Category: Buddhism
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Being Happy While Acknowledging Pain
In the first paragraph of Being Peace, Thich Nhat Hanh explains that for a practitioner, suffering is not enough: Life is filled with suffering, but it is also filled with many wonders, like the blue sky, the sunshine, the eyes of a baby. To suffer is not enough. We must also be in touch with…
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Cultivating the Family Garden
I am writing with a request; a request to reflect about friends and family in your life who may benefit more from the practice. For the past 6-8 years, the monastery at Deer Park has offered two retreats in the summer – one for teens only (ages 13-17) and another for families. I have attended…
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I Am Not A Gadget: A Buddhist’s iPad Dilemma
Next month the iPad will be unleashed on the world and I want one. First question, how can I justify the cost against a household with a fixed budget. Second, balancing the desire to reduce consumption and the need to stay current with technology. Third, the balance of ubiquitous computing and family harmony. Finally, the…
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Joyful Tet Celebration
Tet is the Lunar New Year for the Vietnamese community. Our family is very close to the Vietnamese because our Teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, is Vietnamese. We came to Deer Park Monastery in Escondido to celebrate Tet with out brothers and sisters. Dragon and lion dances. Firecrackers. Drumming. Laughter. Lisi (red envelopes with money). Generosity.…
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Religious Freedom in Vietnam – Help Bat Nha
Image by kenleyneufeld via Flickr Do you believe in religious freedom? It is something we almost take for granted in our nation and in our world. However, there are places where religious freedom is a precious gift that must be struggled for to make a reality. This is the case in Vietnam. For 39 years…
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400 Monastics Being Forcefully Evicted Today
Dear friends: the situation at Bat Nha Monastery in Vietnam (also known as Prajna Temple) has become very critical. There are about 400 young monastics currently being evicted from the monastery by the Vietnamese government and local police. You can learn a bit more from a recent New York Times article called Tensions Rise as…
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An Introduction – Touching the Earth
I have been using the book Touching the Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh for several years as part of my morning meditation practice. It is a wonderful book that provides a framework to have a “conversation” with the Buddha and look deeply at our relationship with the Earth, others, ourselves, and the Ultimate Dimension. The…