If you wish to support our podcast, please <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/?form=thewayoutisin">follow this link</a>. Thank you!



Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



This is our third live recording of the podcast made in London, England, in July, 2026, before a sold-out audience. In it, Zen Buddhist monk <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/">Brother Phap Huu</a> and leadership coach <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en">Jo Confino</a> are joined on stage by Zen Buddhist nun <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem">Sister True Dedication</a> to explore the idea that the answers to life’s issues are often found within ourselves, rather than externally, and that we are already the person we want to become. 



The discussion includes reflections on the challenges of recognizing one’s own worth and the societal pressures that contribute to feelings of inadequacy; how mindfulness, presence, and community are essential in cultivating self-acceptance and personal transformation; the role of kindness in daily life; the power of the present moment in fostering personal and collective change; practicing self-compassion; and much more. 



The conversation concludes with questions from the audience answered by the three speakers.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/">https://plumvillage.app/</a>  



Plum Village UK: <a href="https://plumvillage.uk/">https://plumvillage.uk/</a>



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



List of resources 



Sister True Dedication <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem</a>  



Koan <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan</a> 



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>  



Plum Village Tradition <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition</a> 



Meredith Monk <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Monk">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Monk</a>



The Way Out Is In: ‘Stepping into Freedom – Live Recording with Q&A Session (Episode #67)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67</a> 



The Way Out Is In: ‘Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship (Episode #95)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Quotes



“Given everything that’s happening in the world, the person I’d like to become is this impossible person – a person who can find an answer to heal and stop all of the suffering, all of the injustice, all of the violence. We know that the pain and discomfort we feel in ourselves is not only a personal, individual discomfort; we’re feeling the pain of the world, and that’s reflected in our bodies and in our feelings. And so, when we can’t accept ourselves, or think we’re not enough, it’s also because we’re not enough in the face of all of this. How could we be?”



“All the suffering of the world is reflected in us in a really concrete way: we watch something on a screen and we have a bodily response. We feel the anxiety, we feel the tension. We felt the heat in the heat wave last week. And that’s doing something to us at an emotional level; a kind of existential fear is triggered. So that suffering is really visceral in us. But what’s really interesting is that there’s also the other side of this: if the suffering of the world is reflected in our bodies and in our minds, the beauty of the word is also there in us.”



“I understand how hard it is to not feel enough in the face of what I would like to do, or need to do, to respond to the world. But, at the same time, all of the goodness of the world is refracted and expressed in unique ways in each one of us. For me, that’s the key to unlocking the door to accepting myself.”



“Coming home to oneself and embracing the pain and the suffering is the first act of mindfulness.”



“Today we’re so afraid of our own pain, of our own suffering, and of our own capacity that we don’t engage anymore. We’re all in our little worlds. And part of the journey of becoming isn’t an individual matter, it’s about becoming as a whole society.”



“We really live in an era of optimization, and we need to pause for a moment and recognize how many parts of our lives we’re trying to optimize. That may be one of the sicknesses of this era. We can’t allow things to be as they are. So with all the mess going on in the world, the injustice and the violence and the inequality, we pick up these habits from the capitalist grind. But we’re not really offering a different energy.”



“Whether you’re in a shop, on the Tube, at work, or on a Zoom call, when something happens, if we have a default response to allow us to come back to our in-breath and out-breath, and take care of our nervous system and arrive back into ourselves, that’s already an act of kindness. We’re rescuing ourselves. We are giving ourselves a breather, literally.”



“Thich Nhat Hanh was very clear that what our society needs – what we all need – is a different way of being and a different quality of being. And he spoke about the preciousness of time. Time is not money, time is not success, time is not work. Time is life. And we know how short this time is that we have with our children, with our loved ones; the time we have is so short and so precious.”



“How we are being in time, how we are allowing the fullness of any moment to reveal itself, whether we’ve just had bad news or experienced a strong emotion, we can be with that in a certain way. And that is already action, that is already a response, and that’s already patterning something different into society.”



“I don’t really discriminate between micro-resistance and systemic resistance. But I do believe that, when we come together in community – like in moments like this, in the weekly sanghas that many of you are part of we’re reinforcing that capacity of breathing together as an act of resistance, walking together, listening deeply. And then that is penetrating into our lives. It makes us change makers, whether we call ourselves a change maker or not. That’s the Buddhist understanding of action, it’s acting at every level and it’s available to all of us. The closer we are to our truth, to our body, to our breathing, you will be surprised by the kind of courage that manifests.”



“Thay would say a smile can save someone’s life in the right circumstances.”



“Kindness for me is real and it’s a force that can shift and change.”



“Breathing is a life jacket. When those emotions really come, our teachers say you are more than one emotion. Come back and breathe. Don’t let that emotion take over your whole being because you’re so much more than just one emotion, you bring up another emotion to embrace it.”



“My dad would say, ‘One, two, three, smile.’ And we would smile, but we hated it also. But he has transmitted that reminder that even in the midst of agony, that smile is your right.”



“We don’t need to set aside time to be more true to ourselves, to be more true to our values, to be more free, and to be more awake to what’s going on. We can simply do it on our way to work. And what’s life for if it’s not for that? To feel that freedom, to feel that agency, and just to arrive fully into the richness, the mud, and the beauty of this life that we have a chance to be in.”



“Engaged Buddhism means bringing everything you’re learning into the here and now.”

If you wish to support our podcast, please follow this link. Thank you! Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. This is our third live recording of the podcast made in London, England, in July, 2026, before a sold-out audience. In it, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach Jo Confino are joined on stage by Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication to explore the idea that the answers to life’s issues are often found within ourselves, rather than externally, and that we are already the person we want to become. The discussion includes reflections on the challenges of recognizing one’s own worth and the societal pressures that contribute to feelings of inadequacy; how mindfulness, presence, and community are essential in cultivating self-acceptance and personal transformation; the role of kindness in daily life; the power of the present moment in fostering personal and collective change; practicing self-compassion; and much more. The conversation concludes with questions from the audience answered by the three speakers. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ Plum Village UK: https://plumvillage.uk/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Sister True Dedication https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem Koan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Plum Village Tradition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition Meredith Monk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Monk The Way Out Is In: ‘Stepping into Freedom – Live Recording with Q&A Session (Episode #67)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67 The Way Out Is In: ‘Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship (Episode #95)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95 Quotes “Given everything that’s happening in the world, the person I’d like to become is this impossible person – a person who can find an answer to heal and stop all of the suffering, all of the injustice, all of the violence. We know that the pain and discomfort we feel in ourselves is not only a personal, individual discomfort; we’re feeling the pain of the world, and that’s reflected in our bodies and in our feelings. And so, when we can’t accept ourselves, or think we’re not enough, it’s also because we’re not enough in the face of all of this. How could we be?” “All the suffering of the world is reflected in us in a really concrete way: we watch something on a screen and we have a bodily response. We feel the anxiety, we feel the tension. We felt the heat in the heat wave last week. And that’s doing something to us at an emotional level; a kind of existential fear is triggered. So that suffering is really visceral in us. But what’s really interesting is that there’s also the other side of this: if the suffering of the world is reflected in our bodies and in our minds, the beauty of the word is also there in us.” “I understand how hard it is to not feel enough in the face of what I would like to do, or need to do, to respond to the world. But, at the same time, all of the goodness of the world is refracted and expressed in unique ways in each one of us. For me, that’s the key to unlocking the door to accepting myself.” “Coming home to oneself and embracing the pain and the suffering is the first act of mindfulness.” “Today we’re so afraid of our own pain, of our own suffering, and of our own capacity that we don’t engage anymore. We’re all in our little worlds. And part of the journey of becoming isn’t an individual matter, it’s about becoming as a whole society.” “We really live in an era of optimization, and we need to pause for a moment and recognize how many parts of our lives we’re trying to optimize. That may be one of the sicknesses of this era. We can’t allow things to be as they are. So with all the mess going on in the world, the injustice and the violence and the inequality, we pick up these habits from the capitalist grind. But we’re not really offering a different energy.” “Whether you’re in a shop, on the Tube, at work, or on a Zoom call, when something happens, if we have a default response to allow us to come back to our in-breath and out-breath, and take care of our nervous system and arrive back into ourselves, that’s already an act of kindness. We’re rescuing ourselves. We are giving ourselves a breather, literally.” “Thich Nhat Hanh was very clear that what our society needs – what we all need – is a different way of being and a different quality of being. And he spoke about the preciousness of time. Time is not money, time is not success, time is not work. Time is life. And we know how short this time is that we have with our children, with our loved ones; the time we have is so short and so precious.” “How we are being in time, how we are allowing the fullness of any moment to reveal itself, whether we’ve just had bad news or experienced a strong emotion, we can be with that in a certain way. And that is already action, that is already a response, and that’s already patterning something different into society.” “I don’t really discriminate between micro-resistance and systemic resistance. But I do believe that, when we come together in community – like in moments like this, in the weekly sanghas that many of you are part of we’re reinforcing that capacity of breathing together as an act of resistance, walking together, listening deeply. And then that is penetrating into our lives. It makes us change makers, whether we call ourselves a change maker or not. That’s the Buddhist understanding of action, it’s acting at every level and it’s available to all of us. The closer we are to our truth, to our body, to our breathing, you will be surprised by the kind of courage that manifests.” “Thay would say a smile can save someone’s life in the right circumstances.” “Kindness for me is real and it’s a force that can shift and change.” “Breathing is a life jacket. When those emotions really come, our teachers say you are more than one emotion. Come back and breathe. Don’t let that emotion take over your whole being because you’re so much more than just one emotion, you bring up another emotion to embrace it.” “My dad would say, ‘One, two, three, smile.’ And we would smile, but we hated it also. But he has transmitted that reminder that even in the midst of agony, that smile is your right.” “We don’t need to set aside time to be more true to ourselves, to be more true to our values, to be more free, and to be more awake to what’s going on. We can simply do it on our way to work. And what’s life for if it’s not for that? To feel that freedom, to feel that agency, and just to arrive fully into the richness, the mud, and the beauty of this life that we have a chance to be in.” “Engaged Buddhism means bringing everything you’re learning into the here and now.”

