When something bad happens, it seems second nature to look for someone or something to blame. There’s a lot going on right now and there’s plenty of blame in the air. I don’t always see right away how I may be connected and contributing, directly or indirectly, to the cause and the solution. What is it that I could do or stop doing to help make things better? The slogan ‘Think globally, Act locally’ comes to mind.

Pema Chōdrön, a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, teaches how to use blame to help us awaken and become more compassionate:

“When I first read the lojong, or mind training, teachings in The Great Path of Awakening by the nineteenth-century Tibetan teacher Jamgön Kongtrül the Great, I was struck by their unusual message that we can use our difficulties and problems to awaken our hearts. Rather than seeing the unwanted aspects of life as obstacles, Jamgön Kongtrül presented them as the raw material necessary for awakening genuine uncontrived compassion. It is unconditional compassion for ourselves that leads naturally to unconditional compassion for others. The lojong teachings are organized around seven points that contain fifty-nine pithy slogans that remind us how to awaken our hearts. Here are two of those slogans.

Annie will facilitate and continue with the series on the Three Marks of Existence (more on the three marks at the bottom).

This week we will focus on and practice the second mark: non-self.

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Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh) often teaches the concepts of non-self using the example of a flower. He says:

“The flower is made of non-flower elements. We can describe the flower as being full of everything. There is nothing that is not present in the flower. We see sunshine, we see the rain, we see clouds, we see the earth, and we also see time and space in the flower.

A flower, like everything else, is made entirely of non-flower elements. The whole cosmos has come together in order to help the flower manifest herself, The flower is full of everything except one thing: a separate self, a separate identity.

The flower cannot be by herself alone. The flower has to inter-be with the sunshine, the cloud and everything in the cosmos. If we understand being in terms of inter-being, then we are much closer to the truth. Inter-being is not being and it is not non-being. Inter-being means being empty of a separate identity, empty of a separate self.”

What does this mean for you and me? And, how does this insight help me live a more conscious, caring life? Here are a few thoughts for us to ponder together…

Please join us in mindfulness on Monday evening as we sit and breathe together.

This week Annie will facilitate. She will start a three-part series on the Three Marks of Existence.

The Three Marks of Existence (sometimes called the Three Dharma Seals) are the basic characteristics of our world. Understanding them helps us see the truth about life and transform suffering.

The three marks are:
(1) annica — impermanence
(2) anatta — non-self
(3) nirvana — the joy of letting go of concepts.*

*Thich Nhat Hanh teaches nirvana as this third mark, though other teachers often refer to the third mark as dukkha, or suffering. Because nirvana and suffering are two sides of the same coin, “No mud, no lotus”, we can see that nirvana is as much of a mark of existence as suffering.

This week we will focus on and practice the first mark: impermanence. I’ll share about the other two marks the next two times I lead sangha.

When it comes to my body, I have a habit energy of attending to the “squeaky wheel” - the part that is not working as I want it to and/or is causing me pain. Over the years, I’ve tried to inhabit my body more fully, but somehow a gravitational force (aka - something in me) keeps pulling me back to my “equilibrium”. Recently, I’ve been experimenting with a radically different approach: bringing compassion and gratitude to different areas of my body that were not troubling me. As Thay might say about practicing with a “non-toothache”: “When we’re having a toothache, we know that not having a toothache is a wonderful thing. Yet when we don’t have a toothache, we’re still not happy. A non-toothache is very pleasant.”

This shift was prompted by my husband having been diagnosed with bladder cancer and the emotional and intellectual roller coaster that ensued. One night, I was lying in bed in the wee hours, awake and reflecting on how lucky we were that his asymptomatic cancer was discovered early enough to be treated. I was struck by the contrast between how much my body does relative to how little I’m aware of. So, I decided to try an experiment.

