In this short teaching, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh helps us see the opportunities that lie in our telephone conversations to practice mindfulness. “The sound of the telephone is the voice of the Buddha, calling you back to your true home”, says Thay. The guidance offered here takes into consideration both the sound of the phone as an occasion for practice and the possibility to commune with the person at the other end of the line by breathing together mindfully.
“Words can travel thousands of kilometres; they are to bring about more understanding. I vow that what I’m going to say will be beautiful like flowers and poetry. I vow that everything I’m going to say that will help with more mutual understanding and compassion.”
This is an excerpt from a public Dharma Talk that took place during the Colors of Compassion Retreat in Deer Park Monastery on March 25, 2004. Watch the full Dharma Talk here.