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The Silent One and True Silence

Questions and Answers

Thich Nhat Hanh · July 27, 2000 · New Hamlet, Plum Village, France · Audio Only Not yet reviewed

The sangha is gathered at the New Hamlet on July 27, 2000, for a Question and Answer session.

We begin with a few questions from the children:

Why did you become a monk?
How can I help people who have forgotten the little child in themselves?
What should I do if I have a nightmare and am afraid to sleep, or have problems getting to sleep?
Should I call you Thich Nhat Hanh, Thay Nhat Hanh, or just Thay?
How can I wake up in the morning in a good way?

Followed by questions from teenagers, young adults, and adults:

What should be done when difficult feelings like anxiety and pain arise during meditation, and how do I hold these feelings like a mother holding a baby?
How can I help a partner who knows the practice but cannot do it because the world brings up their negative habit energy and depression?
What can I do when I get angry and cannot control myself, causing suffering to myself and others?
What does it mean to say we suffer because we don’t love enough, and how does a bodhisattva’s aspiration transform suffering?
Could you elaborate on the concept of presence in form of thought, words, and action?
How can I forgive and accept my father who committed suicide when I was an infant?
How can I manifest non-acceptance when a partner pursues a joy that is destructive or unhealthy?
What can students do to protect themselves when forced to watch films that water seeds of violence and anger?
Should I finish my program of study in Chinese medicine or follow my heart to become a monk?
How can I help someone with depression by identifying the source of nutrition that brought it in?
How do I deal with doubt when facing a choice, especially when inheriting contradictory qualities from parents?
How can communication be improved between parents and children when there is a cultural and generation gap?
What is the vision for building a wholesome lay community or Sangha in the lay world?

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Part of the following collection

Recently Added Talks

Curated by Jonas Czech

Previous Talk July 27, 2000

They Eye of True Love

Next Talk July 28, 2000

The Journey from Mindful Observation to Liberation

Next: The Silent One and True Silence

Next from: Recently Added Talks

1h 34m

The Silent One and True Silence

July 31, 2000 • English • Thich Nhat Hanh

43/53 • Autoplay next: Off

Transcript

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Introduction to the questions and answers for children and adults

00:01:42

00:01:53

Why did you become a monk?

00:02:32

Sangha Member

Question

00:03:25

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

How can I help people who have lost the child in themselves?

00:04:03

Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

What should I do after a nightmare, and when I have trouble sleeping?

00:05:56

Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Should I call you Thich Nhat Hanh or Thay Nhat Hanh?

00:11:16

Sangha Member

Question

00:11:32

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

How can I wake up in the morning in a good way?

00:11:44

Sangha Member

Question

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00:13:11

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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What should I do when anxiety and pain arise during meditation?

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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How can I help someone who knows the practice but cannot do it when negative habit energy comes up?

00:35:37

Thich Nhat Hanh

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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What can I do when I get angry and cannot control myself?

00:42:13

Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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00:46:13

What do you mean when you say we suffer because we don’t love enough?

00:46:48

Sangha Member

Question

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

00:48:22

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00:53:36

Could you please elaborate on presence behind thoughts, words, and actions?

00:53:37

Sangha Member

Question

00:53:41

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Please help me forgive my father, who committed suicide when I was only eight months old

01:06:45

Sangha Member

Question

01:07:33

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

01:08:30

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01:11:26

If what gives my partner joy is destructive, how should I show non-acceptance?

01:11:35

Sangha Member

Question

01:12:47

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

01:13:49

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If school forces us to watch violent films, how can we protect ourselves?

01:19:46

Thich Nhat Hanh

Question

01:20:15

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Should I continue studying Chinese medicine or follow my aspiration to become a monk?

01:23:42

Sangha Member

Question

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01:27:18

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

01:27:49

How can I help someone who is depressed and does not want to come here?

01:28:35

Sangha Member

Question

01:28:54

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

01:29:54

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01:34:14

How do I deal with doubt and contradictory qualities inherited from my parents?

01:34:34

Sangha Member

Question

01:35:34

01:35:36

01:36:35

Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

01:37:32

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How can children and parents bridge the cultural gap between Asian tradition and Western upbringing?

01:45:35

Sangha Member

Question

01:46:24

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

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Could you speak on your vision for building community in the lay world?

01:59:23

Thich Nhat Hanh

Question

01:59:36

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Thich Nhat Hanh

Answer

02:01:19

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Closing words on the ancestors ceremony and allowing ourselves to be embraced

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