Practicing in a Stressful Environment | Dharma Talk by Thich Nhat Hanh, 2004.02.08

This 71- minute dharma talk in the Ocean of Peace Meditation Hall takes place on Sunday, February 8, 2004. The monastic and lay community are practicing together during the 2004 Rainy Season Retreat from January 4 to March 14 at Deer Park Monastery.
Thay has received many letters from those participating in the retreat. Some contain joy and some contain their difficulties. We begin with a review of some of these letters and picks three questions.
If nothing is created and nothing dies, where is the beginning? What are the elements that form the beginning?
Continuing the teaching on the sixteen exercises of mindful breathing in the recent weeks. The last four are about perceptions, and this question is about our perceptions. A contemplation on the nature of reality. The objects of our perception, and look deeply, in order to touch the ultimate dimension.
I often feel I have no reason to continue to live. If there is no birth, no death then I feel ready to live.
This question too has to do with the ultimate dimension. This too is a good object of meditation. We can inquire about our body and our mind. We can water the seeds of love and understanding. This question is very important.
For 15-years I have been working as a medical doctor with two other doctors in a health center. We provide care for immigrants, refugees and people who are destitute. The more patients who come, the more it costs the health center because the government only pays for a few per year. This leads to many long days, house calls, and financial challenges. Personally, I am tired and stressed out.
We can have compassion and willingness to help, but this can lead to burnout. We cannot continue like this. Thay shares a story of the congressman who practices walking meditation in the capitol.
How do we respond? The first thing is to look at how do we organize our day. We have to know how to preserve ourselves in order to continue. We do this with our practice - eating, walking, etc. Do we allow time for this? Can we incorporate into our daily life? The next step is to call upon others to help. We don’t need to do this alone. We could learn how to setup a Sangha to nourish our practice - an island and refuge for us.
Last time we spoke about how to take care of our feelings. The four exercises in the realm of feelings are about knowing how to bring the feeling of joy and happiness.
Five Kinds of Energy or the Five Powers
1. Faith (or confidence/trust)
2. Diligence
3. Mindfulness
4. Concentration
5. Insight
We begin to learn about store consciousness and the seeds contained therein. Followed by our mind consciousness and selective watering. Appropriate attention. Positive and negative seeds.
Let us use the five power to create the source of happiness. And we can add “letting go” as the sixth power.
Now we come to the 7th exercise - recognition of the mental formation. That feeling or emotion has its base in store consciousness as a seed (bija). The first function of mindfulness is to be aware, to recognize. It is a practice of love.
1. Recognize
2. Embrace
3. Relief
4. Transformation
In the seventh exercise, we are only doing the first step above.
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[@theresaggiffin9556]

These teachings are preparing me for a joyful, happy, meaningful, and mindful last chapter of my life. I wonder why it took 75 years for me to learn this information? What have I been doing with my life? It feels like I’ve been sleepwalking through life. Thankfully, you have given me tools to nurture the little child within and heal all her wounds! ❤️❤️❤️

[@barbaramaier1988]

Thankyou for sharing your age. Though I have followed That for many years, now at 73, I joined a sangha and for the first time feel his messages are "getting through".😂

[@superdjurdjina]

❤

[@lillyn4778]

Thay's answer to the second question about not having a reason to live was so insightful and really touched me deeply. I am very grateful to plum village for continuing to make all these teachings available. They have helped me so much.

[@espianmashias9565]

Likewise 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼👍🏼

[@Reree-gz5bg]

Depression for me really questions my place on this earth a lot. While I don’t want to die, my existence is pain. 🥺 but to ask what pain? I don’t know if it’s a single answer rather than just not wanting to exist

[@sterlingray3982]

@@Reree-gz5bg You are not alone. I've decided to spend the rest of my life living the teachings of Thay to the best of my ability.

[@hoaha8903]

Go slow and we will see the beauty of this universe and plum village😇

[@sterlingray3982]

@@hoaha8903 Wearing shoes a 1 size too big will slow down your stride.

[@antennawilde]

I want to thank you for not ruining this talk with advertisements. THANK YOU!

[@istoppain62]

I have been using and learning a lot from KZbin and I bought the premium and cancelled all my tv subscriptions KZbin TV, cable. I maintain some movie subs for some entertainment

[@robbiepeterh]

With his passing, it’s an opportunity to go back and listen to his talks anew.

