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
Questions and Answers
Practicing mindfulness is to bring the mind back to the body, to be fully present in the here and now. When we pay attention to our breathing and dwell peacefully, the mind is no longer pulled away by the past or the future; peace arises as a foundation for joy to manifest naturally. Thanks to the awareness that “how fortunate I am, still able to walk, my eyes still bright to see the sky and clouds…”, mindfulness, concentration, and insight arise, and peace and happiness come immediately. In family communication, if we want our children or spouse to listen, we must first know how to listen to them, patiently receiving their dreams, suffering, and wrong perceptions; then use loving speech and compassion to help them transform. The Fourth Mindfulness Training (loving speech and deep listening) is the path to reestablish true communication, bringing about harmony and happiness without the need for money.
In life, there are two kinds of concerns:
- Everyday concerns – worries about food, clothing, children, and work.
- Ultimate concerns – questioning the meaning of life, what we live for.
And there are four kinds of “nutriments” that nourish body and mind:
- Edible food – food taken in through the mouth.
- Sense impressions – what we receive through the eyes, ears, and mind (such as watching films, listening to Dharma talks).
- Volition – our will, our deepest aspiration (for example: a practitioner aspires to enlightenment in order to help all beings).
- Consciousness as nutriment – the insight that looks directly into suffering, sees its roots, and the path of liberation.
True love in the Buddha’s teaching contains four elements: maitri (bringing happiness to others), karuna (helping others to suffer less), mudita (offering joy), and upeksa (non-discrimination, including others as part of ourselves). When we transform our own suffering, nourishing compassion and peace with each breath, each step, not only are we liberated, but “the mother within us” and others are also embraced in the heart of unconditional love.