The Art of Suffering Retreat | First Dharma Talk by Thich Nhat Hanh, 2013.08.26

This is the first Dharma talk offered by Thay for the Art of Suffering Retreat at Blue Cliff Monastery, Pine Bush, NY.
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[@quaag_aplled]

Thank you for posting this on utube. No words can decribe the peace I feel listening to Thay. He makes everything so easy and simple. There is no wait time or dreaming . I like to breathe in and feel alive.

[@choosetobehappynow1580]

When I'm having a difficult time , I often ask myself, what would Thich Nhat Hanh do right now? I experience his energy, his work, as pure love.

[@jennytran3449]

THAT THE WAY

[@scotthjackson5651]

Have you made any decisions in those situations asking yourself what Thay would do?

[@ConexionHumanaOficial]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Venerable Thay. Just to listen his voice is a marvelous therapy and to understand his teachings is a great gift of love to every single person who listen to him. Evangelina Cortes.

[@nilminiamunugama6461]

Dear Teacher, though your physical body is not alive, your Dhamma is always alive. Step by step we all can achieve our happiness. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@yeuemxuatdoi]

born in 1926... he was 87 in this video and still minful

[@sccooper791]

I've been watching, listening, and reading Thich Nhat Hanh for a few years now, and it only just occurred to me that he is Yoda from Star Wars. haha

[@myinh5124]

lol

[@Eyes_Unclouded]

Hahaha 😅

[@claytonyoung1351]

I found him when my mother passed. Less than a month ago. I noticed this immediately.

[@roberts3571]

His community must feel really blessed to be in such energy

[@kuibeiguahua]

But Roberts, we are his community! We are truly blessed.

[@HelenasUkulele]

Thank you Thay for this Dharma talk and exercises on breathing to take care. Thank you for the reminder that the Second Arrow can make the pain 10 times worse to give anger and other mental formations a mindfulness bath, with mindfulness that you have generated.

[@butterflybeatles]

Talk commences at Minute 21:00.

[@micahnewman]

21:51

[@gatogate9094]

I like the lyrics of the initial song "...There is space for everything in my heart..."

[@sockysworld8010]

Insightful. Healing. Worth watching.

[@aigoo8377]

Thank you so much teacher for introducing the path to free us from the ocean of samsara due to our negative habitual energy..may all of us able to transform these energy into wisdom and compassion

[@lilithrogers5204]

Thank you for these wise teachings and for sharing them with me far away in body but together in spirit ❤

[@niamhkelly3558]

So grateful for Thay's wisdom :)

[@davidparker7108]

He is very wise :)

[@nataliajust]

Thay, Plum village brothers and sisters, you’re wonderful!!! Thank you 🙏🏾 ❤🥲🥲

[@happinessishereandnow4344]

It's so glad to see kids at a place like this

[@stevesewall]