If you wish to support our podcast, please <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/?form=thewayoutisin" rel="noopener noreferrer">follow this link</a>. Thank you!



Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



This is our third live recording of the podcast made in London, England, in July, 2026, before a sold-out audience. In it, Zen Buddhist monk <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brother Phap Huu</a> and leadership coach <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jo Confino</a> are joined on stage by Zen Buddhist nun <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sister True Dedication</a> to explore the idea that the answers to life’s issues are often found within ourselves, rather than externally, and that we are already the person we want to become.&nbsp;



The discussion includes reflections on the challenges of recognizing one’s own worth and the societal pressures that contribute to feelings of inadequacy; how mindfulness, presence, and community are essential in cultivating self-acceptance and personal transformation; the role of kindness in daily life; the power of the present moment in fostering personal and collective change; practicing self-compassion; and much more.&nbsp;



The conversation concludes with questions from the audience answered by the three speakers.







Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.app/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



Plum Village UK: <a href="https://plumvillage.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.uk/</a>



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>







List of resources&nbsp;



Sister True Dedication <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



Koan <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan</a>&nbsp;



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



Plum Village Tradition <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition</a>&nbsp;



Meredith Monk <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Monk" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_Monk</a>



The Way Out Is In: ‘Stepping into Freedom – Live Recording with Q&amp;A Session (Episode #67)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67</a>&nbsp;



The Way Out Is In: ‘Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship (Episode #95)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95</a>







Quotes



“Given everything that’s happening in the world, the person I’d like to become is this impossible person – a person who can find an answer to heal and stop all of the suffering, all of the injustice, all of the violence. We know that the pain and discomfort we feel in ourselves is not only a personal, individual discomfort; we’re feeling the pain of the world, and that’s reflected in our bodies and in our feelings. And so, when we can’t accept ourselves, or think we’re not enough, it’s also because we’re not enough in the face of all of this. How could we be?”



“All the suffering of the world is reflected in us in a really concrete way: we watch something on a screen and we have a bodily response. We feel the anxiety, we feel the tension. We felt the heat in the heat wave last week. And that’s doing something to us at an emotional level; a kind of existential fear is triggered. So that suffering is really visceral in us. But what’s really interesting is that there’s also the other side of this: if the suffering of the world is reflected in our bodies and in our minds, the beauty of the word is also there in us.”



“I understand how hard it is to not feel enough in the face of what I would like to do, or need to do, to respond to the world. But, at the same time, all of the goodness of the world is refracted and expressed in unique ways in each one of us. For me, that’s the key to unlocking the door to accepting myself.”



“Coming home to oneself and embracing the pain and the suffering is the first act of mindfulness.”



“Today we’re so afraid of our own pain, of our own suffering, and of our own capacity that we don’t engage anymore. We’re all in our little worlds. And part of the journey of becoming isn’t an individual matter, it’s about becoming as a whole society.”



“We really live in an era of optimization, and we need to pause for a moment and recognize how many parts of our lives we’re trying to optimize. That may be one of the sicknesses of this era. We can’t allow things to be as they are. So with all the mess going on in the world, the injustice and the violence and the inequality, we pick up these habits from the capitalist grind. But we’re not really offering a different energy.”



“Whether you’re in a shop, on the Tube, at work, or on a Zoom call, when something happens, if we have a default response to allow us to come back to our in-breath and out-breath, and take care of our nervous system and arrive back into ourselves, that’s already an act of kindness. We’re rescuing ourselves. We are giving ourselves a breather, literally.”



“Thich Nhat Hanh was very clear that what our society needs – what we all need – is a different way of being and a different quality of being. And he spoke about the preciousness of time. Time is not money, time is not success, time is not work. Time is life. And we know how short this time is that we have with our children, with our loved ones; the time we have is so short and so precious.”



“How we are being in time, how we are allowing the fullness of any moment to reveal itself, whether we’ve just had bad news or experienced a strong emotion, we can be with that in a certain way. And that is already action, that is already a response, and that’s already patterning something different into society.”



“I don’t really discriminate between micro-resistance and systemic resistance. But I do believe that, when we come together in community – like in moments like this, in the weekly sanghas that many of you are part of we’re reinforcing that capacity of breathing together as an act of resistance, walking together, listening deeply. And then that is penetrating into our lives. It makes us change makers, whether we call ourselves a change maker or not. That’s the Buddhist understanding of action, it’s acting at every level and it’s available to all of us. The closer we are to our truth, to our body, to our breathing, you will be surprised by the kind of courage that manifests.”



“Thay would say a smile can save someone’s life in the right circumstances.”



“Kindness for me is real and it’s a force that can shift and change.”



“Breathing is a life jacket. When those emotions really come, our teachers say you are more than one emotion. Come back and breathe. Don’t let that emotion take over your whole being because you’re so much more than just one emotion, you bring up another emotion to embrace it.”



“My dad would say, ‘One, two, three, smile.’ And we would smile, but we hated it also. But he has transmitted that reminder that even in the midst of agony, that smile is your right.”



“We don’t need to set aside time to be more true to ourselves, to be more true to our values, to be more free, and to be more awake to what’s going on. We can simply do it on our way to work. And what’s life for if it’s not for that? To feel that freedom, to feel that agency, and just to arrive fully into the richness, the mud, and the beauty of this life that we have a chance to be in.”



“Engaged Buddhism means bringing everything you’re learning into the here and now.”

You Are Already the Person You Want to Become – Live Recording with Q&A Session (Episode #113)

If you wish to support our podcast, please <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/?form=thewayoutisin">follow this link</a>. Thank you!



Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/">Brother Phap Huu</a> and leadership coach <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en">Jo Confino</a> are joined by Zen Buddhist nun <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem">Sister True Dedication</a>. Together, they explore the significance and offerings of the Plum Village community – a sanctuary of peace, healing, and mindfulness, in stark contrast to the fast-paced, consumer-driven world outside. 