[@theboombody]

Proverbs says even a fool is thought to be wise if he's quiet. I love how this guy is so quiet even while he's lecturing. A calm, low voice, a lot of pauses between sentences, and just a slow, calm pace overall. Very relaxing. Our rushed and noisy world needs more of this kind of thing.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

the calm is the result of his inner qualities : deep sincerity, true compassion and mindfulness among others.

[@costsaving6877]

Frtu

[@cacampbell3654]

Thank you so very much for outlining in very specific detail how Thay speaks! I’ve started tutoring immigrants and I get so emotional when these beloved people are able to hear and reproduce the sounds and structures of English. But I think it would be much more relaxed if I mimicked Thay! 😊

[@babajaga3150]

Thank you. I want to share with you my recent story. I am not practicing at Plum Village and before I only watched few of your videos and found Master to be very inspiring and full of compassion. Because I was busy (what an excuse), later I forgot about the video. Some time ago, however, I woke up in the middle of the night having an anxiety attack. And then it was amazing - suddenly, Master image appeared in my mind, I saw his smiling face and I just heard his calm voice telling : "breathing in, I know I am breathing in, breathing out, I know I am breathing out". I focused on my breath and I was calm in a few minutes. I am so moved and thankful. I would like to find this calmness in my everyday life. Not only to help myself have a better and more meaningful life, but also to be a better person to my family, to other people and to this world. I have already started to remind myself about being more present and I would like to thank Master and all people at the Plum Village : )

[@benfrank8649]

That’s very beautiful, thank you for sharing that.

[@noahwhalen3398]

Thank you for your wisdom Tháy 🙏 I still have so much to learn, but you have helped me more than you could ever know. It was the torch lit path you left behind that saved my life. I will pay you back by helping others & by treating others with love & compassion. You are missed more than you could know! Thank you for Plum Village!

[@s.terris9537]

I am very grateful that this talk was recorded, since I was not at that retreat. It never ceases to amaze me how much more of the teachings I absorb when I see a recording (and/or listen to Thay talk) more than once.

[@guitarmanplayzloud936]

Rather than running from my anger, sadness, embarrassment, or any other emotion, I embrace it and take care of it. I say hi to it and take care of it with lovingkindness.

[@aremedyproject9569]

Trevor Alvut Just practice doing so. Even imperfectly. You’ll get more skilled with practice. All practicing is kindness. Accept with kindness your imperfect practice. 😌🧘‍♀️

[@juliaphillips9436]

Very well said 💜

[@espianmashias9565]

A Remedy Project ❤️❤️❤️👍🏼

[@teresadrozd7171]

Thank you so much for opportunity to listen adorable teacher ❤

[@shannonmckowne3142]

When we are allowed to travel internationally again... I want to go to PLUM VILLAGE

[@ThuNguyen-lw8lr]

10 years. That is what I have heard from a few economists and political science professors have predicted on TV. Thanks for the youtube videos. We can watch the Dharmas online.

[@juliaphillips9436]

I would love to see all the spiritual places like Jerusalem and plum village

[@liliianenglish3824]

me too

[@pournimameshram3816]

@@ThuNguyen-lw8lr 🏅

[@pournimameshram3816]

@@ThuNguyen-lw8lr 🌽

[@jobac2825]

Dear Thay... Thank you for reminding me to take care of myself, as I take care of others.

[@MarieEBarth]

I love the true diligence analogies, with the selective watering of seeds, and the images of guests in the living room. What a masterful storyteller Thay is! What an amazing Dharma teacher!

[@Corusame]

Not having enough time is a problem I'm sure a lot of us can identify with. Being mindful whilst doing what was seemingly mundane in my eyes has helped me considerably, I deal with any problems that arise much more thoughtfully now. Thank you for these invaluable talks so much Thầy Nhất Hạnh.

[@doreengordon1475]

Letting Go is a Power...Priceless

[@galespressos]

Thay teacher, thank you. 🙏🌸💗You have left this physical space. 😔 Yet, here are your recordings for us. Miss you, dear teacher indeed, yet here you are. Thank you. Truly thank you.

