Fortunately there are a considerable number of us Christians who are rediscovering the non-dualistic nature of Jesus' teachings and all the implications of this. Thank you for your talk. If you are ever in the UK and would like to give a talk to my church I would love it. They hear it from me every week, but I am too familiar to them. It is often those outside our tradition who can assist us the most to come to know the true treasure within our tradition.
Thank you for this. I was raised born again Christian, went my own way the last 20 yrs and explored all different paths. Recently I picked up the Bible again and read it through new eyes as a text of teachings not meant for literal use. However, I found myself missing so much the space Buddhism brought me to. It was a new inner struggle because I found my “old judgmental Christian” ways coming out saying that if I committed to Buddhism I’d go to H*ll and that made me so sad bc I have so much love for all pathways ❤
@@VeganSemihCyprus33 That is why a vegan. I am a vegan because I am a Christian. I have been a vegan for a number of year now as I see it as one of the only ways to live consistently with Jesus' teachings of radical non-violence and love of neighbour. Also why I am a Franciscan.
@@guidedbysunshine333 I was raised evangelical and then became an atheist for a while. I found Buddhism through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Marsha Linehan. Transformational type of therapy that only exists because of Buddhism!
What a superb talk. I am on my second listen. I am so fortunate to have access to Thay's teachings and the fantastic teachers from this truly engaged tradition.
You have given us a lot to digest there There Dear Sister D well worth the effort though. Thank you so much. The 6th of December is important to me as it is my birthday or continuation Day. Not I hasten to add the 6th of December 2012 but the 1946
Just so naturel ,so lightful she brought this message over !!!!!!!!!!! I have been in plum village and came back with a very more open heart .Loved her smiling while speaking from her inside so ,,just on the right place THANKS from my heart dear sister Greetings from France
Deep Gratitude for Sister True Dedication's noble attempt to help us understand the dualistic thinking that constitutes our daily lives. May we appreciate our oneness with each other and the Earth.🌙🙏
It is making the point excellently, this little story about your female body, menstruating and ,sending‘ you feelings. Thank you for that clear and understandable example of who we are, sister. It really makes a difference ❤
Thank you sister! I just watched Thay's teaching you are speaking of and I really enjoyed it and it makes a lot of sense to me. I appreciate this might be a difficult subject to broach with a lot of Americans and some Westerners.
Deep Bow to you Sister True Dedication for this talk. I truly appreciate the light you have shone on the appropriation of the teaching of my Master, Jesus, by the western world. And I see the danger of the same happening with Buddhism. Shining a light at least gives Truth a chance. Blessings on you and all your siblings in Plum Village. Thank you.
I love this teaching, I think it's highly important to raise up the topic of non-dualistic teachings of Jeshua. Thank you so much! I love the way you speak, your sense of humor, authenticity. Thank you for being so natural 🙏💛
Be mindful of what denaturalizing Is. In the west it is all focus on the surface waves, remaining ignorant, of surrendering, to the whole depth of the ocean. Love from an "oceanic" being : ) Love and Light to Plum village.💜
I always enjoy listening to Sister True Dedication’s dharma talks - she brings lots of interesting observations and insights and her approach is lively and very open and honest. I like her a great deal. Sometimes I want to give her a hug because I think she possibly finds giving the talks quite stressful because she is very passionate about transmitting the teachings and wants to do her absolute best to share what she has learnt. It’s an admirable trait to be so committed to sharing the teachings, but it involves some pressure on her and I feel that comes across in this talk. I’m sure that in time she’ll be able to relax more in her style of teaching - but even when under pressure she is an excellent dharma teacher and she comes across as a very beautiful human being with a deeply loving nature 🙏
Can we stop falling in love with concepts without the dualistic framework? Mindfulness is not a concept only limited and exclusive to Buddhism. If mindfulness helps productivity at the work place so be it. If mindfulness helps social change so be it. Let's think of these concepts in a spectrum and go beyond dualistic judgments.
Thank you for this sharing 🙏🏼. I see parallels with alienation from Earth/Mother Nature as well as from Self - via conceptual and linguistic abstraction and sociocultural erasure. Many ancient teachings have been lost or altered in translation.
Very important talk for the reality of existence….. wondering how buddhism reconciles the idea of the reincarnation aspect which seems to be another version of something that lives on. Seems to me all we have is now tomorrow is unknown and we are part of creation and the creator because we are part of nature and nature is a part of us (actually everything). And what we do, how we live makes the world what it is. Will save to watch again it it warrants more than a one time viewing. 🙏🏽
So there is a difference between many views and you know all about it. Spinoza ❤ How wonderful. So very wonderful explained. Surrounded by so many individuals in the wild wild west. Yes we do! In body practice 💫 freedom of conflicting and wrong views. There is Buddhism that teaches dualism. Isn’t there? Invalidating our feelings. That’s what we do here. Exactly… there is grief coming from 😊 Lovely quote 🙏 yeah where is the freedom😊 but I understand. I‘m so touched by your personal experience. I can realate so well. I see God everywhere 🍀 It’s so beautiful. I‘m so curious about everything suddenly. I miss Thai being here so much. Hmmm.. rain… The diversity…. „Everything has it’s way of knowing“❤ Taking the time to enjoy and relax vs listening to nature being amazed 🙏🕯️ I think it’s a soft sadness of letting go for the trees… they prepare for winter. Can we allow us that here? Exactly, no words sometimes…. Those questions interested me. I like to find it out myself. By listening… Oh dear. Now. Capitalist individualism- hyper individualistic. So stressful. Time: you did… 😂 yes, don’t we all. It gets in the way of an authentic experience ❤ I‘d love to have a transcript of this. They even st goal for ten year in the future. High Expectations…. Deep rooted in our society. Value and Space 😂 Oh what a story 🌸 Haha 🎉 Yes, we can remember and come home to it. Fruit and the insides🌸 Yes they constantly talk about selfcompasion. But aren’t compasioned towards one another at all. ♥️ he did say that? Keep going… wonderful 💚 It is a huge 🗻to claim. I have them all in me… and I want to do right by them. Thank you. This helps a lot. So there is no coming back from this mentality? They all instrumentalize everything by on purpose and by mistake. Unconsciously and on purpose. Oh how wonderful what you do for the kids 🌸 Thank you 🙏 Mindfulness is a path not a tool 🐝 Yes, it looses its precious message and joy. They just use it to focus and calm down from the rush. Amazing how Buddhism is growing and expanding. Brave Vigilant 🌸 Hmmmm 🕯️Thai Storytelling 💫 You really convinced him🍀such a smart men. Very good. You are a diplomat 👏it was an honor to listen to you. Thank you 🙏 Hmmm🌎🌍🌱🍃 we can take refuge in this beautiful word.
