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Stop, Hold, Transform: Sangha Practices for Living Non-Violence

Thich Nhat Hanh · April 4, 1999 · Plum Village, France
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Chỉ (stop): refrain from wrongdoing.
Trì (hold): preserve the precepts intact.
Tác (act): to do.
Phạm (transgress): shatter the precepts.

Stop (chỉ) + hold (trì) vs. act (tác) + transgress (phạm). Rely on the Sangha—older brothers, sisters, younger siblings—to help us stop and hold, preventing transgression and the death of our monastic life.

Living non-violence as an art of living: in our store-consciousness lie two seeds—violence and compassion. We vow
• not to water the seed of violence by mindful consumption (avoiding violent media, speech, thoughts)
• to water the seed of compassion through compassionate listening and loving speech
• to engage in Dharma discussions for self-protection and collective strategy

Transform every incoming arrow of violence into a flower at your feet through understanding (prajñā) and compassion (karuṇā). Daily mindful breathing and walking is our practice of resurrection—keeping us alive, smiling, and bringing joy to ourselves and others.

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