Hope this isn't overdoing it. I start at 20:40 to get a sense of the room and audience. Thay speaks at 21:49. About breathing in, breathing out. "What is the use of that?" Breathing (in) is not a means to the end. Done properly, it IS the end. At 23:03 "You breathe in, in such a way, that the healing takes place right away, during the in-breath. ... The in-breath is not the means anymore, it is the end. ... There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way." Nine Mindfulness Exercises: 1 BREATH (Awareness of breath) 24:49 "So breathing in, I know I am breathing in; this is the first exercise of mindful breathing proposed by the Buddha" 25:34 "The first exercise of mindful breathing is. . . we can call it aware of our in-breath and out-breath recognize it as it is happening"" 34:48 "and we find out the mindfulness and insight, they are together; where there is mindfulness, there is concentration and insight" 39:31 "Because to be alive is a miracle, the greatest of all miracles" 2 BREATH (Concentration on breath) 40:20 "The second exercise of mindful breathing is to follow your in breath ... all the way through ... there is no interruption ... " 3 BREATH AND BODY 42:27 (Awareness of mind/body connection) "Breathing in, I am aware of my body. This is really bringing the mind HOME to the body ... 43:06 The mind should be an EM-bodied mind. When the mind is WITH the body, you are established IN the here and now." 4 BREATH AND BODY 25:12 (Relaxing and calming the body) "We know the fourth exercise of mindful breathing is, breathing in, I relax the tension in my body, breathing out, I release the tension in my body; 44:32 "And that is why the Buddha proposed the fourth exercise of mindful breathing: breathing in, I let go of the tension in my body, I CALM my body." 5 BREATH AND JOY 53:53 (Producing joy) When we come to the 5th exercise, we learn to produce a feeling of joy. 5 & 6 BREATH, JOY AND HAPPINESS 1:00:33 (Generating joy and happiness) 7 BREATH AND PAIN (Awareness of and accepting pain) 1:03:09 "And with the 7th exercise we begin to take care of our pain ... So the first exercise is to be aware of our pain. We do not try to cover it up with consumption, with music, with books, magazines, conversations, with food. Instead we have to go home and recognize it. " 8 BREATH AND PAIN (Calming the pain) 1:05:12 The second thing is to calm it down. Embrace tenderly, like a mother holding a baby. Whether there is a painful feeling or painful emotion, the practitioner ALWAYS goes home to himself, recognizes it and embraces it with the energy of mindfulness, tenderly, like a mother holding a baby. There is no intention to fight, or to suppress. Because you are your mindfulness, but you are also your pain. We should not transform ourselves into a battlefield, the good fighting the evil. That is not the practise." 1:15:09 The Buddha's Story of the Second Arrow: do not exaggerate pain! 1:17:41 "When you are overwhelmed by a painful emotion, you think you are that emotion. But in fact you are much more than that emotion. You are form, feeling, perceptions, mental formations and consciousness. And the territory is LARGE and your emotion is just a small thing." 9 AWERENESS OF ALL MENTAL FORMATIONS 1:25:01 "And that is why the 9th exercise of mindful breathing is to be aware of all mental formations as each one arises." The five UNIVERSALS that are ALWAYS present: 1:30:20 Contact, 1:26:17 Attention (appropriate and inappropriate), 1:31:06 Feeling, 1:31:39 Perception, 1:32:00 Volition (Intention). 1:13:13 "There will be other exercises that come in later in the Sutra of Mindful Breathing ... "

[@harshikiru8544]

Iam suffering from OCD and he gave me strength to face world again, i feel less pain and more confidence in me

[@김선달봉이-o5p]

I let go of every thought with each breathing....It empties my mind..

[@thebudkellyfiles]

My way of looking at suffering is that it is all maya, the veil of illusion that covers reality. I concentrate my effort on those around me- friends, family, caretakers, to make the experience of being around me a positive one. I try to remember that they are suffering just by being around my suffering. I make a joke of it, thank them profusely for their help, and remember them with a card or gift afterwards for taking care of "The Big Cry Baby" that is me. Think of others. And one more thing- think of how many people have it worse than you. Having cancer looks pretty good in comparison to having advanced ALS and being trapped in your own body.

[@CR-wb3en]

Thank you

[@SA-ww1ge]

The most intelligent man alive

[@BANDONPRESS]

This is a wonderful message. Thank you, Thick Nhat Hanh!

[@BenjaminGessel]