Rene Descartes wanted to use the method of mathematics ( deductive thinking ) to find out the truth about life, instead of using the inductive thinking like previous philosophers did. For that he had to erase everything that was made by human thought. That is where his ' I think, therefore I am' comes from. Saying that the only thing we can really be sure of, is that we are. Because in order to be able to think, we must first be. I AM is the only certainty. He never said that our thinking was the proof of our being. Advaita vedanta, Dzogchen in the east. Rene Descartes was the first in the west who came to that understanding and yet he is misunderstood and even sometimes made fun of. It always broke my heart hearing that.
Very interesting, thank you for sharing. I’m a bit confused as for the introduction of dualism. Wasn’t the jewish tradition already quite dualistic in defining creator and creation, good and evil etc? Also, isn’t dualism, or at least polarities, intrinsic in nature and existence (daoism)? Simply dualism separates the two, polarities admits that they are a continuum, a wave… or a reflection of the same thing (neoplatonic, if we admit a great beyond) In sufism we understand dualism as a means to teach us something about the nature of reality, equilibrium and Unity? Lover and Beloved can know one another, and in doing so the veils of illusion will fall and and only Love remains. (Sufi mystical terminology) Ashq Olsun, may it be love!
I think the paradox is that the polarities are ultimately not separate from the whole. One end of a continuum or the other are still on one continuum. Lover and Beloved are two in one sense. Love unites them as One. Love relationship needs the two. Is that a duality? Maybe I’m not sure.
19:20 not having to measure everything would be such a relief. To not have to measure, measure up, measure against. Earlier your mention of the sacred and profane perked me ears, because I recently read Durkheim's Elementary Forms of Religious Life and he take a slightly different definition of sacred and profane, as profane being just normal daily life and activity, not necessarily derogatory, while sacred are respected and acknowledged territories of the social and it's ritual.
"I can love myself because Im not me!" Oh how I needed to hear that. I am also a "stupid little gitl". Thank you for this entire teaching,but most especially for that moment. 🧡🙏🧡
Please could you guys work on the audio elements of your talks. Buy some dji clip on mics and be done with it perhaps? This talk has issues with interference, continually being able to hear and feel the sound of the heartbeat etc. thanks for considering. These talks will hopefully be watched for a long time to come and for the enjoyment of future learners and for myself I ask that they be of the highest possible recording quality.
With deep respect for Sister True Dedication, I want to acknowledge her unwavering commitment, passion, and the profound insights she shares in her talks. I have spent many hours listening to her teachings, often finding them both inspiring and thought-provoking. However, I feel compelled to voice some concerns about the direction her talks-and, perhaps, Plum Village France as a whole-appear to be taking. It seems there is a noticeable shift toward what could be described as a “fashionable” alignment with contemporary Woke or progressive ideologies. While addressing social issues is undeniably important, this approach at times feels alienating and, in certain instances, unskillful. For example, her remarks on the church’s origins (“the church was founded by white men…”) seem to echo the framework of American identity politics. While acknowledging historical context is vital, framing such a complex institution in such a reductive way risks oversimplification and polarization. Similarly, her comments on capitalism and science, particularly the assertion that “even science sometimes has its uses,” come across as dismissive and lacking balance. The portrayal of the church’s history as a monolithic, linear narrative, without acknowledging the role of Protestantism or the institution’s nuanced evolution, is, at the very least, debatable. Science, too, warrants a more nuanced engagement. Far from being a purely mechanistic endeavor, the scientific method has increasingly embraced interdisciplinary approaches that recognize the interconnectedness of mind, body, and environment. To imply that science is inherently disconnected from emotional or unquantifiable phenomena feels misinformed and risks alienating those who value both spiritual and scientific perspectives. An additional point worth considering is the historical record of Buddhist societies. For example, one of the most violent, colonialist, and racist regimes in history-Imperial Japan in the first half of the 20th century-arose within a predominantly Buddhist society. Does this mean that Buddhism itself is inherently violent, colonialist, or racist? Of course not. Such a conclusion would be as reductive and unfair as claiming that Christianity is inherently oppressive due to certain aspects of its history. Complex societal and political systems cannot be entirely explained or reduced to the influence of a single religion or ideology. This highlights the danger of oversimplification and the need for greater nuance when engaging with history and its implications. Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect of the talk is its underlying tone-a subtle but persistent “Us versus Them” attitude. It implies a division between those who align with Plum Village France’s ethos and those who do not, such as capitalists, scientists, or anyone who might not fully embrace this specific interpretation of Buddhism. This dualistic framing seems at odds with the core teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh, particularly the principles of non-discrimination and inter-being. Where is the compassionate inclusivity found in “Call Me by My True Names”? Where is the invitation to transcend dichotomies and recognize the shared humanity that lies beyond labels and identities? As I reflect on these concerns, I am reminded of Thay’s enduring emphasis on inclusivity, understanding, and deep listening. While critique is an essential part of growth, it must be offered with openness and a willingness to bridge divides, not deepen them. I hope that Plum Village will continue to embody this spirit, fostering dialogue that unites rather than alienates and brings all perspectives into compassionate understanding.
