Freedom from Being Caught in the Past or the Future | Dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh, 2014.07.26

There is the habit energy of running in every one of us. We tend to run to the futrue in order to look for happiness, peace and fulfillment. Many of us are caught in our regrets and sorrows concerning the past. You may have suffered a lot when you were a child, when you were young. The mark of suffering is very deep in us and there is a dark corner in our consciousness. The memory of suffering is stored there. In our daily life we tend to go back there and watch the film again and again. We experience the suffering of the past again and again. We know that it is not good to go back to the past and experience the same kind of suffering again and again, but that has become a habit. The past becomes a kind of prison. We are locked in it, and we are not capable of getting out and be in the present moment., to get in touch with the sunshine, the blue sky and the wonders of life. We are not free. There must be a way to get out of that prison. The practice of mindfulness can help us.
Many of us tend to also run to the future. We have a lot of fear and uncertainty about the future. We are caught by the energy of fear, uncertainty and worry. The future also becomes a prison. We are so concerned about the futrue, we worry about the future and we are not capable to live in the present moment. The blue sky, the beautiful hills, the trees, the flowers, the sunshine, the children, all wonders are there in the present moment.
In fact, life is only available in the here and the now. The past is already passed and the future is not yet there. Life is only available in the present moment. This is very clear.
The practice of mindfulness helps us not to be caught in the past or the future and live deeply in the present moment. We need freedom in order to live our life, freedom from the sorrows and regrets concerning the past, and the worries and uncertainty about the future. The practice of mindful breathing and walking can help us to be free.
When we do walking meditation, we may walk not too quick and not too slow. Breathing in, you may make two steps or three steps. Every step brings us home to the here and now. I have arrived, I am home. Joy and love is possible. Breathing in, I make one step and arrive in the here and the now. Breathing out, I am home, home. With every step we arrive at the Kingdom of God.
We can use words to help us practice walking meditation:
I have arrived, I am home.
In the here, in the now.
I am solid, I am free.
In the ultimate, I dwell.
(This is the first Dharma talk by Thay for the 4th week of Summer Retreat 2014 in Plum Village.)

[@publicastration]

I used to clean buildings years back. I had an mp3 player filled with Thich Nhat Hanh and Osho and I would listen to it and make an attempt to be in the present moment while I cleaned. I had many break throughs all those nights alone with great teachers I wouldn't say I attained to any level other than seeing the great mountain I must climb to make it through this illusion but I will forever be grateful for the time I spent listening.

[@billiedjin9561]

beautiful message, thank you

[@wizerd2089]

Lovely. But your yt handle is wiiiiild tho!!!!

[@mindsigh4]

@@wizerd2089 yep, me thinks there's a story there somewhere...

[@beans222uwu]

Couldn’t have said it better. That’s more than most of us. Fortunately we can see, and that is beautiful in it’s own right.

[@evandercaldwell9993]

💖💖💖💖

[@23Bentley45]

My sweet beloved teacher. You’ll live forever in all of us

[@vanessapetrea2490]

Thank you, Plum Village, for keeping his lectures and teachings continued. Many lives will hear them and read them hundreds of years from now🙏🏽💗🙏🏽Blessings and love for all

[@Libzep999]

Thank you Thay. Thank you disciples of Plum Village. Thank you Sangha. I go for refuge to the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. Blessings upon us all.

[@nenadsavanovic8628]

I just bought a book called "The Imitation of Christ". The front cover is a picture of Jesus, sitting on a rock, meditating. I think it is clear to see that stillness and peace are the way, but it is easier said than done. I will continue to try my best. Rest in Peace, Thay. You continue to teach us even now.

[@s.terris9537]

"Walk like a free person; don't be a sleepwalker." Thank you Thay.

[@josephc7362]

I had an experience of instantaneous transmission while walking. I was walking mindfully from the parking lot to work. I passed a worker on a break. He called me after I passed and said, "I want to have whatever you have. I have so many problems." I briefly explained to him how to walk and to say the words Thay taught in this video.

[@adrianmckee6094]

He speaks with the voice of the living Buddha. 🙏

[@butterflybeatles]

He speaks with the voice of someone who is whispering.

[@SW-wf3gy]

Venerable teacher, your teaching is so precious. I cry tears when I hear your words but I don't know why. Thank you for coming into this world.

[@lehuy123456789]

He is the ambassador of Buhhda!!! Please read "Old path, white clouds"

[@Kelberi]

"Life is only available here and now." What a beautiful quote.

