Embracing Suffering with Mindfulness | Dharma Talk by Thich Nhat Hanh, 2013 07 22

Mindfulness is always mindful of something: mindful breathing, mindful drinking tea, mindful washing dishes, mindful walking, mindful brushing teeth. Mindfulness helps us to know what is happening in our body, feelings, emotions, perceptions and what is happening around us. Mindfulness is a holy energy that has the power is heal. Mindfulness is the energy of the Buddha.
The energy of mindfulness brings the energy of concentration. When you are mindful of something, you are somehow concentrated on it. When you are mindful of your breathing, you are concentrated on your breathing and you are not thinking about something else. When mindfulness and concentration are there, insgiht is also there. Insight is a kind of right view, understanding and awakening. When you breathe in, you know you are alive. You know your ancenstors are still alive in you. That is an insight. That is already an awakening. Insight liberates you from confusion, anger and despair.
Mindfulness, concentration and insight are the heart of meditation practice. This morning we will practice mindfulness of breathing together with mindfulness of suffering. We breathe in and we recognize there is suffering in us. Many of us think it is not pleasant to get in touch with their suffering and they do not want to do that. You are afraid that you will be overwhelmed by the suffering within you. That is why we always want to run away from ourselves and the suffering within ourselves by consumption, like watching TV or drive somewhere.
Our practice is to go home and take care of the suffering inside of us and to transform it. With mindful breathing, we have the energy we need to recognize and embrace the suffering within us like a mother holding her baby tenderly.
Namo ‘Valokiteshrava chant starts at 26:15.
This is the first Dharma talk of the third week of the Summer Opening Retreat, held in Dharma Cloud Temple of Plum Village in the Dordogne, France, on Monday, the 22nd of July, 2013.

[@victoriaryan23]

“When we don’t transform our suffering, we transmit our suffering to our children.” So true.

[@Rosco-P.Coldchain]

That is so powerful to hear and I’m in the process of trying to transform mine ❤

[@lukemulock251]

This video transformed me; I was able to go inside and access my suffering and touch it and have compassion for my parents who transmitted their suffering to me because they were unable to transmute it themselves.

[@whatdoyoulivefor735]

Beautiful

[@goognamgoognw6637]

great. Are you a single child ? That's much easier because you have tons of leverage on them, they will listen and be considerate. When you have siblings and you were not as lucky in life as them, some bad parents will shift their wrongdoing on the least successful child and do favoritism. In such a situation you know you're not being treated fairly it's hard to forgive as they will continue treating you as less worthy no matter what.

[@jacobsmith7818]

Wow my friend wow

[@bethwitrogen7091]

So happy for you! That heals your parents too & theirs too. Bless you!

[@wansaicr]

@@jacobsmith7818 ., I I < I YA /! !,!! ?!!!!!!!! !!! '

[@fabiolamindfulness]

Thank you to the people who manage this channel, you are keeping Thay alive here for all of us to keep practising mindfulness and healing with his wisdom

[@Gangrirawai]

Long live Thay. You are a gift to the 21st century. I am from Tibet and grew up in India. Your words wisdom means a lot to me because you keep it so simple and powerful. Love and respect.

[@cablenetworksystems]

Yes prey for him, he is not well but I am sure he is not suffering, he is in a meditative state and now staying in vietnam as the current news. Will never able meet him but he is in my mind. And will be

[@melodyst.claire5389]

I carry you in my heart ❤ love you Thay 💞

[@4LayersOfStrength]

09-02-22 "...I am home." 😢😌

[@chingkenneth1017]

Thank you

[@popcornnoble437]

Tay has transformed . He is in your spirit.

[@sudhakarlandge3170]

I am thankful and Grateful to Pulm Village Sangha .

[@marinusvandenberg1431]

Tiers came unstoppable 🙏🏻❤️🕉️🕊️☮️ if you suffer know you are beloved, I love you ❤️ Heal the world ❤️🙏🏻🕉️ Thank you so much 🙏🏻❤️

[@Skevanston]

Thank you Dear Sangha and Plum Village. I have had a tremendous loss and this starts the healing.