They seem to be rushing her, thus her need for oversimplification. Sad because it's a great topic and she is a really good speaker \teacher. This topic obviously needs to be a series or book to do it justice and provide a proper setup and delivery.
I think God is the totality. God is the part of the system that can never be explained. God is just a word-a naming convention. I also am not convinced that our consciousness does not continue after bodily death. I do not think that would violate nondualism. Why is it necessary to believe the soul ends at death? I’m clearly not a Buddhist per se but I love so much of the wisdom. I think God is within us. Rather than there is no us and no God. We cannot exist without God-energy and love-the animating force within everything. God is a word for the mysterious and enchanting energy that never ends (and never began).
This nun is teaching some kind of modern BUDDHIST ATHEISM. Reinventing Buddhism so that there is no individual consciousness, no soul, no reincarnation, no God/Creature is as far from Gautama Buddha's teaching as one can get. Just as the great majority of Christians have still not realized that THEY are meant to BECOME THE CHRIST, these so-called Buddhists refuse to acknowledge that they are meant to BECOME THE BUDDHA. This is NIHILISM dressed up as a type of Buddhism that is itself ILLUSORY and deeply enamored with its own shallow cleverness.
It's important to remember that no one in the West has changed Christianity by adding Greek and Roman influence - Greek and Roman influence is IN the New Testament. The New Testament is written in Greek, so that underpins everything in it. Yes, Jesus carries forward Jewish thought, and if you only read his words, you'd get a more revolutionary philosophy. However, other writers in the New Testament - Paul in particular - solidify Roman ideas into Christianity. Paul reintroduced the Pater Familia - in other words, Patriarchy - and Christians embrace that and I don't think any of them would feel that a group of Buddhists needs to "fix" anything.
Seems like a good talk or subject that they are rushing her through and so we are getting a rushed and watered down version of what needs to be a series. I get the message that this is less about Christianity and more about Buddhism.
There is no need to practice nonduality. It just exists. You can be aware of it but not be it as long as you are embodied. if you try to be it you are doing something in your mind, in your ordinary mind.
Good time line but you need to leave the feeling joy as feeling pain you have to swim out of the ocean of feelings the nine ocean of emotions that is your now straggling to cross out the joy of knowing to the act of silent Then you open your own time river this is child how you reach the inlightment from within speaks word of gods love always was the key find your own key to open your own universe inner crystal emission to release
'I' just pressed the wrong button! Thake a look at Zen's Ox heading pictures. It seems the vast number of Buddhists get stuck on the Enso image of non-dualism, when the most important image is where the Ox Herder finds himself back in the market place. This is worth pondering as if your life depended on it. The Way of the Bodhisattva Vow= ......
Their is an absolute joke hidden within this monk's charm filled talk. Regarding the whole matter dualism. Yes, the dualist West, the non dualism of Buddhism and so on. The greatest subtlety of all is to see through BOTH! Take a look
I don’t understand this aspect of Buddhist teachings - to “free us from the tendency to believe in an immortal soul” (Sister says it, surprisingly, almost with a derisive laugh here) 😢 So many ancient cultures and shamanic traditions have a profound connection with thei souls of their ancestors and guiding spirits, human and non…I feel very much aligned with engaged Buddhism but this is one aspect I struggle with having had experiences (and take great comfort in) connecting beyond this reality. Even great scientists in history held beliefs in “the mystery” or something beyond the quantifiable and there’s increased focus in quantum physics… Anyway, at the very least, wouldn’t believing we are a part of something beyond the physical here and now help hold ourselves more accountable and allow us to tap into an even more profound sense of interbeing? I struggle with, especially, the engaged Buddhist communities and teachers of beloved, visionary Thay, and their emphasis on deep interconnection and responsibility, completely shutting out the possibility of discussion by presenting the potential of a soul (and by extension, spirit world) like this, as even laughable. Feels like strict doctrine that is closing the doors of the community to a huge portion of spiritual seekers, seeking community, meaning and engaged involvement at this critical, painful time in our human history. This is my personal reaction to this, being one of these seekers, finding such hope and solace through Plum Village talks, courses, meditations…I am feeling very disappointed and disconnected from the community from this one revelation, being not as progressively open and accepting as I had thought.
Buddhism is very open to anyone using the practices taught to help them on their journey, even if they don't agree with all of the doctrine or call themselves "Buddhists". However, it can't be considered Buddhism if it teaches a "self" (meaning a soul) or an immortal God - that is a central tenet of what the Buddha himself taught. You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, though. If you study Buddhism through the ages, you'll find that this has been discussed (even argued over) at length over these over two thousand years. There are many things in Buddhist doctrine that can be challenging and that you may never agree with - and that's ok. Either agree to disagree, put it on the back burner to simmer and learn more about (and I think if you really looked deeply into the "not self characteristic" you might find it deeper than a simple belief or non-belief), or reject all of it. I think that if Thay's words have helped you, you'd miss him if you reject all of what he has to say over this one concept, but I do respect that this might be a bridge too far for you, and wish you well. This is the Anatta-lakkhana Sutra from the time of the Buddha www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.nymo.html
Why is she laughting unecessarily on alternative beliefs or perceptions? She doesn t know that it is a journey to be looked at with compassion ? It takes respect for other s being s ignorance or sorrows caused by duality
This dhamma talk itself is dualistic? Sorry. She mentioned that there is dualism and non-dualism which in itself is a dualistic aproach... just saying 😮
religion always fits into a specific context exactly as the teachings of Buddha fit into a pagan Tibet with absurd beliefs that don't fit in the true buddha teachings. In the case of the West, we were lucky that we got Christ and not Muhammad. But every Middle Eastern theistic conception is incompatible with Aryan beliefs such as Buddhist ones which are totally different from the Western mentality but in the American case it is absolutely irreconcilable. Obviously there are exceptions but they will remain exceptions: always better than a formally Buddhist and in reality trivially dualist, nationalist, angry East.