The three speakers further discuss the importance of a physical environment for spiritual practice, where individuals can reconnect with their true selves; the value of community living, where monastics share a collective career and work towards the flourishing of the community rather than individual success; the relevance of the five mindfulness trainings, which serve as ethical guidelines for personal and societal transformation; and much more.



The conversation also touches upon the need for support to maintain and expand the Plum Village facilities, the importance of generosity, and the impact of supporting engaged monastic communities. 



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/">https://plumvillage.app/</a>  



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



List of resources 



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>  



Plum Village Tradition <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition</a> 



The Bodhisattva vow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow</a> 



The Five Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings</a> 



The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings</a> 



Es Devlin <a href="https://esdevlin.com/">https://esdevlin.com/</a> 



Rebecca Solnit <a href="https://www.rebeccasolnit.net/">https://www.rebeccasolnit.net/</a> 



The Way Out Is In: ‘Stepping into Freedom – Live Recording with Q&A Session (Episode #67)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67</a> 



The Way Out Is In: ‘Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship (Episode #95)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95</a> 



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Quotes



“Plum Village emerged from our teacher’s vision of how the world could look and feel different from mainstream society. From the beginning, Plum Village has been a community of resistance. We could even call it a community of resilience: a physical environment that holds different values to the mainstream consciousness. We can all recognize those values. It might be unbridled capitalism, craving, consumerism, violence, or excesses of different kinds that we see in our immediate lives, around us, and in the economic and labor systems that we’re a part of. The vision for Plum Village was, ‘What if we create a physical environment that models entirely different values?’ Embodying those values is the resistance. For example, embodying peace, harmony, collectiveness, and community rather than individualism.”



“We need to reclaim our sovereignty from the machines of our creation.”



“Plum Village is holding an environment of peace and healing and freedom from the rat race; freedom from the world of technological overwhelm.”



“At a retreat, we are invited into a space of sharing our generosity in presence. We’re not sitting for ourselves: we’re sitting for the collective. When we are taking care of our emotions, we’re also taking care of the emotions of the collective, because we start to see the interbeing of the individual and the collective, their interconnectedness.”



“We organize our life in such a way that we are literally cultivating compassion, mindfulness, patience, and inclusiveness every day. We’re not perfect, but this is our work in progress and it’s quite noble and, though we struggle so much, we feel in our bones that we’re doing this work every day. It also allows me to have some faith in the future as we enter this period of disruption for society, for the climate, for agriculture, for nature – to be able to cooperate, to live cooperatively, to share resources, and to moderate and temper our needs. These are such important human practices. The qualities we’re holding here – compassion, mindfulness – are a treasure trove for future generations. These are exactly the values that we want to trust will still be there in decades and centuries to come.”



“In each hamlet are 50 or 60 monastics living together, cultivating non-violence in their speech, in their thinking, in their way of being, in their way of washing a bowl, in their way of brushing their teeth, in their ways of being with the mosquitoes. We’re living as an example of non-violence in the world. And then being able to lift that up into our engagement with everyone who comes to us. It may sound like we’re describing a bubble. But, because we are living in a constant relationship with the thousands of people that come and spend time with us every year, another way to describe us is as being like a river bank with a river flowing through it. We’re a gentle river bank that caresses the water for a little bit before it moves on back into the world. And so people have a chance to taste these energies that we’re generating as a collective here.”



“The only way that we are going to save ourselves from the collapse of civilization is through a collective awakening. Individual awakening is not enough.”



“We’re not going to sort everything out in this lifetime, but what we can offer is more tools, more practices, more understanding, more care, and more compassion for the next generation, so that they can carry this path forward into the future.”



“Thay has really expanded this home – it’s not just for the monks and nuns. The monastery is also open for the lay community to come in and taste true peace.”



“When you come to Plum Village for seven days and don’t drive a vehicle, that’s already an impact. When you’re vegetarian for seven days, that’s an impact. When you are not expressing anger for seven days, that’s an impact. When you’re listening to yourself and healing some blockage that’s been waiting for you to look at it and embrace it, that’s an impact. That’s healing. That is already work for your ancestors, work for society. And so the journey of a monastery – or we could call it a practice center – is important because it is also a place where we know we can put down our masks. It can become a great equalizer. Everyone here, we’re human beings; it doesn’t matter what titles we hold in the world outside. Here, in the monastery, there’s a power to the monastic’s presence.”



“It is very clear from the teachings of Thay and the Buddha, and from our own moral compasses, that, if we don’t take care of our suffering – our loneliness, our violence, and our hatred, by naming it and saying, ‘Okay, I’m co-responsible, and it is my responsibility to also transform this’ – we’re not going to change the system.”

If you wish to support our podcast, please follow this link. Thank you! Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach Jo Confino are joined by Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication. Together, they explore the significance and offerings of the Plum Village community – a sanctuary of peace, healing, and mindfulness, in stark contrast to the fast-paced, consumer-driven world outside. The three speakers further discuss the importance of a physical environment for spiritual practice, where individuals can reconnect with their true selves; the value of community living, where monastics share a collective career and work towards the flourishing of the community rather than individual success; the relevance of the five mindfulness trainings, which serve as ethical guidelines for personal and societal transformation; and much more. The conversation also touches upon the need for support to maintain and expand the Plum Village facilities, the importance of generosity, and the impact of supporting engaged monastic communities. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Plum Village Tradition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition The Bodhisattva vow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow The Five Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Es Devlin https://esdevlin.com/ Rebecca Solnit https://www.rebeccasolnit.net/ The Way Out Is In: ‘Stepping into Freedom – Live Recording with Q&A Session (Episode #67)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67 The Way Out Is In: ‘Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship (Episode #95)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95 Quotes “Plum Village emerged from our teacher’s vision of how the world could look and feel different from mainstream society. From the beginning, Plum Village has been a community of resistance. We could even call it a community of resilience: a physical environment that holds different values to the mainstream consciousness. We can all recognize those values. It might be unbridled capitalism, craving, consumerism, violence, or excesses of different kinds that we see in our immediate lives, around us, and in the economic and labor systems that we’re a part of. The vision for Plum Village was, ‘What if we create a physical environment that models entirely different values?’ Embodying those values is the resistance. For example, embodying peace, harmony, collectiveness, and community rather than individualism.” “We need to reclaim our sovereignty from the machines of our creation.” “Plum Village is holding an environment of peace and healing and freedom from the rat race; freedom from the world of technological overwhelm.” “At a retreat, we are invited into a space of sharing our generosity in presence. We’re not sitting for ourselves: we’re sitting for the collective. When we are taking care of our emotions, we’re also taking care of the emotions of the collective, because we start to see the interbeing of the individual and the collective, their interconnectedness.” “We organize our life in such a way that we are literally cultivating compassion, mindfulness, patience, and inclusiveness every day. We’re not perfect, but this is our work in progress and it’s quite noble and, though we struggle so much, we feel in our bones that we’re doing this work every day. It also allows me to have some faith in the future as we enter this period of disruption for society, for the climate, for agriculture, for nature – to be able to cooperate, to live cooperatively, to share resources, and to moderate and temper our needs. These are such important human practices. The qualities we’re holding here – compassion, mindfulness – are a treasure trove for future generations. These are exactly the values that we want to trust will still be there in decades and centuries to come.” “In each hamlet are 50 or 60 monastics living together, cultivating non-violence in their speech, in their thinking, in their way of being, in their way of washing a bowl, in their way of brushing their teeth, in their ways of being with the mosquitoes. We’re living as an example of non-violence in the world. And then being able to lift that up into our engagement with everyone who comes to us. It may sound like we’re describing a bubble. But, because we are living in a constant relationship with the thousands of people that come and spend time with us every year, another way to describe us is as being like a river bank with a river flowing through it. We’re a gentle river bank that caresses the water for a little bit before it moves on back into the world. And so people have a chance to taste these energies that we’re generating as a collective here.” “The only way that we are going to save ourselves from the collapse of civilization is through a collective awakening. Individual awakening is not enough.” “We’re not going to sort everything out in this lifetime, but what we can offer is more tools, more practices, more understanding, more care, and more compassion for the next generation, so that they can carry this path forward into the future.” “Thay has really expanded this home – it’s not just for the monks and nuns. The monastery is also open for the lay community to come in and taste true peace.” “When you come to Plum Village for seven days and don’t drive a vehicle, that’s already an impact. When you’re vegetarian for seven days, that’s an impact. When you are not expressing anger for seven days, that’s an impact. When you’re listening to yourself and healing some blockage that’s been waiting for you to look at it and embrace it, that’s an impact. That’s healing. That is already work for your ancestors, work for society. And so the journey of a monastery – or we could call it a practice center – is important because it is also a place where we know we can put down our masks. It can become a great equalizer. Everyone here, we’re human beings; it doesn’t matter what titles we hold in the world outside. Here, in the monastery, there’s a power to the monastic’s presence.” “It is very clear from the teachings of Thay and the Buddha, and from our own moral compasses, that, if we don’t take care of our suffering – our loneliness, our violence, and our hatred, by naming it and saying, ‘Okay, I’m co-responsible, and it is my responsibility to also transform this’ – we’re not going to change the system.”

