Thich Nhat Hanh Dharma Talks

June 13, 2012. 124-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from New Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the ninth dharma talk (of 15). Investigation of the phenomenonal and noumenal worlds. We use our mind of discrimination to investigate the conventional truth. If we use the practice to look more deeply, we can see the ultimate truth of the same object. We use the mind of non-discrimination for the ultimate truth. And in Buddhism we take care of the mind. We need to train our mind so to create a strong instrument for investigation. The yogi has to be skillful. The teaching of the Dharma as a finger. A skillful practitioner should not be caught in notions. The Wisdom of Adaptation. Being and nonbeing. A flower is made of non-flower elements and this principle applies to everything. In the 2nd paragraph of the Heart of Perfect Understanding. Form is emptiness and Emptiness is not form. Form is free from being and nonbeing. They are neither produced nor destroyed. We can apply the Law of Thermodynamics – the conservation of matter and energy. We look then at the Discourse on the Adaption of Conditioned Genesis Connected with Emptiness (Samyukta Agama 293). Thus have I heard. Once the Buddha was staying in Kalandaka’s bamboo grove at Rajagrha. Then, the World-Honored One (the Buddha) said to a monk coming from another tradition, “I have transcended doubt, got away from uncertainty, dug out the thicket of evil views, and will turn back no more. Since the mind has nothing to which to attach, where could there be a self ? “The Buddha offers the Dharma, offers the teaching on the adaptation of conditioned genesis connected with emptiness, a holy and supramundane truth. “That is to say: Because this is, that is; because this is, that arises. “That is to say: Conditioned ignorance, formations arise; conditioned by formations, consciousness arises; conditioned by consciousness, name and material form arise; conditioned by name and material form, the six sense-spheres arise; conditioned by the six sense-spheres, [sensorial and mental] contact arises; conditioned by contact, feeling arises; conditioned by feeling, craving arises; conditioned by craving, attachment arises; conditioned by attachment, becoming arises; conditioned by becoming, birth arises; conditioned by birth arises the suffering of aging, death, sorrow and affliction. Thus is the origin of this whole mass of suffering. And in the same way is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering.” He taught like that, but the monk still had doubt and uncertainty. He could not at first gain the perception that is to be gained, obtain the perception that is to be obtained, achieve the perception that is to be achieved. The Buddha then asked the monk, “Why does someone after having listened to this dharma, find that sorrow, regret, loss and obstacles arise in his mind? “Profound indeed is this, namely conditioned genesis; even more profound, more difficult to see is this, namely the extinction of all attachment, the destruction of craving, the fading away of desire, the cessation of all suffering: nirv?na. “These two dharmas are namely the compounded and the uncompounded. “The compounded is arising, persisting, changing, passing away. The uncompounded is not arising, not persisting, not changing, not passing away. “Monks, this is to say: All formations [compounded things] are suffering, and nirv?na is the cessation of all suffering. “When the causes of suffering are there, suffering arises; when the causes cease, suffering ceases. “All routes are cut off, all continuums cease. The cessation of the continuums is called the ending of suffering. “O monks! What is it that ceases? It is any remaining suffering. When this ceases, there is coolness, tranquility, namely the extinction of all attachment, the destruction of craving, the fading away of desire, the [...]

June 12, 2012. 111-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from Upper Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the eighth dharma talk (of 15). Seven Factors of Enlightenment (relaxation, joy, investigation, etc) Separate investigation of phenomena and noumenal We should not mixup the two dimensions of conventional and ultimate. When considering the Four Noble Truths, the first two must be investigated in the realm of conventional truth. Conditional Dharma. The same cloud can be both investigated from conventional truth and ultimate truth. The Second Noble Truth and the Fifth Mindfulness Training can be described in terms of food. Nutriments. The Sutra of the Son’s Flesh gives this teaching on nutriments. Thay explains the Four Kinds of Nutriments: edible foods, sensory impressions, volition, and consciousness. Discusses Mencius’ Mother (China); also known as Meng Ze.Thay would like to see the Sutra on Four Kinds of Nutriments in the next edition of chanting book. Mindfulness in schools.

