Our teacher on mind-body

 

https://youtu.be/B_qIPABq6d8?si=ns9B2Ywm8j5lfekV

https://youtu.be/Qch5ISD9Bxo?si=-N5nmn9GSZCsdGcs

Brother Phap Dung on the Art of Communication

https://youtu.be/OBDaQejONm8?si=NRiFtlV8OsHsUIW2

Regulating - Chibs Okereke & 'Stop' - Thich Nhat Hanh

 

From CHIBS OKEREKE - Transcribed from Insighttimer on Jan 25, 2026

In this short [descriptive] practice [and guide]we'll be noticing when the mind runs ahead of reality. 

And then we're going to gently invite ourselves back to what's true right now. 
Let's allow the body to arrive before the mind tries to sprint off
into the rest of the day. 

You can close your eyes if that feels comfortable.
Or simply soften your gaze with the eyes open.
And let's begin by feeling the support beneath you.
The chair. The bed, the floor. Holding you safely. 

See if you can allow the shoulders to drop a little. Maybe unclenching the jaw.
Softening the belly. And now let's take a slow comfortable breath in
through the nose. And a soft, easy breath out, through the nose or the mouth.
Breathing in through the nose. And out through the nose or the mouth.
One last breath in. And a slow breath out. And now allowing the breath
to return to its natural rhythm. 

And now I invite you to bring your attention to the simple reality of this moment. Perhaps you can feel the feet on the ground, body breathing.

Maybe you can hear some sounds in the room. Just taking a moment to notice that you're here.

Now, the mind will want to run ahead into what ifs. Worst case scenarios. Conversations that haven't happened yet. problems that haven't arrived. That's just your nervous system, trying to prepare and protect you.

Today we're practicing something different. We're noticing the moment that our thoughts start to sprint into the future. And we're choosing not to feed the frenzy. So as we breathe in, Feeling the breath moving low into the belly. And as we breathe out. Letting the exhale be just a little longer than the inhale. A slightly longer out breath, tells the nervous system. "You're safe."

--> And if a thought pops up about something we said or something we're worried might happen. Just seeing if we can notice it. In the same way that we'd notice a cloud passing across the sky. A thought like to predict. But the body knows what's real. Presence is where clarity lives.

from 'Embracing Our Suffering'

So coming back to embrace ourselves, to start the process of healing, to touch the positive elements does not seem to be a difficult practice. You only need a Sangha where there are people who are doing that and who enjoy just doing that. When you come to the Meditation Hall and sit down holding your plate of food, you may do it with a lot of pleasure. Don’t think of it as a hard practice. Yes, we don’t talk during the whole meal, you sit quiet in an erect position during the whole meal. Yes, we do that. But many of us enjoy doing that. We don’t have to talk, we don’t have to think, we don’t have to do anything: we just realize complete rest during the whole meal. To be able to share a meal with a Sangha in mindfulness, not to have to do anything at all, to just enjoy every morsel of your food, touching your food deeply without any thinking, without making any project in your mind is the practice, the practice of stopping and resting.

Mara and the Buddha – Embracing our Suffering | Plum Village

Mara and the Buddha – Embracing our Suffering | Plum Village

After the election, how can we accept that we didn't get what we want?

A lesson in dhukka, dukkha, transforming suffering

Leonard Cohen - "love itself"

 Song lyrics by Leonard Cohen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yv7lRMWDlU

Love Itself

The light came through the window, Straight from the sun above, And so inside my little room There plunged the rays of Love. In streams of light I clearly saw The dust you seldom see, Out of which the Nameless makes A Name for one like me. I'll try to say a little more: Love went on and on Until it reached an open door -- Then Love Itself Love Itself was gone.

All busy in the sunlight The flecks did float and dance, And I was tumbled up with them In formless circumstance. I'll try to say a little more: Love went on and on Until it reached an open door -- Then Love Itself Love Itself was gone. Then I came back from where I'd been. My room, it looked the same -- But there was nothing left between The Nameless and the Name. All busy in the sunlight The flecks did float and dance, And I was tumbled up with them In formless circumstance. I'll try to say a little more: Love went on and on Until it reached an open door -- Then Love itself, Love Itself was gone. Love Itself was gone.