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 Meaning of the Lamp Transmission Gatha
“Adorning the earth to bloom heavenly flowers” is the guidance of the practice, where the heaviness of the earth can bloom into pure heavenly flowers. In human beings, there is always a contradiction between two elements:
- The heavy element.
-
The light element.
Instead of turning our inner world into a battlefield between good and evil, we practice the teachings of interbeing and dependent co-arising. Like a gardener who uses garbage to make compost to nourish flowers, the practitioner recognizes the garbage of afflictions to transform it into bodhi flowers. There can be no flowers without garbage, so we practice the attitude of non-discrimination, smiling and accepting both to attain peace and joy. “Afflictions are Bodhi” is the insight that helps us see the Buddha nature contained in both human nature and animal nature.
The Three Refuges and the Five Precepts are a daily practice to find the path of protection, not a declaration of faith. The Five Precepts include:
- Not killing.
- Not stealing.
- Not engaging in sexual misconduct.
- Not lying.
-
Not consuming intoxicants.
The Three Refuges include: - The Buddha is the source of the energy of mindfulness that helps us recognize what is happening in the present moment.
- The Dharma is the method of practice, the technique to transform garbage into flowers.
- The Sangha is taking refuge in the practicing community to have great energy and solidity.
When facing difficulties, injustice, or hatred, the practitioner needs to steer the boat in solidity by looking deeply to see whether their thoughts, speech, and actions are following the direction of compassion and understanding. If one can keep the energy of compassion in the heart instead of the desire to punish, suffering will immediately vanish. Happiness does not lie in reaching the destination or washing all the dirty dishes, but in having a clear direction. “Now that I have a path, I am no longer afraid,” we can elevate worldly heaviness into lightness and ease right in our daily lives.
