By Brother Phap Kinh (Dharma Meridian) I stepped onto the monastic path relatively late, although the seeds were present at an early age. At age fifteen, a group of friends and I meditated together. When that group disbanded, I continued (for the next thirty-five years) meditating twice daily. At age…
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True Wonderful Action
By Anissa Housley I’m in Estes Park, Colorado. The cavernous meeting hall is filled with people. It’s early morning; everything is dimly lit. Monks and nuns sit onstage and Thay is leading the ceremony for the transmission of the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings. I’m standing, I’m prostrating, I’m kneeling, I’m singing.…
Dharma Talk: A Peaceful Heart
Just before the land offensive in the Gulf, the Soviet Union proposed a six-point peace plan to end the war. The first point was that Iraq consent to withdraw all its troops from Kuwait within twenty-one days. But President Bush said that Iraq must evacuate Kuwait in just seven days,…
Dwelling in the Ultimate in North Mississippi
By Steve Black “In the Ultimate I dwell,” Thay says. And turning to the child holding his right hand, he says, “Do you know what the Ultimate is?” Silence. The child looks at Thay. His head is level with Thay’s thigh. He says nothing. Thay gently repeats the question: “Do…
Sangha Profile
Lotus Buds Sangha, Sydney, Australia I n late 1986, Thay was invited by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship to lead retreats in Australia. During his visit in Sydney, the Vietnamese community had a rare opportunity to enjoy mindfulness practice with him. During that five-day retreat, many of us tasted true peace and joy for…
A Lotus Blooms in the Catholic Church
By Mike McMahon Several years ago, following my divorce, my daughter Annie and I moved into a rundown house in one of Omaha's older neighborhoods. I was broken emotionally, financially, and spiritually—and deeply depressed. The condition of the house seemed to match my own. Even so, like a wounded animal that crawls into a cave,…
Sangha Building at the California Events
By Caleb Cushing Our Sangha has often thought about participating in a special project that would reflect our care and understanding. I'd silently wondered who would come forth first and commit. To my surprise, it was the Sangha as a whole. As we practiced together, our stability, joy, and gratitude grew, and so did our…
Living with the Precepts
Like a coin, the precepts have two sides, and both are essential for our practice. One side guides us toward what is beneficial and protects us. The other side is the emptiness of the precepts. To describe the first aspect, I would like to share this story: When I was…
Be Mindful in Daily Life
Photo by Renee Burgard Mindfulness is the energy of being aware and awake to the present moment. It is the continuous practice of touching life deeply in every moment of daily life. To be mindful is to be truly alive, present, and at one with those around you and with…
The Three Dharma Seals
By Sister Annabel Laity (Chan Duc, True Virtue) photo courtesy of monastic Sangha Sister Annabel Laity offered this Dharma talk at the 21-Day Retreat: VulturePeak Gathering on June 20, 2016, in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village. Respected Thay, dear Sangha, Tomorrow some of us will have to go home from the…