[@pratikpatil6342]

♥️

[@niharikakadiyala6478]

My dearest Thay, you are the calm to my storm . Your words , your voice , your smile and just the aura of your presence is so so divine ! I hope god blesses you an eternity of life . You touched my life in so many ways and i cant be grateful enough! I love you so much. 🙏🏻

[@stephiedrown795]

Me too🧡❤

[@sherrilawrence662]

Me too ♥️♥️

[@jenniechen24]

So grateful to be here , listening valuable teachings every day! 感谢高僧的教诲！ 愿您健康长寿！

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

My home is The kingdom of God. The Pure Land of the Buddha. My home is Mother Earth. The here and the now. Thank you very much great teacher of me. Evangelina Cortes.

[@user-tj4lg7rl5v]

A very wise beautiful soul. Thankyou ❤️ 🙏 Eternal peace & ❤️ 🙏

[@henggeepeng8151]

礼敬一行禅师🙏🙏🙏感恩你的话语 你的微笑 你的声音 你的步行 引导我们💓💓💓🙏🙏🙏

[@alfarag8198]

Your memory is a blessing...thank you

[@heiko6983]

Thank You Thay, thank you all who help to make Thay’s teachings available. You showed me the path to my life🙏🏻

[@denisezkb]

Thank you so much for remembering me happiness is right here right now: when I look at the blue sky, touch the Earth with my feet and listen to a bird singing. ❤️

[@suecastillo4056]

Love and service♥️☮️

[@trebomit]

Thank you, Thay. I was suffering deeply being stuck in the future with worries of what might go wrong. I feel calm and at peace for the first time in awhile. I used to watch your teachings a couple years ago regularly and am remembering why. Thank you again so much.

[@gabrielmsalomao]

archit misal , Plum Village has a Sangha directory here: villagedespruniers.net/au-sujet/international-sangha-directory/ and you can see if you can find a Sangha in the Plum Village tradition there. If you can’t, there are many online groups that join to meditate together and even to discuss the Dharma. Have a very good day, and I sincerely hope you can find relief.

[@SantoshShakya4u]

Great Guru

[@chongseitmooi2593]

Wonderful Master Thay in correlating compassionate words tht transmit us al d living comfort

[@myan6508]

Con cám ơn Thầy 🙏🙏🙏

[@lordbyron3603]

I’m in my room at the VA Cancer Clinic Seattle receiving my 4th infusion of chemotherapy for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma DLBCL : “ I have arrived…. I am home, In the here and the now. “

[@thaomateo8345]

My grandmother looks like him much. I can see my grandmother from his mouth, his eyes, his smile. Thank you these image, i can see my grandmother again

[@pratikpatil6342]

Life is available here and NOW ♥️

[@johnkarumanchary]

Thankyou dear Thay 🙏❤️

[@alexdepilarez6921]

Thua Kinh Thay, I have arrived..I have arrived home .. I spent a day of mindfulness at Deer Park Monastery 3/20/22 It has been 7 years since my last visit.. The continuation of your presence is still and always there. The Sangha exudes your continuation and your teachings.. Thua Kinh Thay thank you for your continuation.. “A Cloud Never Dies “ TNH 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️

[@gabryg1849]

Grazie Thay and Sangha, 😊🙏

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

… the TIME is always ‘ NOW ‘ the body in here & now - Do not split your being into past & future 💚🌱🌷☺️

[@peterjohnson155]

As this video ended, and he spoke the last words, my alarm that I forgot to turn off from the previous night went off. What a calling to wake up. Gave me chills.

[@evangelinacortes708]

Love you Venerable Thay. My honor and gratitude to you and to your Wonderfull teachings. Impossible to stop learning from you. You're in my diary life. You're in my mind when I stop to breath in calm. You're in my way in my walking meditation and much more. THANK YOU SO MUCH GREAT TEACHER. Your marvelous community of Brothers and Sisters around the world are honoring your teachings. I do my best in order to improve my life practicing step by step. EC.

[@yuvrajchavan1202]

Amazing 👏 💫

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

...Appointment in the here in the now, in the present moment. Thank you very much. Evangelina Cortes.

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thank you Venerable THAY. I love when you say; WE HAVE APPOINTMENT WITH LIFE. Evangelina Cortes.