If you wish to support our podcast, please <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/?form=thewayoutisin" rel="noopener noreferrer">follow this link</a>. Thank you!



Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brother Phap Huu</a> and leadership coach <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jo Confino</a> are joined by Zen Buddhist nun <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sister True Dedication</a>. Together, they explore the significance and offerings of the Plum Village community – a sanctuary of peace, healing, and mindfulness, in stark contrast to the fast-paced, consumer-driven world outside.&nbsp;



The three speakers further discuss the importance of a physical environment for spiritual practice, where individuals can reconnect with their true selves; the value of community living, where monastics share a collective career and work towards the flourishing of the community rather than individual success; the relevance of the five mindfulness trainings, which serve as ethical guidelines for personal and societal transformation; and much more.



The conversation also touches upon the need for support to maintain and expand the Plum Village facilities, the importance of generosity, and the impact of supporting engaged monastic communities.&nbsp;







Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.app/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>







List of resources&nbsp;



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



Plum Village Tradition <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition</a>&nbsp;



The Bodhisattva vow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow</a>&nbsp;



The Five Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings</a>&nbsp;



The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings</a>&nbsp;



Es Devlin <a href="https://esdevlin.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://esdevlin.com/</a>&nbsp;



Rebecca Solnit <a href="https://www.rebeccasolnit.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.rebeccasolnit.net/</a>&nbsp;



The Way Out Is In: ‘Stepping into Freedom – Live Recording with Q&amp;A Session (Episode #67)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/stepping-into-freedom-live-recording-with-qa-session-episode-67</a>&nbsp;



The Way Out Is In: ‘Cultivating Joy and Togetherness in the Midst of Hardship (Episode #95)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/cultivating-joy-and-togetherness-in-the-midst-of-hardship-episode-95</a>&nbsp;







Quotes



“Plum Village emerged from our teacher’s vision of how the world could look and feel different from mainstream society. From the beginning, Plum Village has been a community of resistance. We could even call it a community of resilience: a physical environment that holds different values to the mainstream consciousness. We can all recognize those values. It might be unbridled capitalism, craving, consumerism, violence, or excesses of different kinds that we see in our immediate lives, around us, and in the economic and labor systems that we’re a part of. The vision for Plum Village was, ‘What if we create a physical environment that models entirely different values?’ Embodying those values is the resistance. For example, embodying peace, harmony, collectiveness, and community rather than individualism.”



“We need to reclaim our sovereignty from the machines of our creation.”



“Plum Village is holding an environment of peace and healing and freedom from the rat race; freedom from the world of technological overwhelm.”



“At a retreat, we are invited into a space of sharing our generosity in presence. We’re not sitting for ourselves: we’re sitting for the collective. When we are taking care of our emotions, we’re also taking care of the emotions of the collective, because we start to see the interbeing of the individual and the collective, their interconnectedness.”



“We organize our life in such a way that we are literally cultivating compassion, mindfulness, patience, and inclusiveness every day. We’re not perfect, but this is our work in progress and it’s quite noble and, though we struggle so much, we feel in our bones that we’re doing this work every day. It also allows me to have some faith in the future as we enter this period of disruption for society, for the climate, for agriculture, for nature – to be able to cooperate, to live cooperatively, to share resources, and to moderate and temper our needs. These are such important human practices. The qualities we’re holding here – compassion, mindfulness – are a treasure trove for future generations. These are exactly the values that we want to trust will still be there in decades and centuries to come.”



“In each hamlet are 50 or 60 monastics living together, cultivating non-violence in their speech, in their thinking, in their way of being, in their way of washing a bowl, in their way of brushing their teeth, in their ways of being with the mosquitoes. We’re living as an example of non-violence in the world. And then being able to lift that up into our engagement with everyone who comes to us. It may sound like we’re describing a bubble. But, because we are living in a constant relationship with the thousands of people that come and spend time with us every year, another way to describe us is as being like a river bank with a river flowing through it. We’re a gentle river bank that caresses the water for a little bit before it moves on back into the world. And so people have a chance to taste these energies that we’re generating as a collective here.”



“The only way that we are going to save ourselves from the collapse of civilization is through a collective awakening. Individual awakening is not enough.”



“We’re not going to sort everything out in this lifetime, but what we can offer is more tools, more practices, more understanding, more care, and more compassion for the next generation, so that they can carry this path forward into the future.”



“Thay has really expanded this home – it’s not just for the monks and nuns. The monastery is also open for the lay community to come in and taste true peace.”



“When you come to Plum Village for seven days and don’t drive a vehicle, that’s already an impact. When you’re vegetarian for seven days, that’s an impact. When you are not expressing anger for seven days, that’s an impact. When you’re listening to yourself and healing some blockage that’s been waiting for you to look at it and embrace it, that’s an impact. That’s healing. That is already work for your ancestors, work for society. And so the journey of a monastery – or we could call it a practice center – is important because it is also a place where we know we can put down our masks. It can become a great equalizer. Everyone here, we’re human beings; it doesn’t matter what titles we hold in the world outside. Here, in the monastery, there’s a power to the monastic’s presence.”



“It is very clear from the teachings of Thay and the Buddha, and from our own moral compasses, that, if we don’t take care of our suffering – our loneliness, our violence, and our hatred, by naming it and saying, ‘Okay, I’m co-responsible, and it is my responsibility to also transform this’ – we’re not going to change the system.”

Paths of Change and Resistance (Episode #114)

If you wish to support our podcast, please <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/?form=thewayoutisin">follow this link</a>. Thank you!



Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/">Brother Phap Huu</a> and leadership coach <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en">Jo Confino</a> talk about finding beauty and reverence in the most ordinary of things.



Jo shares his new book, <a href="https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/">Between Earth and Sky</a>, which documents his time in Mitla, Mexico, and his journey of deep looking and finding beauty in the seemingly empty land. Brother Phap Huu emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, stopping, and being present to see the wonder in everyday life. The hosts further share the concept of consciousness in everything, and the need for reverence in our habits and interactions. The conversation also touches on reciprocity, the importance of community, and the journey of opening one’s heart through listening and acceptance.



The episode concludes with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu, to help listeners ground themselves in the present moment and to recognize the beauty in all life.



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/">https://plumvillage.app/</a>  



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



List of resources 



Between Earth and Sky <a href="https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/">https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/</a> 



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>  



Plum Village Tradition <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition</a> 



Order of Interbeing <a href="https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing">https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing</a>  



The Way Out Is In: ‘Space, Time, and the Ultimate Dimension (Episode #54)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/space-time-and-the-ultimate-dimension-episode-54">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/space-time-and-the-ultimate-dimension-episode-54</a> 



Mitla <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitla">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitla</a> 



Stephen Mitchell <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Mitchell_(translator)">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Mitchell_(translator)</a> 



Tao Te Ching <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching</a> 



Samsara <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra</a> 



Pema Chödrön <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n</a> 



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Quotes



“We can see beauty everywhere.”



“When we feel alive and present on this Earth, what more do we need?”



