Sister Lăng Nghiêm offered this moving and insightful dharma talk on a special day for the Plum Village community. In Plum Village, we speak of birth and death in terms of "continuation", and this day marks the 94th "Continuation Day" of our teacher Thầy (zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh).

"Moral courage" is a topic that has been in the collective consciousness lately. What is needed to act in a beneficial and loving way, for ourselves, others, and the earth-- even if our action may cause difficulties for us?

Sr. Lăng Nghiêm does not regard moral courage as simply a matter of "being a good person", or of doing what people agree is the "right thing". In her experience, moral courage requires a clear and heart-felt awareness of the things that we do that cause suffering, as well as the kind of actions that truly relieve suffering.

Sr. Lăng Nghiêm explains that in order to understand our suffering, it is helpful to understand how our mind works. In particular, how do we "appropriate a self"? We consider some aspects of our world to be "us" (from our body to our family and friends, community, political and religious affiliations, possessions and our views) and regard other things to be "not us". She describes how discriminating in this way leads us to fear the loss of our "self". From this basis, our very attempts at self-preservation cause us to lose our freedom, and bring suffering to ourselves and others.

When we see and understand our suffering firsthand, says Sr. Lăng Nghiêm, love and compassion arise in us naturally. For example, she shares about the first time she read the Five Mindfulness Trainings, as well as the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings.

(https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness-practice/the-5-mindfulness-trainings/
https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness-practice/the-14-mindfulness-trainings/)

In both cases, when she first read these trainings she discovered several ways that her actions were causing suffering to others. She saw and felt this so clearly that she cried.

With understanding and compassion, we see what views and fears are causing suffering in our daily life, and we have the energy we need to release them and act from love. Sr. Lăng Nghiêm sees these Three Real Powers (or "Three Virtues": Understanding, Love, and Letting Go) as the basis for moral courage and true love.

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Here are some key themes in this talk, along with the approximate time at which they are introduced:

"Contemplation before Shining Light" (~ 3:00)—

On seeing our brother, sister, friend as a river, a stream of ancestors, rather than a separate self. Offering feedback in this spirit.

"If I offer you something to help you transform, it is not a criticism or a reprimand, but a hope for you... As you transform, it brings me happiness, just as when I transform, I know it brings happiness to you as well."

"Taking a step on Mother Earth: Seeing Mother Earth in us, seeing Thầy in us" (~ 7:00)

"Daily fears and original fear, original desire” (~ 12:00)

“Self-preservation: learning to drop our milk bottle” (~ 18:00)

“Taking the dive: allowing ourselves to fall, and to admit we made a mistake” (~ 25:00)

“How our store consciousness appropriates a sense of self” (~ 30:00)

“Our attempts at self-preservation depends on the kind of self we are trying to protect… What we appropriate as a self, we fear to lose.” (~ 34:00, 41:00)

“Seeing the umbilical cords connecting us to all of life, as a daily practice” (~ 43:00)

“When we protect the one, we are also protecting the all.” (~ 46:00)

“The practice of establishing an altar: connecting with our roots (blood, spiritual, and land ancestors) helps us overcome our alienation.” (~ 48:00) —

Having a conversation with our ancestors, asking for their support. “Thầy offered us this practice because he saw that the alienation and isolation that we feel these days in the West is tremendous.”

“Moral courage and the Three Real Powers” (~ 55:00)—

Understanding, Love, and Letting Go. This section includes:

— “Our daily practice is to come home to ourselves, to our bodies, feelings, and perceptions” (~ 1:02:00)

— “Reading the 5 Mindfulness Trainings, and crying” (~ 1:06:00)

— “Compassionate dialogue is possible: the 3rd Mindfulness Training (of the 14 MTs)” (~ 1:09:00)

— “Releasing our cows” (~ 1:23:00)

— — —

“Summary: what is needed to grow our moral courage” (~ 1:29:00)

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