[@hanliet]

I have been searching for so long but since I have found you, I have not listened to anyone else. Thank you so much for the teaching you bring to us. I hope that I will be able to change and be a better person

[@cablenetworksystems]

It's not about a better person, it's about dealing with all the mental problem we assume to have and face. I listen to him when ever I am sad and when there is no help (as usual : ) ... this man helping me keep going and live. Prey for him as he is not well and currently living in vietnam

[@barbarabibikechagia6350]

All together we will make it. I'm sending you positive energy and I pray to find the courage and the strength to fight the difficulties of samsara🌼🙏🌼

[@cablenetworksystems]

@@barbarabibikechagia6350 I don't know but today I am feel little different and want to live for myself, only myself... thanks, I reciprocate the same feeling for you. Together we are really very strong 💪..

[@kbmrigveda5419]

❤ 🕊

[@23Bentley45]

Thay will always be alive. The most beautiful of all clouds.

[@jinkyjoyacain6800]

Father Thich Nhat Hanh Pleased Pray to the Family of Mrs. Greatchen Baretto Coquangco Im Sincerely Rest in Peace to Mr. Coquangco for Suffering illness last night and Heart Attack Today Nov 30, 2023. Thank you very much Father Thich Nhat Hanh and My Ministry for our Peaceful Life and For our Peacefulmind.

[@chaipotkosit]

When I have listened to Thay about Avolokitechawara who listen to all suffering and embrace and heal. It just came into my mind my father 's suffering during the time he was in his serious illness and about to leave his life from this world. I finally can understand and help embrace his suffering in his mind and transform to insight that his mind is so pure and can be very peaceful. In my mindfulness breathing and walking, I breathed and walk with him in pure and peaceful mind. I understand now we can repair our mistakes in the past with mindfulness in present. This also help alleviate my suffering from the loss of my father's life. Thank you Thay and all Sangkha.

[@jane_7193]

This is how we remember Thay, our beloved Teacher. Love, deep understanding and wisdom that rises above mountains. Thank you, dear Thay. Our tears of joy and love heal our hearts. Have I ever experienced the present moment as beautiful as this moment right now.

[@tammyspringer8019]

when I listen to you, I always feel.like I wish I could give you a gift to bring you joy, because you help me so much. So nourishing, do helpful. Bless you for all you do.

[@christiangasior4244]

I really admire Thay’s ability to convey these concepts in such an elegant manner. I also love how you can sense his energy and it is a healing energy. You can see that he has been able to come to terms with his suffering and transform it into beautiful insight and compassion. It’s clear that he doesn’t just say these words, but lives by them as well. I find that I can sort of go through the motions of explaining what is helpful if it is practiced, but that it doesn’t convince people because they can sense that I am myself not at peace and that I need to practice more and learn to be more skillful. Whether he was writing or talking, Thai was always authentic in a way that brought so much healing and peace to the world. I will miss him but I am so grateful for these videos and his books.

[@christiangasior4244]

Thay*. For some reason I can’t figure out how to edit that mistake.

[@bobbybushwhacker]

I love Thich Nhat Hanh, RIP good sir. You showed me how to find inner peace, I must practice it for a lifetime, but I finally see it inside myself

[@santiendah1877]

TEST drive to start my peace soul and body with mindfullness, , Damai sang Buddha 👣 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

[@TonyMoze]

Love this. Love ❤

[@pretty5793]

It is so hard to see all the suffering in this world. Thank you for explaining how to process it and improve our mindfulness.

[@lauralunaazul]

Thank you, So beautiful!!! :)))

[@MysticFiddler1]

I finally heard and saw transformation through the sangha.

[@seaneenorourke4975]

Listening to Thay tonight is a gift. I am blessed by following my suffering to his teaching of compassion, insight and transformation.

[@mjohnson5030]

This form isa a novice to this moment and to the works of Thay .discovered Thay and the peace of mindfulness and awareness too late to see Thay with these bodily eyes. But I see and hear him in every mindful step and breath. Thank you Thay.