“The first act of meditation is learning to stop. It is learning to take a pause and feel the present moment. And feeling the present moment is more important than thinking about the present moment, because, when we attune ourselves into our own body, into our senses, what we see, what we smell, what we hear, what we touch gives us an opportunity to be in touch with life in the very here and now.”



“We can sit and look at a tree or even look at a rock and find all of life in that.”



 “This is it.”



“We want to know what’s out in space, but we don’t know what is in our inner space.”



“Depending on how we show up, our way of being can shift and change our whole mental formation, our whole consciousness of reality.”



“Reverence creates a sense of reciprocity because, when we have reverence, we are in conversation with whatever is in front of us. So when we think of things as objects, we’re looking at them as separate from ourselves. But when we have reverence for things, we see that they are talking to us as well as we are talking to them.”



“The beauty of Zen is turning a simple moment into a beautiful ritual.”



“Reverence is a manifestation of our mental formations.”



“I invite everybody to hold their next cup of tea, or coffee, or orange juice, with two hands. It shifts you into a different space. A simple action with two hands, and I’m fully present. Just like when we join our palms and offer a bow, it represents the body and the mind that come together.”

If you wish to support our podcast, please follow this link. Thank you! Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and leadership coach Jo Confino talk about finding beauty and reverence in the most ordinary of things. Jo shares his new book, Between Earth and Sky, which documents his time in Mitla, Mexico, and his journey of deep looking and finding beauty in the seemingly empty land. Brother Phap Huu emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, stopping, and being present to see the wonder in everyday life. The hosts further share the concept of consciousness in everything, and the need for reverence in our habits and interactions. The conversation also touches on reciprocity, the importance of community, and the journey of opening one’s heart through listening and acceptance. The episode concludes with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu, to help listeners ground themselves in the present moment and to recognize the beauty in all life. Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Between Earth and Sky https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/ Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing Plum Village Tradition https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition Order of Interbeing https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing The Way Out Is In: ‘Space, Time, and the Ultimate Dimension (Episode #54)’ https://plumvillage.org/podcast/space-time-and-the-ultimate-dimension-episode-54 Mitla https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitla Stephen Mitchell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Mitchell_(translator) Tao Te Ching https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching Samsara https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra Pema Chödrön https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n Quotes “We can see beauty everywhere.” “When we feel alive and present on this Earth, what more do we need?” “The first act of meditation is learning to stop. It is learning to take a pause and feel the present moment. And feeling the present moment is more important than thinking about the present moment, because, when we attune ourselves into our own body, into our senses, what we see, what we smell, what we hear, what we touch gives us an opportunity to be in touch with life in the very here and now.” “We can sit and look at a tree or even look at a rock and find all of life in that.” “This is it.” “We want to know what’s out in space, but we don’t know what is in our inner space.” “Depending on how we show up, our way of being can shift and change our whole mental formation, our whole consciousness of reality.” “Reverence creates a sense of reciprocity because, when we have reverence, we are in conversation with whatever is in front of us. So when we think of things as objects, we’re looking at them as separate from ourselves. But when we have reverence for things, we see that they are talking to us as well as we are talking to them.” “The beauty of Zen is turning a simple moment into a beautiful ritual.” “Reverence is a manifestation of our mental formations.” “I invite everybody to hold their next cup of tea, or coffee, or orange juice, with two hands. It shifts you into a different space. A simple action with two hands, and I’m fully present. Just like when we join our palms and offer a bow, it represents the body and the mind that come together.”

If you wish to support our podcast, please <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/?form=thewayoutisin" rel="noopener noreferrer">follow this link</a>. Thank you!



Welcome to a new episode of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



In this episode, Zen Buddhist monk <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/br-phap-huu/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brother Phap Huu</a> and leadership coach <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jo Confino</a> talk about finding beauty and reverence in the most ordinary of things.



Jo shares his new book, <a href="https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between Earth and Sky</a>, which documents his time in Mitla, Mexico, and his journey of deep looking and finding beauty in the seemingly empty land. Brother Phap Huu emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, stopping, and being present to see the wonder in everyday life. The hosts further share the concept of consciousness in everything, and the need for reverence in our habits and interactions. The conversation also touches on reciprocity, the importance of community, and the journey of opening one’s heart through listening and acceptance.



The episode concludes with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu, to help listeners ground themselves in the present moment and to recognize the beauty in all life.







Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.app/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>







List of resources&nbsp;



Between Earth and Sky <a href="https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.parallax.org/product/between-earth-and-sky/</a>&nbsp;



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



Plum Village Tradition <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plum_Village_Tradition</a>&nbsp;



Order of Interbeing <a href="https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



The Way Out Is In: ‘Space, Time, and the Ultimate Dimension (Episode #54)’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/podcast/space-time-and-the-ultimate-dimension-episode-54" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/podcast/space-time-and-the-ultimate-dimension-episode-54</a>&nbsp;



Mitla <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitla" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitla</a>&nbsp;



Stephen Mitchell <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Mitchell_(translator)" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Mitchell_(translator)</a>&nbsp;



Tao Te Ching <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tao_Te_Ching</a>&nbsp;



Samsara <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra</a>&nbsp;



Pema Chödrön <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pema_Ch%C3%B6dr%C3%B6n</a>&nbsp;







Quotes



“We can see beauty everywhere.”



“When we feel alive and present on this Earth, what more do we need?”



“The first act of meditation is learning to stop. It is learning to take a pause and feel the present moment. And feeling the present moment is more important than thinking about the present moment, because, when we attune ourselves into our own body, into our senses, what we see, what we smell, what we hear, what we touch gives us an opportunity to be in touch with life in the very here and now.”



“We can sit and look at a tree or even look at a rock and find all of life in that.”



&nbsp;“This is it.”



“We want to know what’s out in space, but we don’t know what is in our inner space.”



“Depending on how we show up, our way of being can shift and change our whole mental formation, our whole consciousness of reality.”



“Reverence creates a sense of reciprocity because, when we have reverence, we are in conversation with whatever is in front of us. So when we think of things as objects, we’re looking at them as separate from ourselves. But when we have reverence for things, we see that they are talking to us as well as we are talking to them.”



“The beauty of Zen is turning a simple moment into a beautiful ritual.”



“Reverence is a manifestation of our mental formations.”



“I invite everybody to hold their next cup of tea, or coffee, or orange juice, with two hands. It shifts you into a different space. A simple action with two hands, and I’m fully present. Just like when we join our palms and offer a bow, it represents the body and the mind that come together.”

A Quiet Beauty in Everything (Episode #111)

Welcome to episode 71 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



We’re delighted to share this special two-part installment with you, which was recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times.



This is the second recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them. 



In the panel, you will hear from leadership coach/journalist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en">Jo Confino</a>, <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem">Sister Lang Nghiem</a>, one of the senior nuns in Plum Village, and <a href="https://www.elliweisbaum.com/">Elli Weisbaum</a>. Their conversation focuses on what it is to feel safe in the world, what it is to belong, and what it is like to feel at home in the world, and touches upon topics such as healing the past in the present moment; spiritual homes; community building; localization; being aware of indoctrination; challenging our worldviews; misinformation; creating resilience; and much more.



Dr. Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD, has worked internationally facilitating mindfulness workshops and retreats within the sectors of education, healthcare, and business. She is currently the Acting Program Director for the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program (BPMH), at New College, University of Toronto, Canada. At the heart of her teaching and research is an interest in cultivating learning and occupational environments where all members of the community can flourish and thrive. She attended her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of 10 and has continued to train with the Plum Village community. Elli’s background in both academic research and traditional mindfulness practice provides a distinct approach to her ongoing work teaching and researching in the field. Read more <a href="https://www.elliweisbaum.com/">on her website</a>. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/">https://plumvillage.app/</a>  



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/">https://globaloptimism.com/</a> 



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



List of resources 



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>  



The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings</a> Mahayana <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana</a> 



Elli Weisbaum <a href="https://www.elliweisbaum.com/">https://www.elliweisbaum.com/</a> 



Sister Chan Lang Nghiem <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem</a> 



The Order of Interbeing <a href="https://orderofinterbeing.org/">https://orderofinterbeing.org/</a> 



Jamie Bristow <a href="https://www.jamiebristow.com/">https://www.jamiebristow.com/</a>



Sister Chan Khong <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong">https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong</a>



Christiana Figueres <a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres">https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres</a> 



Dharma Talks: ‘Nutriments for Healing’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/nutriments-for-healing">https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/nutriments-for-healing</a>



Deer Park Monastery <a href="https://deerparkmonastery.org/">https://deerparkmonastery.org/</a> 



Sister Chan Duc <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc</a> 



A Cloud Never Dies <a href="https://plumvillage.org/a-cloud-never-dies">https://plumvillage.org/a-cloud-never-dies</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Quotes



“You practice in the good times so that when the bad, difficult times come, you’re prepared to act.” 



