The Way Out Is In

Welcome to episode 87 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss the Noble Eightfold Path, a fundamental teaching that was emphasized by the Buddha. The eight elements of the path are: right view, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right diligence, right mindfulness, and right concentration. The hosts focus on each element and explain their interconnectedness and how they form a comprehensive approach to self-discovery, personal transformation, and spiritual development. Jo and Brother Phap Huu also emphasise the importance of making the Noble Eightfold Path relevant, accessible, and applicable to contemporary challenges and needs, and the role of Plum Village community in adapting these teachings. The episode ends with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Dhyana in Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhyana_in_Buddhism The Bodhi Tree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_tree Dharma Talks: ‘Right Livelihood and True Love’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/right-livelihood-and-true-love 51 Mental Formations https://plumvillage.org/transcriptions/51-mental-formation The Way Out Is In: ‘Taming Our Survival Instinct (Episode #65)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/taming-our-survival-instinct-episode-65 Sister Lang Nghiem https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem Sister True Dedication https://www.instagram.com/sistertruededication/ Brother Phap Ung https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/brother-chan-phap-ung The Five Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Old Path White Clouds https://plumvillage.org/books/old-path-white-clouds-2 Quotes “The question is whether you want to liberate yourself or not. If you do, practice the Noble Eightfold Path.” “‘Now I have a path, there’s nothing to fear’ – because once you have the path, even if suffering is there, you will know how to walk it, because you start to see the way.” “The Buddha said that there are two extreme paths that we should avoid. The first one is seeking sensual pleasures, the pleasures of the world. The second is the practice of depriving the body, such as the practice of asceticism. Those extremes do not lead towards happiness and peace, they lead to failure on the path of understanding and love. And he said we have to find a middle way. And the middle is the Eight Noble Path.” “What we see, what we hear, what we taste, and what we consume on a daily basis will affect the way we are thinking. So, by focusing and practicing right thought, you will start to have a lot of agency. You will start to reflect on how your thought patterns are created, what habits arise in your daily life because of your thoughts, because of the ingredients that have been taken in through your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and mind consciousness.” “We do workshops on learning how to listen before even speaking. How to listen with our whole body, how to listen so that we don’t react, how to listen so we don’t allow our judgmental mind to try to fix that person right away. And then to mindfully select the words that we want to use to communicate. Even if it’s a wrong perception, there’s a way to communicate, to remove the wrong perception – or there’s a way...

Welcome to episode 86 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphic work ‘Are You Sure?’. Together, the presenters discuss how this simple question encourages us to examine our perceptions, assumptions, and certainties about ourselves and the world around us as a path to greater understanding and well-being. The conversation further explores the importance of cultivating an open, curious, and reflective mindset, rather than clinging to rigid beliefs or opinions; being present, listening deeply to ourselves and others; the value of community, friendship, and feedback in helping us to see our blind spots and to grow; the interplay between the historical and ultimate dimensions of life, and how holding multiple perspectives can allow us to respond with wisdom and compassion; and more. The episode concludes with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. Enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Koan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan Cong Phu Journal – Everything You Need to Know About the Practice Notebook https://plumvillage.app/cong-phu-journal-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-practice-notebook Plum Village podcast: ‘With Each and Every Brushstroke: When Art and Meditation Come Together’ https://plumvillage.org/library/meditation/with-each-and-every-brushstroke-when-art-meditation-come-together The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Sister Peace https://www.sfzc.org/teachers/sister-peace Brother Phap Khoi https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/brother-phap-khoi The Way Out Is In: ‘Shining Light (Episode #63)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/shining-light-episode-63 The Way Out Is In: ‘Bringing the Ultimate Dimension Down to Earth (Episode #40)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/bringing-the-ultimate-dimension-down-to-earth-episode-40 Joanna Macy https://www.joannamacy.net/ The Way Out Is In: ‘Active Hope: The Wisdom of Joanna Macy (Episode #25)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/active-hope-the-wisdom-of-joanna-macy-episode-25 The Way Out Is In: ‘Grief and Joy on a Planet in Crisis: Joanna Macy on the Best Time to Be Alive (Episode #12)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/grief-and-joy-on-a-planet-in-crisis-joanna-macy-on-the-best-time-to-be-alive-episode-12 Quotes “‘Are you sure?’ is a question that directs towards our mind consciousness and particularly towards our perceptions. So we are always creating perceptions, from what we see, what we hear, what we have observed. And a lot of the time we believe our perceptions. And because of our habitual energy of self, there is pride connected to it, there is certainty connected to it, and there is a righteous energy that we all carry in our way of being.” “The Buddha would say that 98% of our perceptions are wrong. And the other two percent should be our way of double-checking.” “Reflecting is double-checking. It is to look more deeply, to see the roots, the source of the perception that we have created. This is an ongoing practice. In some of our locations in the monastery, we have ‘Are you sure?’ literally framed, because a lot of the time we can be very sure about our own self, about our own practice, about our own growth, and even about our own insight.” “The perception about Zen is that you reach enlightenment and then you’re done. But enlightenment is always enlightenment of something....