[@Highvibesgirl]

Such a beautiful teaching. Thank you ❤🌹

[@Reree-gz5bg]

his voice is very calming and watching him for some reason reminds me how precious life is. I can be very pessimistic view towards life. Mind you, I outwardly appear like someone who has their life together and when you hear me talk so pessimisticly it can be confusing. like why do you feel this way? I can't quite say why I do. it's just the hopelessness and despair. ;-;. Also not twisting the words of Buddhism. I tend to fall into victimisation or self pity. which is something I am more mindful of. but the change has been very subtle but it is there.

[@andreawallenberger2668]

"The drop of water allows herself to be embraced by the river... "

[@stephsurfingphotos2247]

I love to hear your talks 😍 they give me so much peace 🙌

[@jonnydon3031]

This man is superb

[@sanjanakhanna8647]

Thank you master Thay..... today is my father's 13 th day of passing....this prayer helped me to release his pain, too ...my heart is crying 😢

[@plumvillageonline]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing that 🤎

[@rosemarieahmeti5554]

Es ist ein so wundervolles Video. Es brachte und bringt mir sicher in Zukunft Stille in mir zurück.❤ Danke sehr. Ich mag es und schätze es mich in Achtsamkeit zu üben.

[@AaronIsaak47]

Thank you to the sangha at plum village for this beautiful music.I am certain Thay’s spirit lives in eternal heaven. Thank you master for embodying the message of the Buddha in every action you displayed, in each wonderful moment. 🙏

[@blanchekinsley9250]

I loved this.

[@magorzata8090]

Thank you Thay 🌞

[@sleepycat224]

Thay you are always with me. You give me peace.

[@lluviadeluz]

Very precious words… Thank you Thay 🙏🏻

[@juliettebrown1968]

RIP master your teachings will live forever

[@de876]

WOW! Thay is so inspirational... And the Namo ‘Valokiteshrava chant brings me so much piece 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@pratibhapandya9262]

What does this chant mean

[@Cesc8170]

Thank you Thich for these words that made me sleep back after arround 4 awakenings two nights ago. Your words have given inner peace to one more person. I give you back the light that is a reflection of yours thanking you very much for sharing your wisdom with us and wishing you a peaceful, healthy and long life.

[@marymayhan5923]

Thank you Plum Village for these teachings of Thay....the sound of these voices...the sound of the bell being hit the drum...

[@debreyes2128]

Much needed lessons in humanity and love. Bringing compassion into focus.

[@user-vc7vk4fo2r]

どうもありがとうございます🙏

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

THANKS A LOT FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CHANT. Evangelina Cortes.

[@Reiaroma]

Thank You Thay and Plum Village community #MuchLoveAndPeace

[@anaflows]

I am touched deeply what a jewel is Thay and what a great legacy he leaves this world this is what is needed in this world, pure nectar and nourishment for the soul 🙏🧡💜❤🙏

[@JohnSmith-wp7vf]

Plum is the character "li" (like in Bruce Lee). Character is composed of a tree and children eating the fruits of plum under the tree. To me plum tree is Buddha, plum fruit is dharma, children are sangha. I take refuge in the sangha, not eating the fruit of good and evil but eating the fruit of living word.

[@techibabe]

These talks are invaluable internationally for many generations forever. A great mic to reduce coughing and noise would be wonderful. please.🙏🙏🙏

[@cablenetworksystems]

Cough is bothering you? He is trying to tell us how to ignore & avoid/get better with distress and suffering. I mean you come back in this channel when you think you are ready.. Cough and other distractions are part of this as this is real and not a movie anyone is making.

[@gutsymovies]

I love the chanting at 27:20

[@gemmamonso9158]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏💖

[@valerieh5400]

I hope that someday I can meet Thay, but if I do not meet you here then I will meet you in another form. We are truly blessed by your presence and words Thay. Thank you for your continued wisdom, kindness, compassion and mindfulness. Namaste, Val

[@GannLEF]

Thank you TNH. You have given the world such blessings

[@petermirchandani3122]

Dear Thay, Dear Sangha, Thank you very much for wonderful, wise and very helpful talk on mindfulness and embracing our suffering. The beautiful Namo Avalokiteshvara Chant that was offered by the Sangha was extremely powerful and I could feel the presence the collective mindfulness. I found it very helpful and joyful. Thank you so much for sharing this precious offering. Wishing You Peace And Happiness, Peter

[@diegosaito2400]

So profound and so true. Thank you so much

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thank you Venerable Thay. I love your teaching of sending energy through the distance. Evangelina Cortes.

