A Deep Volition of Practice

August 12, 2011. 85-minute dharma talk with Thich Nhat Hanh from War Memorial Gym at University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. The sangha is on the North American Tour and this talk is a question and answer session.

Children

1. How did it feel when you left your country?
2. Where did you learn to become mindful and to breathe?
3. Do you think you’ve reached the highest level of Buddhism? Oh, can you play soccer with the kids today?

Teens

1. Do you believe you have reached the stage of enlightenment, and if not do you think you will at some stage in your life?
2. What was it like being on the Oprah Winfry show?
3. What is the goal of Buddhism?
4. I have self doubt and negative thoughts that keep me from enjoying myself; how can I overcome this?

Adults

1. What are the best ways to connect with my volition to offer love?
2. My suffering comes from chronic illness with a lot of physical pain and I am also an activist who cares very deeply for the world which leads to despair. What practices do you suggest for this type of suffering?
3. What would be a good way to bring mindfulness to the inner cities?
4. Awakening of the Heart. Are we as a society moving from the intellect to the heart? Is there a shift in our collective consciousness?

The talk is available below. There is a video version available too.