Welcome to episode 85 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss the true meaning of Zen, finding beauty and meaning in simplicity, and how to practice so in everyday life. Also, what does it mean to be part of a Zen tradition? And how do we practice Zen? How do we see the world ‘through the eyes of Zen’? The conversation also touches upon the cultivation of mindfulness, concentration, and insight; the importance of humility; finding beauty in the mundane; the sacredness of objects and spaces; the role of rituals and routines; the balance between sophistication and simplicity in one’s spiritual practice; and much more. The episode concludes with a short meditation, guided by Brother Phap Huu, on being present and grateful for the wonders of life. Enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Donate to support Plum Village’s reconstruction https://plumvillage.org/donate Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Samatha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samatha-vipassan%C4%81 Dhyana in Buddhism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhyana_in_Buddhism Dharma Talks: ‘Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/taking-refuge-in-the-three-jewels-sr-chan-duc-spring-retreat-2018-05-20 Wim Wenders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wim_Wenders Perfect Days https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv8YO5BXCAQ Love Letter to the Earth https://www.parallax.org/product/love-letter-to-the-earth/ Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Sister Hien Nghiem (Sister True Dedication) https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem European Institute of Applied Buddhism https://www.eiab.eu Sutras https://plumvillage.org/genre/sutras Quotes “Zen is an art of contemplation in order to see reality as it is.” “This is because that is.” “The first foundation of mindfulness, which is the core of Zen, is learning to be in the body; aware of the body in the body.” “The essence of Zen can simply be called the beginner’s mind, or the art of stopping, the art of living. And I can confidently say that in the training of the Zen school, we have to embody the three elements or three energies. Thay sometimes called them the holy energies: the energy of mindfulness, the energy of concentration, and the energy of insight.” “Sacredness is very alive when the practice is alive. And that definition comes into play when we’re in a space that has cultivated this energy of mindfulness, concentration, and insight, such as Thay’s hut, where we’re sitting now.” “Being aware and having the ability to take care of ourselves in the practice of sitting is as exciting and challenging as scoring a goal.” “I saw Thay open a door, and I learned everything I needed to learn.” “We can find meaning in everything.” “Being mindful is to establish yourself to be so alive in the present moment that nothing becomes boring.” “The art of Zen and the art of meditation is seeing the mundane, seeing the simple everyday life. And that becomes a sacred action, because our relationship to what we are doing has deep meaning, and that deep meaning represents our inner beauty, our inner contentment with this life.” “When you have something and you know it is enough, you don’t have to chase anymore. Your life suddenly becomes so much deeper and more relaxed.” “The schedule becomes our teacher, because it helps realign our energies. But we also have to have the flexibility to not be so caught...

Welcome to episode 84 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino focus on profound Buddhist sutra The Discourse on Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone. Using personal stories and examples, they illustrate the daily relevance of its teachings on being present in the moment, acceptance, and the interconnectedness of all things. Brother Phap Huu discusses how this sutra emphasizes not dwelling in the past or worrying about the future, but instead being fully present in and accepting of the here and now. He also reflects on recent events in the Plum Village community, such as a fire that destroyed an important building and why this was a profound experience for the community, leading them to grieve the loss while also finding strength in their togetherness. The presenters further explore grieving as a necessary part of the healing process, acknowledging loss rather than trying to bypass difficult emotions; the practice of being fully present (and how to recognize when one is truly present), even in times of chaos and uncertainty; the importance of community, the role of leadership, and the transmission of teachings; the need to accept suffering as a path to greater freedom and understanding; and much more. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Donate to support Plum Village’s reconstruction https://plumvillage.org/donate Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Sister Hien Nghiem (Sister True Dedication) https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem Sutras https://plumvillage.org/genre/sutras Magnolia Grove Monastery https://magnoliagrovemonastery.org/ ‘Letters from Thich Nhat Hanh’ https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters ‘Plum Village Practice Centers’ https://plumvillage.org/community/monastic-practice-centres Dharma Talks: ‘Redefining the Four Noble Truths’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/redefining-the-four-noble-truths Quotes “The Buddha taught: ‘Do not pursue the past. Do not lose yourself in the future. The past no longer is. The future has not yet come. Looking deeply at life as it is in the very here and now, the practitioner dwells in stability and freedom. We must be diligent today. To wait until tomorrow is too late. Death comes unexpectedly. How can we bargain with it? The sage calls a person who dwells in mindfulness night and day the one who knows the better way to live alone.’” “We all have an appointment with life every day. And that appointment with life is the very here and now.” “To not grieve would be to deny our humanity.” “We need the ability to ground ourselves, whether it is through a practice of sitting meditation, walking meditation, or mindful breathing: a place where we can be still and let all of our feelings appear, just like letting a lake become calm, so that we can identify and acknowledge how the world and the situation is affecting us.” “Building my stability just means being able to also recognize the wonders I have in this moment. And that means also coming to community, coming to your loved ones, acknowledging what you have in this moment and what you’ve lost.” “We have to come together in order to resist. We have to come together in order to speak the voice that is not being heard right now, to show the injustice that is happening.” “A collective voice is much stronger than an individual.” “We have to move with kindness even when we are being treated unkindly; we still have to respond with kindness. That is...

Welcome to episode 83 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. This installment sees Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino joined by Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication to discuss the Eight Realizations of Great Beings. This ancient Buddhist sutra provides guidance on overcoming suffering, putting an end to misunderstandings and difficulties, and making progress towards or even attaining enlightenment: “leaving behind the world of birth and death, [and] dwelling forever in peace”. In this, the second of two parts, the three contributors explore the last four realizations, which provide a manual for seeing the world with the wisdom needed to deal with suffering and act with clarity. The realizations covered include the awareness that ignorance is the cause of the endless cycle of birth and death, and how bodhisattvas develop their understanding and skillful means; the awareness that poverty (but not only poverty!) can create hatred and anger, and how to practice generosity equally towards friends and enemies; living simply to ‘practice the way’, and the great vow to help all beings and guide them to joy; and more. The discussion emphasizes the importance of grounding Buddhist teachings in real-world realities, cultivating compassion and understanding even for those causing harm, simplifying one’s life, and committing to the bodhisattva path of alleviating the suffering of all beings. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Sister Hien Nghiem (Sister True Dedication) https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem Sutras https://plumvillage.org/genre/sutras The Eight Realizations of Great Beings https://www.parallax.org/product/the-eight-realizations-of-great-beings Dharma Talks: ‘Manas Consciousness, Teachings on Buddhist Psychology Retreat, 1997’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/manas-consciousness-thich-nhat-hanh-teachings-on-buddhist-psychology-retreat-1997 Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana Bodhisattva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Martin Luther King Jr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr. Pema Chödrön https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n ‘Recommendation’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/recommendation Viktor Frankl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Frankl The Eight Realizations of Great Beings: Essential Buddhist Wisdom for Realizing Your Full Potential https://plumvillage.shop/products/highlighted/new-books/the-eight-realizations-of-great-beings/ Being with Busyness: Zen Ways to Transform Overwhelm and Burnout https://www.parallax.org/product/being-with-busyness Quotes “If love is limitless and love and understanding go together, then understanding must also be limitless.” “Lower your ego, be open, change your attitude in order to receive.” “Where there is life, there is death. Where there is death, there is life.” “A very deep teaching from Thay and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about the idea of the beloved community, which, in their few brief meetings, they discussed at length: in the ideal beloved community of Dr. King, your enemies are included. Your enemies are included. The ones currently persecuting you are included. This was an important spiritual faith and practice at the time of the Civil Rights Movement. This is the 1960s, our spiritual love should have that capacity to embrace everyone. And that is a spiritual challenge. It...

