A summary of some of Thay’s teaching follows.<\/p>\n
Every event can be handled by deep listening compassionately, an act out of love, not from despair.\u00a0 Listen with one purpose: \u00a0help them empty their heart; listen to help them suffer less; let them vent and purge; do not advise; let them attempt to be relieved of their fear, anger, despair, and suffering. You cannot correct wrong perceptions at that time.<\/p>\n
Wrong perception lies at the foundation of fear, war, and violence.<\/p>\n
It has to start with loving speech. \u00a0If you are honest, if you are true, people\u00a0will open their heart and talk. That is when compassionate, deep listening can be practiced. \u00a0During the practice, we are able to\u00a0learn much about our own perception, and their perceptions; that\u00a0is the best way, the only way to remove terrorism.<\/p>\n
Words to say to people\u00a0who are suffering: \u00a0Dear friend, dear people, I know that you suffer a lot. \u00a0I have not understood enough of your difficulties and suffering. It is not our intention to make you suffer more. \u00a0It is opposite, so please tell us about your suffering and difficulties. I am eager to learn, to understand.<\/p>\n
The principle is the same, no matter the conflict.<\/p>\n
Anger is the energy which people use in order to act. \u00a0When you are angry, you are not lucid. \u00a0You might do wrong things.<\/p>\n
Compassion is a better energy. \u00a0Energy of compassion is very strong. \u00a0We can always learn from our suffering. In the ash of suffering, a Phoenix can be born.<\/p>\n
Mindfulness can help us to look deeply into the difficulty, the suffering we have. \u00a0Many positives can arise.<\/p>\n
It depends upon our way of responding to the event.<\/p>\n
There are ways to bring more suffering. \u00a0There are ways to bring relief right away, and bring hope. \u00a0It depends on our mind. \u00a0Mindfulness and concentration help bring insight.<\/p>\n
Don’t worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself. \u00a0We care about today. \u00a0We live today. \u00a0If we know how to handle the present moment, we don’t have to worry about the future. If the present moment has peace, joy, and happiness, the future will also have it.<\/p>\n
Darling, I am here for you.<\/em><\/p>\n When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?<\/p>\n You offer your true presence, you are not preoccupied. With the past or the future. You are present for your beloved one.<\/p>\n Darling, I know you are there. I am so happy because you are truly there. <\/em><\/p>\n You recognize the presence of your beloved one as something very precious. \u00a0You use your mindfulness to recognize that. \u00a0Embrace your loved one with mindfulness and they bloom like a flower. To be loved is to be recognized as existing. \u00a0Even if your beloved one is not there, you can use the telephone and practice.<\/p>\n When your beloved one suffers:<\/p>\n Darling, I know that you suffer, that is why I am here for you.<\/em><\/p>\n Before you do something to help, your presence can already bring some relief.<\/p>\n When you suffer and you believe that your suffering has been caused by your loved one, so you suffer deeply. \u00a0You prefer to go to your room, close the door, and suffer alone.\u00a0 You get hurt. \u00a0You want to punish them for making you suffer.<\/p>\n The mantra is to overcome that: Darling, I\u00a0 suffer. I am trying my best to practice. \u00a0<\/em>Please help me.<\/em><\/p>\n You go to them, and practice that. \u00a0If you bring yourself to practice that, you suffer less right away.<\/p>\n Respond always with compassion and non-violence.<\/p>\n Happiness and suffering<\/strong> inter-are<\/em>. \u00a0They support each other. \u00a0To be is to inter-be<\/em>.<\/p>\n Like the left and the right; if the left is not there, the right cannot be there. \u00a0Same is true with happiness and suffering.<\/p>\n Good and evil<\/strong> inter-are, also.<\/p>\n In every one of us there are good seeds and bad seeds. \u00a0That is the nature of being human.<\/p>\n The lotus grows out of the mud. \u00a0We need the mud in order to make the lotus.<\/p>\n Suffering is the kind of mud we must be able to use in order to grow the flower of love and understanding.<\/p>\n Meditation is a practice of living in the here and now. One can always practice, every moment. \u00a0Collective energy of community (sangha) is very, very helpful.<\/p>\n Mindful Walking<\/p>\n Excerpt from a talk given by Thich Nhat Hanh at Blue Cliff Monastery, Sunday, September 1, 2013.<\/p>\nMantra 2<\/h4>\n
Mantra 3<\/h4>\n
Mantra 4<\/h4>\n
Inter-being<\/h3>\n
Peace, Freedom, Community<\/h4>\n
Namo Avalokiteshvara Chant<\/h2>\n