[@TheAshleyWilkerson]

I love. Thank you master teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. You are a dear friend to my heart. Peace to all of you on the path of right understanding. Love will see us through.

[@nataliajust]

Thank you, dear Thay 🤍🤍🤍🥲

[@saraanhh]

I’m a devout Christian but Thich Nhat Hanh is one of my favorite monks to watch when I feel overwhelmed mentally . He has a beautiful soul

[@benjamingoldberger5031]

Thank you, Thay. You always help me.

[@samanthabrown7497]

“Tenderly” and a “mother”.. Thich’s talk’s are always so helpful heartwarming and hopeful.Whenever the painful feelings do come up there is always a way to calm and realise a way to understand.I feel so lucky Thich’s talks are so supportive to myself and every single human good or bad ❤ So grateful ☺️

[@denisezkb]

Thank you so much for remembering me to get in touch with Budha in myself ❤️

[@devonseamoor]

Beautiful, I always enjoy listening to Thay. I am observing my inner life most of the time. The moment I'm not feeling joyful I'm not smiling, for that would feel dishonest to me. I smile when I feel an inner smile present within, moving to my face. I feel for doctors and all those who are suffering under work pressure and still engage in their daily practice, balancing mindfulness and submission to superiors who provide an income. To me, that's mindful swinging on a trapeze, so to speak.The letter from this Dutch doctor is truthful, it still shocked me, how the healthcare in Holland has changed for the worse, since I left in 2015. I count my blessings, enjoying good health!

[@benfrank8649]

I don’t think it’s dishonest to smile while you are suffering. You can smile at your suffering or with your suffering. Your suffering is your crying child. Smiling with it is a kind recognition of your own humanity and the truth of suffering in the world.

[@letitgoletitbe]

This talk was taped Feb, 2004.

[@tlsparks8094]

Masterful Mindfulness...smiling with gratitude!!! Thay's teaching have saved me from myself!

[@earlrobicheaux2632]

Even listening to the sound of his voice brings me inner peace. RIP Thay.

[@maureenlewis4300]

I wish I could go to one of these retreats, but oh so grateful I least can hear these wonderful lectures

[@elenaq577]

Respected Master, another beautiful talk. You are pure wisdom personified.

[@Reree-gz5bg]

As I listen to him speak. Not only is he calming but he has me thinking about things. Today in one of the recovery meetings, I am guilty of it too, “I want…”. While wants/desires in moderation is okay, but to have your desires and wants to all be met & for whatever reasons. I say how I want XYZ, even if they are positive, however, I have been thinking. Instead of what do I want, what does the earth want from me & what can I do for the earth? I don’t have a full answer rn. But the earth wants me to be in balance with it. I’m not anywhere near this (if I’m being honest). What can I do for this earth? A lot! Where to begin? I guess for starters, sit in a non judgemental manner. Listen, see, smell & touch without judgement 👉🏼👈🏼. Positive or negative, let the judgement go

[@nityaa1603]

Sincere appreciation for making this talk available. Thank you🙏

[@susanwale8887]

No words just gratefulness for such a wonderful teacher ❤️🙏🏻🦋

[@Mojito99]

No matter how many times you fall off the path. The dharma will always be there for you. Yet when you obey your craving for indulgence in sensuality and defilements, you are instantly left robbed and abandoned. This is the difference between what is false and what is true.

[@Axolotl8888]

Thank you for your teaching.. every time I listen to your teaching is make me feel relaxing and peaceful 🙏🙏🙏

[@marylougaribay407]

Who could possibly dislike this?😒😳🙄 Love 🙏🏼❤️

[@satimog4502]

🙏🙏🙏 I highly Respecte to you I was worrying but now I feel so peaceful mind--from India Tripura state

[@graceacer9369]

Thank you

[@orangebetsy]

That's really funny how he said "Made in Deer Park...Six Powers" just as a voice over for a commercial haha A delightful moment of Thich Nhat Hanh humor...for some reason I see Robin Williams laughing uproariously at that sudden tone of voice from him hahahaha

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thank you very much Venerable Thay for sharing your wisdom in generosity way. Evangelina Cortes.