im curious about what I see happening here in this "lecture" that is shared with all sincerity, however with obvious stress and intellectual frustration within our host. i pause and breath to consider this. remembering our teacher, his calm, the strength and resolve from whence he spoke, i wonder how we might touch that foundation and share/teach/educate from the solid foundation that is deep within us considering these things, I've reflected on Thays teaching style and offer these notes: Thay gave the teachings. He offered them. He didn't talk around the teachings or provide "set-up" for the teachings. He delivered them. 🔔🔔🔔The bell. Three tones invited from the bell preceded both teaching and learning. We must carry on this tradition. Thay taught from the abundance of his heart and capacity, choosing to teach in his native language and allow the insights to flow. By not taking the focus away from the teaching and putting it on the environment, which is to say, by avoiding this distraction, Thay provided an environment that set a pace and contributed to sustained engagement with the course content. Thank you for teaching and being a part of the dharma. 🔔🔔🔔 🙏🏽
Just this morning I heard Brother Phap Huu in a podcast speak about Thay's desire for the monastics to find their own voices and styles when teaching the dharma. He wanted them to move forward and not try to be like him or be in his shadow when teaching. I think Sister True Dedication has done an excellent job of teaching in her own, authentic voice.
It might be that you are placing too much emphasis on the outer form. Just enjoy the sister's dharma talk for what it is, which is beautiful and informative. Thay noted that the next Buddha might be a Sangha, meaning that even the concept of the three Jewels of Buddhism may evolve. Evolve and adapt. Focusing on form is walking right past the many-petaled truth of the Buddha/Dharma/Sangha.
Remember expedient means. What a farmer understands as crop yield, a banker may understand as wealth. The sister here is using an expedient means, and maybe it is not the one that reaches you, but try to see beyond the means to the message.
Obviously not very seasoned to speak in public but you should practice because you have a lot of connection to the natural world and it's so important to wake people up to what's been lost in the advancement of this modern world. Loved your talk some may lose patience or find your laughter not appropriate, so work on controlling your natural energy of joy or have who ever it is in the audience not be there while sharing as it seems when you connect to them you burst into joy. Please continue to share these thoughts with the world.
I found her way to talk so truly alive!!! It is a joy listen her especially her laugh, so natural and expressive! Such a beautiful topic that she really share with profound wisdom...❤
Just to be in the present moment with deep listening, that is the essence of who " we" need to be, instead of letting the mind wander in the direction of " shoulds."
If anyone has ever lost patience with your own natural joy or radiance I would ask you to question that, that's all... a baby's natural inclination when they see their mother is to smile and laugh. So too it makes sense for the radiant, newly unborn mind to react to a chance to share the damma. Newly unborn. It is hard to contain. She is so extremely energetic. Try to understand, this is not crass ignorance, this is a very refined, powerful mind young in its enlightenment!
Fortunately there are a considerable number of us Christians who are rediscovering the non-dualistic nature of Jesus' teachings and all the implications of this. Thank you for your talk. If you are ever in the UK and would like to give a talk to my church I would love it. They hear it from me every week, but I am too familiar to them. It is often those outside our tradition who can assist us the most to come to know the true treasure within our tradition.
Thank you for this. I was raised born again Christian, went my own way the last 20 yrs and explored all different paths. Recently I picked up the Bible again and read it through new eyes as a text of teachings not meant for literal use. However, I found myself missing so much the space Buddhism brought me to. It was a new inner struggle because I found my “old judgmental Christian” ways coming out saying that if I committed to Buddhism I’d go to H*ll and that made me so sad bc I have so much love for all pathways ❤
Jesus was against animal exploitation as well! This led to his torture. Watch Christpiracy documentary to learn more ❤
They tortured Jesus because he defended animals, wanted to stop slaughter in temple, and wanted people to go vegan.
@@VeganSemihCyprus33 That is why a vegan. I am a vegan because I am a Christian. I have been a vegan for a number of year now as I see it as one of the only ways to live consistently with Jesus' teachings of radical non-violence and love of neighbour. Also why I am a Franciscan.
@@guidedbysunshine333 I was raised evangelical and then became an atheist for a while. I found Buddhism through Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Marsha Linehan. Transformational type of therapy that only exists because of Buddhism!
What a superb talk. I am on my second listen. I am so fortunate to have access to Thay's teachings and the fantastic teachers from this truly engaged tradition.
You have given us a lot to digest there There Dear Sister D well worth the effort though. Thank you so much. The 6th of December is important to me as it is my birthday or continuation Day. Not I hasten to add the 6th of December 2012 but the 1946
Dear Sister, you are a wonderful continuation of Thay. I‘m sure it‘s a a challenging legacy. Thank you for sharing your teaching. 🙏🌎🎄🍃
I love this woman. Every time I see/hear her she is like balm for my soul
Thankyou dear Sister True Dedication 🙏🏻 That was brilliant ⭐⭐⭐
I perceive this as a very brave and beautiful lesson. Thank you
i am such a fan of sister true dedication, i am so excited to listen to this dharma talk, many thanks! :)
Just so naturel ,so lightful she brought this message over !!!!!!!!!!! I have been in plum village and came back with a very more open heart .Loved her smiling while speaking from her inside so ,,just on the right place THANKS from my heart dear sister Greetings from France
Thank you Dear Sister True Dedication, for your continuing work on yourself - blessing and raising us all up in the collective consciousness 🙏🌻
Thank you sister True Dedication, this is such an important talk🙏🏻❤️
You make such wonderful connections.
