This is from the Blue Bonnet Dharma Discussion Group. Dear Thay, Our group is very healthy. There is a lot of circulation, a lot of insight and practice, warmth and also space in our group. Several people have had strong breakthroughs. One man has penetrated into deep childhood suffering and come out again.

with a fantastic aspiration to deepen and to commit to the practice. Another woman is finding that she has the capacity to embrace her internal knots and scar tissue with a radiant smile and deep breaths. She shines with the transformation she is undergoing. There are many other successes, too.

It seems, though, that these people, and me too, need to learn more about watering the simple, healthy, happy, wholesome seeds. Because there is a tendency to wallow and sink in the practice of recognizing and embracing afflictions, it becomes overwhelming. During the first week there was a lot of talk about getting to know our feelings and also about taking care of myself.

I encouraged a bit of belly breathing and coming back to the truth of the tree in the storm because many people were crying and having difficulty slowing down. We have been sharing about the two methods of transformation at the base this week, and I think that most of the group is understanding these practices. There is a need for learning about beginning anew and all kinds of conflict resolution. A deep question about how to practice when someone continuously waters your negative seeds was asked. So we have the need to learn about courage and not being afraid to confront difficulties with another person. Our facilitation has offered a lot of support to the basic practice of breathing, coming back to self, and to water the wholesome seeds, connecting unhappiness with happiness so they are no longer in opposition. It has been effective in calming, opening, and inspiring the group to continue with the practice.

How to practice when someone continuously waters your negative seeds? I would like to speak a little bit on this question. When someone comes and waters your negative seed, that is also an opportunity for you to practice. There are those of us who think that it would be easier to practice if we go on a solo retreat, go to the mountain. But if you do so, you won't have the opportunity to be challenged.

And that is why to leave a person with the difficulties presented by that person is also an opportunity for your practice. In your private time, in your time, during the time you do things alone, Or you can sit alone, or you can walk alone. Please use that time in order to practice, to get ready, to prepare yourself so that when someone comes and waters the negative seed in you, you will be able to respond in the most positive and beautiful way. If we do not prepare ourselves and then when the negative seed is water, we suffer and we react in a way that is not wise. We bring the suffering into us and we bring the suffering into the other person also. But if during the day, in the daily life, doing your work, and if you keep being mindful, follow your breathing, and prepare yourself, practice, so that your mindfulness becomes stronger. Work out a strategy that when a negative seed is water, what would you do first?

Breathing, smiling, keeping calm, looking at the other person with a smile, what kind of strategy you are going to follow if it happens like that. And then you get ready for the test. And if you succeed one time, you would have tremendous confidence in the Dharma, in your practice. And I'm sure that you will do better next time. And you will make a good impression on the person who comes and waters the negative seed in you. And if you do well, then in maybe one month, two months, he will ask you, how can you do that?

With a lot of admiration. Now it is time for you to share your practice. Because there is a question on how to continue the practice if the other person, the partner, the family doesn't accept that. My... And so it is always like this.

Practice not with a lot of forms. Practice naturally. Don't be caught in forms of practice. Don't show that you are practicing. And this is possible.

For instance, when you practice walking meditation, you can practice in a very natural way that nobody knows that you are practicing walking meditation. And yet you can cultivate your peace, your mindfulness, your joy. We call it the non-practice.

And don't be too eager to share your practice with the other person. Especially don't try to impose your practice on the other person. Don't talk a lot about your practice. Just practice.

So that you become more capable of listening, of smiling, of acting and reacting in a refreshing way. And then one day the other person will notice the change and will be impressed. And then you have the opportunity to share your practice with him, with her. So my answer is that if you succeed once in responding beautifully to the act of watering the negative seed, then that success will continue and will help you and the other person at the same time. I would like to have a question directly.