[@Kat-lz2lf]

thank you for the English subtitle 💕

[@ginoporrasabarca3854]

Thank you very very much

[@galkema]

Need this right now

[@anitauttakleiv824]

Wonderfull teatchings

[@AlessandraGrani]

Pure love

[@hieutrannm.188]

Thank you Thay for all your teaching and loving speeches. ❤️

[@vylinhnguyen9389]

Cam on, Thay. Con dang tap va thich nghe thay moi ngay.

[@francoisedandre1799]

Quel bienfait, quel bienfait, vous faites ! Quel soulagement ! Quel apaisement !

[@rubenciox1976]

Gracias Thai 🙏,el dharma contigo es cercano.

[@georgelouis7782]

Wonderful talk 🙏

[@user-uz2be2my2f]

I love Thay's this discourse.

[@beautiful20106]

Calm and relaxing voice

[@ScottMitchell2]

God bless you Thich Nhat Hanh. Miss you

[@kumu2613]

Thank you. May you be blessed with good. Health Thay. Love the diagram you did to show the “storage” and “mind” and the analogy of watering and seeds and how they grow and manifest from the store and into the mind. Analogies are extremely useful and Thay uses lovely ones.

[@kory2697]

Pre-COVID-19, no one cared about a cough. Post-COVID-19, you cough and some in the room are like👀, others are like 😠, and the rest are like GET OUT HERE WITH THAT COUGH😂. Thankfully this was 2004.

[@lordbyron3603]

Does anyone have this tape that Thay or video refers to a his teachings on Wednesday morning ??

[@veronicasanacion]

Gracias. I am so thankful to this soul, female & male Thich Nhat

[@dr.vandanajerin9864]

Great teaching🙏

[@kory2697]

Self care is important.

[@poetrykellymaiden5457]

🕯️🙏✌️✨💜 love you

[@lazitazen6882]

Thank you so much ❤

[@america9704]

In the life of the spirit we are all always at the beginning.

[@ramthian]

Thanks again

[@FlowerOfLife555]

Infinite thanks.

[@stefaniamarcelli1836]

Thank you💚🙏

[@JCB333of]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[@chongseitmooi2593]

How nice n wonderful if thay would ever live such a life again

[@lauralunaazul]

This is for 2004, how is this doctor and Health Centers in Holland now? 16 years later?

[@Esme617]

🙏🙏

[@mrgoodlife4]

inspiring. thank you

[@michaelwalter2616]

All religion is vain without love kindness humility. ❤ michaelmmmmmmmmmmm

[@Renee-Heal-The-Eagle]

I hope I get better at this. My practice falls apart when I get to work lol

[@chintandatt7444]

Commenting... for the algorithm and whatnot :)

[@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 🙏🙏🙏

[@lauralunaazul]

Hi, I wanna to say that the Spanish Subtitles had many big important mistakes in translation. Important to be aware of. :) Thank you.

[@duh_incredible_dolt]

✌️❤️🙏

[@michaelwalter2616]

Many believers think they have labored in vain but god says. U will soon see the fruit of yur works persevere. Be strong stay in prayer good works for faith without works is dead 😃 smile there is hope for the righteous. God is our refuge suffering builds character overcome suffering with love. In difficult times it is often when we find out who we really r. Dwell on the positive but beware of evil. 😃 mmmmmmmmmmmm

[@lynndurbin9476]

Job share 1 week then next week the other person in the medical clinic. I truly understand from working in mental health clinics, prisons, and in addictions....in the USA most hospitals are corporations and workers are cut to the bone. Fear of medical mistakes, law suits, and being fired are constant. Co-workers are stressed out and some angry. Patients are in terrible condition feeling sorry for the staff accept less than they need or are also angry with their care. Not a good environment for healing or health of the staff. God bless you for helping in this real world problem. Volunteers!!!? Candy strippers and the hospital ladies auxiliary can't do what you do...but maybe they can slip you an energy bar to keep on going.

[@stephaniejennings2673]

💛

[@ilonkaleibfried2142]

🙏😊🙇‍♀️

[@wanderingfool7136]

🙏🙏🙏

[@Nothing-rq6ze]

best part is when the students show Thay their homework and bows _/\_

[@Reinehr]

5:34 can somebody link to the talk he's referring to?

