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
The Kingdom of God - Make Good Use of Suffering
This title has been reviewed for accuracy.
Thầy describes the Plum Village way of bowing—with mindfulness and respect. When we bow, we say to the other person, “A lotus for you, a buddha-to-be.” Each of us, with practice, has the potential to become a buddha. He explains and demonstrates a way to combine the Buddhist greeting of bowing with the Western greeting of shaking hands.
Thầy then describes using mindfulness to respond to another person’s anger with a peacefulness that benefits both our self and the angry person. To be of benefit, we must believe in our own inherent goodness and the goodness of others. Through our compassion, we can wake up the seeds of goodness in ourselves and others.
Just as a flower is made of non-flower elements, happiness is made of non-happiness elements, including suffering. With practice, we’re able to use suffering to create happiness. The Four Noble Truths help with this. We may have inherited the suffering of our ancestors, and we can not only heal this suffering but transform it into happiness. Once we understand our suffering, compassion is born—for ourselves and for others—and we immediately suffer less. The Kingdom of God, the Pure Land, is the here and the now, and we create this sacred place by making good use of our suffering. Practicing with the Sangha empowers us to face and transform our suffering.