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10 EASTERN HORIZON | TEACHINGS

moments. This was aimed at beginners, to help them live miracles of life at each moment and if you can do
stick to a mindful routine, but anyone who needs more like that, you no longer complain because you are no
discipline in their practice could try it. longer unhappy.”

“Washing dishes is not only for having clean dishes, but 6. Practice mindfulness in a sangha
the time of washing dishes can be joyful. You can be in Being on a retreat with many participants, Thay pays
the here and now in the Kingdom of God during the time special attention to the importance of practicing
of dishwashing. And every bowl you wash, every dish mindfulness with a sangha. This is seen as a refuge,
you wash is sacred, as [if] you are giving the newborn but also as a place for teaching and practice: “Nowaday
baby Buddha a bath. It is very sacred. If mindfulness people feel cut off. People cannot relate to anything that
and concentration is there, everything becomes sacred, is beautiful, good, and true; that is why building a good
holy, because the energy of mindfulness, the energy of sangha is to provide people with a refuge.”
concentration: that is the energy of God, of holiness.”
“If you bring your suffering to the sangha you will not
Daily practice on a retreat starts with waking up and sink. […] You profit from the collective energy of the
acknowledging the light of the sun, and the joy of being sangha. When you practice walking meditation, when
gifted another 24 hours. It can continue with enjoying you eat lunch. […] And we are there for you; that is why
the morning routine: brushing your teeth, folding your [when] taking refuge in the sangha, the practice will be
blanket, preparing and eating breakfast, and even much easier, much more pleasant.”
opening and closing the door – incidentally, one of Given all this, we shouldn’t forget that ultimately,
Thay’s first lessons in mindfulness from his own master. “happiness depends on us and not on the other person.”

“You can enjoy every step. You can stop your thinking; “And when you are happy, when you have had enough
you just focus the attention on just steps and your in- of this energy of mindfulness and concentration, you
breath and out-breath. And the brothers and sisters feel good within yourself; you feel that you are in the
who are doing that around you, and the mountains kingdom of God and [that] you are in a situation to help
are there, the New Moon is there, the trees are there other living beings. You no longer complain of anything
practicing with you – so every moment of your daily because you have enough compassion to embrace and
life can be seen as a miracle. And you continue to to help other living beings.” EH

easternhorizon@ybam.org.my | www.ybam.org.my/en/eastern-horizon/eh/