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The Practice of Releasing and Letting Go

Thich Nhat Hanh · October 16, 2008 · Plum Village, France · Audio Only
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With the practice of mindful breathing you can generate joy through three concrete methods the Buddha offers:

  1. release – letting go of ideas and obstacles that block happiness
  2. mindfulness – being fully aware of “the blue sky, the beautiful hills, the face of your lovely child” in the present moment
  3. concentration – sinking deeply into whatever you are doing so your joy is full and undistracted

Yesterday’s four exercises on mindful breathing:

  1. “Breathing in, I know this is my in-breath. Breathing out, I know this is my out-breath.”
  2. “Breathing in, I follow my in-breath all the way through … breathing out, I follow my out-breath all the way through.”
  3. “Breathing in, I am aware of my whole body.”
  4. deep total relaxation – releasing body tension by breathing in and out

The Buddha’s fifth through eighth exercises on the realm of feelings:

  1. bring in a feeling of joy – the hope of water in the desert
  2. bring in a feeling of happiness – drinking the water, deep peace beyond excitement
  3. recognize painful feelings – see anger, fear or despair as they arise with mindfulness
  4. embrace and release painful feelings – tenderly hold and let go of their density by mindful breathing or walking
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14 videos
25h 24m

India Tour 2008

Curated by Living Gems
Previous Talk October 13, 2008
2h 10m

Understanding Our Mind

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1h 8m

The Foundation of Despair, Anger and Discrimination