Dharma Talk: The Four Immeasurable Minds
By Thich Nhat Hanh in January 1997
During the lifetime of the Buddha, those of the Brahmanic faith prayed that after death they would go to Heaven to dwell eternally with Brahma, the universal God. One day a Brahmin man asked the Buddha, "What can I do…
From the Editors
Published in January 1997
If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society will benefit from our peace .... -from Being Peace In this Mindfulness Bell, Thich Nhat Hanh teaches us how to cultivate…
Retreat Center Update
Published in January 1997
In September, a breakthrough occurred in our search for a property to begin a rural retreat center and community. Real estate developer Pritam Singh, who developed the award-winning and environmentally sound Truman Annex community in Key West, Florida, as well as many other properties, has…
Other articles in this issue
The Sangha Tree
By Ian Prattis At the September retreat, Sister Ani Lodro and I decided to plant a tree as a gift to the Lower Hamlet. We purchased an apricot tree from the garden…
Prison Sangha
By Therese Fitzgerald The chaplain said, "You know, it is unprecedented in the North CarolIna prison system to have a Buddhist ceremony." We were on the phone trying to rearrange a Five Mindfulness…
Ben’s Laces
By Peggy Mallette Sitting contorted on the floor, eyes peering over bent knees, foot held firmly in place by fists clenched on two ends of a shoelace, the process begins. Forming a giant loop with…
Always Coming of Age
By Ariadne Thompson I took the Five Precepts when I was 13 years old. I felt completely ready and knew that I wanted to live my life following these guidelines. Many people…
Remembering Greg
By Grace Sanchez I first met Greg Keryk at the 1993 retreat held with Thay at Camp Swig in Northern California. He was hearty, strong, and straightforward. After the retreat, we attended Sangha…
Being Wonderfully Together
Report from the Order of Interbeing Second International Conference "Being Wonderfully Together" was the theme for the Second International Conference of the Order of Interbeing held September 30 to October 2, 1996,…
Reflections
By Jack Lawlor After returning from this year's meeting in Plum Village, I was immersed in gratitude for the mindfulness practices we share, and for the efforts of Thay, Sister True Emptiness, and…
The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings
By Thich Nhat Hanh
Thay has recently replaced the ten "precepts" (sila) with the term "mindfulness trainings" (siksa) to more accurately reflect their intention and purpose. This is a term also used by the Buddha. Thay also…
Letter from Thich Nu Chan Khong, Thich Giac Thanh, Thich Nu Chan Duc, Thich Nu Dieu Nghiem
Dear Friends, Over the years, the number of Sanghas all over the world has grown steadily, and requests for retreats addressed to Dharmacharyas at Plum Village have increased accordingly. We are happy…
Temple Anniversary
By Sister Annabel Laity
By Sisters Annabel and Eleni On November 14, monks and novices in Hue, Vietnam, observed a Day of Mindfulness in honor of the 150th anniversary of Tu Hieu Temple. Tu Hieu is…
Vietnam Update
By Stephen Denney Thank you for your concern about the people suffering in Vietnam and your desire to help. At the Community of Mindful Living we have organized a program of humanitarian aid…
Letters to The Mindfulness Bell
There isn't anything that touches my soul more deeply than your newsletter, especially Thich Nhat Hanh's Dharma talk. I cherish it, I carry it with me to many places, I reread it when…
