Practicing with Unpleasant Emotions | Thich Nhat Hanh

In this short teaching video from the Deer Park Monastery (February, 2004), Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) guides us on how to take care of emotions when they come up. Every time a painful feeling is born, we go home and take good care of our feelings with the practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness here is like a mother coming to hold and embrace the pain that is crying out to us. This is the practice of love: telling our painful emotions, "Darling I know you suffer. That is why I am here for you."
Thay teaches us four practical steps to help us:
1. Recognize our pain
2. Embrace the pain
3. Bring Relief
4. Touch Insight and transformation
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To find out more about this process, check out Thay's book "The Path of Emancipation" ➛ www.parallax.org/product/the-...
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Find more similar short teachings on the FREE Plum Village app plumvillage.app/​ Enjoy! 🙏
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[@JP-pf7jz]

I watch the same videos again and again and always find something new. Very grateful for the compassion of those who post these of our beloved Thay.

[@0xredpill]

As for someone who my biological father dumped me while I was a baby , you became my father on the spiritual realm 😍

[@TheCatchProductions]

Forgive for biological father, you don’t know what he was going through and ultimately he has lost out on not knowing you... you are amazing for being without him... but don’t hold any resentment towards him...

[@Contribute_TakeCare_Learn_Play]

The joy that Thich Nhat Hanh sees in life is incredible and very inspiring. When I don't see a use or purpose. Thich Nhat Hanh's mindset cures it.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

@@Contribute_TakeCare_Learn_Play well said i it's how his mindset cures me as well.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

@@TheCatchProductions forgive but never forget. My father dumped me without leaving me, that can be worse. At least if he left you might entertain some thought that he would have been good to you if he had only stayed, but when he stayed and never took an interest in you beyond selfishness, then the illusion is gone.

[@TheCatchProductions]

@@goognamgoognw6637 of course ⭐️🙏🏾 but let go of the judgement... it’s impossible to ever know what someone else was going through in order for them to give up being a dad / mum and if they didn’t care there’s probably an innate reason for that. The main thing is that you are your own person living their best life they can, resentment only hurts the ones who harbour it. Sending you best wishes and strength ⭐️🙏🏾👊🏾💎

[@zoeym4868]

I wish I had known this years ago. My life would be so different if I didn't succomb to painful feelings, but recognized them and tenderly acknowledged them. This should be taught in elementary school. It could change lives.

[@purnimaanand4090]

I kn kk I mil. Kink kokknmoo

[@whitenozze]

Notice then embrace the regret you have

[@chaves2628]

it is my belief that it would definitely transform not only the lives of many, but change humanity in general

[@thedabbinunicorn5432]

🩵

[@katiesimenson7859]

I just had something really painful happen to me. I meditated on this and then thought what would thich nhat hanh have to say about this. I found this video! Thank you!!!

[@swizzle1961]

I feel that thich is speaking to me directly. Thank you for posting these. Peace and love to everyone.

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

Recognize - Embrace - Relieve - Transform 🙏

[@louiseblain3974]

It works. It's magic. Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh.

[@goognamgoognw6637]

To embrace the bad feeling it is effective to look oneself in the eyes in a mirror and say "dear ..., you are feeling such and such". Then to ask yourself why you are feeling that way and embrace the bad feeling.

[@chocolatephuong]

Listening to you makes me feel calm and peaceful, Thay. I'm in tears, but I know it's happiness and not pain anymore.

[@plumvillageapp]

Dear Phuong, thank you for sharing your feelings with our teacher Thay 🙏. A lotus for you, The Plum Village App team plumvillage.app

[@rhondapelletier2141]

His Presence is JUST Overwhelmingly calming & LOVE🙏🙏❤️

[@beastmode8569]

Ironic it’s called a seed! Tears come out in the shape of seeds ❤️ his peaceful teachings 🕉

[@lilithrogers5204]

Thank you for your great wisdom dear TNH......I'm sorry to learn that you left our earthy plaine today--at 95 years old.......We'll miss you but thankfully you left so much teaching for us ehind that we can still learn and grow from....Blessings...

