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
Space Within the Soul
In modern society, people easily fall into “existential emptiness” when they have not yet found the meaning of life, often seeking to fill this void with the five sensual desires (wealth, sex, fame, food, sleep), which lead to temporary stimulation but do not heal the soul. The search for true meaning—living for what, for whom, for which ideal—is the path of liberation, and the task of those who illuminate the way (educators, the Sangha) is not to transmit meaning from the outside, but to help each person discover for themselves the seed of the Bodhi mind by deeply understanding their own past and present, and then watering it so it may sprout.
Viktor Frankl, founder of logotherapy, demonstrated in the Auschwitz camp that the meaning of life saved him from suffering. According to Frankl, there are three sources that bring about the “will to meaning”:
- Something to accomplish (a spiritual child, a meaningful career that records experience and insight).
- True love that helps us deeply discover our own nature and that of others.
- Our attitude toward suffering—if we cannot change our circumstances, we must transform our inner being and embrace our suffering to open up insight.
From the trees and leaves of nature to the image of the banana leaf nourishing the next generation, the Dharma talk emphasizes that each of us carries a sacred mission in the present moment. True love is not just words but must be present in every step, every breath, and every act of mindfulness, so that we may dwell happily in the present moment and at the same time nurture meaning for our lives.