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Dharma Talk: “Relationships” — Community as Family, Parenting as a Dharma Door, and the Five Awarenesses
By Thich Nhat Hanh in September 1990
Taking Refuge To practice Buddhism, we have to take refuge. This means that we have to base our practice on some ground that helps us be stable. It is like building a house—you have to build it on solid ground.…
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From the Editors
Published in September 1990
This issue of the Mindfulness Bell is about relationships. In his opening dharma talk, Thich Nhat Hanh addresses the concerns of community, family, and parenting, especially single parenting. Thay spoke about these subjects quite a lot during the summer retreats at Plum Village, his…
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Reflections on the First Awareness
Published in September 1990
By Allan Hunt Badiner "This is what you can say tomorrow, and every full moon," Thich Nhat Hanh told us as he smiled and handed us a slip of paper in the dining hall of the pilgrim's hostel in Sarnath, India, in November…
Other articles in this issue
Ping and Bong
Over New Year's, my wife and I spent five days away, alone with each other. We had just come through a time of intense strain, and we had been arguing…
Compassion for the Abuser & the Abused
This morning a friend called and said that she had a question for Thich Nhat Hanh, but that until she could ask him directly, she wanted to know what I…
Poem: Foot and Earth Meeting
Hearing the seagulls cry,smelling the damp lake—grey wing blows clouds.The mountain top is dusted with the first snow.My steps on the earth are firm.My resolve is foot and earthmeetingagain and…
Breathing with Children
Every night my three-year-old daughter, Amy, sleeps cuddled up next to me. Every morning she wakes up, flings her little arms around my neck, kisses me, and says, "I love…
Important Day and Way of Life
I am thirteen, and I had my Bar Mitzvah on May 28, 1990. Rather than make a speech of thank you's, I chose to use the "Discourse on Happiness" that…
Excerpt from a Longer Poem
The woman looks out of little girl eyesat scared little boys in big men's bodies.We are strong, we are tired, we remembera song somewhere heard;now ignored and buried long ago.…
Touching My Jewish Roots As a Buddhist
At a monthly-mindfulness sitting, Lyn Fine spoke about exploring the relationship between her Jewish roots and Buddhism. Lyn announced that the theme, "Chaos and the Emergence from Darkness," would be discussed at…
A Meditative Fast
My friend and I subscribe to The Mindfulness Bell and have read both issues avidly. They have been of great pleasure and benefit. Thank you! I have also been practicing with the…
Poem: Flower Arranging Class
They look so happy on the terrace,bending their scissorsover bamboo and roses,rocks and water. Nobody will ever look through their eyes again:cut flowers arrange cut flowers.dharmas re-arrange dharmas. Katy ButlerMill…
A Day of One’s Own
In The Miracle of Mindfulness, Thay describes how daily life and meditation can be unified; how we can turn all of our time into our own time. The secret is to be…
Poem: Plum Village, June 1990
This is France,but we are not at Lourdes,nor Chartres,nor Saint Michel. We practice together,but this is no stupa in Vietnam,nor a shrine at Bodh Gaya.There are no holy temples here,no…
The Buckle-Up Gatha
Entering this powerful car,I buckle my seatbelt,and vow to protect all beings. Lawlor FamilyEvanston, Illinois
Peace Letter
Dear President Bush,I am one of the many thirteen-year-old kids in my class who is worried about the Gulf Crisis. I think if you want to be re-elected you must…
Helping the Hungry -SHF Project
By Carole Melkonian We just received your gift package and are very happy and deeply moved. With your gift we bought 100 kilograms of rice and a roll of plastic to cover…
Hugging Meditation
By Thich Nhat Hanh When you practice hugging meditation, before you hug someone, you breathe in, bow to him or her with respect, and say to yourself, "A lotus for you." If…
