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Public Talk
Paying attention to the in-breath brings the mind back to the body, acting as a bridge to the here and the now. Established in the present, we are no longer pulled to the past or future and can recognize the many conditions of happiness already available. Mindfulness allows us to be happy right away, whether sitting, walking, or eating. In Plum Village, a mantra is used to remind us of this: “This moment is a happy moment.” This can be practiced during dinner with family, while brushing teeth, taking a shower, or preparing breakfast, doing everything mindfully to make freedom and joy possible.
Happiness is recognized against the background of suffering; without mud, there can be no lotus. The Buddha’s first Dharma talk addressed the Four Noble Truths:
- Suffering is real.
- The roots and cause of suffering.
- The cessation of suffering, which is the possibility of happiness.
- The path leading to the cessation of suffering.
We cannot be by ourselves alone; we must inter-be with everything else. A rose is made entirely of non-rose elements, such as sunshine, clouds, rain, soil, minerals, the gardener, time, space, and consciousness. Similarly, happiness is made of non-happiness elements. The Kingdom of God is defined not as a place without suffering, but as a place with plenty of understanding and compassion, which are born from looking deeply into the nature of suffering.
Brother Phap Trien, meaning True Opening up of the Dharma, introduces a song titled “For Life,” written for brothers and sisters in Vietnam. Integrating hip hop elements to update the music of Plum Village, the song conveys the message that no matter where you are, where you have been, or what you have gone through, the community is always there for you.
