At Plum Village, Brother Pham Hanh offers a thoughtful Dharma talk on December 14, 2023. Using relatable stories and personal anecdotes he explores how we can find joy and refuge in tough times. Brother Pham Hanh leads us on a path from witnessing the constant renewal of our body’s cells to walking with care in the midst of conflict in Israel-Palestine. He illustrates how the simple act of walking can help us understand ‘interbeing’—to experience ourselves as multiple streams —and to truly ‘arrive’ in the present moment. Paying homage to his Dutch heritage, he shares the phrase “He, He,” encouraging us to engage our whole body and feelings in the experience of fully appreciating the present moment, much like savoring a well-deserved cup of coffee after hard work.
00:00 Start of the talk
10:54: 🔔 Embodied mindfulness practice and the symbolism of a Korean bell in Plum Village.
• 14:05: Our brother shares the symbolism and history of a Korean bell.
• 16:17: Discussion on the perception of true continuation of the bell.
• 17:59: An exercise of deep listening to the sound of the bell and body sensations.
25:50: 🔔 The power of the present moment and the choice to focus on what we still have in difficult times.
• 25:50: The present moment offers spaciousness and freedom.
• 27:36: Choosing to pay attention to nourishing and healing elements in the present moment.
33:47: 🤔 Exploration of suffering, joy, and self-awareness through mindfulness and interconnectedness.
• 33:47: Suffering and joy are interconnected; embracing suffering leads to inner peace.
• 36:05: Finding refuge in oneself by resting awareness in supportive parts of the body.
• 42:04: Understanding interconnectedness through ancestral lineage and self-identity.
• 47:13: Challenging the perception of separateness through a multi-dimensional perspective.
47:36: 🧬 Understanding the continuous replacement of cells in the human body and the interconnected nature of our existence.
• 47:36: The concept of self is explored in relation to the continuous stream of body and cells that can be traced back for a very long time.
• 51:10: Our brother challenges the perception of the self and encourages a deeper understanding of the nature of existence.
• 56:50: The human body is constantly renewing its cells, with 38 trillion cells being born and dying every seven years.
1:07:42: 🧘♂️ Reflections on learning from a Dharma talk and recognizing interconnectedness and responsibility.
• 1:08:20: Realization of not applying teachings
• 1:11:21: Empowerment and responsibility
• 1:14:54: Singing a healing song to acknowledge suffering
• 1:16:16: Using analogy of salt in water to manage suffering
1:17:27: 🕊️ Practicing mindfulness in times of conflict and uncertainty, and finding refuge in the present moment.
• 1:17:27: Mindfulness in uncertain times
• 1:21:25: Practicing with war and uncertainty in Israel and Palestine
• 1:22:10: Importance of feeling the pain before seeking solutions
• 1:27:36: Practicing walking meditation in the midst of conflict
1:27:55: 🌿 Choosing to embrace interbeing nature and offer refuge to ourselves and the world.
• 1:27:55: Experiencing the wonders of life and choosing to nourish oneself
• 1:29:39: Recognizing the interconnectedness of self and others
• 1:31:15: Training the sense of self to see interbeing nature
This talk was recorded on the 13th December 2023 in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village (France). It is the eight of our live Thursday talks of the Rains Retreat 2023 offered to our lay friend guests.
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