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
Seeing Continuity: Avalokita, Interbeing, and Mindful Walking
Avalokita means “the one who looks deeply”: the lord (īśvara) who is able to grasp reality beneath the surface. Meditation is this deep looking directed toward things in order to understand their true nature; scientists, students, and meditation practitioners are all potential Avalokitas. By observing a cloud, an atom, a leaf, or the breath, we open ourselves to true understanding: I breathe and I know that I am alive.
Looking deeply also applies to family relationships:
- cloud → rain
- father → son
-
mother → daughter
Each continuation reveals the presence of the other: when looking at the son, we see the father and the mother within ourselves. Walking meditation, anchored in the present moment, nourishes and purifies not only the body and mind, but also our ancestors and society; each step and each breath, practiced with joy and compassion, benefit all.