[@floryniculescu]

Your teachings are the reachness of our world... I pray for you, wonderful soul.. Your life and dedication to the truth are our inspiration. I love you❤️👼🙏

[@thejebdude3241]

“The kingdom of God is available in the here and the now”

[@billrichardson9254]

there is no god but man

[@heikevoigt7825]

Thank you very much ❤. Thay is full of love, he is an angel for me. I am suffering so much, but if I learn this Practice of Mindfullness and I get much happier and calm. I have to practice each day.🌈🌞

[@jamesk8s1]

Love Thay! I heard him in person at Dear Park. I also luv luv!!! Br Phap Dung's dharma talks because he brings a lot of humor to his talks! This is all great, and I practice it too. But I do consider when I listen to Thay and other teachers, it's all fine when you remove yourself away and into a monastery and speak of this. It seems to be that putting this in to practice when you are in "real" life is harder. I read a book years ago by Jack Kornfield titled "After the ecstasy, the laundry". In Jack's book each chapter was of a person who had left "real" life, often for years 10,15, 30 years and lived in a monastery or some type of spiritual community away from life. WHEN THEY WENT BACK, EVERY ONE OF THEM, EVEN AFTER 15, 30 YEARS of "PRACTICE", HAD GREAT TROUBLES WITH ADDICTIONS, PAINFUL RELATIONSHIPS OR BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS, DEPRESSION, ETC. It was one thing for them to "practice" this in their bubble, it was a whole different thing to apply to real life.

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thanks a lot Venerable Thay. You have helped me a lot with your precious and generous teachings. Evangelina Cortes.

[@geovaniavaninha2640]

I love your teachings. Thank you Thich Nhat Hahn!!!💜

[@gabrielmetzger5644]

I am so grateful. You help me get back to life.

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Deer Thay, our Venerable Great Teacher. In this first twenty minutes how marvelous is what you have said, I'm sure the rest of this Dharma talking is like a medicine to me, I HAVE ARRIVED, Love this words. I'll continue listening this amazing class. Evangelina Cortes.

[@mariaeugeniacorredordiaz8119]

Maravillosa charla! ❤ Gracias Thay!

[@syarifali6301]

Our teacher mentioned...Indonesia. Love and Peace...

[@RocketVet]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@angelusa73]

It's true. I used to live in the moment and can't do it anymore: have my mind too full of too many things, too many thoughts that at the moment can help me move forward. Being a Christian I have learned to BELIEVE in the path is created for me to follow. THIS MOMENT matters most and I LOVE nature more than anything else that God created. Being grateful is truly important. Thank you. Angela Italy

[@marianademello7831]

Thank you very much for sharing 🙏

[@jitendraumeshitankar8365]

Such an important lecture. Very useful, takes nothing, yet it takes all our attention. Jai Ho guruji

[@themindfulstoic]

This practice of stopping, arriving is really transforming my life. Truly wonderful ❤

[@snoz9048]

Thank you, teacher. 🙏

[@sheetal74]

I really want to meet him and hear him in person.

[@svanderplas8289]

That is back in Vietnam living out his last years in the temple he was trained at as a young man. He had a stroke a few years ago and can no longer speak. His prayers continue to nourish us though.

[@elinannestad5320]

@@svanderplas8289 Oh! Oh! I had no idea. I believed he was in France, imagined him under fresh plum blossom. I too thought one day I would be there and see him. What you say makes his teaching even more powerful. But it will take me a while to take it in. Thank you.

[@stevejobs7342]

Thank you father you help me so much

[@Magnicifent]

I’ve been listening to his talks for a few weeks now and everyone of them is the same. Mindfulness. Here and the now. Suffering. In-breath. Home. Present moment. Also, his followers are the most coughing-ist group of people I’ve ever heard.

[@complexlittlepirate3589]

Yeah, it's almost like he is communicating a consistent and clear message.

[@KnitBone]

There is a video where someone is coughing and he comments something about how even a cough is like the meditation bell calling our attention into the present, into the body, a gift. Sometimes I think of that when I hear the coughing in these videos and I smile.

[@ourfamily9397]

Constantly chant : Namo Amitabha, Repentance and Dedication of Merit. 南無阿彌陀佛🙏🙏🙏 Repentance All the unwholesome karma created by me, Arising from beginningless greed, hatred and delusion; Expressed through greed, hatred and delusion; I hereby regret and repent them all. Dedication of Merit May the merit and virtue accrued from this work adorn Amitabha Buddha 's Pure Land, repay the four great kindnesses above, and relieve the suffering of those on the three paths below. May those who see or hear of these efforts generate Bodhi-mind, spend their lives devoted to the Buddha Dharma , and finally be reborn together in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

How wonderful is Venerable Thay. Wise man. Great teaching; The Kingdom of God is in the here in the now. Thank you. Evangelina Cortes.

[@nabackram]

Thank you

[@peacefulbliss323]

Thank you ! I have been really been absorbing what you have been saying this past week. You are such a peaceful soul. Thank you.