June 10, 2012. 102-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from Lower Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the seventh dharma talk (of 15). We begin with two chants: Les Vision Profond (French) and Hien Tien Thanh Tinh (We are Truly Present). Interbeing of the entire cosmos. The flower is interacting with the entire cosmos. Topics Suffering and happiness Being and non-being Fourth Mindfulness Training – deep listening Readings From The Discourse on Emptiness in its Ultimate Meaning Monks, when the eye arises, there is no place from which it comes; when it  ceases, there is no place to which it goes. Thus, the eye, without any real substance,  arises; having arisen it will finally have to cease. It is a result of some action but  there is no actor at all. And from The Paramartha Gathas of Asanga Gathas on the Absolute Truth 5. All conditioned things undergo change at every instant. Their abiding is not something real, much less their function. All we can say is that their arising is their function and their arising is also the agent. 6-7. Eyes cannot see form, ears cannot hear sound, the nose does not smell scent,  the tongue does not taste an object, the body does not feel touch, the mind  does not recognize objects of mind. However in the organs and objects of  sense there is no one who maintains or begins the perception.

June 9, 2012. 127-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from Lower Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the sixth dharma talk (of 15). Just prior to this session, those attending the retreat received a 86-page booklet with sutras and a Letter to a Young Scientist. Three energies of practice Mindfulness Concentration Insight The practice of looking deeply along with a discussion of zen history. Tang Hoi, a vietnamese monk, brought zen to China. Zen. Chan. Thien. Dhyana. Four Notions of Letting Go (from Diamond Sutra) Self Man Living being Life span Thay spends the majority of talk teaching on self. A similar teaching is also found in Sutra #296 from Samyukta Agama. We read from The Paramartha Gathss of Asanga Gathas on the Absolute Truth (verses 1-2) 1. There is absolutely no subject, no agent and no one who enjoys the fruit of action (no one who feels). No dharma (phenomenon, object of mind) has any function. Nonetheless the passing on of one effect to another does take place. 2. There are only the 12 limbs of existence, the aggregates, the realms (ayatanas) and the worlds (dhatus) that are always changing. When we observe thoroughly and contemplate these things we shall not find a separate self anywhere. Twelve Ayatana Eyes (form) Nose (smell) Tongue (taste) Ears (sound) Body (touch) Mind (objects of mind) There is no “self” in this. The 18 dhata includes all the twelve above plus the following: Eye consciousness Nose  consciousness Tongue consciousness Ears consciousness Body consciousness Mind consciousness Why do you think the “self” doesn’t change when everything else does? At 1:28, Thay reads (not provided in the book) the Sutra #300 from Samyukta Agama. We continue with verse 44 from the same text above, followed by a portion of the “Discourse on the Middle Way” 44.  Living beings is the name of a continuous stream and all phenomena as the object of perception are only signs. Therefore there is no real change of birth into death and death into birth and no person who realizes nirvana. At the end of talk, Thay provides commentary on why the Buddha had to continue the practice beyond enlightenment.

June 7, 2012. 99-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from New Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the fifth dharma talk (of 15). This is an excellent session of questions and answers. Questions What is the difference between feelings and mental formations? Is euthanasia okay? Is it Right Action? Can we relieve physical Pain? How do I practice with the teaching of inferiority and equality complexes? How can we support out dharma teacher when s/he is not so skillful? How do I practice with the last four exercises from the sutra on the full awareness of breathing? Question on consciousness and impermanence. What happens to the mind after the body dies? How can you take refuge in the sangha if you don’t trust? How can we build trust? Severe mental illness, such as bipolar, requires medicine to balance emotion. Can you clarify this as it relates to the practice?

June 6, 2012. 114-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from Upper Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the fourth dharma talk (of 15). We begin with chanting followed by the main talk about 10-minutes into the recording. Topics of the Talk Harmonizing body, breath, and mind. Sangha Subject | Object  

June 2, 2012. 82-minute dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh from Lower Hamlet in Plum Village during the 21-Day Retreat with the theme The Science of the Buddha. The talk is given in English and this is the first dharma talk (of 15). Topics Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing – the first four exercises Walking Meditation – arriving in the here and now Our teacher and the sangha feels very relaxed. In no hurry. We have 3-weeks to practice and learn. 0:00 The Practice of Listening to the Chant 21:30 Namo’valokiteshvaraya Chanting by the Monks and Nuns of Plum Village 43:30 Main Talk