In her book Lost in Translation, Ellen Frances Sanders discusses the Nguni Bantu term ubuntu. Sanders describes ubuntu as the notion that “I find my worth in you, and you find your worth in me” and adds that it “can be (very) roughly translated as human kindness.” Human kindness is a virtue that is described in every language I can think of. For example, the Buddhist terms metta in Pali and maitri in Sanskrit are defined as loving kindness. I interpret metta and maitri as versions of the well-known Golden Rule, treating others the way we want to be treated. In my view this is done by being mindful of the worth in all of us, especially in our most vulnerable states, such as when we need refuge. Terms related to universal virtues, easily found in a variety of languages, are the ones I most aspire to identify with.

Dear friends,

At sangha on Monday night, we will recite the Five Mindfulness Trainings together, with a focus on the Third Mindfulness Training – True Love.

In December, I spent two weeks in the hospital in a lot of pain. One of the first things I reminded myself was that pain and difficulty is the nature of human life, and that I have a spiritual practice strong enough to support me and I had sangha siblings who are there to support me.

While I was still in the hospital, Valerie Brown and Mitchell Ratner, two of my dharma siblings, together with Opening Heart Mindfulness Community, offered a Monday evening healing ceremony which was very nourishing for me. Having the sangha hold me within the container of the practice supported me quite a bit and reminded me that I had all the conditions for happiness even during a very difficult period.

Andy will facilitate and share his Dharma topic with us on Monday Feb 14. Please join us in mindfulness as we sit and breathe together.

During the past couple weeks since Thich Nhat Hanh's passing I have heard so many loving stories and tributes to Thay, I have enjoyed chanting with the monastics, listening attentively to Thay's poems, and following closely to the beautiful ceremonies leading to Thay's funeral. I have smiled, laughed, and cried, feeling sad, happy, and nourished and not wanting any of it or Thay to come to an end. And in my heart of hearts and in my practice I know that it all will continue - just like Thay. He is in our breathing, walking, sitting and smiling, and when I can solidly come back to my practice and come home to the here and now, I can find peace.

At times I think my practice is not strong enough, and I feel lost and not really sure where I am, and this peace slips away. I come to sangha feeling nourished, I sit and chant and meditate in the morning feeling supported, and yet I can slip back in to my day and get easily distracted and worried about what I have to do and what I should have done, and then sometimes feeling lost by not doing anything. And then I wonder where I am…

Dear friends,

Magda shares the Dharma topic while facilitating at our online sangha Monday evening:

Traveling on an airplane over India, Thich Nhat Hanh became quite emotional as he envisioned the Buddha’s long pilgrimage that started in Lumbini. He bowed to continue the Buddha’s path by bringing “peace in every step”. In At Home In The World, Thay explains that whenever we walk in meditation, we generate a powerful collective energy of compassion, forgiveness, and peace. Those who walk in peace and freedom get connected right away. We do not walk alone since our ancestors are always with us.

Dear Friends,

Our much loved and respected teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, has passed away. Thầy was 95 years old. He transitioned peacefully at his Root Temple Từ Hiếu near Huế, Central Vietnam where he lived for the past three years.

At this week's Monday evening sangha we will honor the life of Thay by coming together as a community. At this difficult time for the global Plum Village community we can all find comfort, strength and wisdom in the sangha, and in the teachings he made available to us all. Turning back to our breath and our slow and reflective walking, we can find peace and space to think about his work of peace, inclusiveness, understanding, compassion and happiness.

Over the coming days there are a number of events taking place across the worldwide community. This began last night with a ceremony live streamed from Deer Park and continues with events throughout the weekend. Click here for details of these events.

Dear Thay, dear friends,

On Monday, we will have a spacious evening of practice. During our first sit, we will listen to a guided meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh. We will then enjoy mindful movement, or resting, followed by a second sit.

Rather than have a Dharma topic, each of us is invited to be with what is in our body, our heart and/or our mind. It may be about your practice, what brings you joy or what you are struggling with, a quote or passage you’d like to share, or something else. However you are and whatever you bring is welcome.

We look forward to having you join us.

Click below for Zoom link.

As we begin a new calendar year, we can come back to our breath. Please join us as we breathe together and listen to Thich Nhat Hanh share the teaching of breathing in and breathing out.