[@PoppieAtkinson]

Went to a yoga class the teacher read us something about you. I never stopped watching you ever since🙏🙏🙏

[@jasonvenditti7090]

I've been reading (listening to) Thay Nhat Hahn's books over and over and watching these videos for a bit now while practicing awareness and meditation in my daily life. Words cannot adequately express my appreciation for how my life has been changed for the better. Thank you so much 🙏

[@divi2747]

thank you for posting these teachings!

[@susanhoran6576]

Your teaching touched my soul early in the morning.

[@orangebetsy]

me too! it's wonderful with the rising sun~

[@buddha1736]

Great man, read his books 📚 absolutely beautiful. 😍

[@jane.elliot5782]

(Better with headphones, to hear every awesome soft-spoken word.) I appreciate your wisdom and I THANK you, Sir, and thanks to everyone involved in bringing this to this place, to access. It's a beautiful gift

[@bridgetmccoy5725]

Thank you Master Thay for your lifetime of service to humanity. I hope you listen to French in Vietnam, I know you love the language. You are in my heart forever guiding me

[@kadiehenry1546]

Such a large gathering, of so many different kinds of people, all there for very different reasons on the surface but the same at the core. Inspiring.

[@brandonprofela6519]

I really really wish he was the narrator of this audiobooks

[@kel000]

this mans voice is just so soothing

[@booksinbed]

Thank you for this beautiful teaching. I am trying to learn to practice nonviolence within myself.

[@tansoonkok80]

I love you master, your voice sounds calm and soothing

[@dan-andreivasilescu228]

Thay brings such a powerful, healing presence😊 Thank you and be well, gentle master!

[@SiameseCats4ever]

Thanks for all being taught during many years

[@MsLast4ever]

Thank you to my mentor Thich Nhat Hanh and to plum village beautiful said and broken down for us to understand 🙏🏽🧘🏽‍♀️❤️

[@betinaaksoz6246]

Full Attention=Full Acceptance/Surrender

[@nuveon8125]

So sad that Master Thich Nhat Hanh has past away. He was a real Hero for all those who don t know, how to handle strong emotions.. Thank you wonderful human. Thank you that you gave us lessons like this. Now we know, that the only limit in our life, is our brain.

[@jul_minty1918]

I feel better now. Very calming

[@tejaswinmohanty]

Thanks teacher, I will obey your non violence with myself.

[@jassmatass]

Thank you Thich Nhat Hanh for all the wisdom, love and nourishment.. Im beyond grateful, and also thanks to all of you that made all the material possible or that with your hands and heart keep plum village alive and blossoming.

[@plumvillageapp]

Dear friend, thank you for watching Plum Village App channel. You can also download the plumvillage.app to carry with you. It is free. ~ A lotus for you 🙏🏼

[@swethakalluri2205]

So fantastic. He is such a great teacher.

[@plumvillageapp]

🙏 A deep bow

[@StillGamingTM]

I’m happy with the way he explains it. A lot of coaches atm use “mindfulness” as a term for a sort of suppression of the emotion. Or as a tool to short circuit it. But bad emotions are supposed to be there. I don’t think the goal should be to try and never experience them, or to get out of them ASAP when you have them

[@StillGamingTM]

9:15

[@DG-sl3ev]

Thank You! ✨ 💛 ✨

[@colleendeane7888]

Thanku Thay. This is so important

[@chanilerner2107]

Thank you!!!

[@GH-zs8eq]

Sublime! Sadhu sadhu sadhu!

[@melodyst.claire5389]

Thank you 😊🙏💗💗💗🌸🌸🌸🌸💐💐💐💐

[@ididntevenknowhewassick6315]

thank you for the wisdom

[@DLin-el9tj]

Thanks for keeping Master Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings continuing ...

