Dear Thay, dear Sangha, While this issue was coming together, I spent an evening reading our teacher’s poetry on his experiences in war. Afterward, I dreamt that people in my community were drafted into military service and a war was going to break out within a few days. I was…
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Walking in Buddha’s Footsteps
By Kathleen Braza On December 8, 2000 thirty-four individuals began a life transforming pilgrimage to ancient Buddhist sites in India and Nepal. The trip was organized by Jerry and Kathleen Braza and led by Shantum Seth. The pilgrims included people from Oregon, Massachusetts, Arizona and Norway. This particular Sangha, however was unique in that it also…
Touching Sunlight
By Peter Smith When the tree died, she continued as a violin, a chopping board, and a floorboard. At first the violin was very content. She felt grateful for the skill, care, and love with which she had been crafted. But, over time, the violin started to feel a little…
The Collective Bodhisattva
Sisterhood and Brotherhood in the Twenty-First Century By Sister Annabel, True Virtue If you were to ask me what could save this planet Earth I would say not eating meat, not using fossil fuels—but only if based on sisterhood and brotherhood. Sisterhood and brotherhood come first. Whatever we do we…
Solidity and Generosity
A Retreat for the U.S. Congress By Susan Hadler Dharma talk at Warner Theater; photo by Abbie Chesler Word came from Sister Peace that Thay and the Plum Village Sangha would visit Washington, DC toward the end of their North American tour in October 2011. Thay would offer a talk…
Freedom Is the Purpose of Our Practice
By Thich Nhat Hanh August 22, 2001 Deer Park Monastery photo by Paul Davis The purpose of practice is not to become a Dharma teacher; a Dharma teacher is nothing at all. It is not to become a Sangha leader; to be a Sangha leader does not mean anything at…
War, Conflict and Healing
A Buddhist Perspective By Ha Vinh Tho According to the first of the five precepts (panca sila) given by the Buddha to his lay disciples (upasaka): “Lay students of the Buddha refrain from killing, put an end to killing, rid themselves of all weapons, learn humility before others, learn humility…
Writing in Community
During 1993, I have had one of the most gratifying years of my life working with the Community of Mindful Living giving writing workshops to war veterans. We called each day we gathered a Day of Mindfulness. We introduced ourselves by telling about our lives as veterans and as writers. After this, I…
The Gift of Plum
By Emily White One day, Ocean looked at Sky and thought, “I love Sky so much that I must give him a gift!” So Ocean took some of her water and made a present. She made Sky a cloud. Sky was thrilled. He loved his beautiful cloud so much that…
Mindfulness in Marriage
By Lynda Bidlake and Lewis BrightHeart Headrick photo by Renee Burgard I join my husband for a late lunch in a local restaurant. The waitress comes back again and again to refill our water glasses, even though we’ve only sipped. At our booth by the window, we are softly reading…