“Our thoughts, we consume them first. They lead to our actions.” “As a practitioner, I often look around in my day-to-day life and ask, holding up the four nutriments, what am I consuming beyond edible foods? And how is this impacting my internal landscape?”



“How am I contributing to the landscapes of consciousness around me?”



“Our practice is to turn towards suffering and embrace it. And, for me, the spaces where I feel safe are ones where that permission is given. And when that permission is given, then we also have the opportunity to touch happiness.”



“When a woman feels safe, she’s at home.”



“Home is to be at peace within myself.”



“Our joy is in our suffering, and our suffering is in our joy. So to try to separate them is itself a mistake.” 



“I met up with someone who’d been a local journalist in Texas, who was bemoaning the fact that there were no longer any journalists sitting on the local government committees. And so all accountability had gone; there was no one to report on what was going on. So the only narrative was the official narrative, which could be manipulated at will.”



“We need to educate ourselves into different worldviews, because it’s so deep within us that we’re completely unaware. And, of course, that’s why there are so many dangers with the contraction of real journalism into misinformation and individual bubbles where people just confirm their belief system. That is so intensely dangerous, because it’s going one way but many, many millions of people are going very rapidly in the other direction, saying, ‘I’ll choose my own truth’.”

Welcome to episode 71 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. We’re delighted to share this special two-part installment with you, which was recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times. This is the second recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them. In the panel, you will hear from leadership coach/journalist Jo Confino, Sister Lang Nghiem, one of the senior nuns in Plum Village, and Elli Weisbaum. Their conversation focuses on what it is to feel safe in the world, what it is to belong, and what it is like to feel at home in the world, and touches upon topics such as healing the past in the present moment; spiritual homes; community building; localization; being aware of indoctrination; challenging our worldviews; misinformation; creating resilience; and much more. Dr. Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD, has worked internationally facilitating mindfulness workshops and retreats within the sectors of education, healthcare, and business. She is currently the Acting Program Director for the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program (BPMH), at New College, University of Toronto, Canada. At the heart of her teaching and research is an interest in cultivating learning and occupational environments where all members of the community can flourish and thrive. She attended her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of 10 and has continued to train with the Plum Village community. Elli’s background in both academic research and traditional mindfulness practice provides a distinct approach to her ongoing work teaching and researching in the field. Read more on her website. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana Elli Weisbaum https://www.elliweisbaum.com/ Sister Chan Lang Nghiem https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem The Order of Interbeing https://orderofinterbeing.org/ Jamie Bristow https://www.jamiebristow.com/ Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Christiana Figueres https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres Dharma Talks: ‘Nutriments for Healing’ https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/nutriments-for-healing Deer Park Monastery https://deerparkmonastery.org/ Sister Chan Duc https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc A Cloud Never Dies https://plumvillage.org/a-cloud-never-dies Quotes “You practice in the good times so that when the bad, difficult times come, you’re prepared to act.” “Our thoughts, we consume them first. They lead to our actions.” “As a practitioner, I often look around in my day-to-day life and ask, holding up the four nutriments, what am I consuming beyond edible foods? And how is this impacting my internal landscape?” “How am I contributing to the landscapes of consciousness around me?” “Our practice is to turn towards suffering and embrace it. And, for me, the spaces where I feel safe are ones where that permission is given. And when that permission is given, then we also have the opportunity to touch happiness.” “When a woman feels safe, she’s at home.” “Home is to be at peace within myself.” “Our joy is in our suffering, and our suffering is in our joy. So to try to separate them is itself a mistake.” “I met up with someone who’d been a local journalist in Texas, who was bemoaning the fact that there were no longer any journalists sitting on the local government committees. And so all accountability had gone; there was no one to report on what was going on. So the only narrative was the official narrative, which could be manipulated at will.” “We need to educate ourselves into different worldviews, because it’s so deep within us that we’re completely unaware. And, of course, that’s why there are so many dangers with the contraction of real journalism into misinformation and individual bubbles where people just confirm their belief system. That is so intensely dangerous, because it’s going one way but many, many millions of people are going very rapidly in the other direction, saying, ‘I’ll choose my own truth’.”

Welcome to episode 71 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



We’re delighted to share this special two-part installment with you, which was recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times.



This is the second recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them.&nbsp;



In the panel, you will hear from leadership coach/journalist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/joconfino/?hl=en" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jo Confino</a>, <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sister Lang Nghiem</a>, one of the senior nuns in Plum Village, and <a href="https://www.elliweisbaum.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elli Weisbaum</a>. Their conversation focuses on what it is to feel safe in the world, what it is to belong, and what it is like to feel at home in the world, and touches upon topics such as healing the past in the present moment; spiritual homes; community building; localization; being aware of indoctrination; challenging our worldviews; misinformation; creating resilience; and much more.



Dr. Elli Weisbaum, BFA, MES, PhD, has worked internationally facilitating mindfulness workshops and retreats within the sectors of education, healthcare, and business. She is currently the Acting Program Director for the Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Program (BPMH), at New College, University of Toronto, Canada. At the heart of her teaching and research is an interest in cultivating learning and occupational environments where all members of the community can flourish and thrive. She attended her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh at the age of 10 and has continued to train with the Plum Village community. Elli’s background in both academic research and traditional mindfulness practice provides a distinct approach to her ongoing work teaching and researching in the field. Read more <a href="https://www.elliweisbaum.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">on her website</a>. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!







Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.app/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>&nbsp;



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>







List of resources&nbsp;



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings</a> Mahayana <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana</a>&nbsp;



Elli Weisbaum <a href="https://www.elliweisbaum.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.elliweisbaum.com/</a>&nbsp;



Sister Chan Lang Nghiem <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-lang-nghiem</a>&nbsp;



The Order of Interbeing <a href="https://orderofinterbeing.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://orderofinterbeing.org/</a>&nbsp;



Jamie Bristow <a href="https://www.jamiebristow.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.jamiebristow.com/</a>



Sister Chan Khong <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong</a>



Christiana Figueres <a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres</a>&nbsp;



Dharma Talks: ‘Nutriments for Healing’ <a href="https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/nutriments-for-healing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/nutriments-for-healing</a>



Deer Park Monastery <a href="https://deerparkmonastery.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://deerparkmonastery.org/</a>&nbsp;



Sister Chan Duc <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc</a>&nbsp;



A Cloud Never Dies <a href="https://plumvillage.org/a-cloud-never-dies" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/a-cloud-never-dies</a>







Quotes



“You practice in the good times so that when the bad, difficult times come, you’re prepared to act.”&nbsp;



“Our thoughts, we consume them first. They lead to our actions.” “As a practitioner, I often look around in my day-to-day life and ask, holding up the four nutriments, what am I consuming beyond edible foods? And how is this impacting my internal landscape?”



“How am I contributing to the landscapes of consciousness around me?”



“Our practice is to turn towards suffering and embrace it. And, for me, the spaces where I feel safe are ones where that permission is given. And when that permission is given, then we also have the opportunity to touch happiness.”



“When a woman feels safe, she’s at home.”



“Home is to be at peace within myself.”



“Our joy is in our suffering, and our suffering is in our joy. So to try to separate them is itself a mistake.”&nbsp;



“I met up with someone who’d been a local journalist in Texas, who was bemoaning the fact that there were no longer any journalists sitting on the local government committees. And so all accountability had gone; there was no one to report on what was going on. So the only narrative was the official narrative, which could be manipulated at will.”



