We Have Arrived
May 19, 2008 by Alan
Today’s dharma reading was chapter four from Thich Nhat Hanh’s Touching Peace. Here’s a summary. Please share any thoughts.
Thich Nhat Hanh relates a story about a friend who helped him organize a visit to India. He describes the friend’s discomfort and inability to relax due to the discrimination he has endured throughout his life as a member of India’s lowest social caste. We all struggle in a similar manner, forgetting that “we have arrived;” conditions for our happiness are already here in the present moment, not waiting for us sometime in the future.
The practice of stopping now and looking deeply halts the habit energy of the negative seeds we have inherited from our ancestors and our society, liberating both ancestors and future generations. This is the teaching of interbeing. If we do not liberate our ancestors, we remain in bondage and we will transmit that to our children and grandchildren. Touching the earth, stepping mindfully, we all arrive and find peace at the same moment.
Thay includes several other images to illustrate interbeing: a meeting between Sudhana and Mahamaya, the mother of the Buddha, sitting on lotus flowers of hundreds of millions of petals; millions of Diamond Matrix bodhisattvas giving exactly the same discourse at the same time all over the universe; all of us taking care of the baby inside us, thus taking care of everything. “The moon is in me. My beloved is in me. Those who make me suffer are also in me…there is no hatred or blaming…No one is afraid to die, because dying means being born as something else at the same time.”
Thay goes on to describe the appearances of Mara - anger, darkness, jealousy, craving, despair; skepticism; worldly ambition - to the Buddha. Siddhartha greets Mara with quiet gentleness, touching the Earth, calling on the Earth to testify for him. The Earth trembles and appears as a goddess, offering flowers, fruits, perfumes. Mara just disappears. Similarly, when we recognize Mara, and respond by touching the Earth and walking upon the Earth mindfully and joyfully, Mara goes away. Earth is our nourishment, our refuge, our healer.
Thay continues with a full description of walking meditation. He then concludes by telling us we need not struggle, nor hurry. When we smile, countless bodhisattvas smile with us, and our peace affects our ancestors and all future generations. “Peace is every step. We have already arrived.” (Touching Peace, 35-45)
The practice, for me, of stopping and looking deeply, has made me much more aware of the habit energy I have in my daily life. This feels like an important step. This teaching by Thay is at the heart of my practice.
I find this practice essential as a parent, so that I can transform this habit energy. This will benefit my entire family, including my son.
Hi, Laurie
This is primarily just a test comment.
I think there’s a broad spectrum of things that can fit under the “habit energy” moniker - virtually anything that’s a habit that allows you to waste energy. In my case, for example, procrastination. I put a lot of energy into putting certain things off. Is it always bad though - for example, meditating when I should be cleaning the house? Hmmm…
I made note of the following although I’m not sure where I read it. I’m finding this expression very helpful in my practice.
“Not enough Presence”
“unease, anxiety, tension,stress & worry—-too much future”
“quilt, regret, resentment, grievances, sadness,
bitterness, non-forgiveness—too much past”
Be at ease, Linda