Clarification. Worth many watches. Such a gift to give us… ❤❤
Thank you dear sister for this beautiful teaching.🙏 I am reminded of the teachings of North and South America's indigenous peoples.❤
Your spirit and energy really come through in your talks. I always feel like I learn so much. Thank you ❤
I could listen to you for hours! Carry on!
An amazing and important talk.
Deep Gratitude for Sister True Dedication's noble attempt to help us understand the dualistic thinking that constitutes our daily lives. May we appreciate our oneness with each other and the Earth.🌙🙏
Thank you, sr. True Dedication! I love your way of teaching, and I enjoyed your profound message.
Greetings from Spain 🪷 🙏
This is a UNIQUELY profound take on the abstraction of Christianity from the original teachings of Jesus!
It is making the point excellently, this little story about your female body, menstruating and ,sending‘ you feelings. Thank you for that clear and understandable example of who we are, sister. It really makes a difference ❤
Thank you sister! I just watched Thay's teaching you are speaking of and I really enjoyed it and it makes a lot of sense to me. I appreciate this might be a difficult subject to broach with a lot of Americans and some Westerners.
Amazing inspiring Dharma talk
Beautiful.
I love Your experience with the oak tree in december🌳❤️ Thank You Sister for this wonderful Dharma talk🙏🏻 Namaste
This was amazing. Thank you.
Deep Bow to you Sister True Dedication for this talk. I truly appreciate the light you have shone on the appropriation of the teaching of my Master, Jesus, by the western world. And I see the danger of the same happening with Buddhism. Shining a light at least gives Truth a chance. Blessings on you and all your siblings in Plum Village. Thank you.
so agree with you!! Thank you❤
Nice to see you again, dear sister
Nice video
A beautiful and very timely talk.
Thanks
Thank you Sister ✨ You are a model of wise speech.
I love this teaching, I think it's highly important to raise up the topic of non-dualistic teachings of Jeshua. Thank you so much! I love the way you speak, your sense of humor, authenticity. Thank you for being so natural 🙏💛
Be mindful of what denaturalizing Is.
In the west it is all focus on the surface waves, remaining ignorant, of surrendering, to the whole depth of the ocean.
Love from an "oceanic" being : )
Love and Light to Plum village.💜
I always enjoy listening to Sister True Dedication’s dharma talks - she brings lots of interesting observations and insights and her approach is lively and very open and honest. I like her a great deal. Sometimes I want to give her a hug because I think she possibly finds giving the talks quite stressful because she is very passionate about transmitting the teachings and wants to do her absolute best to share what she has learnt. It’s an admirable trait to be so committed to sharing the teachings, but it involves some pressure on her and I feel that comes across in this talk. I’m sure that in time she’ll be able to relax more in her style of teaching - but even when under pressure she is an excellent dharma teacher and she comes across as a very beautiful human being with a deeply loving nature 🙏
Querida hermana, muchas gracias por su charla. Ha sido realmente enriquecedora.
Love you❤
WOW what a woman and soul.
So important
Can we stop falling in love with concepts without the dualistic framework? Mindfulness is not a concept only limited and exclusive to Buddhism. If mindfulness helps productivity at the work place so be it. If mindfulness helps social change so be it. Let's think of these concepts in a spectrum and go beyond dualistic judgments.
I'll certainly try.
Consciousness is the self-awareness of the clear-insight is truth-nature.
Thank you for this sharing 🙏🏼. I see parallels with alienation from Earth/Mother Nature as well as from Self - via conceptual and linguistic abstraction and sociocultural erasure. Many ancient teachings have been lost or altered in translation.
Very important talk for the reality of existence….. wondering how buddhism reconciles the idea of the reincarnation aspect which seems to be another version of something that lives on. Seems to me all we have is now tomorrow is unknown and we are part of creation and the creator because we are part of nature and nature is a part of us (actually everything). And what we do, how we live makes the world what it is. Will save to watch again it it warrants more than a one time viewing. 🙏🏽
So there is a difference between many views and you know all about it. Spinoza ❤ How wonderful. So very wonderful explained. Surrounded by so many individuals in the wild wild west.
Yes we do! In body practice 💫 freedom of conflicting and wrong views.
There is Buddhism that teaches dualism. Isn’t there?
Invalidating our feelings. That’s what we do here. Exactly… there is grief coming from 😊
Lovely quote 🙏 yeah where is the freedom😊 but I understand.
I‘m so touched by your personal experience. I can realate so well. I see God everywhere 🍀 It’s so beautiful. I‘m so curious about everything suddenly. I miss Thai being here so much. Hmmm.. rain…
The diversity….
„Everything has it’s way of knowing“❤
Taking the time to enjoy and relax vs listening to nature being amazed 🙏🕯️
I think it’s a soft sadness of letting go for the trees… they prepare for winter.
Can we allow us that here?
Exactly, no words sometimes….
Those questions interested me. I like to find it out myself. By listening…
Oh dear. Now. Capitalist individualism- hyper individualistic. So stressful.
Time: you did… 😂 yes, don’t we all.
It gets in the way of an authentic experience ❤
I‘d love to have a transcript of this.
They even st goal for ten year in the future. High Expectations…. Deep rooted in our society.
Value and Space 😂
Oh what a story 🌸
Haha 🎉
Yes, we can remember and come home to it. Fruit and the insides🌸
Yes they constantly talk about selfcompasion. But aren’t compasioned towards one another at all.
♥️ he did say that? Keep going… wonderful 💚
It is a huge 🗻to claim. I have them all in me… and I want to do right by them.
Thank you. This helps a lot.
So there is no coming back from this mentality? They all instrumentalize everything by on purpose and by mistake. Unconsciously and on purpose.
Oh how wonderful what you do for the kids 🌸 Thank you 🙏
Mindfulness is a path not a tool 🐝
Yes, it looses its precious message and joy.
They just use it to focus and calm down from the rush.
Amazing how Buddhism is growing and expanding.
Brave
Vigilant 🌸
Hmmmm 🕯️Thai Storytelling 💫
You really convinced him🍀such a smart men. Very good. You are a diplomat 👏it was an honor to listen to you. Thank you 🙏
Hmmm🌎🌍🌱🍃
we can take refuge in this beautiful word.
Rene Descartes wanted to use the method of mathematics ( deductive thinking ) to find out the truth about life, instead of using the inductive thinking like previous philosophers did. For that he had to erase everything that was made by human thought. That is where his ' I think, therefore I am' comes from. Saying that the only thing we can really be sure of, is that we are. Because in order to be able to think, we must first be. I AM is the only certainty. He never said that our thinking was the proof of our being.
Advaita vedanta, Dzogchen in the east. Rene Descartes was the first in the west who came to that understanding and yet he is misunderstood and even sometimes made fun of. It always broke my heart hearing that.
Very interesting, thank you for sharing.
I’m a bit confused as for the introduction of dualism. Wasn’t the jewish tradition already quite dualistic in defining creator and creation, good and evil etc?
Also, isn’t dualism, or at least polarities, intrinsic in nature and existence (daoism)? Simply dualism separates the two, polarities admits that they are a continuum, a wave… or a reflection of the same thing (neoplatonic, if we admit a great beyond)
In sufism we understand dualism as a means to teach us something about the nature of reality, equilibrium and Unity?
Lover and Beloved can know one another, and in doing so the veils of illusion will fall and and only Love remains. (Sufi mystical terminology)
Ashq Olsun, may it be love!
I think the paradox is that the polarities are ultimately not separate from the whole. One end of a continuum or the other are still on one continuum. Lover and Beloved are two in one sense. Love unites them as One. Love relationship needs the two. Is that a duality? Maybe I’m not sure.
19:20 not having to measure everything would be such a relief. To not have to measure, measure up, measure against.
Earlier your mention of the sacred and profane perked me ears, because I recently read Durkheim's Elementary Forms of Religious Life and he take a slightly different definition of sacred and profane, as profane being just normal daily life and activity, not necessarily derogatory, while sacred are respected and acknowledged territories of the social and it's ritual.
Thank you for this teaching ❤ Can you please share the link to the original dharma talk you referenced in the beginning .
This one: ua-cam.com/video/IH_Mhj15qDE/v-deo.htmlsi=hswlBfmj4HN8bT9h
"I can love myself because Im not me!" Oh how I needed to hear that. I am also a "stupid little gitl". Thank you for this entire teaching,but most especially for that moment. 🧡🙏🧡
Clever word play and denial of Self are not Truth.
Please could you guys work on the audio elements of your talks. Buy some dji clip on mics and be done with it perhaps? This talk has issues with interference, continually being able to hear and feel the sound of the heartbeat etc. thanks for considering. These talks will hopefully be watched for a long time to come and for the enjoyment of future learners and for myself I ask that they be of the highest possible recording quality.
With deep respect for Sister True Dedication, I want to acknowledge her unwavering commitment, passion, and the profound insights she shares in her talks. I have spent many hours listening to her teachings, often finding them both inspiring and thought-provoking. However, I feel compelled to voice some concerns about the direction her talks-and, perhaps, Plum Village France as a whole-appear to be taking.
It seems there is a noticeable shift toward what could be described as a “fashionable” alignment with contemporary Woke or progressive ideologies. While addressing social issues is undeniably important, this approach at times feels alienating and, in certain instances, unskillful. For example, her remarks on the church’s origins (“the church was founded by white men…”) seem to echo the framework of American identity politics. While acknowledging historical context is vital, framing such a complex institution in such a reductive way risks oversimplification and polarization. Similarly, her comments on capitalism and science, particularly the assertion that “even science sometimes has its uses,” come across as dismissive and lacking balance.
The portrayal of the church’s history as a monolithic, linear narrative, without acknowledging the role of Protestantism or the institution’s nuanced evolution, is, at the very least, debatable. Science, too, warrants a more nuanced engagement. Far from being a purely mechanistic endeavor, the scientific method has increasingly embraced interdisciplinary approaches that recognize the interconnectedness of mind, body, and environment. To imply that science is inherently disconnected from emotional or unquantifiable phenomena feels misinformed and risks alienating those who value both spiritual and scientific perspectives.
An additional point worth considering is the historical record of Buddhist societies. For example, one of the most violent, colonialist, and racist regimes in history-Imperial Japan in the first half of the 20th century-arose within a predominantly Buddhist society. Does this mean that Buddhism itself is inherently violent, colonialist, or racist? Of course not. Such a conclusion would be as reductive and unfair as claiming that Christianity is inherently oppressive due to certain aspects of its history. Complex societal and political systems cannot be entirely explained or reduced to the influence of a single religion or ideology. This highlights the danger of oversimplification and the need for greater nuance when engaging with history and its implications.
Perhaps the most disconcerting aspect of the talk is its underlying tone-a subtle but persistent “Us versus Them” attitude. It implies a division between those who align with Plum Village France’s ethos and those who do not, such as capitalists, scientists, or anyone who might not fully embrace this specific interpretation of Buddhism. This dualistic framing seems at odds with the core teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh, particularly the principles of non-discrimination and inter-being. Where is the compassionate inclusivity found in “Call Me by My True Names”? Where is the invitation to transcend dichotomies and recognize the shared humanity that lies beyond labels and identities?
As I reflect on these concerns, I am reminded of Thay’s enduring emphasis on inclusivity, understanding, and deep listening. While critique is an essential part of growth, it must be offered with openness and a willingness to bridge divides, not deepen them. I hope that Plum Village will continue to embody this spirit, fostering dialogue that unites rather than alienates and brings all perspectives into compassionate understanding.
They seem to be rushing her, thus her need for oversimplification. Sad because it's a great topic and she is a really good speaker \teacher. This topic obviously needs to be a series or book to do it justice and provide a proper setup and delivery.
I think God is the totality. God is the part of the system that can never be explained. God is just a word-a naming convention. I also am not convinced that our consciousness does not continue after bodily death. I do not think that would violate nondualism. Why is it necessary to believe the soul ends at death? I’m clearly not a Buddhist per se but I love so much of the wisdom. I think God is within us. Rather than there is no us and no God. We cannot exist without God-energy and love-the animating force within everything. God is a word for the mysterious and enchanting energy that never ends (and never began).
This nun is teaching some kind of modern BUDDHIST ATHEISM. Reinventing Buddhism so that there is no individual consciousness, no soul, no reincarnation, no God/Creature is as far from Gautama Buddha's teaching as one can get. Just as the great majority of Christians have still not realized that THEY are meant to BECOME THE CHRIST, these so-called Buddhists refuse to acknowledge that they are meant to BECOME THE BUDDHA. This is NIHILISM dressed up as a type of Buddhism that is itself ILLUSORY and deeply enamored with its own shallow cleverness.
SADHU!
🙏
The Connections (2021) [short documentary] ❤
It's important to remember that no one in the West has changed Christianity by adding Greek and Roman influence - Greek and Roman influence is IN the New Testament. The New Testament is written in Greek, so that underpins everything in it. Yes, Jesus carries forward Jewish thought, and if you only read his words, you'd get a more revolutionary philosophy. However, other writers in the New Testament - Paul in particular - solidify Roman ideas into Christianity. Paul reintroduced the Pater Familia - in other words, Patriarchy - and Christians embrace that and I don't think any of them would feel that a group of Buddhists needs to "fix" anything.
Seems like a good talk or subject that they are rushing her through and so we are getting a rushed and watered down version of what needs to be a series. I get the message that this is less about Christianity and more about Buddhism.
There is no need to practice nonduality. It just exists. You can be aware of it but not be it as long as you are embodied. if you try to be it you are doing something in your mind, in your ordinary mind.
deep bows 🙏🏼
I vietnamese, i want to join plum village, how can i do?
How come I cannot find Her name? Could someone help? Thanks🙏
Sister True Dedication AKA Hiến Nghiêm
@@plumvillageonline Thank you 🙏
🌱Love🌿this🪴video🌿
Good time line but you need to leave the feeling joy as feeling pain you have to swim out of the ocean of feelings the nine ocean of emotions that is your now straggling to cross out the joy of knowing to the act of silent
Then you open your own time river this is child how you reach the inlightment from within speaks word of gods love always was the key find your own key to open your own universe inner crystal emission to release
Many westener now become Buddhist due to realization of truth and compassion and beware of certain people deneutralised Buddhism
Very important topic! ❤ Go vegan ❤️
What's with the knocking sound?
possibly my heartbeat? 🙈
@sistertruededication 😂🤣 thank you, you're beautiful ❤️
@@sistertruededication It wouldn’t surprise me - you have a strong and expansive heart 😊 💗🙏
Dominion (2018)
The Ego CONSTRUCT is a Separate Self dude
'I' just pressed the wrong button! Thake a look at Zen's Ox heading pictures. It seems the vast number of Buddhists get stuck on the Enso image of non-dualism, when the most important image is where the Ox Herder finds himself back in the market place. This is worth pondering as if your life depended on it. The Way of the Bodhisattva Vow= ......
Their is an absolute joke hidden within this monk's charm filled talk. Regarding the whole matter dualism. Yes, the dualist West, the non dualism of Buddhism and so on. The greatest subtlety of all is to see through BOTH! Take a look
Pretty sure the Buddha often said the body was an impure vessel.
If the body is a vessel, what is it a vessel for? According to this nun, souls do not exist! This is what Buddhism has become in the 21st century?!!!
I don’t understand this aspect of Buddhist teachings - to “free us from the tendency to believe in an immortal soul” (Sister says it, surprisingly, almost with a derisive laugh here) 😢
So many ancient cultures and shamanic traditions have a profound connection with thei souls of their ancestors and guiding spirits, human and non…I feel very much aligned with engaged Buddhism but this is one aspect I struggle with having had experiences (and take great comfort in) connecting beyond this reality. Even great scientists in history held beliefs in “the mystery” or something beyond the quantifiable and there’s increased focus in quantum physics…
Anyway, at the very least, wouldn’t believing we are a part of something beyond the physical here and now help hold ourselves more accountable and allow us to tap into an even more profound sense of interbeing?
I struggle with, especially, the engaged Buddhist communities and teachers of beloved, visionary Thay, and their emphasis on deep interconnection and responsibility, completely shutting out the possibility of discussion by presenting the potential of a soul (and by extension, spirit world) like this, as even laughable. Feels like strict doctrine that is closing the doors of the community to a huge portion of spiritual seekers, seeking community, meaning and engaged involvement at this critical, painful time in our human history. This is my personal reaction to this, being one of these seekers, finding such hope and solace through Plum Village talks, courses, meditations…I am feeling very disappointed and disconnected from the community from this one revelation, being not as progressively open and accepting as I had thought.