Welcome to episode 82 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. This installment sees Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino joined by Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication to discuss the Eight Realizations of Great Beings. This ancient Buddhist sutra provides guidance on overcoming suffering, putting an end to misunderstandings and difficulties, and making progress towards or even attaining enlightenment: “leaving behind the world of birth and death, [and] dwelling forever in peace”. In this, the first of two parts, the three contributors explore the first four realizations, which cover the impermanence of all things, the suffering caused by desire, the tendency of the mind to seek fulfillment outside of itself, and the importance of diligent practice to transform unwholesome mental states. Their conversation also touches upon the relevance of these teachings for modern life and the need for a balanced approach that combines inner work and outward service; the value of community; and a non-judgmental approach to one’s own mind and body as key to the Buddhist path of understanding and love. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Sister Hien Nghiem (Sister True Dedication) https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem Sutras https://plumvillage.org/genre/sutras The Eight Realizations of Great Beings https://www.parallax.org/product/the-eight-realizations-of-great-beings Dharmakaya https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmak%C4%81ya Pali Canon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pali_Canon Parthian Empire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire Sister Jina https://plumvillage.shop/authors/sister-jina-van-hengel/ ‘The Three Dharma Seals’ https://www.parallax.org/mindfulnessbell/article/the-three-dharma-seals/ Dharma Talks: ‘The Five Remembrances’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-five-remembrances-sr-thuan-nghiem-spring-retreat-2018-05-17 Brother Phap Linh (Brother Spirit) https://www.instagram.com/brotherspirit Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana ‘Three Resources Explaining the Plum Village Tradition of Lazy Days’ https://plumvillage.app/three-resources-explaining-the-plum-village-tradition-of-lazy-days/ Dharma Talks: ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-noble-eightfold-path Pema Chödrön https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n Bodhisattva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva Quotes “When we talk about non-self in Buddhism, it is to understand that we cannot exist by ourselves. That is non-self in a nutshell.” “Those things we might hold on to as important are also impermanent. In this realization we’re touching both the good news and the challenge: the good news of impermanence and the challenge of impermanence. So those things that are causing great injustice, hardship, suffering, fear, and despair: they are impermanent. That can give us some relief when we really look into the broad scale of things and the broad scale of time. But, also, things we cherish are impermanent. The house that we saved up to build, to renovate, to take care of – where will that house be in two thousand years’ time? In twenty thousand years’ time? We can pour our whole heart into a project – but where will that project be in ten thousand years? And this is an important contemplation, because it’s one of the unlocking keys in Buddhism. Everything is a formation, made of other parts, but we grasp on to and we hold on to these...

Welcome to episode 81 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. This new installment was recorded before a live audience, in the Stillwater Meditation Hall of Upper Hamlet, Plum Village, in December 2024. In its first section, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino talk about what it means to let go of the past and create a new future. They delve into the Buddhist meanings of renewal, alongside personal reflections on the challenges and achievements of the past year. The conversation also touches on the role of Plum Village in renewing and transmitting Buddhist teachings to new generations; the importance of ‘beginner’s mind’ and the ability to adapt and evolve, both as a community and as individuals. In the second section, the hosts answer questions from the audience on the topic of renewal, such as, ‘What practical strategies can maintain mindfulness and presence in the face of demanding responsibilities?’, and ways to reduce overconsumption. Enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Brother Phap Linh (Brother Spirit) https://www.instagram.com/brotherspirit/ Sister Hien Nghiem (Sister True Dedication) https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem ‘The Pebble Meditation’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/news/the-pebble-meditation Dharma Talks: ‘Pebble Meditation for Adults’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/pebble-meditation-for-adults-br-phap-huu-spring-retreat-2018-05-13 The Art of Living https://www.parallax.org/product/the-art-of-living/ Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana Old Path White Clouds https://www.parallax.org/product/old-path-white-clouds/ The Way Out Is In: ‘Feel It to Heal It: The Dharma of Music (Episode #79)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/feel-it-to-heal-it-the-dharma-of-music-episode-79 Dharma Talks: ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-noble-eightfold-path Bodhicitta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta A Beginners Mind for a Beautiful Future: Dharma Talk by Thich Nhat Hanh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_F_cxM9d5Q&t=0s Quotes “I die and I am reborn in every moment.” “When I reflect on renewal, it is to be reminded that everything is impermanent. So this moment will be impermanent. I will be alive in the next moment, and it will help me remember that life is constantly flowing. So we are also constantly changing.” “Mindfulness and our practice of dwelling in the present moment allows us to be in touch with the here and now. And it’s different from yesterday. It’s different from what we thought yesterday also. But it’s thanks to what we did yesterday that we have, maybe, a new way of seeing, a new way of being, a new way of listening, a new way of speaking. It is wonderful to know that every moment, therefore, is a new moment. This gives us an opportunity to heal the past. And gives us an opportunity for a new aspiration: to have new hope for oneself and for the world. So renewal is the action of constantly being born and constantly dying.” “As it was falling, the leaf knew that it was not dying. The leaf was very much alive during the spring and the summer. And it contributed everything it could during those seasons. And when the time came for the leaf to, in our language, die and fall, it had no regret. Because the leaf was only returning to the earth, to nurture the earth in order to nourish the tree, which would then produce new leaves when the spring comes. And when we have this insight,...

