What does 'observation of the body in the body' mean? (EN subtitles)
This is a 9-minute excerpt from one of the Dharma talks on the "Discourse on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness" given by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh on February 12, 1998, New Hamlet, Plum Village France, during the Winter Retreat 1997-1998.
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🔔 Video transcript
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"Why didn’t the Buddha say 'the observation of the body' but 'the observation of the body in the body'?
"If we are a researcher, we tend to believe the object of our study is independent of our mind, our consciousness. The observer and the observed are considered two distinctive, separate entities.
"But when practicing mindful awareness and deep looking, we should learn to transcend the boundary dividing the subject who observes and the object being observed.
"Look in such a way that the subject of observation and the object of observation become one. Only then, can our understanding deepen. [...]
"From the political as well as cultural points of view, when there are conflicts or disputes, more often than not, each side considers themselves right and the other side wrong. If the two sides sit at a conference table and if somebody can help both sides understand one another, naturally they will come to understand the difficulties and sufferings of the other side and come to a treaty that makes it easy to live together in peace and harmony.
"Two siblings or two partners are angry with one another, are against one another, are sad because of one another, or make each other suffer, because this person thinks that, the other person is completely different from them.
"But if we find ways to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, and come to see all the sufferings, hopes and dreams, worries, and difficulties they’re having, we can see that person in a new light.
"From that understanding, we can come to accept them. With acceptance, we can come to forgive and live in peace and harmony with them without any problem."
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✩ Full talk's original title: "Bốn Lĩnh Vực Quán Niệm 01[CPNĐSNC 22] | TS Thích Nhất Hạnh(12-02-1998, Làng Mai)"
✩ Full talk originally posted by Làng Mai (Plum Village's Vietnamese YouTube Channel) on Jun 17, 2023
✩ Full talk given: on February 12, 1998, New Hamlet, Plum Village France, in the Winter Retreat 1997-1998
✩ Excerpt's length: 10 minutes 44 seconds
✩ Watch the full talk with English subtitles and transcript here
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REFERENCES (Resources used to translate this Dharma talk): Please kindly visit the video transcript link to see the full list.
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Republished on the Plum Village App with kind permission of Thich Nhat Hanh's Talks channel 🙏