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The Way Out Is In

No Way to Happiness; Happiness Is the Way (Episode #35)

The Way Out Is In

Plum Village

Education, Religion & Spirituality, Self-improvement, Buddhism, Mental Health, Health & Fitness

0.00 Ratings

🗓️ 4 August 2022

⏱️ 106 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Welcome to episode 35 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.This time, the presenters, Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and journalist Jo Confino, discuss the art of happiness according to the sutras from the Buddha’s time. Their conversation explores the many layers of the Discourse on Happiness, each of the 11 causes of ‘the greatest happiness’, as shared by the Buddha, and how these ancient texts help us create the conditions in which our own happiness can ripen today. Both Brother Phap Huu and Jo dig deeply into their own private and professional lives to exemplify and support these subjects; from ‘living our values’ and the Four Gratitudes to the power of the sangha, meaning and purpose,  generosity, forgiveness, Thay’s memorable calligraphies, and many other topics. The episode ends with a short meditation guided by Brother Phap Huu. 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/ List of resources  Sutras: ‘Discourse on Happiness’https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-happiness/  Tathāgatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tath%C4%81gata  Devahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deva_(Buddhism)  Buddhahoodhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BuddhahoodSutras: ‘Discourse on the 5 Ways of Putting an End to Anger’https://plumvillage.org/library/sutras/discourse-on-the-five-ways-of-putting-an-end-to-anger/  ‘The Order of Interbeing’https://plumvillage.org/community/order-of-interbeing/ ‘The Five Mindfulness Trainings’https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/the-5-mindfulness-trainings/  ‘Dharma Sharing’https://plumvillage.org/mindfulness/extended-practises/  TWOII: ‘Engaged Buddhism: Applying the Teachings in Our Present Moment (Episode #9)’https://plumvillage.org/podcast/engaged-buddhism-applying-the-teachings-in-our-present-moment/  The Four Noble Truthshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy-RI3FrdGA  Tếthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%E1%BA%BFt  Quotes “There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way.” “Thay said that happiness is not outside of you, happiness is in you and around you already. It’s whether we have the mindfulness to recognize the wonderful conditions that are there. And so, if we change our perceptions, we start to see that happiness is the way. Just being is the way. And so we can free ourselves from the habit of running after happiness.” “Not to be associated with the foolish ones, but to live in the company of wise people, honoring those who are worth honoring – this is the greatest happiness.” “[Thay suggested sometimes calling] a good friend, a soulmate, someone who understands you, someone who helps you see your shortcomings, and has the courage and the intention to share with you your own ignorance, so that you can grow from it. That is happiness.”  “To live in a good environment, to have planted good seeds, and to realize you are on the right path – this is the greatest happiness.” “The environment is not outside of you; you are the environment.” “Every thought is planting a seed. Every idea I conjure up in my mind is planting a seed. Everything I say is planting a seed. Everything I do is planting a seed. And I think people tend not to see the full nature of what it is to plant seeds; that, actually, there’s nothing neutral [about it].”  “To have a chance to learn and grow, to be skillful in your professional craft, practicing the precepts and loving speech – this is the greatest happiness.”  “To live honestly, generous and giving, to offer support

Transcript

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0:00.0

Dear friends, welcome to this latest episode in the podcast series The Way Out is In. I am Joe Konfino working at the intersection of personal transformation and systems evolution.

0:28.5

And I am Brother Fabu as Zen Buddhist monk in the tradition of Plum Village student of Zen master Techn

0:35.0

And today brother we've been talking a lot recently about how to deal with our

0:40.3

suffering which is very important but today we're going to change

0:43.3

direction a bit, we're going to now talk about the art of happiness.

0:49.2

The way out of his team. Hello, dear friends. I'm Joe Confino. And I am Brother,

1:08.0

who? And brother, we're going to talk about the art of happiness today.

1:12.0

So why are we going to talk about this? Why have we chosen this topic?

1:15.0

Because it is so important to be able to have happiness in our daily life because that is a nourishment that keeps us fresh, balanced, solid, and present.

1:29.6

So I was sitting still

1:33.8

sitting still hut to do this recording I was sitting under the

1:36.8

linden tree at the entrance to Plum Village and one of the monks came and

1:40.9

sat next to me and I said I said brother I'm going to do this

1:44.0

recording with Fat Pooh and I want to sound really intelligent so we're going to

1:48.4

talk about happiness I think today so so what should I say and he said something which was really interesting. He said well

1:55.0

actually we all have a different perception of happiness. Like what actually is

2:00.1

happiness? Everyone would give a different answer.

2:03.0

But today, brother, we're going to talk about one of the

2:06.0

discourses on happiness from the Buddha's time.

2:09.0

And the reason he said this was a good thing to discuss

2:11.0

is because actually it's a way of actually

2:13.5

quantifying happiness. It's a way of actually giving happiness as sort of a

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