Welcome to episode 80 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino talk about how to come home to ourselves, why it can be so difficult for people to feel at home in their own skin and to feel that they are enough, and why people go searching for things outside of themselves in order to feel better about themselves on the inside. The hosts further explore self-love and self-acceptance; compassion; overcoming perfectionism and feelings of inadequacy; redefining beauty; true generosity; dismantling self; the Buddhist teachings on interbeing and dwelling in the present moment; and more. They also share personal experiences and insights from Thich Nhat Hanh’s own journey to inner freedom and stability. The episode concludes with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. Enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Brother Phap Linh (Brother Spirit) https://www.instagram.com/brotherspirit ‘Three Resources Explaining the Plum Village Tradition of Lazy Days’ https://plumvillage.app/three-resources-explaining-the-plum-village-tradition-of-lazy-days/ ‘Thich Nhat Hanh on Discrimination and Complexes’ https://plumvillage.app/thich-nhat-hanh-on-discrimination-and-complexes Dharma Talks: ‘What Is the Equality Complex?’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/what-is-the-equality-complex How To: ‘Begin Anew’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/begin-anew Dharma Talks: ‘The Five Remembrances’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-five-remembrances-sr-thuan-nghiem-spring-retreat-2018-05-17 The Way Out Is In: ‘Feel It to Heal It: The Dharma of Music (Episode #79)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/feel-it-to-heal-it-the-dharma-of-music-episode-79 The Way Out Is In: ‘Shining Light (Episode #63)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/shining-light-episode-63 Quotes “Where there’s a stillness, the energy of mindfulness is present.” “Thich Nhat Hanh would speak about how, sometimes, we have to expand our mind and expand ourselves to see that our suffering is not ours alone: it is a shared suffering. And, also, when we transform the suffering, it is not only our transformation: it is a transformation for the greater collective. And we don’t discriminate about whether it is a small or a large transformation, because all transformations have an impact on the greater consciousness of our society.” “When we talk about coming home to oneself, that is the whole journey of meditation: dwelling happily in the present moment. It means that, in the present moment, whether there’s a storm, whether it is a moment that is blissful and peaceful, I can be happy. And if there is a moment when there is suffering, like if I am unwell and I’m not experiencing joy and happiness, I can learn to still tap into my happy conditions and be there for this moment. So I can generate happiness in this moment, even in the midst of suffering and pain.” “The word love in Buddhism is very deep; there’s so many layers to it. And a part of love always starts with oneself – like, can we learn to be kinder to ourselves? Can we make ourselves a little bit kinder, so that our home in ourselves is a little bit kinder?” “We, as practitioners, know that we’re not only conditioned from the outer energy, we also have the capacity to condition ourselves. And that is part of the journey of arriving home: starting to redevelop the foundation of our home.” “A lot of people in the West suffer from two negative...

Welcome to episode 79 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino are joined by musician/producer Jack Peñate and frequent guest Brother Phap Linh, Dharma teacher/musician. Together, they talk about the release of A Cloud Never Dies, the debut album by the Plum Village Band – a musical meditation on love, continuation, and non-fear, inspired by and dedicated to Thich Nhat Hanh. The album was produced by Jack, with the two monastics joining the conversation as co-creators of the album and representing the Plum Village Band: a collective of Zen Buddhist monks and nuns from Plum Village Monastery, France, plus musician-meditator friends from around the world. In the first part of the episode, the guests discuss their musical journeys, from childhood to this point; the power of music as a portal to share the Dharma; music and Buddhist tradition; making music as a spiritual form; art as a Zen practice; and more. In the second part, they share songs from the album and discuss their origins, meaning, creative process, and production stories. And we get to listen to the discussed songs too. Listen to the album and find out more about it here. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Jack Peñate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Pe%C3%B1ate Brother Phap Linh (Brother Spirit) https://www.instagram.com/brotherspirit Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong ‘Recommendation’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/recommendation Album: A Cloud Never Dies https://plumvillage.org/album-a-cloud-never-dies The Way Out Is In: ‘Regeneration and Musical Inspiration: The North American Tour (Episode #53)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/regeneration-and-musical-inspiration-the-north-american-tour-episode-53 Pirates Blend https://piratesblend.com/ ‘The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/the-four-dharma-seals-of-plum-village Aretha Franklin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aretha_Franklin Billie Holiday https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_%22Scratch%22_Perry Narcissus and Goldmund https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissus_and_Goldmund The Glass Bead Game https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Glass_Bead_Game Hermann Hesse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Hesse Bhagavad Gita https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhagavad_Gita Quotes “Music and Zen go together.” “There’s art in making tea and there’s art in life, in the way that we live our days.” “The highest music, the best kind of music, is breathing.” “Everything could become practice. It just depends on our heart and our intention. We feel like we can be very authentic practitioners and teachers of mindfulness and meditation and combine that with playing music, singing, creating. Because our teacher showed us how to do that, and how to be real in the doing of that, to make the music a meditation as well.” “Music not as a performance, but as an invitation to touch the present moment.” “When you know what your path is, you have to completely follow that, and be completely aligned with your intuition and your instinct about that.” “Harmony isn’t something that you’re always in, but it’s something you’re always striving for.” “You deal with the desire for fame by finding a deeper desire, one that’s more important to you. And then you can handle the other one, and the desire for fame looks silly in comparison....

Welcome to episode 78 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. This special episode – part two of two Q&A installments – marks the launch of the first book by Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino. Being with Busyness: Zen Ways to Transform Overwhelm and Burnout is intended to help readers navigate these experiences, relieve stress, and reconnect to their inner joy through mindfulness and compassion practices inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh. Instead of discussing the book, the two presenters asked listeners to submit their questions on these timely topics. Listeners’ generous, vulnerable questions answered in this episode include: What are some practical tips for staying grounded and mindful amidst the busyness? How can I get back into practicing mindfulness? How can I practice mindfulness while doing multiple things at once? How can I be of service to others while still caring for myself? How can busy people know when it’s enough and draw a line? How does Plum Village deal with the burnout issues that also exist in the outside world? Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Being with Busyness https://www.parallax.org/product/being-with-busyness The Way Out Is In: ‘Being with Busyness Q&A, Part One (Episode #77)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/being-with-busyness-qa-part-one-episode-77 The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation https://www.parallax.org/product/the-miracle-of-mindfulness Pema Chödrön https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n Start Where You Are https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/start-where-you-are-book/ Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong ‘Three Resources Explaining the Plum Village Tradition of Lazy Days’ https://plumvillage.app/three-resources-explaining-the-plum-village-tradition-of-lazy-days/ Dharma Talks: ‘The Fours Pillars of Spiritual Life’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-four-pillars-of-spiritual-life-dharma-talk-by-sr-dang-nghiem Bodhisattva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva Quotes “The Buddha explains that each and every one of us has an island within us that we have to tend and take care of. That island is our way of being, our calm that we can bring to the chaos. And it doesn’t mean that our surroundings are calm, but that we are calm inside. Even just a slice of calmness can relieve everything that is happening around us.” “The art of a meditator among busyness is to not be dispersed or carried away. When we are dispersed and carried away, we have the ability to come back to that island of practice. And this is an ongoing practice that we can all develop. We develop it when we’re at peace, when we have calm, when there is stillness.” “Our mindfulness is what we’re cultivating in our mind at the present moment.” “When you’re washing your plate, that is a moment when you’re just washing your plate, not thinking about the next project; that is mindfulness.” “The spiritual dimension is an old technology. It’s free and can be practiced from day one, right now, right here.” “Letting go in the space of Dharma is to grow and to have freedom. But if we’re to let go, to give up, that’s a different energy. So we also have to know that taking a step back to have more space, and then continuing, is also okay.” “People have dual problems. One is that they have self-loathing; the other is that they wish for perfectionism. In other words, not only do we not feel we’re enough, but we often...

