Welcome to episode seven of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.

In this episode, hosts Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and lay Buddhist practitioner and journalist Jo Confino were recorded in Thich Nhat Hanh’s former residence in Plum Village, the ‘Sitting Still Hut’.

Here, they talk about the yearly Rains Retreat – a 90-day retreat started by the Buddha – including the aspirations and other key concepts at the core of this gathering of practitioners. Brother Phap Huu explains in detail the origins of this ancient tradition, and how it unfolds in Plum Village, including some special insights from this year’s retreat.

Both then share their own aspirations, and discuss taking refuge in the sangha, the need to slow down, stillness, getting support from the community for our aspirations, and that even zen masters need constant reminders to practice. (Did Thay need help from the sangha? And is Phap Huu as busy as the others think?)

The conversation touches upon our (and their) relationship with ‘stuff’; a free yard sale in the monastery; how to know when we have enough; and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s jackets, and how he relates to his few material possessions.

Jo opens up about his youth and the burden of collective pain; letting go of possessions; and getting some of his best creative ideas while sitting still on a train.

You’ll also find out where the yellow-orange in our podcast’s logo comes from. And autumnal fruit trees make a cameo appearance.

Finally, Brother Phap Huu shares daily tips for beginners’ practice, and ends the episode with a guided meditation to find calm and solidity.

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Co-produced by the Plum Village App:

https://plumvillage.app/

And Global Optimism:

https://globaloptimism.com/

With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:

https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/

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List of resources

Alms Round – The Practice of Love, Humility, and Gratitude

https://plumvillage.org/articles/alms-round-the-practice-of-love-humility-and-gratitude/

‘Breathing In, Breathing Out’

https://plumvillage.org/library/songs/breathing-in-breathing-out/

The Faces of Manas Revealed

https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/live-dharma-talk-by-sister-tue-nghiem-2020-11-29-plum-village/

The Green Mile

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Mile_(film)

Monastic robes

https://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/monastic-fashion/

Monkey mind

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_mind

Rains Retreat 2021

https://plumvillage.org/retreats/info/rains-retreat-2021-gems-of-the-plum-village-tradition/

Rains Retreat Opening Ceremony

https://plumvillage.org/articles/rains-retreat-opening-ceremony-2021/

The Spirit of the Rain’s Retreat

https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/the-spirit-of-a-rains-retreat/

Sister Jina

https://plumvillage.org/people/dharma-teachers/sr-dieu-nghiem/

Store consciousness

https://plumvillage.org/library/dharma-talks/interbeing-and-store-consciousness/

Sutra

https://plumvillage.org/sutra/

Theravada tradition

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada