive attachment or delusion?
How can one express thoughts and ideas through conversation without causing harm to oneself or others?
How is it possible to be compassionate toward a man who has committed rape?
Does the training to avoid killing include mercy killing and assisted suicide?
How can the sanctuary of the retreat be brought into a busy life, and is it possible to be mindfully busy or hurried?
What are some practices or meditations for realizing there is no self?

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Previous Talk August 27, 2003

Protecting and Serving: Fourth Talk

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Protecting and Serving

The description and transcript may contain inaccuracies.

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Opening of the question-and-answer session

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00:02:24

00:02:38

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What happens to promises if I like to go fishing?

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Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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How do you become a monk or a nun?

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Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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How can we stay here longer? / Can you stay here longer?

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Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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When, why, and where did you first meditate?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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Descartes says ‘I think, therefore I am not there.’ Is there mindful thinking?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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How can you deal with anger?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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At what point does human life begin—conception or first breath—and is abortion always against the First Mindfulness Training?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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How can I compassionately respond to cynicism from colleagues in juvenile probation when I offer loving speech and listening?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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I like to fish but always release my catch. Is that okay, or is it breaking the two promises?

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Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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If the world seems headed toward destruction, is my hope for the world merely a destructive attachment or delusion?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Conversation can be poisonous, but silence can harm too. How can we speak without hurting ourselves or others?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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How do you make the Earth?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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How can I be compassionate toward a man who raped me?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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Does the First Mindfulness Training forbid mercy killing and assisted suicide?

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Sangha Member

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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How can we bring this peaceful sanctuary into our busy lives? Is mindful hurry possible?

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Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Could you suggest practices or meditations for realizing there is no self?

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Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

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Closing encouragement and upcoming events

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