“We need to educate ourselves into different worldviews, because it’s so deep within us that we’re completely unaware. And, of course, that’s why there are so many dangers with the contraction of real journalism into misinformation and individual bubbles where people just confirm their belief system. That is so intensely dangerous, because it’s going one way but many, many millions of people are going very rapidly in the other direction, saying, ‘I’ll choose my own truth’.”

Ancient Path for Modern Times: Feeling Safe (Episode #71)

Welcome to episode 70 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



We’re delighted to be able to share with you this special two-part installment, recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times.



This is the first recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them. 



In the panel, you will hear two of our frequent guests, <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem">Sister True Dedication</a> (Sister Hien Nghiem) and <a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres">Christiana Figueres</a>, as well as Dharma teacher <a href="https://ahimsatrust.org/dharmacharya-shantum/">Shantum Seth</a>.



These three panelists explore how the Buddha faced war and violence in his own time; the principle of ahimsa and Gandhian nonviolence; handling anger, despair, and burnout as activists; practicing in times of polarization and division; insights around the victim-perpetrator dynamic; sanghas as sanctuaries, and their role in activism; different aspects of engaged Buddhism and its evolution over time; the spiritual dimension of change; and much more. And does anger help?



<a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres">Christiana Figueres</a>, one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, was a student of Thich Nhat Hanh and is a valued member of the Plum Village Sangha. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016, she is also the co-founder of Global Optimism, co-host of the Outrage + Optimism podcast, and co-author of the bestselling <a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/the-future-we-choose">The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis</a>. 



<a href="https://ahimsatrust.org/dharmacharya-shantum/">Shantum Seth</a>, an ordained Dharmacharya (Dharma teacher) in the Buddhist Mindfulness lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches in India and across the world. A co-founder of Ahimsa Trust, he has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings for the past 35 years. Since 1988, he has led pilgrimages and other multi-faith, educational, cultural, spiritual, and transformative journeys across diverse regions of India and Asia. He is actively involved in educational, social, and ecological programmes, including work on cultivating mindfulness in society, including with educators, the Indian Central Reserve Police Force, and the corporate sector. Across various Indian sanghas, Dharmacharya Shantum is the primary teacher of different practices of mindfulness from Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!



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Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/">https://plumvillage.app/</a>  



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/">https://globaloptimism.com/</a> 



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



List of resources 



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>  



The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings</a> 



Mahayana <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana</a> 



Bodhisattva vow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow</a> 



Magadha <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha</a> 



Kosala <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala</a> 



Ahimsa <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa</a> Mahavira <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira</a> Patanjali <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali</a> 



Mahatma Gandhi <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi</a> 



Jan Smuts <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts</a> 



Sister Chan Duc <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc</a> 



Sister Chan Khong <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong">https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong</a> 



Paris Peace Accords <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords</a> 



The European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) <a href="https://plumvillage.org/practice-centre/eiab">https://plumvillage.org/practice-centre/eiab</a> 



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />



Quotes



“I need to find a way of being peace, not just fighting for peace.”



“There’s no teaching as clear as ‘no mud, no lotus’, because that is the kernel of transformation. And if we can all give that to ourselves every day, then we can make space for the despair and the anger and maybe even the hatred. And, at the same time, be able to make space for the reconciliation and for the growth in our shared humanity.”



“What has always been important for me, as a guidance, is to understand that, because of the truth of interbeing, we all play a role. We all have our different positions, our different opinions, our different interests, and they’re all necessary.”



“I wake up, honestly, most mornings, despairing at what I’m seeing. The question for me, then, is: do I let that control my day? Do I let that control my thought, my word, and my action? Or do I use the despair as the very rich mud to transform into the lotus?” 



 “I know the reasons for anger. And if anger is directed at me it’s probably a good direction, because it means that it won’t be reflected back.” 



“Whatever is in me, I mirror out there in the world. Whatever I do has an effect on the world. The other option is to let the world determine what goes on inside me. I did that for many years, and it doesn’t lead to good results. So the invitation is to actually take responsibility. What is the world in here doing, and how do I reflect that onto the outside world?”



“If you can still see that the flowers are smiling, you’re okay.”



“True mindfulness or right mindfulness always contains ethics within it. And if it doesn’t have ethics in it, like, for example, using mindfulness to hold a gun and pull the trigger, then, actually, that’s not mindfulness. That would just be concentration or focus. Mindfulness is your whole being, including the ethical values that are there in the present moment.”



“You could send all the bombs to the moon, but the roots of war would still be in our hearts and minds.”



“The way we show up, the quality of our presence – whether it’s teachers or leaders in politics, the climate movement, our own organizations, or in our families – that quality of applied mindfulness in our presence is our engagement, and that’s what the world needs most.”



“Don’t underestimate the power of our applied mindfulness, the quality of our presence in the most simple moments. That is how we can take our civilization in the right direction.”

Welcome to episode 70 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives. We’re delighted to be able to share with you this special two-part installment, recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times. This is the first recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them. In the panel, you will hear two of our frequent guests, Sister True Dedication (Sister Hien Nghiem) and Christiana Figueres, as well as Dharma teacher Shantum Seth. These three panelists explore how the Buddha faced war and violence in his own time; the principle of ahimsa and Gandhian nonviolence; handling anger, despair, and burnout as activists; practicing in times of polarization and division; insights around the victim-perpetrator dynamic; sanghas as sanctuaries, and their role in activism; different aspects of engaged Buddhism and its evolution over time; the spiritual dimension of change; and much more. And does anger help? Christiana Figueres, one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, was a student of Thich Nhat Hanh and is a valued member of the Plum Village Sangha. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016, she is also the co-founder of Global Optimism, co-host of the Outrage + Optimism podcast, and co-author of the bestselling The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis. Shantum Seth, an ordained Dharmacharya (Dharma teacher) in the Buddhist Mindfulness lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches in India and across the world. A co-founder of Ahimsa Trust, he has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings for the past 35 years. Since 1988, he has led pilgrimages and other multi-faith, educational, cultural, spiritual, and transformative journeys across diverse regions of India and Asia. He is actively involved in educational, social, and ecological programmes, including work on cultivating mindfulness in society, including with educators, the Indian Central Reserve Police Force, and the corporate sector. Across various Indian sanghas, Dharmacharya Shantum is the primary teacher of different practices of mindfulness from Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition. Thank you for listening, and enjoy! Co-produced by the Plum Village App: https://plumvillage.app/ And Global Optimism: https://globaloptimism.com/ With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/ List of resources Interbeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings Mahayana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana Bodhisattva vow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow Magadha https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha Kosala https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala Ahimsa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa Mahavira https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira Patanjali https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali Mahatma Gandhi https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi Jan Smuts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts Sister Chan Duc https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc Sister Chan Khong https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong Paris Peace Accords https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords The European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) https://plumvillage.org/practice-centre/eiab Quotes “I need to find a way of being peace, not just fighting for peace.” “There’s no teaching as clear as ‘no mud, no lotus’, because that is the kernel of transformation. And if we can all give that to ourselves every day, then we can make space for the despair and the anger and maybe even the hatred. And, at the same time, be able to make space for the reconciliation and for the growth in our shared humanity.” “What has always been important for me, as a guidance, is to understand that, because of the truth of interbeing, we all play a role. We all have our different positions, our different opinions, our different interests, and they’re all necessary.” “I wake up, honestly, most mornings, despairing at what I’m seeing. The question for me, then, is: do I let that control my day? Do I let that control my thought, my word, and my action? Or do I use the despair as the very rich mud to transform into the lotus?” “I know the reasons for anger. And if anger is directed at me it’s probably a good direction, because it means that it won’t be reflected back.” “Whatever is in me, I mirror out there in the world. Whatever I do has an effect on the world. The other option is to let the world determine what goes on inside me. I did that for many years, and it doesn’t lead to good results. So the invitation is to actually take responsibility. What is the world in here doing, and how do I reflect that onto the outside world?” “If you can still see that the flowers are smiling, you’re okay.” “True mindfulness or right mindfulness always contains ethics within it. And if it doesn’t have ethics in it, like, for example, using mindfulness to hold a gun and pull the trigger, then, actually, that’s not mindfulness. That would just be concentration or focus. Mindfulness is your whole being, including the ethical values that are there in the present moment.” “You could send all the bombs to the moon, but the roots of war would still be in our hearts and minds.” “The way we show up, the quality of our presence – whether it’s teachers or leaders in politics, the climate movement, our own organizations, or in our families – that quality of applied mindfulness in our presence is our engagement, and that’s what the world needs most.” “Don’t underestimate the power of our applied mindfulness, the quality of our presence in the most simple moments. That is how we can take our civilization in the right direction.”