Welcome to episode 77 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. This special episode – part one of a two Q&A installments – marks the launch of the first book by Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino. Being with Busyness: Zen Ways to Transform Overwhelm and Burnout is intended to help readers navigate these experiences, relieve stress, and reconnect to their inner joy through mindfulness and compassion practices inspired by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Instead of discussing the book, the two presenters asked listeners to submit their questions on these timely topics. Listeners’ generous, vulnerable questions answered in this episode include: Can mindfulness help us observe busyness, set limits, and let us savor boredom and solitude? How do you handle the phone as monastics in Plum Village, and what do you do to not get pulled in? How can I make long-lasting change when our culture demands constant attention? How do I survive when I desperately want to leave my line of work but can’t for financial reasons? Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Being with Busyness https://www.parallax.org/product/being-with-busyness ‘Three Resources Explaining the Plum Village Tradition of Lazy Days’ https://plumvillage.app/three-resources-explaining-the-plum-village-tradition-of-lazy-days/ Dharma Talks: ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-noble-eightfold-path Online course: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet https://plumvillage.org/courses/zen-and-the-art-of-saving-the-planet Bodhisattva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva Christiana Figueres https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres Quotes “The title, Being with Busyness: it’s not getting rid of busyness, it’s not fixing busyness, but it is a way of being with busyness. But it’s not about fixing it, it’s about how to be in it and how to be with it; how to move through these particular strong energies of our society so that we don’t lose ourselves.” “The first wing of meditation is the art of stopping and recognizing the present moment. But there is a fear of doing nothing, because we have been educated – dare I say, brainwashed – to think that we have to do something in every moment of life, because time is money. Time is projects; time is to succeed. And this has driven our society into a mindset of not knowing how to be in the now.” “Thay always reminds us that the purpose of being alive, first and foremost, is to be here, to know what is happening in the very here and now.” “Knowing that we have habits that are taking us away from the present moment is already mindfulness.” “A mindful life, the art of mindfulness, is not about just cutting off bad habits; it’s also about developing enough good habits to replace the bad ones.” “I really love this idea of reciprocity: the idea that if you’re given something valuable then the most natural thing is to want to give something valuable back.” “It’s not about the laptop. It’s about how we use it; it’s about what kind of practice we build around it.” “There is a system pushing us to be a certain way. There is a system making demands of us – but, actually, within that system we always have agency. There is always something we can do.” “Dwelling happily in the present moment doesn’t mean that that moment needs to be happy for us to be happy – but it is about being happy no matter what.”

Welcome to episode 76 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino put a modern twist on the Four Nutriments – one of the Sutras of the Buddha – using it as a framework to explore what it is to be a mindful consumer of life. With each of the Four Nutriments – edible foods, sense impressions, volition or aspiration, and consciousness – the Buddha gave a little story which the presenters explore and bring into the reality of our times. The ensuing conversation touches many topics and ideas, like how and why to invest in our spiritual dimension; individual and collective consciousness; shifting consciousness, generating community and a fairer society; practicing moderation; cultivating compassion; habit energies; rebuilding our connection to food; changing the way stories are told; suffering as a bell of mindfulness; and more. Brother Phap Huu shares deeply about experiencing burnout; speaking our minds; and adapting Buddhist teaching for each new generation. Jo complements this episode’s theme with personal stories and a new approach to what it is to be courageous. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Online course: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet https://plumvillage.org/zasp?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=twoii&utm_campaign=zasp Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Sutras https://plumvillage.org/genre/sutras Sutras: ‘Discourse on the Four Kinds of Nutriments’ https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-the-four-kinds-of-nutriments Bodhisattva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva Douglas Tompkins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Tompkins The Order of Interbeing https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing John Bell https://www.parallax.org/authors/john-bell/ Who Cares Wins: How to Protect the Planet You Love https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/305695/who-cares-wins-by-cole-lily/9780241309148 Quotes “Every being has a spiritual dimension and we need to invest in our spiritual dimension. And if young people can invest in it earlier, then the future has a greater hope and a more wonderful and sustainable livelihood that we can lead ourselves towards.” “Consuming is not just what we eat and drink but what we listen to, what we smell, what we taste, and so on.” “It’s not that wanting a state of peace means that we can suddenly have peace; we have to nurture the peace inside of us.” “Mindfulness gives us the lens of awareness to go inwards and see what we are consuming on a daily basis. What is intentional and what are we consuming that we’re not even aware of?” “Our way of being is also food for elements that are outside of us.” “We’re creating a cacophony of thoughts, feelings, and actions that form an individual basis, then create a collective. Often, people don’t feel that their individual behavior has an impact on the collective; often, they think that the collective is the only thing influencing them.” “Trust the seeds that you plant, but don’t expect them to grow right away.” “The Buddha says every action has an impact on the past, the present, and the future. So our actions today actually have an impact 1,000 years later.” “When we practice a vegetarian or a vegan diet, it is because we are aspiring to cultivate our compassion.” “Vulnerability opens support.” “We know that habit energy is not ours alone: it’s society’s habit, it is our ancestors’ habit. So if we come from a family that has addictions, we know we have addictions in us.” “Once we know...

