no self

Just read a transcript of a dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh about our continuation with our ancestors. His talks can be accessed at www.plumvillage.org
What he said made a lot of sense to me. He said that Western psychology is centred around the self which means it can only heal up to a certain point. Buddhist psychology encourages the concept of no-self - the connection of you to your ancestors and other beings so you go beyond yourself. I came to this conclusion while on retreat with Thay in Vietnam- that it did not matter who I was (i had been wondering what and who I was for sometime) but my interconnection with all beings made me who I am.
I have found so far with some of my clients that I see that they take to viewing their thoughts as being outside of themselves very readily. I have not yet taken that step of trying to teach mindfulness but I will soon.

mindful counselling

I've been doing more reading on mindfulness and three models that it is used in- Acceptance Commitment Therapy which I'm going to do a short course on, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy and Stress Reduction Therapy. I also bought a book The Mindful Way through Depression which complements what I was taught by Thich Nhat Hanh. It has been seeping into my counselling practice slowly. I've also started reading Zen Keys by Thich Nhat Hanh before I go to bed- which reminds me of where I want to be- in reality and interbeing. A friend asked me what is being Buddhist- for she has Buddhist beliefs but does not consider herself to be a Buddhist. I compared it to describing yourself as a feminist which some people do and some people don't - but still promote the core values of being feminist.

A dream

I have been dreaming of going back to Vietnam recently, always to return to temples. The most recent dream had a Buddhist nun talking to me saying that the answers to my questions lay within. This had a pretty deep and profound impact on me.
I have been reading the latest Thich Nhat Hanh book titled "ethics for a better life" or something like that which is a commentary on the five mindfulness trainings. Reading it puts me back in that space where I was on the retreat in Vietnam.
I have just begun counselling work again and I notice that my approach is different. I now open myself up to listen deeply and with compassion- rather than using theory and professionalism as a presence. it feels much more comfortable. maybe in western training theory and research and professionalism are used as defenses. we are taught how to sound like we're listening but not to really listen.

for Vin

The saddest thing happened the other day. my friend huu tran's baby passed away suddenly. his wife lucy is having trouble accepting it, during the funeral she sang to the baby's body and asked us to wake Vin up because he wasn't listening to mummy anymore.
This is a poem for Vin

Small clamped fist
Like a budded lotus flower
His stilled breath, forever

Rest in peace Vin

retreats and a compassionate heart

Have been on a 4 day lay retreat with Thay for 6000 people and a 3 day retreat for just the international sangha- the 80 lay people from around the world whom are accompanying him.
The four day retreat consisted of walking meditation, a dharma talk, dharma discussion and lots of food for lunch and dinner. The dharma talks were basic but covered family relationships and dealing with anger. I have heard that Thay repeats himself a lot- and it has been true of this trip. But every time he speaks you hear something different to learn. In the three day retreat our dharma teacher Tony from Australia gave a talk on the mindfulness trainings and I took four out of the five mindfulness trainings in a beautiful ceremony (I omitted the one about consumption because I drink alcohol). I like how the mindfulness trainings are viewed as aspirations not rules. We had a tea ceremony at which people shared their experiences and particularly about the nature of interbeing. It was so moving it made me want to cry with joy- especially after we did a hugging meditation. My new dharma name is compassionate nourishment of the heart- "of the heart" is the root name of anyone whom is taught by Thay (or in our case on behalf of Thay) and we are the 42nd or 43rd generation of his Zen lineage.
In my case I want to nourish compassion for myself, my loved ones and the entire planet.
This whole trip makes me think peace is possible and I hope that i can spread the dharma joy around.

a moment with Thay

Went to a chaotic Walt Disney colored temple this afternoon with Monkey characters and Avoliketera above a giant dragon. Then because we finished early Thay opted to go into the centre of Dalat to stop somewhere that is special in his memories. We stopped next to a giant lake and sat on the grass. It happened to be opposite another pagoda (don't know if this was by design or not). Thay sat and watched the water and we did the same. The abbott from the pagoda came out and waited behind us. When Thay finished he stood up and made his way to the abbott. The abbott touched the earth to Thay twice before Thay stopped him and said something in Vietnamese.
Then we were invited into the pagoda- with onlookers whom were wondering what a monastic delegation were doing in the middle of the road. I do not know whether Thay was thinking of happy memories or sad memories but it was very moving nontheless and Dalat lakes are beautiful when the sun sets. The silence was very restorative.

dharma in Dalat

Today went to Chua Linh Son where Thay went after rebelling against his root temple in order to practise engaged Buddhism- which interacts with the community. He talked about taking care of your loved ones and the three reconciliation ceremonies that are taking place in Vietnam to grieve for all those whom have suffered during the war on both sides. This and the dharma discussion we had amongst ourselves made me realise that I have been indirectly affected by the war, by the violence and mental illness in my family which is partly caused by the war and civil unrest when my mother's generation was growing up. Although I have grieved for this for myself and dealt with it through therapy on an individual basis I think engaging in a collective ceremony would be an incredible experience. The dharma talk also made me want to contact Alister even more- which unfortunately I cannot for another two weeks when I return to Australia.