In this talk, Thay taught us the importance of understanding our suffering, and how to use mindfulness to take care of our suffering. He taught us various Plum Village practices to help generate energy of mindfulness, and help us come back to our true home, where we can heal and transform ourselves.
Starting with the meaning of chanting Avalokiteshvara, the name of Bodhisattva of Compassion. It is not to pray for supernatural power, it is to help the energy of compassion to arise, to heal. When we practise together, it creates a powerful energy, heals everyone and transforms everyone. It releases tension in the body and pain will reduce. The monastics chanted Avalokiteshvara, and we are invited to open our heart and let the energy of the sangha penetrate and embrace.
The sound of the bell reminds us to go home for ourselves. So often we are caught in our worries and fear for future, regret and sorrow of past, or caught up with projects, our mind is not with the body, we are not truly alive. In Plum Village, we are reminded to stop and breathe in and out three times when we hear the sound of the bell. It helps us to come back to the present moment right away. When 1000 people do it together, the healing and transformation is very powerful.
It is important that we enjoy and focus in our in and out-breath, it is healing and nourishing. It just take 2-3 seconds, and it can bring us home to our mind and body. When our body is with our mind, we are truly alive.
Thay also taught us how to walk. Walking meditation is a practice we can do all day long. Focusing attention on our steps, we take the time, enjoy every step, and stop talking. I am not running anymore, my destination is the here and the now. Thay shared the gatha “I’ve arrived, I’ve arrived, I’ve arrived.” If each step brings joy and pleasure, effortless, we re doing correct practice.
All these practices help us to come back to the present moment. I’ve arrived, I’m a free person, free from the past, free from worries about the future. Future is only make of one substance, the present. If we can take care of the present, sure we will have a good future.
Chanting, listening to the sound of bell, walking meditation, mindful breathing, all these practices help to generate the energy of mindfulness. These practices can be done anywhere and help us heal and make peace, joy and happiness possible.
This is the first Dharma talk of the first week of the Summer Opening Retreat, held in Dharma Cloud Temple of Plum Village in the Dordogne, France, on Monday, the 8th of July, 2013.
Help us caption & translate this video!
amara.org/v/C5Ww/