This talk was recorded on the 2nd November 2023 in New Hamlet, Plum Village (France). It is the second of our live Thursday talks of the Rains Retreat 2023 offered to our lay friend guests.
0:16: ⛩️ Our brother discusses the concept of the lay day of mindfulness, and invites the audience to co-create the discussion.
0:16: The lay day of mindfulness is a special day for meditation and co-creation of positive energy.
0:51: Our brother encourages the audience to provide questions or topics for discussion.
1:35: Our brother uses the collective consciousness to cook the ‘ingredients’ provided by the audience for the discussion.
9:24: 🤔 The video discusses embracing the paradox between historical and ultimate reality, and how to remember spiritual practices throughout the day.
9:24: Embracing the paradox between historical and ultimate reality
10:46: Struggling to remember spiritual practices throughout the day
13:06: Observing the differences between masculinity and femininity in behavior
21:41: 🌊 The video discusses the importance of creating a path for water to flow, similar to creating a path for our thoughts and actions through mindfulness.
21:41: Importance of creating a path for water to flow and practicing mindfulness
22:55: Identifying thinking that causes suffering and brings happiness
23:34: Revised mindfulness training to overcome discrimination and promote equality
30:29: 🌈 Our brother discusses their identity and gender expression, emphasizing the freedom to express themselves without being constrained by societal concepts.
30:29: Our brother practices as everything that has ultimate and historical significance, emphasizing their multifaceted identity beyond gender.
31:20: Our brother identifies as a man but rejects the concept of what a man should be, allowing themselves the freedom to express their identity without concern for others’ perceptions.
31:38: Our brother emphasizes the importance of not needing to correct others’ perceptions of their gender identity, and the trust in others’ ability to change their views over time.
38:15: 🤔 The video discusses the challenges of finding happiness and inner harmony in the face of external opinions and the complexities of identity.
38:15: One-by-one training can help in overcoming difficulties and finding happiness independent of external conditions.
39:53: The mind is tricky and tends to seek a sense of identity or non-identification for safety, leading to inner conflict.
40:18: The challenge of feeling empathy for others without disrupting one’s inner harmony is also discussed.
46:36: ⚖️ Our brother’s journey to support their mother’s recovery and have a more balanced relationship with her.
46:36: Our brother’s wish to avoid fighting with their mother as it is not good for her recovery.
47:01: They have agreed to a new approach where the mother can decide what to eat and he will explain the impact and provide support.
47:29: Our brother wanted to be a supportive son to their mother, rather than taking on a more authoritative role.
54:38: 🧘 The importance of mindfulness and breaking habits in daily activities.
54:38: Practicing mindfulness in daily activities like walking, sitting, and using the bathroom.
55:22: Transforming forgetfulness into mindfulness by breaking habits into smaller pieces.
56:01: The need to be creative in incorporating mindfulness into everyday habits.
1:02:03: 👗 The video discusses the importance of embracing change and finding value in daily life.
1:02:03: Embracing change and finding value in daily life.
1:03:02: The importance of seeing the positive aspects of being a lay practitioner.
1:03:55: Deciding what we want and nurturing our true selves is crucial.
1:10:00: 🌱 Our brother emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and collective consciousness in creating hope for humanity.
1:10:00: Reading the five mindfulness trainings together to cultivate mindfulness and be mindful of our actions, speech, and body.
1:10:52: Our brother’s energy and hope for humanity comes from co-creating collective consciousness with a group of brothers and sisters through retreats.
1:11:52: The importance of practicing mindfulness for extended periods of time in Plum Village.
Ethics, Mindfulness and the Four Noble Truths
What are the roots of our personal sufferings and the pains of the world? We bring our mind home to re-examine our sufferings, to find a path. How to act. What we ought to do. What we ought to be. Join us in reflecting and applying Thay’s 2008-09 teachings...