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Touching Life with Each Mindful Breath
October 7, 2012. 105-minute dharma talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village during the Autumn Retreat, a Day of Mindfulness. Thay begins his talk with reminiscences from Vietnam in the 60s, where he was invited by Cornell University to give lectures on the conditions in Vietnam. The Vietnamese were fighting each other with foreign ideologies and weapons, and those supporting peace were often threatened and murdered. Thay emphasizes the need for a spiritual dimension in life to avoid despair and sustain us.
Thay discusses the practice of sitting meditation, highlighting that it is more about “being” than “doing,” and that harmony, joy, and healing are possible through this practice. He teaches that mind and body must be together to live in the present moment, and that one mindful in-breath may be enough to come home. He advises not to worry about the future and provides teachings on mindfulness of the body, describing it as a wonder and a mystery.
Thay touches on the Kingdom of God, Dharmachaya, the body of the cosmos, and suchness, explaining that reality as it is cannot be described with our notions. He provides exercises on mindful breathing, stating that enlightenment can be immediate with mindfulness. Through breathing in, one can achieve enlightenment without thinking, planning, or fear, which strengthens concentration and brings insight to transform suffering and bring happiness. This practice is not prayer but a way of looking at things.
Thay also speaks about walking on Mother Earth and calming down the body formation (Samskara). He emphasizes getting out of the prison of past and future and touching reality as it is (“suchness”).
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