Welcome to episode 70 of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thich Nhat Hanh</a>’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.



We’re delighted to be able to share with you this special two-part installment, recorded in June 2024 at the recent Plum Village retreat, Ancient Path for Modern Times.



This is the first recording of a panel discussion based loosely around the 14 mindfulness trainings – Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical guidelines for living, a modern distillation of the traditional Bodhisattva precepts of Mahayana Buddhism. The trainings are followed by monastics and lay friends who have made a a formal vow to receive, study, and observe them.&nbsp;



In the panel, you will hear two of our frequent guests, <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sister-hien-nghiem" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sister True Dedication</a> (Sister Hien Nghiem) and <a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christiana Figueres</a>, as well as Dharma teacher <a href="https://ahimsatrust.org/dharmacharya-shantum/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shantum Seth</a>.



These three panelists explore how the Buddha faced war and violence in his own time; the principle of ahimsa and Gandhian nonviolence; handling anger, despair, and burnout as activists; practicing in times of polarization and division; insights around the victim-perpetrator dynamic; sanghas as sanctuaries, and their role in activism; different aspects of engaged Buddhism and its evolution over time; the spiritual dimension of change; and much more. And does anger help?



<a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/christiana-figueres" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christiana Figueres</a>, one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015, was a student of Thich Nhat Hanh and is a valued member of the Plum Village Sangha. Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 2010 to 2016, she is also the co-founder of Global Optimism, co-host of the Outrage + Optimism podcast, and co-author of the bestselling <a href="https://www.globaloptimism.com/the-future-we-choose" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis</a>.&nbsp;



<a href="https://ahimsatrust.org/dharmacharya-shantum/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shantum Seth</a>, an ordained Dharmacharya (Dharma teacher) in the Buddhist Mindfulness lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, teaches in India and across the world. A co-founder of Ahimsa Trust, he has been a student of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings for the past 35 years. Since 1988, he has led pilgrimages and other multi-faith, educational, cultural, spiritual, and transformative journeys across diverse regions of India and Asia. He is actively involved in educational, social, and ecological programmes, including work on cultivating mindfulness in society, including with educators, the Indian Central Reserve Police Force, and the corporate sector. Across various Indian sanghas, Dharmacharya Shantum is the primary teacher of different practices of mindfulness from Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition. Thank you for listening, and enjoy!







Co-produced by the Plum Village App: <a href="https://plumvillage.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.app/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



And Global Optimism: <a href="https://globaloptimism.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://globaloptimism.com/</a>&nbsp;



With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation: <a href="https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/</a>







List of resources&nbsp;



Interbeing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interbeing</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;



The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings <a href="https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-14-mindfulness-trainings</a>&nbsp;



Mahayana <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahayana</a>&nbsp;



Bodhisattva vow <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhisattva_vow</a>&nbsp;



Magadha <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magadha</a>&nbsp;



Kosala <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosala</a>&nbsp;



Ahimsa <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa</a> Mahavira <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira</a> Patanjali <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patanjali</a>&nbsp;



Mahatma Gandhi <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi</a>&nbsp;



Jan Smuts <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Smuts</a>&nbsp;



Sister Chan Duc <a href="https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-chan-duc</a>&nbsp;



Sister Chan Khong <a href="https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong</a>&nbsp;



Paris Peace Accords <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Peace_Accords</a>&nbsp;



The European Institute of Applied Buddhism (EIAB) <a href="https://plumvillage.org/practice-centre/eiab" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://plumvillage.org/practice-centre/eiab</a>&nbsp;







Quotes



“I need to find a way of being peace, not just fighting for peace.”



“There’s no teaching as clear as ‘no mud, no lotus’, because that is the kernel of transformation. And if we can all give that to ourselves every day, then we can make space for the despair and the anger and maybe even the hatred. And, at the same time, be able to make space for the reconciliation and for the growth in our shared humanity.”



“What has always been important for me, as a guidance, is to understand that, because of the truth of interbeing, we all play a role. We all have our different positions, our different opinions, our different interests, and they’re all necessary.”



“I wake up, honestly, most mornings, despairing at what I’m seeing. The question for me, then, is: do I let that control my day? Do I let that control my thought, my word, and my action? Or do I use the despair as the very rich mud to transform into the lotus?”&nbsp;



&nbsp;“I know the reasons for anger. And if anger is directed at me it’s probably a good direction, because it means that it won’t be reflected back.”&nbsp;



“Whatever is in me, I mirror out there in the world. Whatever I do has an effect on the world. The other option is to let the world determine what goes on inside me. I did that for many years, and it doesn’t lead to good results. So the invitation is to actually take responsibility. What is the world in here doing, and how do I reflect that onto the outside world?”



“If you can still see that the flowers are smiling, you’re okay.”



“True mindfulness or right mindfulness always contains ethics within it. And if it doesn’t have ethics in it, like, for example, using mindfulness to hold a gun and pull the trigger, then, actually, that’s not mindfulness. That would just be concentration or focus. Mindfulness is your whole being, including the ethical values that are there in the present moment.”



“You could send all the bombs to the moon, but the roots of war would still be in our hearts and minds.”



“The way we show up, the quality of our presence – whether it’s teachers or leaders in politics, the climate movement, our own organizations, or in our families – that quality of applied mindfulness in our presence is our engagement, and that’s what the world needs most.”



“Don’t underestimate the power of our applied mindfulness, the quality of our presence in the most simple moments. That is how we can take our civilization in the right direction.”

Ancient Path for Modern Times: Active Nonviolence (Episode #70)

“The Way Out Is In” is a new weekly podcast by <a href="https://plumvillage.org/">Plum Village</a> where hosts Jo Confino and Brother Pháp Hữu explore how to bring the practise of mindfulness into our daily life. First episode launches on Friday the 13th of August.

“The Way Out Is In” is a new weekly podcast by Plum Village where hosts Jo Confino and Brother Pháp Hữu explore how to bring the practise of mindfulness into our daily life. First episode launches on Friday the 13th of August.

“The Way Out Is In” is a new weekly podcast by <a href="https://plumvillage.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Plum Village</a> where hosts Jo Confino and Brother Pháp Hữu explore how to bring the practise of mindfulness into our daily life. First episode launches on Friday the 13th of August.

Coming Soon

This podcast series is aimed at helping us to transcend our fear and anger so that we can be more engaged in the world in a way that develops love and compassion.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphy ‘The Way Out Is In” highlights that the way out of any difficulty is to look deeply within, gain insights and then put them into practice. 

"The Way Out is In" is co-hosted by Brother Phap Huu, Thich Nhat Hanh's personal attendant for 17 years and the abbot of Plum Village's Upper Hamlet, and Jo Confino, who works at the intersection of personal transformation and systems change.

The podcast is co-produced by the Plum Village App and Global Optimism, with support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.

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This podcast series is aimed at helping us to transcend our fear and anger so that we can be more engaged in the world in a way that develops love and compassion. Thich Nhat Hanh’s calligraphy ‘The Way Out Is In” highlights that the way out of any difficulty is to look deeply within, gain insights and then put them into practice. "The Way Out is In" is co-hosted by Brother Phap Huu, Thich Nhat Hanh's personal attendant for 17 years and the abbot of Plum Village's Upper Hamlet, and Jo Confino, who works at the intersection of personal transformation and systems change. The podcast is co-produced by the Plum Village App and Global Optimism, with support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation.

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