[@DG-sl3ev]

Thank you Thay and Dear Community 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@miketheman6243]

I think mindfulness works for physical suffering too. It’s hard for me because of my monkey mind but I’m working on it😊….

[@rosemarieahmeti5554]

❤Me too

[@marcellekarstaedt3610]

Thank you thank you

[@marybrown957]

I just love listening to this human being. I just know he is selfless, authentic and truly wise. Wonder if the world in my humble opinion ❤😊

[@ketotrucker6262]

Thank you very much. NAMASTE!❤🧘‍♂️😊

[@patriciawilliams7107]

Thank you for sharing this very helpful talk of Thay.

[@a.s2118]

Listening to this video each time is so releasing and healing thank you so much Thay. Breathing in we are connecting to your wisdom and insight breathing out we are spreading love and compassion around us 🙏🏼✨🧡🌺🌱

[@victoriacrawford3021]

Thank you, thank you, thank you...........

[@lestweforgotindians8096]

Dharma ❤

[@abc25277]

I have a question, hoping someone can relate: How do you "handle" trauma and what is connected with it? In my understanding, from my experience, it's like a lot of bottled up/suppressed emotions and memories that you start to become conscious of. In my case 2 years ago, since I started to meditate. I knew I had a rough childhood, but completely forgot how my "inner child" felt and all theses memories perceived as threatening. Right now I have PTSD and get triggered every few minutes, making me incapable of working and socializing. Wanting to cry and freeze all the time. How do you accept suffering when it becomes so overbearing? Therapy and support helps, I was just curious if someone went through something similar. Namaste

[@whatdoyoulivefor735]

Stay strong and keep up the good work. It will feel impossible at times but you're in the right place.

[@nimeshsompura]

Hi. You can search a book called expressive writing. Words that heal. I hope it helps you. It's a wonderful tool you can use to heal trauma by writing them down.

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

If it's one event you might want to try EMDR or Brainspotting. If it's complex PTSD then you might want to try Somatic Experiencing.

[@Ludifant]

If you know that every perception is a contrast and we create suffering by chasing happiness, because we don´t want to suffer, want to ban suffering.. you can see, that if you ever succeed at being happy all the time.. if you actually fulfil your wish, someone else is suffering. This is the great injustice of our world. And while all ideals are off.. If you are suffering, it´s the other way around. You are allowing someone to be happy. It´s not noble, it´s necessary.. Like white is necessary for black. When given a choice, aim for the middle.. Grey is great.

[@rzxkp7none275]

Thank you. I had family to remind me to be thankful. I had to remember blessed, thankful, and appreciate..

[@diegosaito2400]

Thank you Thay

[@mistywatercolormemories]

Beautiful and true. Thank you, much love

[@rmleider]

Beautiful song to meditate to at the end...I felt covered in flowers

[@LinhNguyen-lm2sb]

🙏🙏🙏

[@avataryurii]

my babymomma of 5 years and 4 kids two from her first marriage two toddlers we created and beautifully brought into life, discarded me, had the other kids accused me of rape, I've been arrested, kept from my toddlers for a year and a half and have battled court this entire time and have never heard from her or our children again. I am so consumed with bitterness and rage and hate towards her this betrayal so raw and disgusting and wicked I've never in my life been so consumed with despair and darkness my joy has burned away my trust is broken and I am filled with the fear of injustice as she lies blantively and tries to destroy our lives. I don't know how to heals and forgive something so destructive and vile I feel like I am going to die my chest and heart and constantly aching and tearing and my mind broken confused and filled with terror help me pleasen

[@isabellelimhow8525]

So TRUE

[@jamesk8s1]

Was this talk in a restaurant? Why is there so much talking in the back ground? Funny :). Great as always, but it sounds like Thay is giving a talk in a Denny's restaurant :).