Welcome to episode 75 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss the practice of being and doing – in terms of both Buddhist and mainstream-society perceptions. Together, they look at practical ways to create conditions in which our way of being present can be truly valued and made essential in all our daily actions. How can we train ourselves to maintain presence, in spite of our circumstances? The conversation tackles various relevant topics, such as being as the ground of our actions; being as a state which is crucial for the art of peace; training our concentration; the super-strength of allowing and sharing our vulnerabilities; creating a schedule for practicing being; how ‘to be’ in Zen and what people can get wrong about it; being as a way to access interbeing; doing as an avoidance of being (what is it about being that scares us?); the risks of not bringing being into doing; and more. The episode ends with a short meditation on being, guided by Brother Phap Huu. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Online course: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet https://plumvillage.org/zasp?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=twoii&utm_campaign=zasp Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing ‘The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/the-four-dharma-seals-of-plum-village The Way Out Is In: ‘The Art of Laziness: Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There! (Episode #41)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/the-art-of-laziness-dont-just-do-something-sit-there-episode-41 The Way Out Is In: ‘Taming Our Survival Instinct (Episode #65)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/taming-our-survival-instinct-episode-65 John Bradshaw https://www.johnbradshaw.com/ Quotes “Mainstream society seems to believe that action equates to what we do, and how we are and the way we are in the world tends to be relegated to a very, very poor second place.” “In the deep view of Buddhism, ‘being’ can only be when you interbe with everything else.” “To be is to interbe.” “Don’t just do something, sit there.” “We tend to think in terms of doing and not in terms of being. We think that when we are not doing anything, we are wasting our time. That is not true. Our time is, first of all, for us to be. To be what? To be alive, to be peace, to be joy, to be loving. And that is what the world needs the most. So we train ourselves in order to be. And if you know the art of being peace, being silent, then you have the ground for every action, because the ground for action is to be. And the quality of being determines the quality of doing. Action must be based on non-action.” “This mindset of doing and being has been divided. Whereas, in our training we don’t separate between spirituality and doing.” “In Buddhism, our actions – which we leave behind in this world – are our truest karma. They are the true continuation of our thoughts, our speech, and our bodily actions: how I open the door, how I see you, how I speak to you, how I engage in difficult conversations.” “The schedule is our teacher.” “Being can be very confronting because, when we’re truly there, we start to see ourselves more clearly.” “The real art is being blissful and being present through every storm that arises.” “By being and understanding how to be, you can act with integrity and with understanding.” “Don’t try to explain it; be it first.” “The essence of our practice is to develop our quality of being present. Being present is the ground of all...

Welcome to episode 74 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino are joined by special guest Kate Raworth, the creator of Doughnut Economics, to discuss from spirituality to new economic thinking; individual, community, and planetary boundaries; putting ideas into practice; practicing true love and no self; avoiding the trap of fame; and much more. Kate shares her journey into reimagining economics; the encounters that shaped her vision; regenerative enterprises and the inspiring communities making new economics a reality; and the discoveries made after attending a Plum Village retreat with her family. Kate Raworth is the creator of the Doughnut of social and planetary boundaries, co-founder of Doughnut Economics Action Lab, and author of the internationally bestselling Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think like a 21st Century Economist. She is a Senior Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, and Professor of Practice at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Over the past 25 years, Kate’s career has taken her from working with micro-entrepreneurs in the villages of Zanzibar to co-authoring the Human Development Report for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York, followed by a decade as Senior Researcher at Oxfam. Read more about her work on her website. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Online course: Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet https://plumvillage.org/courses/zen-and-the-art-of-saving-the-planet Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Doughnut Economics Action Lab https://doughnuteconomics.org Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think like a 21st Century Economist https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doughnut_Economics:_Seven_Ways_to_Think_Like_a_21st-Century_Economist ‘Five Contemplations before Eating’ https://www.parallax.org/mindfulnessbell/article/five-contemplations-before-eating/ Biocentrism https://www.britannica.com/topic/biocentrism Lily Cole https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Cole The Raft Is Not the Shore https://www.parallax.org/product/the-raft-is-not-the-shore/ ‘Begin Anew’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/begin-anew Club of Rome https://www.clubofrome.org/ The Art of Power https://www.parallax.org/product/art-of-power/ Herman Daly https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Daly Chants: ‘The Three Refuges’ https://plumvillage.org/library/chants/the-three-refuges Wellbeing Alliance https://www.culturehealthandwellbeing.org.uk/ Economy for the Common Good https://www.econgood.org Elinor Ostrom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinor_Ostrom International Monetary Fund (IMF) https://www.imf.org/en/Home TED Talk: A Healthy Economy Should Be Designed to Thrive, Not Grow https://www.ted.com/talks/kate_raworth_a_healthy_economy_should_be_designed_to_thrive_not_grow?subtitle=en Barbara Ward https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ward,_Baroness_Jackson_of_Lodsworth Marilyn Waring https://marilynwaring.com/ Donella Meadows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donella_Meadows Janine Benyus https://biomimicry.org/janine-benyus Quotes “Doughnut economics is one way of trying to create an economics that actually is based on this planet, and lives on Earth. Economics, when you go back to ancient Greek, literally means the art of household management.” “We need to create economies that are distributive by design, that share resources with all, that are regenerative by design, that regenerate the living systems, and that go...

Welcome to episode 73 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. Nobody escapes pain, but, for most people, knowing how to handle it remains a mystery. That’s why, in this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss ways to cope with painful feelings, both individually and collectively. The two presenters talk about the Buddhist practices of being with pain, and how to handle it, be aware of it, and understand it, in order to start transforming it. The conversation touches upon personal stories of transformation, including snippets from Thich Nhat Hanh’s life; the general fear of being with our suffering; the ability to touch joy in daily life; deep happiness; accessing the wisdom in ourselves; eight practical stages for dealing with our pain, based on Buddhist practices; and much more. The episode ends with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing ‘The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/the-four-dharma-seals-of-plum-village Sister True Dedication https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem The Way Out Is In: ‘The Three Doors of Liberation (Episode #18)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/the-three-doors-of-liberation-episode-18 The Way Out Is In: The Heart of Meditation – Part One (Episode #61)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/the-heart-of-meditation-part-one-episode-61 The Way Out Is In: ‘The Heart of Meditation – Part Two (Episode #62)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/the-heart-of-meditation-part-two-episode-62 51 Mental Formations https://plumvillage.org/transcriptions/51-mental-formation ‘Texts for the Practice of “Touching the Earth”’ https://plumvillage.org/texts-for-the-practice-of-touching-the-earth Quotes “I think pain is a universal thread that connects all of us human beings, because it is inevitable that each and every one of us experience pain, whether it is physical or emotional. And part of the Buddha’s journey of spiritual investigation was how he could touch deep freedom and deep awakening.” “When we are taking care of our happiness, we are also taking care of our pain and our suffering. And these emotions coexist. They are like light and darkness, up and down; like all opposites. These two fundamental elements of life are very important ingredient of spirituality.” “If we know how to look deeply into suffering, we will know how to suffer.” “In kindness there’s patience.” “Understanding pain and suffering is a very important element of spiritual growth.” “Someone like Thay, who experienced war, would never take a peaceful day for granted. And that became a root of his insight; he went through so much suffering, so much despair, so much killing, that the peace he was able to experience in 24 hours was the greatest gift.” “When we can touch our own pain and our own suffering, that is already mindfulness: just knowing that we suffer.” “The path is to be with our suffering in order to generate happiness.” “As a practitioner, we have to remember to nourish an important element in our daily life: the ability to experience joy in the present moment. And then recognize that happiness in the present moment.” “You are more than your emotions.” “Don’t think about your breath; feel your breath. Don’t think about your body; feel your body.” “Each moment is creating a new past. Each moment is creating a new future.”