This Monday, Susie will facilitate and we will recite the Five Mindfulness Trainings according to the Plum Village tradition. Our focus is on the First Mindfulness Training — Reverence for Life.

This day happens to be the 7th anniversary of the death of my birth father. Seven years ago, I facilitated at Monday night sangha. It was the day of his funeral, and it was fitting that I come to the place of comfort in our sangha. Holding the space for friends was a way for me to begin the grieving and healing process.

I still ponder the quality and integrity of my life process as somewhat of an orphan. How much do I have reverence for my own life, the life of my ancestors, the life of my descendants, the life of marginalized people, the life of my pet, a spider, a flower, a person I vehemently disagree with?

What makes us reverent?
I invite you to check in with yourself on this question:
How do I revere life…
• My own life
• My parents’ lives
• My offsprings’ lives
• Marginalized people’s lives
• My pet’s life
• A spider’s life
• A flower’s life
• The life of someone I vehemently disagree with?

Reflecting on the ARISE Sangha’s Contemplations of the Five Mindfulness Trainings,, I am faced with the patriarchal messages that have shaped me…

Dear friends,

After our meditation period on Monday night, we will listen to a talk by Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay). In the video, Thay talks about how moments of non-thinking and being present allow us to feel joy and do our work in the world in ways that may be more beneficial.

We are constantly creating habits by what we consume.

After we watch a movie, for example, our mind might keep thinking about what might happen to the characters. Or when we read a book on eating a certain way, the ideas in that book are top of mind when we make choices about our food.

Thay teaches us that when we pay attention to (or consume) what is happening in each moment - like when we’re brushing our teeth or washing the dishes – we generate the habit of mindfulness in our daily lives and start to notice the joy that exists in each of those moments. Really being present while walking from the car to a store or riding the metro can bring immense joy — which is quite a miracle! We can find miracles in every moment throughout our day.

Dear Thay, Dear Sangha,

On Monday, after our sitting and walking meditation, we will listen to part of a Dharma talk by Thay, entitled “Calling your cows by their true names.”

While the whole of the Dharma talk is wonderful - from the Pebble Meditation to the eight practices to care for our suffering - we will listen to the last part. This is where Thay teaches about another way to generate joy and happiness: the practice of letting go.

Somehow, despite all these years of practice and my intellectual understanding of impermanence and interbeing, I still find myself holding on. Sometimes, clenching, without even knowing that I’m doing it. Holding on to how I have taken care of my aging mother, contrasting that with how she is currently being cared for, and suffering. Holding on to how I would like to physically be with and comfort a dear friend who just lost her daughter, relative to being so far away, and suffering... Holding on to how much work I could and should get done in a day or week, when I wasn’t grieving…

On Monday evening we will offer a ceremony of prayer and healing energy to our community and beyond. Within our sangha and worldwide, many are suffering. In the Plum Village tradition, we offer this ceremony to acknowledge the suffering of all beings and offer peace, compassion, understanding, and love for ourselves and for those who suffer. The essence of the ceremony is to transform suffering into compassion, peace and joy.

We welcome two guests, Dharma teachers, Valerie Brown from ARISE Sangha, and Mitchell Ratner from Still Water Mindfulness Practice Community to facilitate this ceremony. We aspire to bring love, compassion, and kindness to those who are suffering and to release their suffering toward great love…

Dear Thay, dear friends,

On Monday, we’ll explore the Fifth Mindfulness Training, Nourishment and Healing as it relates to difficult moments and comfort eating.

One of the many things I love about the Five Mindfulness Trainings is that they’re aspirational. When I read them, I feel the love, encouragement and non judgement with which they were written. There’s also an element of strength, or perhaps belief, inviting us to step into the practice in ways that will support us and the larger world.

All of this is true, AND, when times get really tough, I often want to soothe myself by eating something comforting, mindlessly - ideally with my attention focused elsewhere. Something in me judges me for being unmindful, contributing to suffering. Am I?