[@60seconds529]

great work and information, practical and easy to understand ... much appreciation

[@plumvillageapp]

Thank you 🙏. Happy you find it practical, dear friend. A lotus for you, The Plum Village App team plumvillage.app

[@60seconds529]

@@plumvillageapp It is as if I have found all my answers here, thank you for helping me what inner management and self love is :) a Lotus to you too xx

[@rajasekarkunjithapatham7021]

It works so well and easily.Thanks dear master

[@gettagudenhei8355]

Thank you .. Ive been missing my gentle teacher ❤

[@kirstinsdorra9370]

Danke, unvergessen ❤

[@lumihuta]

Thank you Thay for the healing teachings you brought 😊

[@sunshinepower7308]

Amazing! Thanks.

[@consuelosanchezsaavedra3288]

Siento tanta admiración que por este buen maestro señor de la compasión, sabiduría en estado puro, no creo que haya otro igual.

[@super_supreme1747]

Love you all

[@jamesnguyen7069]

practice this everyday...

[@gloriagastaminza4584]

No tengo palabras para expresar Agradecimiento a Thay y a los k hacen posible k lo podamos escuchar❤💖

[@rosarioverastegui8405]

Sagrado Maestro, a tus pies me postro.

[@lazydaisy649]

Awesome

[@jlpsinde]

Amazing

[@AG-yx4ip]

This technique is very complex for beginners like me . You have to mentally recite +be aware of the feeling +be aware of the breath . Maybe we can also apply this technique but in simpler way : by being aware of the sensations that the negative emotion produces on the body ,therefore taking care of the feeling by focusing on its physical( body) expression , I wonder ?

[@ilusagraun]

totally - In my experiencie its also about embracing and shining light there without judging or thinking in any words - just leaving it as it is - the inner refugee.

[@betinaaksoz6246]

It is the same thing. Just be aware of the sensations of the feeling and do not resist them by analyzing it, making a story out of it or trying to escape it. Put your full attention on the feeling itself even though it is unpleasant.

[@rolijain3985]

Practice by looking at an object ( a small thing that you don't like ) can be as small as a keychain or brush , anything you dislike. ( in silence if possible ) Step 1. I can't stand it ( mental talk ) Step 2 Keep looking deeply and watch how your talk will keep increasing that annoys you heart and bad feelings will start coming over. Breath will be affected by bad feeling . When it becomes harder to breath , your mental talk will stop.....because you need to breath first. With slow natural breathing ( effortless, no mind talking ) , those emotions will dissolve like salt in water...you can see the seed ....the memory ( of past bad experience or inherent fear of that object ) If it helps , look at infant at the supermarket or parks, they can do breathing first, feeling second and talking last. They look into people deeply with their eyes, and then emotions come ND babbling starts. The word look is the door to that dimension

[@susanhoran6576]

@@rolijain3985 beautifully explained.

[@rashmimehta4529]

🙏🙏🙏

[@dorokrautkramer2226]

🙏

[@covidfan6371]

Great

[@millenniallychallenged5641]

1926-♾ 🙏☯️🕉

[@arturelias6418]

🙏🏽🙏🏿🙏🏻

[@barbaramcspadden8655]

My beloved didn't response to my suffering supportive at all but added. I don't hardly believe that's my beloved. It's permanently engrained. I will be child like friend.

[@gra6649]

All that he teaches is absolutely true. However, he, and many other teachers make it sound so easy. They will tell you, "All one has to do is" this or that. And of corse they're right. What they don't say is how hard it is. And when one tries these things and still the pain is unbearable one may feel like a failure and give up their practice. It would be more honest to say that these techniques will work, (and they do) however they rarely work over night. My teacher compares practice to building a fire. First one has to want to build a fire. Then one gathers some dried leaves, or grass, something that will take a spark. Then one sets a spark to it. If the spark catches, one will gently cokes a small flame, and when the flam comes one adds a little small kindling. Not too much or one may smother the fire, and it'll go out. Gradually one adds more kindling, then small sticks, then bigger sticks, then larger pieces of wood, and finally loges. And if one has taken care, one will have a fire that will work for you. This is how practice works. And it's the same for these techniques start small, baby steps. One may not notice any difference at first, and it may take a little time, but stick with it, and you'll get there.

