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 goodness of suffering
In this 2-hour dharma talk given on August 13, 2007 at Stonehill College during the U.S. Tour retreat “Mindfulness, Fearlessness, and Togetherness,” Thich Nhat Hanh teaches how important our breathing is for transformation.
He begins with a reflection on Lazy Day at Son Ha Temple in Plum Village: being lazy means taking your time in every moment—brushing your teeth, eating breakfast, drinking tea. Each moment can be a moment of joy, peace, and freedom. Thay jokes that he loves french toast yet cannot find it in France, and reminds us that in Buddhist practice we eat because we enjoy eating, not in a hurry. During the retreat breakfast is taken in noble silence; we practice being mindful of every morsel and of the people around us. Drinking tea mindfully, we can see the cloud in the tea. When we are running after something—such as a diploma—we miss the present moment; mindful eating helps us stay with our breakfast or tea.
Walking meditation follows the same principle. Its purpose is to arrive in every moment: “I have arrived. I am home.” Our habit of running causes us to miss what is happening in the here and the now, but when we have truly arrived, happiness becomes real. Mindful breathing supports this; we need training to stop running and learn to breathe.
Lazy Day is a chance to cherish every moment: nowhere to go, nothing to do. The tendency to run is strong, but the practice of Buddhist meditation is to be aware of it and to stop. Stopping is essential; resting allows body and mind to heal themselves.
When alone with five or ten minutes, we can practice slow walking meditation. Breathe in and make one step, bringing attention to the sole of the foot and the contact with the ground, silently saying, “I have arrived.” Invest 100 % of body and mind in that step. By forming the new habit of arriving and stopping, we counter the old habit of running. With this practice of mindful breathing, mindful eating, and slow walking meditation, we begin to heal.
Note: this description was automatically sourced from existing YouTube descriptions and other sources. Please ‘Suggest Edit’ if it’s incorrect.