Welcome to episode 72 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this installment, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss finding a spiritual path and the conditions that need to exist for someone to feel at home with a spiritual practice. And what is it to find a spiritual practice and truly rest in it and develop it over time? How do we know if we’ve found a practice that works for us, and what is it to go deeply into one way of seeing the world? The conversation touches upon many other ideas and topics such as bringing the sacred into the everyday; to be in service to the past and/or the future; Buddhist practices for people from different religious backgrounds; Dharma sharing and trust; and many more. Brother Phap Huu also shares stories of many spiritual paths that are being told at the current Plum Village retreat. The episode ends with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing The Sun My Heart https://www.parallax.org/product/the-sun-my-heart/ Understanding Our Mind https://www.parallax.org/product/understanding-our-mind/ ‘The Five Mindfulness Trainings’ https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings ‘The Four Dharma Seals of Plum Village’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/the-four-dharma-seals-of-plum-village Quotes “To find a practice, a spiritual practice, Thay says that’s a treasure in life. And this is why we always have to practice gratitude. I’m very grateful every day that I have a community, I have a practice, and that I’m still part of the practice.” “When we say ‘I take refuge in the Buddha’, it means ‘I take refuge in the seed of awakening inside of me’.” “What I like about Plum Village is that there are very strong guidelines about sharing: to deeply listen with love; to speak only from the heart; not to cross-talk or answer back. And not to give people advice, but just be present for them, to offer a safe space into which they can pour their pain and let it be released but not to have to justify it, not have to answer questions about it – just know that people are present for them.” “Buddhist practices are not in conflict with any religion; they actually coexist alongside very beautifully.” “When we lose our sense of being, we don’t touch interbeing, which is the deep connection that comes from us all being interrelated.” “Buddha means awakening.” “When we don’t know how to take care of our pain, we go and consume. We are ready to create more pain for other people, because we don’t know how to cope with our pain. We don’t know how to transform our pain.” “We don’t have the ability to sit with nothing, to sit with the sense of pain in us. Or, sometimes, we don’t have the ability to be there and do nothing.” “Don’t just do something, sit there.” “For those who would really like to be Buddhist, they can be Buddhist. And those who would like to keep their tradition but also be Buddhist and practice mindfulness, go ahead.” “The first wing of meditation: stop. Know what you have. Check in. Where are you in your life?” “This idea that when you practice, you don’t suffer; we have to review that idea. We have to give a new language to that.” “Sometimes, joy and happiness can coexist at the same time as suffering.” “My mantra has been, ‘There are other wonderful human beings on this Earth.’ And we can even coexist also with humans who are not awakened and who have very dangerous and dogmatic...

Welcome to episode 71 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. We’re delighted to share this special two-part installment with you, which was recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times. This is the second recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them. In the panel, you will hear from leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino, Sister Lang Nghiem, one of the senior nuns in Plum Village, and Elli Weisbaum. Their conversation focuses on what it is to feel safe in the world, what it is to belong, and what it is like to feel at home in the world, and touches upon topics such as healing the past in the present moment; spiritual homes; community building; localization; being aware of indoctrination; challenging our worldviews; misinformation; creating resilience; and much more. Dr. Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD, has worked internationally facilitating mindfulness workshops and retreats within the sectors of education, healthcare, and business. She is currently the Acting Program Director for the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program (BPMH), at New College, University of Toronto, Canada. At the heart of her teaching and research is an interest in cultivating learning and occupational environments where all members of the community can flourish and thrive. She attended her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of 10 and has continued to train with the Plum Village community. Elli’s background in both academic research and traditional mindfulness practice provides a distinct approach to her ongoing work teaching and researching in the field. Read more on her website. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana Elli Weisbaum https://www.elliweisbaum.com/ Sister Chan Lang Nghiem https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem The Order of Interbeing https://orderofinterbeing.org/ Jamie Bristow https://www.jamiebristow.com/ Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Christiana Figueres https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres Dharma Talks: ‘Nutriments for Healing’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/nutriments-for-healing Deer Park Monastery https://deerparkmonastery.org/ Sister Chan Duc https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc A Cloud Never Dies https://plumvillage.org/a-cloud-never-dies Quotes “You practice in the good times so that when the bad, difficult times come, you’re prepared to act.” “Our thoughts, we consume them first. They lead to our actions.” “As a practitioner, I often look around in my day-to-day life and ask, holding up the four nutriments, what am I consuming beyond edible foods? And how is this impacting my internal landscape?” “How am I contributing to the landscapes of consciousness around me?” “Our practice is to turn towards suffering and embrace it. And, for me, the spaces where I feel safe are ones where that permission is given. And when that permission is given, then we also have the opportunity to touch happiness.” “When a woman...