It is a good practice to contemplate things that are naturally a certain color, a certain kind of taste and smell, a certain kind of sound, and a certain kind of texture… White: Snow ❄️ Wool Salt 🧂 Marble Chalk Clouds ☁️ Dove 🕊️ Unicorn 🦄 Sugar Ice Cream 🍨 Milk 🥛 Yogurt 🍦 Cream Baseball ⚾️ Soccer Ball ⚽️ Sheep 🐑 Seagull Mashed Potatoes 🥔 Yellow: Lemons 🍋 Pineapple 🍍 Sunflowers 🌻 Daffodil 🌼 Marigold Butter 🧈 Honey 🍯 Banana 🍌 Gold Sun ☀️ Fire 🔥 Corn 🌽 Canary Topaz Wasp 🐝 Beach 🏖️ Orange: Orange 🍊 Peach 🍑 Mango 🥭 Pumpkin 🎃 Carrot 🥕 Yam 🍠 Cheese 🧀 Oriole Tiger 🐅 Phoenix 🐦‍🔥 Basketball 🏀 Red: Cherries 🍒 Strawberries 🍓 Tomatoes 🍅 Rose 🌹 Watermelon 🍉 Peppers 🌶️ Raw Beef 🥩 Cardinal Lava/Magma Brick 🧱 Blood 🩸 Ruby Lobster 🦞 Crab 🦀 Rhododendron Purple: Violets Grapes 🍇 Figs Orchids Plums Eggplant 🍆 Pansies Lavender Amethyst Blue: Sky Sapphire Turquoise Aquamarine Blueberries 🫐 Water 💧 (Reflecting the Sky) Denim Jeans 👖 Jellyfish 🪼 Dolphin 🐬 Bluejay Bluebirds Bluebells Forget-me-Nots Cobalt Green: Jade Mint Avocado 🥑 Basil 🌿 Lettuce 🥬 Cucumber 🥒 Broccoli 🥦 Evergreen 🌲 Oak Tree 🌳 Leaf 🍃 Clover ☘️ 4 Leaf Clover 🍀 Peas 🫛 Green Bell Pepper 🫑 Frog 🐸 Lizard 🦎 Alligator 🐊 Turtle 🐢 Peacock 🦚 Brown: Chocolate 🍫 Bear 🐻 Moose 🫎 Wood 🪵 Beans 🫘 Deer 🦌 Wheat 🌾 Oats Anise Maple Syrup Bread 🥖 Cinnamon Scorpion 🦂 Dog 🐕 Beaver 🦫 Chestnut 🌰 Peanut 🥜 Owl 🦉 Mushroom 🍄‍🟫 Black: Shadow Onyx Ebony Obsidian Coal Oil Spider 🕷️ Skunk 🦨 Cat 🐈‍⬛ Licorice Pink: Carnation Flamingo 🦩 Hummingbird Bubble Gum Gray: Stone Granite Silver Chromium Lead Nickel Rat 🐀 Rock 🪨 Elephant 🐘

[@acajudi100]

Namaste. thank you teacher.

[@hamadah4]

That was wonderful. Thank you so much!

[@patriciapereira5697]

Thanks beloved Thay

[@sleepycat224]

Have always loved Thay from the beginning. He changed my life and many others. Bless you dear Thay, Thich Nhat Hahn 🙏🏻💖🕉️🕊✨✨✨✨✨🕉️

[@MsDownTheRabbitHole1]

and how does this help someone with a chronic illness who is mindful constantly of what they're feeling too much to get pleasure from this

[@jobyjohn101]

The idea is to not wait till the illness kicks in to train your mind. I recommend reading the 'Two Darts Sutra' (Sallatha Sutra).

[@scruethedemiurge]

At about 30 minutes, he said, "There's no reason you can't enjoy the in breath. You don't have a lung infection. Your nose is free. So there's no reason you can't enjoy your in breath." What about those who do have a lung infection? How can they have peace in this lifetime if they can't even breath comfortably? What is the solution for them?

[@splashcat100]

The solution Thay proposes for each of us is to focus on our blessings and allow ourselves to feel joy in their receiving. I may have pneumonia but can be happy my heart is pumping. Or if I can walk . Or see, taste, hear. Stephen Hawking is physically nearly immobile yet he knows this secret and is happy for his mind and the technology allowing him to communicate, also for his ongoing discovery of the secrets of the universe and his ability to share them with us and help us understand.

[@acajudi100]

Use oxygen. If you are living you are breathing by natural or artificial means.

[@anniechen6624]

After 9、10 years Good to see familiar monks and nuns still are being with Thay with Sangha

[@TBX819]

I personally cannot follow along well being stressed in a way by the disturbance of the overall technical feedbacks. I am musician myself, being not too sensitive on this, but hey: There´s a lot of road experienced sound companies around the corner, to ask for the acoustic basics for respectful amplification for such important talks.

[@briandoyle14]

What if my pain inside is from focusing on the breath. Sometimes its like i cant stop thinking about the breath. Then im trying to control my breath. Instead of just witnessing.

[@lionheartwellness3130]

This begINNINGig song is LIFE!!!!!