[@nickhatt1584]

This is such a great way to explain it. thank you. I have many people who have seen change in myself and are intrested in what I practice and I try to explain to them that it has taken me some time and diligence, this is a wonderfull anology for it.

[@gra6649]

​@@nickhatt1584 Glad that I could help. Take good care of yourself. By the way, it is not uncommon for others to notice changes within you well before you do. One of the first things that you may notice is that people smile at you more, for no apparent reason. And that will include strangers. Again take good care of yourself.

[@heatherp7902]

Thank you for this. I have ADHD and extremely heightened emotions, and need to recognise and not expect things to work overnight. I've tried everything, kickboxing, medication etc. at this point _except_ meditation as I find it very difficult. Understanding it's hard for everyone at the start makes me feel better about starting to practice imperfectly. Such a beautiful analogy about building a fire.

[@ausprey66]

@@heatherp7902 Fellow ADHD’er . I’ve quit meditation practice a few times-frustration in my ‘lack of progress.’ recently started agian when I stumbled upon a Thich video-guided meditation. His voice was so calm, so unlike how my mind is, I actually listened. 😂 he said ‘the practice’ the verb to PRACTICE. It gave me permission to be less than perfect and meditate as I already am….something like that. That frustration is part of it. We aren’t taught this in school and it doesn’t come up much in conversations….best of luck to you

[@foodasmrwithmukbangers]

💙🙏🙏

[@louisahadley7082]

Can we please have a link to the full talk/video?

[@orangeziggy348]

What if my mother had schizophrenia so I never got held or taken cared of when I needed it? How am I supposed to REMEMBER what I never got?

[@velvetraindrops__7334]

The E1 (the painful seed) is the dried seed The E2 (the mindfulness seed) is the activated seed, wich means it's still a fruit.

[@anupamajagtap9372]

🙏🙏🙏👏👏

[@belkisszerres7722]

The name of the book is The Path of Human ...(could not hear the last word) . Does anyone know?

[@plumvillageapp]

The Path of Emancipation :) You'll find a link in the video's description. 🙏

[@susanmenke2669]

❤

[@karenmenzies3137]

Which book is Thay talking about please

[@lauralunaazul]

What s the name of the book?

[@vvelvettearss]

I want to know the name of the book too. I've just started reading one by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and would definatley like another when I finish. I love how gently Thich Naht Hanh speaks

[@smargeyyy]

The Path of Emancipation

[@plumvillageapp]

Dear Lirio, please have a look at the description under the video. There's a link to the book too. Thank you! 🙏

[@orangeziggy348]

Why don’t they ever focus on avoidance and self neglect, they only mention it very rarely “don’t try to run away or deny”, but they focus always only on anger and attack, and punishing. My problem is avoidance and self neglect bc that’s what my mother did to me.

[@ausprey66]

@Orange Ziggy. Avoid meditation and neglect yourself doing so. LOL 😆 Sorry, couldn’t resist, I apologize if I seem trite. Possible Mantras while you meditate “ I need a new mom” observe your thoughts or how your body feels when you say that? Avoidance and neglect brings up so many emotions, so many layers to peel through. Try a meditation journal. After a session jot down any feelings or sensations you had while you meditated. No emotion is great because maybe your not facing your feelings? I bet in time, you will give yourself permission to do so and meditation can help you do that. First, you need to be patient and gentle with yourself? When your ready you will face the pain and learn how to handle it better. The more you do so the better you will get handling that pain. I can relate. Hope that helps and wish you well.

[@joanmorgan5318]

You probably have anger that you have suppressed. I used to scream at my mother in my dreams because it was safe and I didn't unleash on her when I was around her. Keep practicing. He is right in what he teaches. If you suppress your emotions, they manifest somewhere, in health or psychological problems.🤗

[@Tru3ntertainment]

1k likes 11 dislikes=111 "numberology" Lifepath 1 HERE!,ive found My Teacher!