[@kbmrigveda5419]

Shhhh....Embrace the Now.

[@deniselaureano8775]

🙏🧡🙏

[@bonniek9622]

Where can I find the words to the song?? SOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[@stephiedrown795]

💜💙❤💛🧡💚💚💚

[@lordbyron3603]

Thay says our mother and father, and our ancestors are alive in every cell of our body . They continue in us ! They are still alive. We are not a separate self . Not a separate you ! “You” carry all your ancestors. This is the teachings on signlessness. But when those same cells attack our body as in cancer, are our ancestors attacking us? Does anyone have a deep insight into what is going on?

[@heynowyouarearock]

What is the name of that large bowl bell thing?

[@jameskopie5989]

Grateful

[@kimballbarrett1961]

in breath mindful breathing tea attention mindful drinking mindful drinking mindful washing mindful energy there is happenings energy of mindfulness breathing mindfulness of energy holiness the energy of concentration on it in breath focus concentration insight right view to be alive an awake in breath alive deepens less confusion no what to do breathing there is suffering afraid of the suffering inside consume t.v. run away from our self beginners barrow every embrace i will take good care of you embrace understand his own suffering go back to themself to us transform father mother compassion other person victim of his suffering help compassion chant generate to understand reach out to the world heart mindfulness collective energy into body drop of water in a river be there breathing mindfulness of concentration and compassion cry it good to cry Kimball Barrett

[@reesetorres4369]

The one coughing is really distracting. I can also hear him sneezing 🤧

[@rmleider]

what does thay's hand movement at 35:31 mean?

[@upstatenewyork]

The ongoing coughing in the background is unreal.

[@robbkushner]

I believe the background noise may be that of translators in the room.

[@upstatenewyork]

I didn’t know they were there. Thank you.

[@Tony-bv7gz]

@@upstatenewyork acknowledge your annoyance with them, then give them your compassion and forgiveness.

[@tammyspringer8019]

i noticed there is coughing in most of his videos. But if you have to.cough, you have to cough.

[@upstatenewyork]

@@tammyspringer8019 is is safe to have people with that level of coughing around others?

[@edwigcarol4888]

Incredible.. how could some people go on speaking after the gong ??? Still speaking as Thich Nhat Hanh begins... They must leave! If they have neither respect nor understanding still chatting 3 minutes after begin... 5, 7 15 minutes... They make us harder... "Shun gai this is my pain... There is here no support of the group... even in plum village... I will have to do the way all alone, without any Energy of any group"..

[@za2236]

They are translating quietly for others, my dear😇🙇

[@TheSoftspokenShaman]

Embracing my poopoo does the same thing. Like my thoughts, I let it pass through me.

[@jacquesgrove7009]

This audience is so rude.

[@WilsonLloydz]

:)

[@kmm2442]

What is he doing w this hands? Thanks.

[@nternalPractice]

It's ironic that this guy is talking about "mindfulness" while in the background there is the incessant chatter of people clearly not paying any attention and clearly not even remotely mindful. Why would anyone waste their breath on room full of shallow and distracted people..."pearls to swine".

[@plumvillageonline]

Thanks for mentioning this. What you can hear are the whispers of the translators in the same room, translating Thay’s Talk into multiple languages. Thay always wanted the translators close by so he could hear and follow whether they are keeping up with his message, tone and delivery. If he sees that something is not clear, he will repeat to make it more easily translatable. So, rather than being unmindful, this sound is actually the sound of highly concentrated simultaneous translators whom Thay is engaging with (through eye contact) throughout the talk. We hope this information is helpful.

[@nternalPractice]

@@plumvillageonline Nice! Thanks for clarifying. I’m always highly sceptical of academic (verbal) “talks” on this subject. (Since none of this can be learned with the “thinking” mind)

[@kendrawallace9072]

Thank you 🙏

[@diegosaito2400]

So profound and so true. Thank you so much