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To Be Able to Take Care of Body and Mind

Thich Nhat Hanh · September 13, 2007 · Deer Park Monastery, United States · Audio Only
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In the retreat, there are about 100 monks and nuns, among whom

  • the young monks and nuns bring freshness and youthfulness, relying on the elder brothers and sisters for solidity, dignity, and ease
  • the senior monks and nuns offer solidity and ease, and also rely on the freshness of the young ones to nourish the collective energy

The retreat focuses on three themes

  1. health (physical and mental well-being in harmony)
  2. relationships (between father and child, mother and child, husband and wife, friends)
  3. livelihood (success linked with good health and harmonious relationships)

Regarding basic practice, we use the breath and our steps to simultaneously maintain mindfulness (shamatha) and develop insight (vipashyana). The main exercises include

  • Breathing in, I know I am breathing in; breathing out, I know I am breathing out
  • Following the breath from beginning to end (in-breath, out-breath)
  • Breathing in, I enjoy; breathing out, I enjoy
  • Breathing in, I am aware of my whole body; breathing out, I relax my whole body
  • Inviting the Buddha within to breathe lightly and rest, so that I too can breathe lightly and rest
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1h 36m

The Art of Transforming Difficulties in the Family