[@sofiamarie9136]

@Guilherme Reinehr I was looking through the comments trying to find the same answer. I wonder if you found the other lecture mentioned? 🙏🏾

[@Reinehr]

@@sofiamarie9136 no unfortunately, maybe we can ask the plum village team? if any of us find it let's make sure to post it here to let the other know!

[@RocketVet]

Thank you /\

[@ramthian]

🙏🙏🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@GuteisFinger]

At 37:01cc should read "Patriarch Lin-chi"

[@poetryjones7946]

I am curious - Thay did not address the suicidal woman’s question, he only said “ that’s a very interesting question, that is an important question.” Did I miss something.?

[@kongke77]

He did address it, that is why he read it out loud in the beginning to give his insight on this matter later. The answer starts from his talk about "store consciousness" and taking good care of difficult emotions. He even give steps how to deal with it. I would say this whole talk is about answering those three letters he read.

[@troymacdiarmid1245]

I enjoy listening to him but can we get the microphones closer to all the people coughing!? Cripes!!!

[@snakejuce]

😭😭😭😭

[@jahlion2402]

I watched about 5 videos today I love this content but who the hell keep coughing in all the videos lol

[@salgutierrez8160]

Yes they need to get checked

[@Gkuljian]

I am angered by the sound pollution of cars and planes. With great hope I began a journey 30 years ago to find a place where I was free of this irritation. I could not. And I am frequently in a situation where anger is roused. I've searched high and low for answers, and even in this great talk I am coming up empty. Does anyone have any suggestions (aside from moving yet again)? edit- I shouldn't have said empty. The suggestions he gives are great, but don't solve the issue I have. When I'm walking through a beautiful forest, and above there is a shrieking jet for 5 minutes, I am angry. I am bringing as much happiness into my living room as possible, but the basement keeps coming up to me.

[@francribaj6506]

Do not identify with what your mind is saying.Which means let it be anger what to do,the more try the worst it gets

[@francribaj6506]

Also try this isha kriya kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6i0nJmlgN2FrNE

[@cablenetworksystems]

can anyone give his health update please, 😭💔 he is no more, no update is required. Thanks

[@plumvillageonline]

Dear friend, for news about Thay, please visit this page on the Plum Village website plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/ 🙏

[@snakejuce]

Dead.

[@america9704]

I've had to stay home to take care of those suffering feelings for 20 years. Some of us have a labyrinth of traumas which would take more than a lifetime to look deeply and transmute. We were "hard wired " to have no peace, go too fast, and stay on the surface of ourselves and life. We would have to become munks and accept that we may not have time to address all of our traumas in this lifetime. Not to mention the stress of crying- the nose gets inflamed , mucous, having to the breath through your mouth for awhile, and the dehydration. You can only do that so much, and not even once a day is kinda too much, and hard on the body - worse to carry it around though. So, overall pretty miserable situation. Event if it's organized. Does THICH know about multiple personality? Now called dissociative identity disorder? Or Sam Vaknin and his description of of the narcissist- (he's a diagnosed narcissist- who has gone through mortification in order to become self aware- yet he testifies that there is no one home inside him- his real self was murdered/ sacrificed for the false self. He says he has no soul and that it cannot be revived, or sparked, etc.. ( ?) How would Buddhism explain or help a narcissist?

[@beavis1948]

4:00

[@beavis1948]

2:00

[@beavis1948]

1:00

[@Jeebus86]

His description of the Dutch health care system is wrong

[@upstatenewyork]

I feel so sad because I want to hear what he is saying but I simply can’t understand his accent.

[@plumvillageonline]

Dear friend, you can activate the subtitles option on your KZbin video. Hope this helps 🙏

[@mrgoodlife4]

why does he refer to himself as Thay and does not use the words I or me ?

[@annle9003]

Thay is I and me in Vietnamese for a teacher!

[@raquelsantos4802]

Minuto 36-46

[@JG-io6sy]

How can someone cough thru an entire video

[@nathanbruce1992]

Every time 😂

[@foper002]

Why is there always so much coughing?

[@lordbyron3603]

{{ I want to leave ! I want to get out ! I have no interest in life! }} This is how I feel after going through cancer treatments.

[@Eleutherarch]

I hope things have improved for you and that you are feeling a bit better.

[@Goblin3rd]

+1 Like for skipping the chanting. As much as I respect it I don't usually want to hear it