[@kimballbarrett1961]

feeling emotions is seed water zone of energy sadness seed bija mental formation pain touch energy i energy fruit no fighting mindful recognise smile practice embrace no violence baby pain no punish baby need care go home to your self no violence be there for you darling i will take good care of you lotus will open to the sun embrace it relief looking deeply insight recognise embrace relief aware of feeling embrace nature of reality Kimball Barrett

[@matcollins6503]

This is like Hooponopono

[@orangebetsy]

This

[@jinkyjoyacain6800]

Good Afternoon my Ministry. Candy Tamayo in San Martin IV SJDM Bulacan with their Tamayo CLANS using KULAM or Black Magic with Hongkong to me and to my Family's. I want to get that SOON and I REVENGE. -JINKY JOY THAN ACAIN -BALATICO living in Sampaloc Manila and San Martin 1V SJDM Bulacan-

[@Wonderfeel__]

Sorry, but this 'non-violence', although it is far better than straight out suppression (the norm), is still a form of violence. It is still avoidance. It is a deadening of the soul. It still is a form of suppression, of inner manipulation, and as such is less healthy than allowing. A better technique is sitting with, in an unconditional and fully experiential way - this is more healthy, and suits anyone who values their vitality and authenticity...

[@ns1extreme]

What’s the difference between embracing your pain with compassion and sitting with it unconditionally? Seems like the same thing to me

[@Wonderfeel__]

@@ns1extreme I get that it sounds similar, one is a sort of outsider approach of observing, which is fragmented. The healthy way is being IN the experience. Instead of only looking at the water, which is dissociative. The way to heal feelings and make deeper connection with our selves is to be flowing as the water, flowing in feeling…. 💙💧

[@goognamgoognw6637]

@@Wonderfeel__ Your point is not convincing. There is a reason the brain suppresses some emotions. It may not be possible to face certain emotions without re-living damaging trauma that we have no answer to overcome. Before you can even approach those sort of emotions you have to stunt them or they can and will hurt you and dissociate your personality. Only after much stunting them you can finally sit with them unconditionally and disassemble them piece by piece until they no longer carry any poison or toxicity. So i don't see an incompatibility but a complimentary in following this video's teaching om the first phase which may last quite some time.

[@Wonderfeel__]

hi @@goognamgoognw6637, I like the nuance in your point that you chisel away some of the intensity, and then can encounter the emotions. And maybe that's the right approach for some people. Which I imagine depends on how harsh the pain is, and how tightly it's been suppressed. I offer the idea that we always have the ability to overcome trauma, simply by meeting it. It's like earlier life pain gets frozen in our system, and each moment that we are willing to experience it is relieving some of the emotional backlog. Proust's line “We are healed from suffering only by experiencing it to the full.” really nails it for me... When you talk about poison/toxicity I imagine the times we lash out destructively when overwhelmed by anger or shame. And in my personal journey, my willingness to feel the deeper, more water vulnerable feeling underneath is an excellent way to deal with things internally, and not cause harm. But with so few role models for the active engagement with feeling, and potentially carrying a heavy load from past situations, it takes a lot of faith to begin the unravelling. I have just been writing a manifesto about all this, about taking a proactive approach to feeling our feelings!

[@goognamgoognw6637]

@@Wonderfeel__ Maupassant wrote "Le Horla" one of the most terrifying thing i have ever read. You seem to doubt that pain can turn someone crazy. It can. Based on your own personal experience you may never have experienced high level of pain most people might never, or you do not have the sensitivity that an artist has exposing him to more hurt, living life more intensely but also paying the price for it when things aren't favorable. So those methods are quite subjective.

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

I am enjoying learning these helpful ways to take care of my mental state. 😊🫖🧚🏻‍♂️

[@sai1gon]

🙏🙏🙏