We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track. If this problem persists help us by reporting it so we can investigate it.
Watch this talk
Login or create a free account to watch this talk and discover other teachings from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Log in or create an account
Public Talk San Jose
We arrived in America exactly one month ago, organizing many retreats and public Dharma talks throughout Southern California, Camp Swig (Saratoga), Berkeley, and Spirit Rock (Northern California). At the University of California Santa Barbara, more than 1,350 people attended for the first time; at Berkeley, about 4,000 people; and at Spirit Rock, nearly 2,800 people. It is estimated that at least 25,000 people practiced mindfulness directly, and many others received the teachings through books, television, and radio.
To transform anger and afflictions in order to attain true happiness begins with recognizing and taking care of the seeds of afflictions (klesha) in the store consciousness. There are two basic methods:
- Samatha (stopping): stopping, calming the energy of restlessness so the mind can become still
-
Vipassanā (looking deeply): looking deeply into the nature of things, recognizing the energy that arises in the present moment
A simple example is when anger or restlessness arises, using mindfulness of breathing in and out to smile at that energy (“Hello, mommy”) in order to help it return to its latent state. The practice of writing a love letter to your parents or practicing solitude (Eka Vihari) to embrace the “inner child” also helps to transform hatred, nourish compassion, and dwell peacefully in the present moment.