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Thich Nhat Hanh · December 14, 2004 · Plum Village, France · Audio Only
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We are at Lower Hamlet on the 14th day of the 12th lunar month, 2004, preparing for the Pavarana ceremony to end the Autumn Retreat. Thay compares this year’s retreat with last year’s at Deer Park, shares a story about washing forgotten bowls with love and nonself, and prepares the spirit for the upcoming trip to Vietnam.

  1. Report on the status of articles for the “Plum Village Newsletter” and how articles are selected based on quality?
  2. What is the situation regarding practice and study, the harmony of Upper Hamlet, and the preparation of personnel for the Vietnam trip?
  3. The combination of energy between the sisters of New Hamlet and Lower Hamlet during the past retreat, and the reorganization of personnel when the New Hamlet sisters return?
  4. How to face the feeling of emptiness and not knowing what to expect or contribute to the upcoming Vietnam trip when everything seems like a fog?
  5. The mood of the sisters when having to part with Lower Hamlet to return to New Hamlet, and the spirit of the new caretaking team?
  6. Can you speak precisely and clearly about the seven Buddhas of the past?
  7. Why don’t New Hamlet and Lower Hamlet stay together after the delegation leaves so that traveling during winter consumes less energy?
  8. How can an elder sister teach the younger ones when seeing irresponsible acts like leaving leftover food or not cleaning up, so that the situation improves without nourishing irritation?
  9. Is it possible to continue practicing with the Sangha after disrobing and returning to one’s family?
  10. How to maintain the practice while staying at home and requesting supporting energy from the delegation in Vietnam?
  11. How to distinguish between contributing true insight and wisdom versus being meddlesome in meetings, and are thoughts in history true realization or just theory?
  12. Why can’t there be a model like “Farm Zen” for brothers who feel tired of interacting with retreatants, so they can retreat to do manual labor while still contributing to the Sangha?
  13. When sitting in meditation and the breath becomes so deep and light that it seems like breathing has stopped, should one just maintain that awareness or continue following the breath?
  14. How to handle the emotion of wanting to go with the Sangha to Vietnam while having to practice dwelling happily in the present moment here?
  15. Is it possible to send recordings of Dharma talks and the atmosphere of practice from Vietnam back to the brothers and sisters at home to provide more energy?
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