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
Recognizing the Soulmate
In 2010, at the Khong Khe monastic residence during the Winter Retreat, the celebration of Christmas was practiced as a sacred Day of Mindfulness. Every moment, from preparation to the day of the celebration, was a practice of purity and mindfulness. This year, the theme “Let us listen to each other” was repeated through the multi-lingual New Year’s couplets, through the image of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva as a symbol of meditation, and was proposed in every press conference and festival, so that the media could create a space for opposing sides to use loving speech, allowing every voice to be received gently, opening the path of reconciliation and understanding.
The story of Wang Bo Ya and Zhong Zi Qi illustrates the deep longing to find a soul friend: Wang Bo Ya climbed the mountain, burned incense, and played the lute for the trees and grasses to hear. Only when the strings broke three times did he discover that Zhong Zi Qi had been secretly listening and invited him to appear. Similarly, Kim Trong wished to hear Thuy Kieu play the lute—“the ear of a soul friend” is not an ordinary ear, but one that truly understands. In the life of practice, gratitude is closely linked to gratitude for the teacher and gratitude for the Dharma brothers and sisters; the relationship between teacher and student becomes the foundation for deep understanding and empathy, nourishing the continuation of the Buddha’s career.
Every action, whether driving, washing vegetables, or opening and closing a door, is an opportunity to practice mindfulness—“to go out, come back, and close the door with mindfulness,” as our Teacher teaches. Each step on the bamboo-floored meditation hall is a deep contact with tradition, a pause to generate joy and happiness. The future exists right in the present moment; only when we are fully present, maintaining mindfulness, concentration, and joy in each breath, in each task, can happiness and brotherhood be built on a solid foundation.