The Three Unwholesome Paths (EN subtitles)

by Thich Nhat HanhAugust 4, 2025

This short teaching is excerpted from the full Dharma talk given by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh on November 22, 1998 in Upper Hamlet, Plum Village France during the Winter Rains Retreat 1998-1999.

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🔔 Video transcript

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" 'The right path' (đường chánh in Vietnamese) means the path that leads to inner peace, security, and happiness. It doesn't lead us to the unwholesome paths i.e. hell, hungry ghosts, and animals.

"There are innumerable hells on Earth. We don't need to leave this Earth in search of Hell, because hells are everywhere. Right in the town or city where we're living, there are already many hells. We lived through hell before. We stopped by a few hells before. And we know hells are an ongoing reality."

Then, what are the paths of hungry ghosts and animals? You are invited to watch the video or read the transcript to find out.

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✩ Full talk's original title: "Kinh Phước Đức [CPNĐSNC 54] | TS Thích Nhất Hạnh(22-11-1998, Xóm Thượng, Làng Mai)"

✩ Full talk originally posted by Làng Mai (Plum Village's Vietnamese YouTube Channel) on Nov 23, 2023

✩ Full talk given: on November 22, 1998, Upper Hamlet, Plum Village France

✩ Excerpt's length: 1 minutes 55 seconds

✩ Watch the full Dharma talk with English subtitles and transcript here

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REFERENCES (Resources used to translate this Dharma talk): Please kindly refer to 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 🙏


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The Three Unwholesome Paths (EN subtitles) - Plum Village