[@sanjayram1101]

He was our Buddha

[@kosalley2097]

Join our Thailand retreat here: www.holidaymeditation.net/

[@kennystarfighter9919]

One day i will go for a 7 day vipassa retreat. To suffer, to not run away from it but be with it. Thich nhat tells us that our suffering has a lot to tell us

[@markbrad123]

Supreme and Serene

[@michaelchase5304]

21:50 Starts speech

[@botat4912]

hay quá

[@Demythetraveler]

very noisy background....what is wrong with the people?

[@ease87]

Nothing, they Practice.

[@mkartification]

Thank you for posting. Lovely wisdom. It reached my heart

[@soomdong9376]

So the reason I am suffering is because I try to find happiness outside of in-breathing? I can find happiness only at in-breath.

[@angelabrown6707]

You start by finding happiness in the in breath. Once you find happiness there you can find it anywhere.

[@johannaschoning274]

I am happy. I watch videos like this, with Thich Nhat Hanh and am blessed with two things. The first is the knowledge he shares. And while i watch i try to be... i am mindfull of my hands. of my feet. of my legs. And it is so intense and healing that i am very grateful. This is the second blessing to me

[@elceliaw8606]

🙏🏻😊💖

[@radhikaradz7072]

Thank you for this knowledge. It's very precious

[@upstatenewyork]

The audio sucks because they have it set up so it records anything in the room instead of a headpiece with mic so that only he is being recorded.

[@galaxysiu7366]

Does anyone know the name of the second chant just before the talk? Seems no way to find out this chant on the web

[@dellananjo4379]

i neeeded to hear this.. Thank u teacher Thich

[@bozenawasilewska7484]

🥰❤🙏

[@piggnant]

Kingdom of God?

[@joelscott4384]

From the Christian Bible. Jesus says it.

[@nilminiamunugama6461]

🙏🙏🙏

[@ladyasylum7]

❤

[@tinamallin2570]

🙏

[@bettysman]

What is the name of the chant recited in the beginning. Thanks to you all there.

[@JoanWradiantheart]

May the day be well soundcloud.com/search?q=may%20the%20day%20be%20well

[@damontomatolab2997]

how do i manifest the energy that embrace the despair like hope?

[@joelscott4384]

By not worrying if the despair will make you sad.

[@stevesewall]

1:05:12 Here he shows how to manifest this energy. Hope it helps!

[@bettysman]

I know someone that has tried this method but finds her thoughts too strong for Awareness of I&O, and Following I&O. Any suggestions?

[@chriswalls4277]

keep trying as if your life depends on it

[@67NewEngland]

bettysman - look into Sharon Salzberg. Her advice for people like this is "your trying too hard". She explains, Meditation is all about being distracted by thoughts ,catching yourself, and tying to stay mindful of your next breath all over again. Often I can't get into any type of a consistent groove for the first 5-10 minutes of meditation.

[@brandibenecke406]

It took me months of trying every single day for about 20 minutes each day. I couldn't make my mind shut up and I was not ready to focus on a mantra. What worked for me was counting the beats of my breath like a dance number. Then I allowed my mind to think about the theme song to the Lavern and Shirley show. I kid you not. That was my trick. "🎵1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8🎵" That taught me. to block out the running commentary of my anxious mind. I was eventually able to do it at will, but it took a while. Keep trying for. 20 minutes every day. 💞💫

[@andylee7862]

Just have faith and keep practicing. It just need Mindfulness discipline.

[@jennief2108]

We graciously thank you ~ Jennie

[@maximus1024215]

Is this a cult?

[@T.J]

No that’s a philosophy. Some types of Buddhism are however a cult as buddha is a deity for them but in the current case of this video it is not the case. This is more philosophy class meets basic yoga

[@quitruiningtheplanet]

25:00

[@quitruiningtheplanet]

1:10:25

[@quitruiningtheplanet]

"this is only an emotion and I am capable of taking care of it" 1:40:00

[@quitruiningtheplanet]

1:18:00 2 arrows

[@stevesewall]

@@quitruiningtheplanet Yes, so useful for today

[@tranminhhang5687]

Someone can tell me what name of the song in the begin, please.Even I can't find it on google. Thank advance! :)

[@kwestmusic1]

Hằng trần Re song is "In My Heart"