Look Who it Was Random video

2018 05 27 Pháp thoại Tiếng Việt Thầy Pháp Ứng

1,647 views · Published 29 May 2018 · 1:15:57 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: Plum Village · 2018 · Education

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Celebrating Vesak 2018 – Br Pháp Ứng | Spring Retreat 2018 05 27

This year is 2018 years since Christ was born, and it is 2562 years since the Buddha was born (Buddhist calendar). Today we celebrate the Buddha’s birthday, day of enlightenment as well as day of his paranirvana – Vesak day.
Earth manifested about 4 billion years ago, and about 2.5 billion years ago the first single cell organism began to produce oxygen that we, as their descendants are still breathing along with all our sibling species. We need mindfulness, concentration and insight to help us see all the elements that make our presence possible. Our presence is already a miracle, and when we awaken to this insight we touch unconditional happiness that can heal our wounds. Living in a community is another wonder in our society now full of violence, anger and craving. Aware of the conditions of happiness can already bring happiness, even though there are difficulties and imperfections. We can practice to see that challenges are like the fire that extracts the gold of strength and virtue.
There is a common belief is that when the Buddha passed on he went to another realm separate from our samsara world. But Thầy has opened up another view for us to see that we cannot separate the conventional and ultimate, like the wave cannot be separated from the sea water. This separation can be crossed over with our mindful breath to bring us back to the present moment.
Thầy tells the story of one day his teacher was working in the vegetable garden with his disciples. It was hot and he said “Oh, it’s so tiring! Might as well die to end the suffering”, then he looked at Thầy and said, “When I die, who is it that stops suffering?” It was a koan that Thầy appreciated very much to help him get in touch with no-self. The same can be found in Christianity in the poem Footprint in the Sand. Man complains to God that You said you would never leave me, but in my most troubled times You left me alone. But God said to him, “It was that time that I was carrying you”. Mother Earth, our community, all species are carrying us, but are we aware of it?
When we can see that birth and death as not particular to this separate self we call “I” then we can ride the wave of birth and death without being drowned in fears and worry. We can see that the Buddha existed even back in the first single cell organism. In the dimension of space science has been able to prove that each manifestation of life is at the centre of the cosmos (scientist Hawkins). This means that we inter-act, inter-form with each other and with all species. Happiness and suffering cannot be separated from each other. We can learn to appreciate suffering as an ability to understand and empathize with others who suffer. This can be an appetizer to the full feast of the 21-day retreat.


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