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Spiritual Life 2 - Questions and Answers
When there is spiritual freedom, there is no longer hatred, violence, or despair, but instead there is love and deep understanding; our words and actions are nonviolent, yet still have the power to change politics and economics, moving toward social equality. Spiritual freedom is the responsibility of everyone—politicians, businesspeople, teachers, parents—and it must arise from love and insight in order to help push back social ills such as drugs, violence, and suicide through the means of education and culture, reducing violence and building a peaceful community.
The practice of Buddhism is not just reading books or listening to talks, but must be directly experienced through practice and meditation:
- Eating an ice cream or walking gently are both Dharma doors of mindfulness, allowing us to dwell fully in the present moment.
- For example, a journalist stayed at Plum Village for two weeks to practice, and after just fifteen minutes of walking meditation, her head and feet were in harmony, bringing about peace and happiness that is not just empty words.
- Fruits like durian or kiwi are metaphors: to know their taste, you must actually taste them; similarly, to understand Buddhism, you must “eat” the experience, not just listen to descriptions.
In the midst of conflict and suffering, the basic method is to combine deep listening (l’écoute profonde) and loving speech:
• Listen like the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, without judgment, without reaction;
• Speak with gentle words, without condemnation;
• Recognize and embrace the negative emotions within (anger, fear) in order to transform them into the flowers of the mind.
Before getting married, young couples at Plum Village must practice together for several weeks to learn these methods, helping to resolve misunderstandings and nurture enduring love.