[@robertshows5100]

Beautiful 🌺 flowers

[@indigoblue4791]

Thank you for your kind and gentle message. You speak in such an accessible way, the beauty of your wisdom is in the simple way you are able to communicate it. It is refreshing to find you and listen to you. It is effortless to listen and understand. You have managed to bring together the essential elements of freedom in Now. You show us the answer is in mindfulness and the breath. I am excited to learn more from you, but if l only had this one talk, l believe l have enough to sustain me on this planet, for this lifetime. Please except my most sincere thanks and appreciation. 🤗💕🌏

[@libbylum]

thank you, thank you.

[@LouiseDAlise]

Many Thanks 🙏

[@calijahlovechild7706]

My home is the kingdom of god

[@windyli9865]

Thank you🙏, thank you🙏 thank you🙏

[@lilithschwarzermond7342]

"We have an appointment with life."

[@ramalingaihb8965]

Let it go is the theme

[@chuckhines459]

One second gone is already in the past.

[@christyxy702]

RIP 1/21/22 ❤️🙏🏽

[@user-ug1zp1ph3x]

I needed this today. Thank you. ❤

[@ChefVegan]

🙏 I have arrived

[@hajaatroushi6832]

Very helpful ,, really excellent ,,thank youuuubut the cough of people is very annoying,,

[@yiannismoschov8335]

Thanks

[@supremeplustv1892]

Basis of Budhism is reincarnation and law of karma . The necessity of Budhism is impermanence sufferings and concept of no soul . Budhism guides us to stay in human world and heavens until final stage is attained 🙏🙏🙏

[@jenw1936]

💖🙏🏻

[@flextefitness4954]

Once again a wonderful talk but too much coughing? Someone mentioned they are heavy smokers but shouldn't people following this thought process not smoke?

[@matthewalkman386]

When he mentions Mindfulness, is he just talking about moving with awareness and watching the mind 24/7?

[@kbmrigveda5419]

Watch but do not suppress.

[@jyor1361]

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@liverhemoment]

Can somebody suggest me video of him discussing about Vipasana.

[@jacquelineannepoitras4053]

Present

[@jackyogeeah3447]

What if you are in chronic, severe physical pain? How is this concept applied?

[@adrianbeaumont6745]

🙏❤

[@lakshmimohan2201]

🙏

[@gracielaquinayas8925]

Por favor traducir al español

[@las174]

those who continually cough surely can not hear and might just go outside to not be disruptive

[@KRSNALOKO813]

15:07 Reference to Gospel

[@IamMonaOfficial]

Omg, I wish the person who kept coughing would be respectful enough to leave the room! Other than that, great message.

[@flextefitness4954]

It's not just one person. All of these videos have non stop coughing

[@hughslevin7120]

Why don't you pay attention to the wonderful words of wisdom from the great Teacher Ignore everything else That way you might learn something helpful for your life

[@carolynjenks8744]

It is unfortunate that a sound technician cannot remove the constant coughing, laughing, talking, and extraneous noises from the adults and kids who seem unable to leave the dharma talk that is deep and serious.

[@moniquemcgill2467]

i love these teachings but theres always so many people coughing on them and kids talking on it, hard to concentrate with the coughing in the background

[@forestsunset9617]

calm down, have you tried Buddhism?

[@hughslevin7120]

PEOPLE who are not well are encouraged to come to the retreat to help them to heal and the children are always welcome 😊 ☺ 🙏 🙂 ❤ 💖 😊

[@tonyhill2318]

I will never understand why the audience laughs at some of the most horrible things in this talk. Its terrifying.

[@pinloh5532]

I'm suffer right now because my boyfriend he break up with me and he seeing someone else... I just live in hell

[@audreyd9552]

Know you are not alone. This suffering will pass, and you will, in time, move on to a brighter future. Nurture yourself, be kind to yourself, and reach out to those who truly love you.

[@pinloh5532]

@@audreyd9552 i don't think will move on... this is life maybe also my bad karma too . . Know i just live day by day toooo hurt my heart is bleeding

[@pinloh5532]

@@audreyd9552 when I feel hurt I cut my hand over and over but I don't feel pain bc my heart is bleeding .... my love is true for him... just only him

[@pinloh5532]

@@boryskuczkowski he already leave me and move on

[@pinloh5532]

I don't hope much...just hope he everything find

[@ZX-ly9yz]

One person keep coughing at the back. If they're mindful, maybe don't go to the seminar and spread the flu to other people. Also the sound engineer can do better in recording master voice. Anyway, very grateful for the video.