Day 5, Thich Naht Hanh

See 3/28/06 post for introduction to this topic.

This is day 5 at plum village, 7/15/05:

We need to communicate with our ancestors or else we suffer. Because our ancestors are in every cell of our body. With good communication we never get sick, good health, moral health. To have access to the past. In the present moment we can touch the past and the future. It's the past and the future in the present moment.

The seed of the young corn plant can no longer be seen but its is not dead. We can see the corn seed in the corn plant. A could in the sky never dies - that means to become nothing. So when the cloud becomes rain we no longer see the cloud. When I'm drinking my tea, I see a cloud. We are a cloud.

Let's look at the verb phrase, to be. Nothing can be by itself. The flower is made of non-flower elements; the Sun, water, cloud, earth, cosmos. Same is true with the Sun and the Buddha. With this there is no more war. We have to free ourselves of illusion. The father is not identical to the Sun. (sorry, my notes are rough throughout that paragraph).

Impermanence - we are not identical to ourself. But thanks to continuation we are not different.

Things manifest when conditions are met. For example, a box of matches, etc. Something cannot be born from nothing. Birth and death are notions we have in our head. Nirvana - total absence of all notions. Being and non-being are notions that do not apply to reality. With nirvana acceptance you will not suffer or be scared of the notion of death.

Ask flame - Flame, where did you come from?
Flame: I did not come from anything; when conditions are sufficient, I manifest into a flame.
Ask, Where have you gone, Flame?
Flame: I have not gone anywhere. When conditions are insufficient, I stop manifesting.

There's no coming or going. This applies to our ancestors, ourselves, our Sun, etc. And our true nature is of no birth, no death. I do not believe in defining an actual birth and death date to ourselves. Just like the nature of a cloud. So a cloud is just a continuation. You were not born, you are only a manifestation; happy continuation. So we use the word nirvana.

Space is made of time. And time is made of space. If you remove space from time, then space is no longer space and visa versa.

Nirvana means extinction, absence. It's the extinction of notions. Especially notions that form opposities such as birth/death, same/difference, etc. If you remove those notions, you are free of fear, despair. When you look at a flower and it's nature it is the nature of no coming and no going. Touch nirvana - look into things to be able to touch the nature of impermanence. Non-self - the son being a continuation of the father. There's no separation between father and son. Paper, flame, wave, cloud, flower, etc.

If your son has just left you (for example, miscarriage), he has returned to manifest. You must smile at your son. He has not left you. He will manifest when conditions are met.

Correct what is wrong if you're not happy when you sit. Happiness is NOT a notion. Health of body and mind. You must see the preciousness of life - eat in a way to nourish our mind even just a piece of carrot is precious - the sun, the earth, the rain in that carrot is so delicious!

You taste the deep taste of a piece of bread with the universe. You are then in touch with the teachings of the Buddha; the Dharma. Food is the best medicine. Loving each other; caring for each other is so precious.

In 1993 in Viet Nam people were poor. Now, 2005, they are much better off, more money but now they aren't happy because they have no time - families eat at different times - they're not as happy as in 1993.

Flower is the sprouting of the planet. When you see the flower, you see the planet. I am living for you. I am looking at the sky but I see it with my mother's, father's eyes - I see it for you, mom. I will continue for you.

In this life there is both job and sadness. We are afraid of unhappiness. We are our family. If you understand the deep happiness, you will be able to understand deep suffering. Suffering is a reality. Loving ourselves - we must practice in order to love, you must be compassionate. We love ourself - means we love others. If you love yourself, you'll be happy right away.

One day you must release everything. Go back to the foundation. The table where you eat is your paradise and what's on it. You eat mindfully and take care of your body, your environment. Building paradise.