Welcome to episode 70 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. We’re delighted to be able to share with you this special two-part installment, recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times. This is the first recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them. In the panel, you will hear two of our frequent guests, Sister True Dedication (Sister Hien Nghiem) and Christiana Figueres, as well as Dharma teacher Shantum Seth. These three panelists explore how the Buddha faced war and violence in his own time; the principle of ahimsa and Gandhian nonviolence; handling anger, despair, and burnout as activists; practicing in times of polarization and division; insights around the victim-perpetrator dynamic; sanghas as sanctuaries, and their role in activism; different aspects of engaged Buddhism and its evolution over time; the spiritual dimension of change; and much more. And does anger help? Christiana Figueres, one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, was a student of Thich Nhat Hanh and is a valued member of the Plum Village Sangha. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016, she is also the co-founder of Global Optimism, co-host of the Outrage + Optimism podcast, and co-author of the bestselling The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis. Shantum Seth, an ordained Dharmacharya (Dharma teacher) in the Buddhist Mindfulness lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches in India and across the world. A co-founder of Ahimsa Trust, he has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings for the past 35 years. Since 1988, he has led pilgrimages and other multi-faith, educational, cultural, spiritual, and transformative journeys across diverse regions of India and Asia. He is actively involved in educational, social, and ecological programmes, including work on cultivating mindfulness in society, including with educators, the Indian Central Reserve Police Force, and the corporate sector. Across various Indian sanghas, Dharmacharya Shantum is the primary teacher of different practices of mindfulness from Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana Bodhisattva vow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow Magadha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha Kosala https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala Ahimsa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa Mahavira https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira Patanjali https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali Mahatma Gandhi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi Jan Smuts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts Sister Chan Duc https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Paris Peace Accords https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords The European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) https://plumvillage.org/practice-centre/eiab Quotes “I need to find a way of being peace, not just fighting for peace.” “There’s no...

Welcome to episode 69 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. With Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu away, leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino holds the fort with a special episode about the art of land regeneration, happy farming, and reconnecting deeply to nature. This time, Jo is joined by special guests and happy farmers Mick McEvoy and Sister Trang Lam Hy (Sister Forest of Joy), two of the people behind the Happy Farms agroecology project in Plum Village. The conversation touches upon many topics, from Zen philosophies, the Diamond Sutra, and deep ecology, to seasonal planting and practicing mindfulness while working the land; producing food AND caring for the Earth; collective awakening and beginning anew; empathy for our food; reclaiming the nobility of the farmer; the importance of growing (beautiful) vegetables in a time of polycrisis – even in small quantities; land regeneration and Zen Buddhism; Thich Nhat Hanh’s gardening metaphors; and more. Enjoy and thank you for listening! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources The Happy Harm https://thehappyfarm.org/ Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing ‘The Five Earth Touchings’ https://plumvillage.org/key-practice-texts/the-five-earth-touchings Happy Farms: ‘Reverence for the Land’ https://plumvillage.org/articles/reverence-for-the-land ‘Happy Farm: Rewilding – Healing, Regeneration, and Transformation for the Land’ https://www.parallax.org/mindfulnessbell/article/happy-farm-rewilding/ Sutras: ‘The Diamond That Cuts through Illusion’ https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/the-diamond-that-cuts-through-illusion Dharma Talks: ‘Free from Notions: The Diamond Sutra’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/free-from-notions-the-diamond-sutra Deep ecology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecology Vandana Shiva https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandana_Shiva Grow It Yourself https://giy.ie/ Eating Meditation https://web.plumvillage.app/meditations/eating-meditation Mary Oliver https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Oliver The Bodhi Tree https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Tree Global North and Global South https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_North_and_Global_South Braiding Sweetgrass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braiding_Sweetgrass Quotes “I can pivot 360 degrees, and I can see countless examples of what Thich Nhat Hanh refers to as interbeing, this interconnectedness of all life.” “Happy Farm literally grounds people in [mindfulness] practice.” “We are the Earth that carries us.” “Go home to nature and let nature heal you.” “Thay was a revolutionary to bring the community of humans, the community of practice, out into the forest to practice walking meditation every day. And that is so unique and healing in and of itself.” “We’re probably the first generation, at least in the Global North, that have been separated in our choices, and how our communities and cultures have evolved to be separate from the gifts and knowledge of how to grow some of our own food. And in rediscovering how to do that, we took a lot from and have a lot of reverence for the ancestors: our blood ancestors, our family, our spiritual ancestors, and our land ancestors, those who lived on these lands. And many people lived on these lands here, in Plum Village, going way back into historical times when people hunted in these valleys or farmed these lands. And all our neighbors around us still farm these lands, not just on the Happy Farm.” “Vandana Shiva says that the most important thing we can do at this time is start a food garden and be soil...

Welcome to episode 68 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino discuss Right Livelihood in Buddhism. After starting with what this means, they dive more deeply into practical steps and examples. How can we find joy, feel deeply connected, and also make a positive impact on the world through our daily work? The conversation also touches upon ‘bringing our cosmic body to work’; the insight of responsibility; the difference between doing what we love and doing what we’re good at; ego and compassion in the workplace; planning for the future while being in the present; and much more. The episode ends with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. Enjoy and thank you for listening! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Dharma Talks: ‘Right Livelihood and True Love’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/right-livelihood-and-true-love Dharma Talks: ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-noble-eightfold-path Koan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan Dharma Talks: ‘Our Cosmic Body’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/our-cosmic-body Buddha Mind, Buddha Body https://www.parallax.org/product/buddha-mind-buddha-body/ Sister True Dedication https://www.instagram.com/sistertruededication/ The Art of Living https://plumvillage.org/books/the-art-of-living Quotes “Each and every one of us has a spiritual dimension inside that we can generate wherever we go, and that is a contribution to what we want to build.” “By being we do more effectively.” “Don’t just do something, sit there.” “Time is being, time is to be alive.” “When you have anger, it can be a bell of mindfulness that tells us when we see injustice, when we see suffering. And we can be with that anger. And that anger can become a voice for us, to have empathy, to have compassion. Because compassion can come from anger sometimes. It can come from what we’re seeing, because it tells us that this is wrong. But if we allow anger to always be there and not transform, and we don’t channel it into another energy, then we will become one with exactly that outer energy that made us angry in the first place.” “Sometimes silence is the loudest noise.” “Why not be soft? Why not be kinder? That softness and that kindness are very loud in a moment of big aggression. The kindness, the softness becomes a louder action because it shows our humanity; it shows the heart of love.” “Thay emphasized that all of us have a Buddha body. We have [the potential for] awakening inside of us – we just have to cultivate it. And there are moments that we’re not a Buddha. That’s okay. But remember that we have Buddha nature inside of us.” “Thay had a calligraphy that really informs us about deep interbeing: ‘The piece of bread in your hands is the body of the whole cosmos.’ And that is for us to have a deep understanding that this piece of bread didn’t just come from nowhere, nothing. It’s the whole lifetime of the existence of time and space. And it’s a miracle to have this piece of bread. So be grateful. Hold it with gratitude. Hold it with reverence. Eat it with gratitude. Eat it with reverence.”