Buddhism is very open to anyone using the practices taught to help them on their journey, even if they don't agree with all of the doctrine or call themselves "Buddhists". However, it can't be considered Buddhism if it teaches a "self" (meaning a soul) or an immortal God - that is a central tenet of what the Buddha himself taught. You don't have to throw the baby out with the bathwater, though. If you study Buddhism through the ages, you'll find that this has been discussed (even argued over) at length over these over two thousand years. There are many things in Buddhist doctrine that can be challenging and that you may never agree with - and that's ok. Either agree to disagree, put it on the back burner to simmer and learn more about (and I think if you really looked deeply into the "not self characteristic" you might find it deeper than a simple belief or non-belief), or reject all of it. I think that if Thay's words have helped you, you'd miss him if you reject all of what he has to say over this one concept, but I do respect that this might be a bridge too far for you, and wish you well.
This is the Anatta-lakkhana Sutra from the time of the Buddha www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.nymo.html
Sad to see a supposed mindful community rush such a great speaker on such an important subject. Take a breath and let her present the material.
moon is an artificial object, placed there before the Dogon tribe...how does this explained
Why is she laughting unecessarily on alternative beliefs or perceptions? She doesn t know that it is a journey to be looked at with compassion ? It takes respect for other s being s ignorance or sorrows caused by duality
Jesus of Nazareth or Jesus the Nazarene?
I wonder why Buddhists are so sure about the “no-soul”. It’s the only religion that teaches this.
This dhamma talk itself is dualistic? Sorry. She mentioned that there is dualism and non-dualism which in itself is a dualistic aproach... just saying 😮
religion always fits into a specific context exactly as the teachings of Buddha fit into a pagan Tibet with absurd beliefs that don't fit in the true buddha teachings. In the case of the West, we were lucky that we got Christ and not Muhammad. But every Middle Eastern theistic conception is incompatible with Aryan beliefs such as Buddhist ones which are totally different from the Western mentality but in the American case it is absolutely irreconcilable. Obviously there are exceptions but they will remain exceptions: always better than a formally Buddhist and in reality trivially dualist, nationalist, angry East.
Descartes was a psychopath.
Nope. It’s not even possible to do so.
Reverse Jesuitism, lol
im curious about what I see happening here in this "lecture" that is shared with all sincerity, however with obvious stress and intellectual frustration within our host. i pause and breath to consider this. remembering our teacher, his calm, the strength and resolve from whence he spoke, i wonder how we might touch that foundation and share/teach/educate from the solid foundation that is deep within us
considering these things, I've reflected on Thays teaching style and offer these notes:
Thay gave the teachings. He offered them. He didn't talk around the teachings or provide "set-up" for the teachings. He delivered them.
🔔🔔🔔The bell. Three tones invited from the bell preceded both teaching and learning. We must carry on this tradition.
Thay taught from the abundance of his heart and capacity, choosing to teach in his native language and allow the insights to flow.
By not taking the focus away from the teaching and putting it on the environment, which is to say, by avoiding this distraction, Thay provided an environment that set a pace and contributed to sustained engagement with the course content.
Thank you for teaching and being a part of the dharma. 🔔🔔🔔
🙏🏽
Just this morning I heard Brother Phap Huu in a podcast speak about Thay's desire for the monastics to find their own voices and styles when teaching the dharma. He wanted them to move forward and not try to be like him or be in his shadow when teaching. I think Sister True Dedication has done an excellent job of teaching in her own, authentic voice.
It might be that you are placing too much emphasis on the outer form. Just enjoy the sister's dharma talk for what it is, which is beautiful and informative. Thay noted that the next Buddha might be a Sangha, meaning that even the concept of the three Jewels of Buddhism may evolve. Evolve and adapt. Focusing on form is walking right past the many-petaled truth of the Buddha/Dharma/Sangha.
Yes her style is cerebral , academic like she’s a professor . This is NOT dharma ,,it’s a lecture her snickering is annoying 😂😂
@@stevenbelzer9768 you may want to sit with that comment and see what you think about in a couple days
Remember expedient means. What a farmer understands as crop yield, a banker may understand as wealth. The sister here is using an expedient means, and maybe it is not the one that reaches you, but try to see beyond the means to the message.
Obviously not very seasoned to speak in public but you should practice because you have a lot of connection to the natural world and it's so important to wake people up to what's been lost in the advancement of this modern world. Loved your talk some may lose patience or find your laughter not appropriate, so work on controlling your natural energy of joy or have who ever it is in the audience not be there while sharing as it seems when you connect to them you burst into joy. Please continue to share these thoughts with the world.
I found her way to talk so truly alive!!! It is a joy listen her especially her laugh, so natural and expressive!
Such a beautiful topic that she really share with profound wisdom...❤
Hopefully, she will never take this advice.
Just to be in the present moment with deep listening, that is the essence of who " we" need to be, instead of letting the mind wander in the direction of " shoulds."
If anyone has ever lost patience with your own natural joy or radiance I would ask you to question that, that's all... a baby's natural inclination when they see their mother is to smile and laugh. So too it makes sense for the radiant, newly unborn mind to react to a chance to share the damma. Newly unborn. It is hard to contain. She is so extremely energetic. Try to understand, this is not crass ignorance, this is a very refined, powerful mind young in its enlightenment!
@catsrule8844 Totally agree with you!!! She is so shining ..full of light!!
Nice to see you, sister.
deeply thank you _()()()_
🙏